EDINBURGH MINISTER ON DANCING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1184, 30 September 1885, Page 4

EDINBURGH MINISTER ON DANCING.

sends us the following from a Home paper, giving an minister's views on dancing :—: — ■ a Free Gardener's meeting held Waverly Hall lately, the Rev. Webster, of St. .David's, Edinwas present and delivered an He said he was one of those who respect for the intelligent, working man. He made it a to lift his hat to the servant girl the mistress, especially if she and good-looking. — (Laughter.) that there was nothing heretical remark. — (Renewed laughter.) It that he had less respect for woadvanced in yeara, but it must be that the element of youth, esin women, was very attractive. Hjfein one saw a fine woman who was Hfat the age of forty, one could hardly H» wishing he could do as when he went KBthe bank with a £40 note— change Ips article into two twenties.— (Great nughter.) They had met that evening ■pr social recreation, and this was highly npmtnendable. Dancing, which was t» ■orm part of the evening's entertainment, Ibjfright and good, provided always it was within proper bounds. — (Applause.) was not one of those who considered a damning sin, and it was all to say that people must of be going to the devil in that — (Applause.) He had danced at Her Majesty's gatherings at but he was now too heavy for the — (laughter) — and besides, memPresbytery were expected never to feet too high or too quickly, but through the world with becoming and solemnity. — (Laughter.) He sure but it would be a uaeful for members of Presbytery to in tripping what was called the Hnt fantastic toe. — (Loud laughter.) Bine of them who had large stipends, and Kpequently heavy corporations, might At be able to exhibit all the beauties of

motion — (laughter)— but it might be better for them than snarling at each other aB they sometimes did at Presbytery meetings. It might also be able to make them preach more humanly, and develop in ministers that brotherly love which they preached about so much, but which all, both priest and people, found so difficult to practice.— (Applause.) Let them just imagine their respected friends George Gilfillan, and Dr Peddie, or their more modest friend's Mr Macauiay, and Professor Robertson Smith, or Ferguson and his antagonists, all dancing to the strain of some Presbyterian flute or fiddle. — (Great laughter.) He thought that the perspiration produced by such recreation would purge some of them of their bad humor and make them of a more tolerant state of mind. —(Laughter.) As one remedy for our Scottish bigotry, he would suggest more innocent recreation both for the clergy and the people.— -(Bear, hear.) Let them remember that what they had the minister must have also. He. would set the Presbyteries to dance occasionally. — (Laughter.) He did not mean in a literal sense exactly, but he would Bet them to dance either literally or metaphorically, and their differences, would very soon be danced out of them.