“SOURCE OF GRAVE MORAL DANGER”

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 12

“SOURCE OF GRAVE MORAL DANGER”

Modern Ballroom Dancing \ METHODIST SYNOD WARNS YOUNG PEOPLE By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, November IS. A decision to warn young people against modern ballroom dancing as a source of grave moral danger and “subtle evil" was made by the annual synod of the North Canterbury Methodist Church to-night. Tlie Rev. W. A. Burley presented to synod a report of a church committee which expressed the opinion that dancing .was not morally wrong in itself, apart front its associations. With this Mr. Burley disagreed, and lie was supported by synod in excluding it from the report. Thus synod reaffirmed what was described as the historic attitude of the Methodist Church. It was agreed that grave moral perils were associated with dancing, and it was decided to continue refusal to permit dances on church property. Church dances, it was stated in the report, would aggravate rather than solve the dancing problem, encouraging young people to seek “the more brilliant dance halls.” The chairman, the Rev. Clarence Eaton, said the church was maintaining its past attitude without condemning individual practice. NELSON-WEST COAST SYNOD’S SUPPORT By Telegraph—Press Association. Greyniouth, November 18. The West Coast-Nelson Methodist Synod opened this morning. Tlie following recommendations to the annual conference were carried:— (1) That class discussions and personal talks be given on the subtle evils associated with modern dunce hails; (2) that conference continue its refusal to allow (lancing on church property: (3) that conference instruct tlie Youth Board to consider tlie whole question of improving the standard of young people’s socials from the points of view, of decorum and attractiveness: (4) that, in view of the publicity attending discussion of the dancing question the conference issue a manifesto setting out a reasoned basis for its decisions ou the matter. •