BIBLE CLASSES AND DANCING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18393, 20 February 1928, Page 5

BIBLE CLASSES AND DANCING.

STATEMENT ADOPTED BY METHODIST CONFERENCE. The evils of modern mixed dancing were discussed in committee by the Methodist Conference this morning, following the presentation of a report from the Young People’s Department of the church. At the conference held last j-ear the following resolution relating to dancing, which was submitted by the Temperance and Public Morals Committee, was carried:— "That this conference calls the attention of our people to the regulation of the church warning them against the ‘great moral and spiritual peril’ attaching to dancing. It recognises, further, the wide implications of Christian ideals and principles, and is of the opinion that the church can fulfil its complete mission, and carry on its work without the introduction of dancing in any shape or form.” On resuming in open conference it was reported that the following resolutions had been adopted: That for the guidance of our young people in the matter of their moral and educational life, the conference resolves to issue the following positive and constructive statement:— 1. The Young People’s Board appreciates the larger and truer conception of Christianity which relates to the whole of life, and thus includes physical education, sports and amusements, and social relationships. It is the task of our religion to cultivate body, mind and spirit in the interest of complete Christian personality. 2. The board approves the action of the Y.W. and Y.M. Bible Class Movement in their appointment of a committee to apply its attention to raising the standard of programmes at church socials, and trusts that steps will be taken to train a special leadership for social and recreational life. 3. In these days of the new freedom of youth and multiplied opportunities for pleasure, a great responsibility rests upon all who are associated with organisations for sport and amusement to use their influence to promote by these means a clean and healthy citizenship. We are concerned that there exists in the community a spirit of vulgarity and greed which is strongly organised to exploit the lower passions of human nature for monetary gain, with the result that multitudes of young people, innocent and unwary, become the victims of potent temptation almost before they have become aware of its presence and their peril. Against all such subtle and powerful perversions of true sport and recreation our Church stands in uncompromising opposition. 4. We respect the rights of individual conscience in the matter of conduct. At the same time we stress the need to educate the Christian conscience. Every such right of conscience should be exercised by Christians as in presence of their Lord, weighing the effect upon their plans and purposes as professed servants of His. They should also act with a sense of social responsibility, considering the well-being of others, especially those younger than’ themselves. 5. We recommend all Christian parents to encourage an open and frank relationship with their children in adolescent years concerning their social problems, so that by reasonableness, sympathetic understanding and active participation they may win their confidence and help them to choose ever the way of , the Christian ideal.

The following words were deleted from paragraph 2. on the grounds that it was not the function of the conference to propose the programmes to be carried out by the young people of the church: —“We value the steady development of healthy outdoor sports, and desire to see in social evening programmes a wise use made of pageantry, drama and rhythmic games, such as cannot be interpreted as mixed dancing.” «