•
A. G. HOBBS, JR.
FIFTH PRINTING
RELIGIOUS UNITY -- A Prayer, A Plea, and A Plan.
IS IT RIGHT TO DANCE?
IS SALVATION BY FAITH ONLY?
THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT.
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
THINGS MORALLY RIGHT BUT RELIGIOUSLY WRONG.
TO MY BAPTIST FRIENDS.
DID THE BOOK OF MORMON COME FROM GOD?
DOES EVERY PERSON HAVE A RIGHT TO HIS OWN BELIEF?
MISCONCEPTIONS CLARIFIED.
IS CONSCIENCE A SAFE GUIDE?
WHY OTHERS USE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP.
SHOULD THE SABBATH BE OBSERVED TODAY?
FALSE TESTIMONY OF "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES."
IS CHURCH ATTENDANCE ESSENTIAL?
THE RIGHT CHURCH.
HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
OBJECTIONS TO BAPTISM ANSWERED.(Turn to Inside Back Cover)
There is a growing laxity in society today. Standards of conduct have been lowered; and many ancient landmarks of moral and spiritual safety have been removed. Things that were formerly considered wrong by almost every one are being freely engaged in. Dancing is among the number. Many schools that used to oppose dancing are now sponsoring it. The cry of the age is freedom, license, and popularity; and sin is being winked at.
The majority of parents, teachers, and preachers used to oppose dancing. The evils, dangers, and sin of dancing were fully recognized and exposed both at home and in the pulpit. Do the same evils attend dancing today? And is it right to dance?
Let us face the facts with an open mind, and be honest with ourselves and fair with this question. It is not a question of the need and value of recreation. Neither is it a comparison of dancing with other things. Therefore, let us
face the issue squarely. Is dancing morally safe, and is it religiously right? Let us carefully consider the evidence in the light of reason and Divine revelation.
I. DANCING IS QUESTIONABLE.
"Is it wrong to dance?" is a question frequently asked. Hence, it is questionable. Many worldly people, even many who dance, see the evils of it and confess that it is wrong. And most of the others who dance have doubt in their minds about its being right. A common sense rule to follow in business, social life, or worship, is to always stay on safe ground. And the Word of God so teaches. Concerning doubt about eating meat offered to idols we read: "But he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Rom. 14:23.
Therefore, since dancing is questionable, it should not be engaged in.
II. DANCING IS LASCIVIOUSNESS.
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these: adultery, fornication, unclean-ness, lasciviousness." Gal. 5:19. Paul also names other sins and concludes by saying, "That they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:21.
Lasciviousness is defined as "1. Lewd; wanton; lustful. 2. Tending to produce lewd emotions." And lewd is defined thus: "1. Given to indulgence of lust. 2. Suiting or proceeding . from unlawful sexual desire."--Webster.
Anything, therefore, that tends to produce lewd emotions, creates evil thoughts, or excites unlawful sexual desire is lascivious. This, mixed dancing does. Hence, is is condemned in this passage. Now tred slowly; think carefully; be frank and honest about the matter. In an audience of 1,500 men the question was asked as to how many of them could dance and not have evil thoughts. Not one hand was raised.
Matrons of Rescue Homes Speak
The matron of a home for fallen women in Los Angeles said, "Seven-tenths of the girls received here have fallen through dancing and its influence." ("Popular Amusements" by Perry Wayland Sinks, p. 63). The head of a Home for Fallen Girls in Geneva said that 80% of the girls received traced their downfall to the dance.
Ex-dancing Teachers Testify
Prof. Harry Stribes, renowned champion dancer, and the originator of many noted society dances, said: "I will say that I do not
believe that a woman can waltz virtuously and waltz well, for she must yield her person completely to her partner." ("The Modern Dance" by Clovis Chappell).
Prof. William H. Holmes, also a former dancing master, said: "I found the ballroom an avenue of destruction to multitudes. This is a truth burned into the hearts of thousands of downcast fathers and brokenhearted mothers, and husbands are legion who can look into deserted homes left desolate by wives and daughters who have been led captive by the magnificent burst of harmony and the laying on of hands." ("The Modern Dance" by Chappell).
Physicians Speak
Dr. Frank Richardson, speaking before the Homeopathic Medical Association of New Jersey said: "Dance halls are the modern nurseries of the divorce courts, training shops of prostitution and graduating schools of imfamy and vice." ("The Carnival of Death" by Harry W. Vom Bruch, p. 62).
Dr. E. S. Sonners, M. D. of Chicago, says: "I attack the modern dance as a reversion toward savagery. As a medical man, I flatly charge that modern dancing is fundamentally
sinful and evil. I charge that dancing charm is based entirely on sex appeal. I charge that dancing is the most advanced and the most insidious maneuvering preliminary to sex betrayal. It is nothing more than damnable, diabolical, animal, physical dissipation.
"I tell you the basic spell of the dance is the spell of illicit physical contact.
"Under what other shield can a man or woman, a youth or maiden, so promiscuously fondle so many of the opposite sex in a single night--or a lifetime?
"We doctors know--a trail of broken homes proves it. We are headed toward the pit. The dance craze is a sign* * *." ("The Carnival of Death" by Vom Bruch, pp. 68, 69).
These facts concerning the immoral tendencies of the dance can not be successfully denied.
Why Such Immoral Tendency? 1. Because of the pose of the dancers.
Prof. J. Louis Guyon, an owner and operator of one of Chicago's largest dance halls, called "Paradise" in speaking before the World's Purity Federation Congress, said:
"We are all men. We know the natural
desires of youth. We know that sex is the strongest impulse implanted in the human race. You can picture the effect on a boy or girl of eighteen or twenty, when this hunger is keenest, when knowledge and experience are lacking in formation of judgment, in one of these dances which call for close abdominal contact and frequently bring the cheeks together and intertwine the limbs. Yet we find thousands and thousands of boys and girls dancing this way every day who do not realize they are doing anything out of the way and whose fool parents look on complacently. This form of dancing is a menace to the future of our nation. I will say, if it were impossible to conduct dancing without sanctioning this form, then we should abolish all dancing. Tell your investigators not to watch the heads and feet of the dancers, but to keep their eyes on their abdomens. They will find partners bending backward, their heads far apart, but their pelvic regions glued tightly together and their limbs intertwined. There is left, then, but one reason for its popularity. That reason is sex appeal. I hasten to assure you I do not believe the dancers always are conscious this is the reason they enjoy this position and the steps that go with it. But this lack of consciousness is merely an added factor
of danger." ("The Carnival of Death"--Vom Bruch, pp. 49, 50).
2. Because of familiarities allowed. Liberties in touch and contact of body are permitted on the dance floor that are not tolerated elsewhere --unless in petting. What man will allow his wife to be embraced by other men elsewhere? How many women will tolerate men embracing them on the street in like manner?
Why allow such familiarities on the dance floor and object elsewhere? Is it because of the music? Is it because it is night? (Did you ever hear of a daylight dance?). If such liberties are wrong elsewhere, are they not wrong on the dance floor? If not, why not?
Eliminate these familiarities and the dance is killed. Who ever heard of a dance for men only? Why not every man dance with his own wife? If it is for exercise, what is the hugging for? Why not men dance with men, and women with women? There are many forms of entertainment that men only can enjoy. Dancing is not on the list. Girls may waltz a little together; but did you ever hear of a club giving a dance for women only?
Let us not dodge the issue, but face the facts. No wonder dancing has an immoral tendency! How could it be otherwise?
3. Because of human nature, dancing has an immoral tendency. There are some things that just naturally tend to excite lust more than other things. Dancing is one of them. Temptations are greater when embracing a person of the opposite sex than when doing many other things. All who will be fair with the facts will so admit. Thus, as long as human nature is the same, dancing, both physiologically and psychologically will lead toward impurity of thought and deed.
4. Dancing opens the door for petting. Liberties on the dance floor pave the way for more familiarities elsewhere. Petting kindles the passion that leads to adultery. Adultery causes disease, divorce, disgrace, death and damnation.
Kind father and mother, if only one girl or boy each year is led into a life of impurity because of the dance, if it were your boy or girl would it be worth the price? High society is certainly running low when it puts popularity ahead of purity, and a good time ahead of good morals.
With the foregoing facts before us, the evidence that dancing is lasciviousness is overwhelming.
III. DANCING IS OF THE WORLD.
The round dance was originated in the brothels, and for about 100 years was not seen outside such houses. It belongs to the people of the world and not the Church. Both the devotees and fruit of the dance bear out this point. Therefore, it is a form of worldliness and is condemned in the following passages:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him." 1 Jno. 2:15.
"And be not fashioned according to this world: * * *." Rom. 12:2.
IV. DANCING IS REVELRY.
In listing the lusts of the flesh, Paul concludes them thus: "Envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:21. The Twentieth Century Dictionary defines "revelling" thus: "A feast with noisy jollity; carouse; spectacular dance performed in procession and pageant."
Dancing is a form of revelling. In case you do not agree, remember that by inspiration is added, "and such like." Hence, dancing is a
work of the flesh and surely is it condemned in this passage.
V. DANCING IS A STUMBLING BLOCK. "Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the Church of God."
1 Cor. 10:32. The fact that thousands have stumbled thereby is proof enough that dancing is a stumbling block. Thus, it is condemned in this passage.
VI. DANCING DESTROYS.
a. It destroys safeguards of moral purity.
Mothers used to teach their girls to demand of the boys a "hands off" policy. This is one of their best protections. What a blessing if all mothers would teach both their girls and boys this principle today! But if they did, the familiar fondlings of the dance would destroy it. Modesty is also a shield to virtue, and when it is destroyed, the bars are let down for other things. Dr. Howard Crosby said: "The foundation for the vast amount of domestic misery and domestic crime which startles us often in its public outcroppings, was laid when parents allowed the sacredness of their daughters' persons and the purity of their maiden instincts to be rudely shocked in the waltz." ("Popular Amusements" by Sinks, p. 62).
Many girls are embraced for the first time by boys on the dance floor. How can a girl be fondled by Dick, Tom and Harry and go away from the dance as modest as she went?
b. Dancing destroys purity of thought. After talking to a group of college students, clerks, and business men about the impure thoughts aroused by dancing, the preacher asked if he was right. Every young man in the room raised his hand. ("Questionable Amusements" by Frederick P. Wood, p. 35). Some girl is ready to say, "I can dance and not have evil thoughts." "If you can, by engaging in that which causes other to sin are you not responsible?" 1 Cor. 8:12.
c. Dancing destroys morals. Out of 200 girls interviewed by Mr. T. A. Faulkner, 163 attributed their fall to dancing. ("Questionable Amusements" by Frederick P. Wood, p. 35). An overwhelming amount of evidence bears witness to this point, and enough has already been presented to firmly establish it.
d. Dancing destroys influence. It destroys personal influence, and the influence of the Church. Especially does dancing destroy one's influence with those who oppose dancing; and even many who dance realize that Christians are out of place on the dance floor.
e. Dancing destroys respect. It destroys respect for the Word of God. Many warnings from the Bible are misapplied or ignored by those who dance. And dancing destroys respect for the convictions of others. Dancers are usually selfishly determined to dance regardless. Mothers may pray, preachers may plead, and husbands persuade, but usually it is all in vain. If a class in school wants to have a dance, they usually have it without due respect for those who do not approve it, even though there are a number in the class who must stay away or violate their conscience.
Dancing also tends to destroy respect for other forms of entertainment. After a person is afflicted with the dance craze, anything short of the dance is too dry.
f. Dancing destroys homes. It causes jealousies, quarrels, adultery and divorce.
g. Dancing destroys spirituality. Dancers do not attend services on Sunday night. They do not attend mid-week services. They usually miss the Bible study on Lord's day morning and get there late for the worship. This is the rule. I have never had it denied or refuted. There are a few exceptions. The most zealous, enthusiastic and self-sacrificing members are not
found among those who dance. If so, it is the exception and not the rule.
Therefore, this conclusion follows: Only indifferent church members dance; or else dancing makes one an indifferent church member.
h. Dancing destroys souls. Thousands will be in hell because of the dance. This point is self-evident. With all the undeniable facts and severe indictments of dancing, how could it be otherwise. The wages of sin is death, Rom. 6:23. Sin is transgression of the law, 1 Jno. 3:4. The obedient are the only ones Christ has promised to save, Heb. 5:9; and no one can dance and be obedient to Him.
VII. DANCING MAKES OBEDIENCE TO GOD IMPOSSIBLE.
a. No one can dance and "Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thess. 5:22. "The very pose of the parties suggests impurity" as Gail Hamilton said. On first beholding a round dance, an army officer of Philadelphia said: "If I should see a man offering to dance with my wife in that way, I would horsewhip him on the spot." ("Popular Amusements" by Sinks, p. 58).
b. Considering the great temptations of the dance, no one can pray as Jesus taught, and
dance. No one can consistently pray, "And lead us not into temptation", and walk deliberately into it.
c. Part of pure and undefiled religion is to keep unspotted from the world, Jas. 1:27. Dancing is of the world. It originated with the lowest sort of people in the world. It is fostered by worldly-minded people, for worldly, and sinful pleasure. The evils of the dance are so great that it can not be classed as clean entertainment. Therefore, no one can dance, and keep unspotted from the world.
d. With the facts before us concerning the evils of the modern dance, we can truly say that no one can dance to the glory of God. Therefore, no one can dance and obey this command: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31.
Not Right By Supervision
Supervising the dance will not control the mind of the dancers. The close embrace of the sexes will arouse unholy thoughts. All the police and school teachers of the town can not keep dancing from being lascivious. Neither can the surroundings make it right. Whether in the parlor, or in the school gymnasium,
dancing is wrong because the charges herein set forth against it are true regardless of where it is done. Sin can not be made right by supervision.
Let all lovers of truth and righteousness cry out against the modern dance.
Dr. A. C. Dixon said: "The modern dance is the fine art of covering with music, indelicate, immodest and ofttimes indecent attitudes and postures between men and women. It is too bad for reformation. Its only remedy is extermination." ("The Carnival of Death", Vom Bruch, p. 70).
WHY WE DO NOT SEE THE BIBLE ALIKE.
A PROCLAMATION (The Lord's Supper)
HAVE MIRACLES CEASED?
DO YOU KNOW?
WHY BE A CHRISTIAN?--ORDER FROM--
Bible School Book Store
Box 858
ATHENS, ALABAMAAdditional Copies
PRICE: Single Copy, 5 cents; 50 cents per
dozen: $3.00 per 100.
Write for Special Price in Large Lots.