MIDNIGHT DANCES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 270, 11 August 1938, Page 13

MIDNIGHT DANCES

Presbytery Discussion By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, August 10. “You had a great time at other midnight dances,” said Mr. G. Whitelaw to members of the Christchurch Presbytery this morning. It must not be inferred, however, that members of the presbytery had been sampling the night life of the city, for Mr. Whitelaw was merely reading an advertisement for a dance which began at midnight last Sunday.

“I think there should be some indication that it does not meet with universal approval,” said Mr. Whitelaw, who objected to the practice of beginning dances at midnight on Sunday. He thought the presbytery should write to the Scottish Socjety, in whose hall the dance was held, expressing surprise and regret that such proceedings were countenanced.

He moved that the presbytery send a communication to the rightful authorities expressing surprise and regret that the dance should have been held in the city and in the Scottish Hall of ail places on a Sunday night.

“I don’t see how we can object.” said the Rev. Theo Paterson. “We have had twenty-four hours of Sunday. It is Monday morning.” Members remarked that such dances had been held before, and it was pointed out that people going to them encroached on the Sabbath. It was also stated that the Scottish Society sub-let the hall. “I know some young people who are encroaching on the Sabbath by going home on Sunday mornings even if Saturday night dances are stopped at 11.30 p.m.,” replied Mr. Paterson. After further discussion, in which the opinion was expressed that as the dance actually took place on Monday morning the presbytery could not very well object, the motion was lost on the voices.