CHURCH AND DANCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1939, Page 3

CHURCH AND DANCES

PRESBYTERTAN RESOLUTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. November 21. “While acknowledging the right and privileges of church courtsand governing bodies of church institutions, the Assembly deprecates dancing at functions connected with the church." said a resolution affirmed by the General Assembly. The resolution said that dancing was one of the matters upon which every’ Christian had full liberty of conscience, and therefore the Assembly’ disclaimed entirely any right or 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 of its people to certain aspects of this question. It deplored the excesses and abuses of the present dancing craze, and regretted that many’ modern dances were unworthy of Christian civilisation and culture, and grieved exceedingly that the 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," exhorted hosts and hostesses to discharge their 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 of raising funds for Christian work as most, unbecoming, if not. reprehensible.