WARNINGS GIVEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 22 November 1939, Page 11

WARNINGS GIVEN

PRESBYTERIAN VIEWS ABSENCE OF MEMBERS ASSEMBLY SESSIONS ATTITUDE TO DANCING (Put Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Members who have been absent from sessions of the Presbyterian general assembly without leave were given a warning at the final session ot Ihe assembly. The Rev. John Hubbard informed members at the afternoon sitting yesterday that unless they were prepared to pay better attention to the business of the assembly very drastic action would have to be taken to see that they attended. On Mr. Hubbard’s motion the assembly adopted the following resolution: “That the attention of the assembly be drawn to the absence ol members of the assembly without leave of absence.” A complaint that insufficient publicity was being given to the assembly’s business in some centres outside of Christchurch was heard at the general assembly. Reference was made to the publicity given to the synod of another church body meeting in Christchurch. The Rev. A. M. Ellifi'e moved that the committee on standing committees be asked to nominate a press-report-ing committee to the general assembly. He said that this measure would help to obtain greater publicity for the proceedings ot' the assembly. The motion was carried. Dancing Deprecated “While acknowledging the rights and privileges of the church courts and governing bodies of the church institutions, the assembly deprecates dancing at functions connected with the church,” was a resolution affirmed by the general assembly.

It was stated that dancing was one of the matters upon which every Christian had full liberty <■£ conscience and, therefore, the assembly disclaimed entirely any right ot power to dictate to its people on the subject. In view of the popular character of dancing as: an amusement, the assembly thought it its right and duty to call the serious attention ol its people to Certain aspects of this question. It deplored excesses and abuses ol the present dancing craze and regretted that many modern dances were unworthy of Christian civilisation and culture and grieved exceedingly that open and social use of liquor at public and private dances had produced disastrous results in not a few lives. The assembly accordingly warned parents and guardians of the dangers that threaten young life and exhorted hosts and hostesses to discharge tlicii responsibilities with scrupulous care and caution and urged its members that, before exercising their liberty of action, they should fully consider the facts and act as Christian love and wisdom directed. The assembly regarded the letting of church halls for dances and the holding of dances for the purpose ol raising funds for Christian work as most unbecoming, if not reprehensible.