VULGAR AND INDECOROUS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1922, Page 6

VULGAR AND INDECOROUS.

PRESBYTERY ON MODERN DANCES. “A PHYSICAL AND MORAL DANGER.” Christchurch, May 10. The Christchurch Presbytery to-day passed the following resolution: “The question of the attitude to dancing which should be adopted by congregations and members of the Presbyterian Church having been brought before Presbytery, it is resolved as follows: “(1) The practice of dancing either alone or with those of the opposite sex not being expressly forbidden or discountenanced in the Word of God, the attitude of Christian people to it must, in accordance with the principle of Christian liberty, be left to the individual conscience. Presbytery, however, would urge upon all members and adherents of congregations within the bounds that in this matter the rule may well be considered that while all things are lawful all things are not expedient, and also the duty of considering the weaker brother. Dancing is not helpful to spiritual life, and while many, or most, may indulge in it without much harm, it certainly awakens in some an emotional excitement, tending to the weakening of moral restraint, and so constitutes a physical and moral danger. Many of the most popular tnedern dance;, further, are vulgar and indecorous. exhibiting neither grace M motion nt.r beauty of rhythm, and tend to break through that reserve whirii wady should be observed in the relationship of the sexes. These, from both the artistic and the moral point of view, should be discountenanced.

“(2) In regard to dancing at church social functions. Presbytery earnestly requests congregations to refrain from it, as it is an offence to many Christian people and a possible source of danger to some who indulge in it. The business of the church in any case is not to be a purveyor of amusement to the community. “(3) Presbytery particularly deprecates the raising of money for church purposes by means of dances as beneath its dignity, and insulting to the sacredness of the duty laid upon us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ to worthily maintain the ordinances of religion by offering freely to the Lord of our substance.

“(4) Presbytery instructs all ministers and church missionaries within the bounds to read the above deliverance to their congregations.”