DANCING AT CHURCH FUNCTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 7

DANCING AT CHURCH FUNCTIONS

<, PRESBYTERIAN DELIVERANCE RULES TO GUIDE SESSIONS (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Nov. 6. Dancing was discussed at length at the afternoon session of the General , Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to-day. The discussion was taken in private and later the resolution which was carried was handed to the Press. This reaffirmed several sections of the 1939 Assembly's decisions on dancing, and included a new section, which drew the attention of congregations where dancing was carried on at Church functions to the need for great care in the matter, gave instructions to sessions which permitted dancing to control and supervise it, and set out recommendations for their guidance. The resolution stated in part that dancing is one of the matters upon which every Christian has full liberty of conscience, and therefore the Assembly disclaims entirely any right or power to dictate to its people on the subject. It believes that honest differences of "opinion on dancing exist and that the question calls for the exercise of the very difficult virtue of true Christian tolerance, which, will enable one to say, "Let every man bo fully persuaded in his own mind." In view of the popular character of dancing as an amusement, the Assembly thinks it is its right and dtity to call the serious attention of its people to certain aspects of this question. It deplores the excesses and abuses of the present dancing craze, regrets that many modern dances are unworthy of our Christian civilisation and culture, and grieves exceedingly that the open and social use of liquor at public and private dances has produced disastrous results in not a few lives. The Assembly accordingly warns parents and guardia.is of the dangers that threaten young life, exhorts hosts and hostesses to discharge their ?osponsibilities with scrupulous care -md caution, and urges its members that before exercising their liberty of action they should fully consider the facts and act as Christian love and wisdom direct. The resolution sets forth the following recommendations for the guidance of sessions:— 1. That all Church functions which provide for dancing in the programme should have the approval of the session and duly appointed representatives of the sessions should be present. 2. That such functions should bo purely Church functions, and not open to the general public. 3. That dancing should not he used

as a means of raising money for Church purposes. The Assembly commends to

congregations and to young people the idea of direct giving as the method most consistent with the dignity and sacrificial spirit of the Church. Moving that the discussion be in private, the Rev. F. H. Robertson (Christchurch) said it was not intended that the question of dancing generally should be discussed, but only the question of dancing in connection with Church functions and Church organisations. Therefore, it was a purely domestic issue. He -, .thought that if the discussion were - reported a wrong impression might be conveyed. The motion was carried by 98 votes to. 64.