EVILS OF DANCING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 37, 6 May 1927, Page 8

EVILS OF DANCING

A WORDY COMBAT CLERGYMEN CROSS SW(%

‘•I am not the least ashamed anything I have written; * I giadly stand by it. The thihg that causes me concern"' * I that a brother minister should 5 so unfairly, adopt such quest!* able methods of controversy refuse to do the gentlemanly if?" 1 when his mistake is pointed Quoted above, the Rev. H. K Va T the Remuera Methodist declines to lower his colours to.-' Rev. Jasper Calder, City the debated question of dancing asserts that Mr. Calder made an u attack upon the Methodist Churd “The Rev. Jasper,” he said t<w~ “is a terrible man when he is ! He has defied me to prove this and the other. Only a day 0 r tw 0 * he was defying his brother men, and even the Archbishop Canterbury, if they disagreed withv teaching on divorce. It surely

be getting a habit, and has made hi* the self-constituted champion of those who dance. “As a matter of fact, however, I have not so much been crossk swords with him on the dancing question, as endeavouring to secure an elementary act of justice. The main issues between us is that Mr. CaM? launched an unfair attack upon & Methodist Church without any wa; rant, and in so doing entirely ignore: the terms of the official resolution, fc would be just as logical for me . saddle the Anglican Church with Hi Calder’s ideas, and then fulntat against that Church as being respot sible for them. “With regard to the reference it yesterday’s SUN, I desire to pointoa: that Mr. Calder picked out just t* sentences in my letter, on the grot: that it was too long to print, and & one quoted by you is wrenched V him from its context. In a stateme: of contrast I reminded him that lift he received the support of ma:: decent people who dance, tte approval would be shared by some* another kind.” MR. RYAN’S LETTER To clear the air, Mr. Ryan ask": THE SUN to publish the original later he sent to Mr. Calder. It is a follows: “It is a pity you did not get acquainted with the terms of the reselltion passed by the Methodist Conic ence, of which I was the mover, fc that case you would have been «aiK from many wild and inaccurate statements. The resolution was as falows:— “ ‘That this conference calls tr* attention of our people to the reflation of the Church, warning then of the “great moral and spirits peril” attaching to dancing. “ ‘lt recognises, further, the widimplications of Christian ideals asc principles, and is of the opinion tbs the Church can fulfil its comp'e'-* mission and carry on its work, willout the introduction of dancing 0 any shape or form.’ “The two principles involved ye. (1) That the attention of our Methodist Church is called to a certain rtplation of the Church, and (2) Methodist Church is convinced tk she can carry on her work, withe' dancing being regarded as part of h* organisation. “There is nothing in the rc|olution that can justify any < your arguments, and yet from w ‘imaginings’ of your own mind y* launch an offensive and unchrist£ attack upon a sister Church, with all her faults, is honestly try& to interpret the mind of her Leri*to assist the establishment of ~ : Kingdom of God. In sporting •** guage, that is ‘hitting below a belt,’ and if you have any s®**** courtesy and decency, you will retract what you have obviously ten in haste, and tender a frank *- unqualified apology. “In the meantime, let me tender z own good wishes in all the work., are trying to do for our common and Master.” “(Signed) 11.