Discussions (Vol 2) - Dabney - XXIII - The dancing question commenced

Required reading
Discussions (Vol 2) by Robert L. Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence 'The dancing question' by reading up to the paragraph beginning '5. The Scripture has virtually included the modern dance in an express prohibition in three places...'

My summary
Today Dabney condemns dancing.

Firstly he cites those who have condemned dancing in the past, including the writings of:
(i) pagans;
(ii) early church fathers;
(iii) early church councils;
(iv) Presbyterians;
(v) Wesleyans;
(vi) Episcopalians;
(vii) Roman Catholics.

Then Dabney proceeds to show that the Bible has condemned the modern dance for:
(i) the Bible enjoins on Christian sobriety;
(ii) the Bible enjoins on Christians strict economy;
(iii) dancing dictates a mode of dress in females which the word condemns;
(iv) the Scriptures expressly forbid the modern dance, in that they enjoin the strictest purity in the intercourse of the sexes.

What grabbed me
An interesting discussion. 

The Scriptural proofs primarily depend on looking at underlying principles: 'It has been already remarked that a practice must be viewed in the concrete and with its usual adjuncts in order to make a just moral appraisement of it. The modern dance is anti-scriptural again, because it dictates usually a mode of dress in females which the word condemns. Paul expressly requires Christian females to " adorn themselves in modest apparel "...How much this meant, this raiment seemly and decent for woman, must be learned from a proper understanding of the meaning which virtuous opinion in Paul's day attached to the words. The unlearned Bible reader may see what this was from 1 Cor. xi. 4-10. We there see that, according to that standard which is enjoined on the Christian female, she who appeared in public unveiled — not to say with parts of her person exposed which delicacy should have most jealously guarded — disparaged the honor of her sex by an unnatural transgression. '

Yes, that principle would condemn much of what is considered dance today. 

But I'm not sure we can condemn 'all' dancing just because some dancing is clearly unwarranted.

Next week's reading
Conclude 'The dancing question'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.