p. 59 | HOW WAS IT?

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 4

HOW WAS IT?

ONE of the most puzzling religious questions in Chicago is, whether there was dancing or not in the Ada Street M. E. church. It appears that the cantata of “Esther” was performed by members of the congregation. Afterward, an influential brother published a card, in which he said: “Vastly ennobling and sublime was the scene! The youthful members and probationers (among whom was the church class-leader), dressed in gaudy theatrical costumes, performed their respective parts in dancing. Does not the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal church expressly and positively forbid dancing? For several weeks prior to the opera, the church has been open evenings for the rehearsal of its actor members. Very commendable, indeed, to see church-members engaged in taking their first lessons in dancing in the house of God. Alas! alas! has the time already arrived when the house of God is to be converted into a dancing academy, and the church opened for theatrical performers?” But pastor Adams denies that there was any dancing, though he says: “In a certain part of the oratorio two young ladies, entering from different sides of the platform, approached the king with a gliding motion. I am willing to confess that the motion was not a walk, but I am equally sure that it was not a dance.”—Napoleon Northwest.