BALLS are dances, or as modernized and fitted to Christian tastes, and rendered suitable as entertainments which Christians may attend, they are more properly called "assemblies!" A church member would not go to "a dance"—not he—not she—dance is too low and vulgar a term for high-life professions. The poor have their "dances." Neither do these solemn-countenanced and Sabbath-day professors of religion like "balls"—that is, they do not like the name of "balls." They like the reality—the thing itself—the dance—the heated passions—the vain show—"the sound of revelry by night"—the waiting for the morning—but, then, all this is not dance—or ball—but an "assembly." Don't you understand? It is only an "assembly"; and, certainly, there can be no harm in a christian's attending an "assembly!" Mr. A. was there to the last assembly, and he is a good man. He spoke in the prayer meeting the other evening. Mr. B. prayed in the prayer meeting one evening, and attended the ball the next. Dea. C's. daughter, too, did not come up missing. They were at the ball. The young ladies did not dare to say "ball" to the deacon—they said "assembly"—and so the deacon was caught by a word, saying if mother was willing they might go. And mother was willing. To her credit, however, be it said she is low in her mind, and has not "exhorted" for some weeks!!!
Thus much have we written, not knowing hardly what to write when we began. We said "balls" as we began, and we say "balls" again. We have written in irony, but the subject is too solemn and awful to be thus treated entire. Suffice it to say, reader, that we are sick—not stomach-sick, or head-sick, or limb-sick—but heart-sick—soul-sick. We are sick at what our eyes see, and our ears hear. "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." There it is—such is the world—and to this, we fear, the church are hastening—the church are mingling with the world, and fashioning their religion after the world's pattern. Many dare not move in the church until they first go to the world and get the world's opinion as to the propriety or impropriety of things. If the world say dances, and balls, and assemblies, and theatres, and card-playing, then it is all right, whatever ministers and pious and true christians may say to the contrary notwithstanding.
We speak not harshly. As God is our witness we have no such spirit. But we do confess to sadness—to sorrow—to mourning. May we not weep as we remember Zion? Oh, that our head were waters, and our eyes a fountain of tears, that we might weep day and night for the slain of the sons and daughters of the Lord.
These dances, balls, or assemblies, or whatever we please call them, (the Devil is not so particular about names as we are,) are eating out the heart-life of the church. They are hindering thousands from coming to Christ. Many young men and women would have sought religion the past Winter, had balls been out of the question. As it is, they may continue to follow the road of pleasure to its termination—its bitter, its awful, its eternal END.
As a christian public Journal, then, we solemnly protest in the name of all that is solemn in religion against mixing up the "pure and undefiled" religion of Christ with the gay assemblages of the day. Have your Inauguration Balls, your Democratic Balls, your Republican Balls, your Washington birth-day Balls—rejoice in them, if you will—let your hearts cheer you, ye vain ones—walk in the ways of your hearts, and in the sight of your eyes—let your laughter be laughter—let your joy be not heaviness—put far away serious things—bid death be gone—say, if you choose, you will never die—or if you die, you will never come to judgment—and as to "eternity" and "hell," you cannot stop to inquire their meaning. Thus do and thus say, but do not ask us to follow you. Let Christians be Christians. Do we address a parent—a father—or mother? Do you believe your children must be born again, or never see the kingdom of God? All then we have to say is, beware of balls—BEWARE.