BISHOP WHO DANCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1921, Page 4

BISHOP WHO DANCES.

A PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY.

SYDNEY, July 14

Dr Long, tue Anglican Bishop of Bathurst (N.S.W.), has provoked a storm of criticism from certain quarters, that lias been amusing newspaper readers, by attending a ball and participating, apparently with great vim, in the fox-trots and other dances.

The Bishop, the. idol of the young people of his diocese, frankly confesses that he ■doves a good dance.” He is fond of boxing too, and not ashamed to admit it; and is, indeed, an all-round sport, being a daring horseman, a finetennis player, a good cricketer, and, in bis school days, one of the best foot bailers in his native State, Victoria. A handsome, clean-shaven man of 40. he smokes a pipe; and in these ant: other ways, is certainly the most uncon vt-mionai of all the Australian bishops • and, in the affections of the great mass of the people, he holds a high place pie is a broad-minded man and speakto crowded congregations everywhere, lis sermons, full of wholesome senti ments, are always well worth listcniiu to. Church life, in his own diocese, h in a healthier condition titan it is am where-else in Australia; and the on c ourageim lit of legitimate sport e there, a marked leature of the church s activities.

Amongst those who have been criticn jj,, r the Bishc:’; dancing proclivities b Mr Herbert Booth, a sun cf the hit. General Booth, who happens to be con ducting an evangelistic mission at Bathurst."‘‘The other night,” lie remarked in the course of an address, “then wore in' Bathurst two functions in startling antithesis to one another. Or one side of the street there gathere. the Baptist Church, a little hand representing every Protestant C hurch. In the beautiful words of the AngliwPrayer Book they had resolved to cu loose from ‘the pomps and vanities o! this wicked world.’ Across the street at the Masonic Hall there was anothei kind of function. The building was crowded with gaily-dressed and partial lv undressed ladies,- who yielded thoii bare arms, backs and chests to the embrace of men of'all ages. The Bishop vus one of that party. They "ere whirling around till giddy midnight, think that the first bishop of the church would not have been found doing the fox-trot under such conditions, or moving his ecclesiastical toes to t.he envy of the onlookers. 1 think that had lie been there ihe would have said again; ‘Beware of the harmful lusts which war against the soul.' I am sure that had the blessed Bishop Paul peeped through the door into that strange admixture of holy and ipiestiouablc things lit would have sternly protested.” “I stand by every word I have said :ibout the immodesty of modern society dressing,” added Mr Booth. ‘Whatever a bishop may do or say at Masonic dances, I stand by the first Bishop ol the Church in his injunctions concern ing the modesty of womanhood.’ Cor a lew days the Bishop treated Mr Booth and his other critics with loll,' disdain. Then Mr Booth renewed his attack, and received this broadside Irom Bi■-'top Long in return: It it enough to make the gorge of every honest man rise to read of loathsome insinuations as to the thoughts and emotions alleged to he rampant in people who dance. -Every docent man and woman with a healthy body and a clean mind repudiates such charges as have been made by this Mr Booth with withering contempt. It is bewildering that they can be made. It is perhaps not charitable to adopt the hypothesis of the psycho analyst, and ascribe them to sex neurosis and prurient obsessions. This type of man makes me angry. It was at a dance that I fell in love with the I woman in the world. It was with that woman that 1 danced again the other night. My children are learning to dance and we take pleasure in seeing them indulge in this innocent pastime. J thoroughly enjoyed my night at

ball, it was a most friendly and charming social gathering. I took part in » number of the dances, but I don’t think I shone in the l’ox-trots. Some kind people have credited me with greater tcrpsichoican proficiency than is just.’’