EXPELLED FOR DANCING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6533, 3 February 1882, Page 6

EXPELLED FOR DANCING.

♦ ■ Mr Heber Donaldson, a lawyer of Pennsylvania, was recently expelled from the Presbyterian Church, to which he belonged, for dancing. The statement of the defender was that while at a private party he " attempted to walk through a quadrille—something he had nevei before attempted." He appealed, but the Clsrion Presbytery refused to sustain his appeal. "Consequently, he appealed to the Synod, which recently met at Erie. Mr Donaldson argued hia own case through a whole day, maintaining that the Bible did not prohibit dancing. The amusement was not condemned by the laws of the church, and there was no precedent for his expulsion. A reporter stated that" his peroration was an able and eloquent resume of the case, and was listened to with the closest attention by a congregation that filled the church to overflowing." On the second day Mr David Law- ( son, spealring for the prosecution on behalf of the Clarion Presbytery, held that conscience was not always a safe guide. No line could be drawn between " promisonous and social dancing." Mr Donaldson had oommittedan offence ogainst the church, because his example was liable to lead others to the depths of vice. Hence his act was calculated to bring discredit upon the churoh. Mr Lawson also claimed that "in no place did the Bible sanction the dancing or both sexes together." On the question being put, all the clergymen present adduced reasons for the vote they were about to give. Only a few maintained that dancing was not a sin against the law of tho church. Mr Donaldson lost his appeal by a great majority, tho votes being 73 against him to 20 in his favour. The defendant, however, announced his intention of appealing to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churoh, which assembles at Springfield, Illinois, next spring.