CHURCH DANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 13

CHURCH DANCES

PRESBYTERIAN "VIEW DIVISION IN ASSEMBLY MARGIN OF A SINGLE VOTE [by TELEGIUPH —OWN corkespondent] - DUNEDIN, Wednesday The Gerferal Assembly of the Presbyterian Church was practically evenly divided last night on the question whether it should express itself in favour of allowing dances in connection with church functions, and two very definite viewpoints were taken by the various speakers who participated in the lengthy debate which followed an overture from the Ohristchurch Presbytery asking for a pronouncement upon the subject.

In support of the overture and a subsequent motion "that the assembly should affirm the principle of liberty of conscience regarding dancing," it was pointed out that many churches allowed it, some calling it by other naiTtes, and that conditions had changed since the assembly in 1925 deprecated the principle. One speaker stated that dancing was respectable compared with other games played at church functions. On the other side, it was held 'that if tho assembly agreed to the motion it would stultify itself in the eyas of tho Christian public, and that dancing in many cases led to grave moral disorders. On a show of handsi the motion was lost by 47 votes to 48. Objection to Mixed lianclng

The Rev. Thomas Miller said that if the assembly agreed to the motion it would stultify itself in the eyes of the Christian public of thu Dominion. Without entering into the ethics of dancing in any way, he would like to remind them that even in the heathen races dancing was not a mixed business. Native dances were confined to only one sex. It had been left to Christian communities to adopt a type of dancing which involved personal propinquity and the handling of each other.

There was no lack of evidence, said Mr. Miller, that dancing was a moral danger to young people. In Dunedin itself recently the position had developed to such a stage that there had arisen a demand for a better control of things, and that demamd had been granted and reforms had been instituted. The same position undoubtedly applied in country districts, where dancing had led to grave moral disorders. Functions Well Conducted

The Rev. Dr. J. Dickie said that never in his life had he danced, and it was unlikely that he would start now, but he felt that he must protest against the attitude taken up by Mr. Miller. Whether dancing was right or wrong depended on the concomitants of dancing. There were many members of the assembly who had danced and in taking part in such functions had seen to it that they were well conducted, and he considered _ that the attitude adopted hj r Mr. Miller was a relic of the Dark Ages, and a view not held b.v any reputable church in Great Britain.

' There had , always been dancing at Knox College, with the full knowledge and approval of the college council, and the master, and these dances had always been conducted -in a most satisfactory fashion, said Mr. Dickie. He had seen most devout and respected theological students dancing, and _hp did not think that at the present time they were any the worse for it. ''l think tliat the motion is a very wise one, and if_ "we Presbyterians frown on dancing it is tantamount to saying to older Churches than ours, 'Look how holy we are. We are holier than you,'" Mr. Dickie concluded. At this stage the convener of the Bills and Business Commit tee said that no good purpose could be served by continuing the discussion any further and he moved that the motion be now put. The moderator then put the motion, which was defeated by 48 votes to 47.