CENSURE UPON DANCING

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1924, Page 4

CENSURE UPON DANCING

HR ESRYTEUIAN AvSSKMRI.V DEBATE. HALAIEILSTON. Nov. 18. ' On Friday morning Mr F. Jones, :m older ot Aiatnmatn, rather startled tho Assembly by suggesting tlmt dancing; was tang'lll in the J’resbytoriun Girls’ Colleges in: the guise of lessons in deportment. The Assembly to-day dismissed a motion by Air Jones: I lint this Assembly diseourages dancing and the raising of funds by .such means for schemes in connection with the Presbyterian Church.

Mr A. I). Nicholson (Auckland), seconding ition. said dancing was one of the chief deterrents of spiritual life. There was a Presbyterian minister who had actually led - the grand march at a dance. (Loud cries of “Shame.”).

The Rev. John Paterson (Wanganui) moved as an amendment: That this General Assembly, while recognising the liberty of all Christian men in matters not forbidden in the A\ ord ol God, enjoins ti|>on all its ministers, officebearers, and people to discourage, all forms of amusement tending to weaken spiritual lile. and especially to avoid such amusement, particularly dancing in connection with Church functions as a means of raising money for Church purposes ; and that the matter be remitted to the Life and Work Committee, a full statement to be prepared for the guidance of the Church on the subject.'

'l'he 11 cv. Dr. Gibb supported the amendment. It would lie wiser. he said, for the question to be considered in the <|iiietcr atmosphere ol the committee than to be settled in the Assembly. The whole development of dancing and of the dancing spirit in recent vents was most serious, and to think liiat a Presbyterian Church had advertised a fancy dross hall was shameful. They must, however. not lose their balance of judgment. They all knew that there was dancing and dancing and in his own Church theta 1 were some of the most, worthy membois of the congregation whose daughters had been taught dancing, and who attended Government House functions. Again, were they going to ban some of the games that were played at their Dibit? Class socials Some of those games entailed wlmt lie might call more “body handling” than some danc-

ing. The llev. Mr Paterson’s amendment was then made the substantive motion and carried unanimously.