THE CHURCHES AND DANCING.

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 6

THE CHURCHES AND DANCING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —One would think that the divorce of intelligence from religion during tho last century, and tho practically empty churchas width confront tho ecclesiastical profession to-day, would cause them to think seriously before thundering forth more prohibitions against tho recreations of the people. It seems as though churchmen wish to hasten the day when tho church will be entirely empty, and when oven less- attention will be paid to the preaching coming from that source than is now the case. Also, the Christianity of some of these gentlemen who„ would condemn anything winch seems to give pleasure to the masses is faithfully mirrored in the advice of one Roman Catholic clergyman, who, according to a cable appearing in your issue of last evening, said that “parents should drive from the house children who would not stay away from dances.” Further comment on this beautiful example of Christian feeling is needless.

The head of Roman Catholicism in Ireland has banned dancing altogether. There are in the ecclesiastical world sects whoso size rivals and outnumbers that of the Roman Church; there are in every country, both Chrstian and otherwise, millions upon millions of people who find no harm in the dance apd such pleasures. Are they, who' someone has said can be trusted to give a good decision if left to themselves, all wrong, and a small—a very small—minority of churchgoers and churchmen only right? It is not that the agitation against dancing .is confined Ireland, but there are in our midst some who from time to time voice exactly the same sentiments as these Roman Catholic _ churchmen. Nor is the attitude eonlined to any one sect. All denominations have made it their business from time to time to denounce that monstrous evil (?) the dance. Of course, when it never occurs to these good people that they, a small minority, may be wrong, it is not surprising that our churchmen and churchgoers never think of making the o/tort to make dancing decent in every way. This fundamental instinct of the human race, dancing, indulged in as far hack as history will take us by people of every clime, color, and creed, is much too useful and good a thing to bo abolished, cum if the denunciations of our priests and pastors could achieve their object. lam reminded when reading the cable in last evening’s ‘Star’ of the attitude of one small Presbyterian community in Southland whom I lived among for some time. _ The example goes to show just how widespread is the condemnation of and how unanimous arc the creeds in this, if in nothing else. In this community, when a concert was Held in the public hall with a dance to follow, the churchgoing section ol the audience withdrew in a body, and did their best to influence any who could be swayed to leave also when the dance started, When tlio writer questioned one of the church ciders regarding the chnrchpeopie’s attitude, he was told that: “It is not the dance or dancing itself, hut what goes with it.” What went with it was, as is sometimes the case, drink anti possibly a little immorality (though no one could point to the dance ever causing the latter). Accordingly, being convinced that the dance was not rim as it should be, and might give rise to reprehensible conduct, the '‘goodygoody ” people walked out, and loft it to tlie Devil to work his own sweet will with.

That another dance might ho run, properly managed and minus the objectionable features, by these self-same church people never apparently crossed their minds; or that they should remain daring the dance and see that everything was above-board was something too complicated for them to think of. And so it is the Chriftian world over, as the denunciations by Roman churchmen in far-off Ireland testify. No middle course is entertained —that of raising the thing to a respectable level and making the dance both an aid to health and to happiness. It still has to be proved, of course, that the immorality was or is caused by dancing.—l ora, etc., E VT F August 19. _____