Among the many disciplinary methods which have been neglected in our
educational systems, I would give a high rank to _dancing_. Rightly
conducted, it embodies so much of grace, dignity, cheerfulness,
playfulness, health, and the desire of pleasing, as to entitle it to a
high rank in the promotion of health and virtue. Dancing is one of the
imitative arts, and involves the amiable influence of imitation, as
well as the more lively sentiments. The hostility of the orthodox
churches to this refining exercise is probably the effect of the
infernalism of their theology, which places mankind upon the brink of
hell, in full view of the infinite agony of their friends, relatives,
and ancestors, so as to render every sentiment but that of gloom and
terror inappropriate. How bitter their hostility to all gaiety! "Yes,
dance, young woman," said a famous Methodist preacher about twenty
years ago, "dance down to hell!" At the same time, his own private
record did not indicate any deep sincerity in his fear of hell. The
same hostility is still kept up, and overflows in the popular
harangues of Rev. Sam Jones, and many others.
Popular Christianity, in the majority of the churches, is therefore
one of the greatest hindrances to a normal educational system, and to
social refinement, notwithstanding its support of some of the
essential virtues.