Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1874 — ON DANCING AS A SIN. [ARTICLE]

ON DANCING AS A SIN.

Rev. W. 11. Mickle lives at Ron.dout, and is a crusader. The objective subject of his attack is not the infidel Moslems who overrun the Iloly Land; nor the weak old man at Rome; nor the whiskey traffic that gallops the youth and talent of America to perdition; nor yet the social evil, which, like a sepulchre is full of foul corruption; no, it is neither of these, for they each have multitudes to oppose them from every coign of vantage, but the thunders of this reverend gentleman’s'field batteries are directed against a deadlier, subtler, more insinuating and dangerous sin—that of dancing—which leads captive llic young and unsophisticated of the land. In this age of intelligence is it not strange that prommineut journals should be found with peiceptive faculties so dimmed as to be oblivious to the ravages of this evening destroyer of youth, beauty and innocence? Alas!it is so, and even that influential paper at Chicago which fashionably parts its name in the middle lends its stalwart power to flpfend wickeds ness. Just read how the luter-Ocean -scoffs at the -holy.- labors —of Rev. Mr. Mickle to reclaim votaries at the shrine of Terpsichore fiom their evil ways, and then groan at the heathen darkfiess in which some of the prominent journals of theTiiiicteenth century still grope: “Did the Rev. Mr. Mickle ever hear of a flirtation being opened with prayer, and it there were no flirtations, even among the clergy, where would the ministerial calling go to? Does he ever remember to have heard his respected mother offer up a prayer before cutting off the neck of a chicken, or commencing to darn a pair of his reverend stockings? Is it usual to offer up prayer before entering upon the mystic rites of candy pulling, or the equally festive games of baseball and leap-frog? And because it is not usual, is the reverend gentleman going to abolish all youthJalsport—and healthful exercise, and the elasticity of heart which conies, alas, but once?» Men like Rev. Mr. Mickle would turn the world into a huge groaning house, where even laughter would be a sin, and merriment the voice of the devil. VVe have known more celebrated divines by far than the Rev. Mr. Mickle, men whose piety was as sincere as their labors were efficacious, who not only encouraged dancing and reasonable frolic among the young folks, but (raonstrum borreiiduni!) had a dancing party occasionally at their own houses. Everything in its place, Mr. Mickle! There is a time to laugh, and a time to cry; a time to dance, and ar time to S.eek commun--ion with the Almighty. When God gave to His creatures the gifts of youth, and health and beauty, he meant them to be happy, according to the natural instincts of a buoyant spirit; not to assume a gravity becoming the shadows of the evening, which, in the s*un. shine of mirth and joy, they can not feel. The next meeting of the Northern Indiana Editorial Association will be held at Laporte, on the first day of Jugs.