MODERN VICES

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 29

MODERN VICES

DANCING AND MODESTY. ) STERN LENTEN PASTORALS. LONDON, February 27. . “A greater cause for anxiety than ball dresses, which are immodest, suggestive, and an open incentive to passion, is the senseless infatuation for the endless ex-, citement of dancing,” says the Roman Catholic Bishop of Derry in his Lenten pastoral. “It is a corrupt plague, spreading rapidly, and dealing ruin in many homes. Some dances imitate the excited orgies of savages. They are not merely an incitement to sin, but are so immodest they cannot be witnessed without sin. Until we see this danger of corruption ending, I forbid priests to promote dances f or any purpose.” The Roman Catholic Bishop of Armagh, in his pastoral, says: “The first abuse which should be corrected in the Lenten season is woman’s abominable dress. Satan made no mistake in subjecting the fairest of creation to ridicule, sin,” and perdition. It brings a blush to the cheek to find grave mothers and pious daughters causing scandal in order to present a beautiful appearance. Woman never degraded herself as in the nresent costumes, which lower her, below the-lowest human family and suggest Joss of~ all regard for purity. _JYe cannot have a clean race unital she -has restored her former dignity. Til] then do not let her approach -th© Holy of Holies.”