Protestant preachers had a lot to worry about in Chariton during the 1880s, including the triple demons of alcohol, tobacco --- and dance.
The latter was on the minds of the clergymen (sadly unidentified) who got together on March 18, 1887, to discuss "The Dance of Modern Society," apparently fearing that the passions of people of differing genders who touched whilst waltzing might become uncontrollably inflamed.
Their conclusions were summarized in the following report published in The Chariton Herald on March 31 of that year, headlined "Ministers Meeting."
" 'The Dance of Modern Society' being the theme for discussion at the Chariton Ministers meeting on Monday, March 18, 1887, the following excerpts were read.
"From a collection of all the passages of Scripture in reference to dancing it may be inferred that dancing was a religious act, both in true and idol worship. That it was practiced exclusively on jovial occasions, such as national festivals and great victories.
"That it was performed on such occasions only by one of the sexes.
"That it was performed usually in the day time, in the open air, in highways, fields and groves.
"That men who perverted dancing from a sacred use to purposes of amusement were deemed infamous, classed with the 'lewd fellows.'
"That no instances of dancing are found upon record in the Bible in which the two sexes united in the exercise either as an act of worship or amusement.
"That there is no instance upon record in the Bible of social dancing for amusement except of the 'vain fellows' devoid of shame, alluded to by Michael; or the irreligious families described by Job, which produced increasing impiety and ended in destruction and of the daughter of Herodias which terminated in the rash vow of Herod and the murder of John the Baptist.
"The church of Christ, in order to preserve her purity, must excise the tobacco devil, the alcoholic devil and the dancing devil.
"Dr. J.W. Hough says, 'A church member much given to dancing will seldom add a feather's weight to the spiritual power of the church. It is one of those things which we are compelled to class with Paul as not expedient. It does not edify. There is nothing in it to build up or brace a moral nature.' "
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