Felix Cherniavsky - Censorship, Dance, and Morality

Added 18th Mar 2022 by Beth Dobson (Archives and Programming Assistant, DCD) / Last update 18th Mar 2022

Maud Allan 927b 51 2008-2-61.jpg
Maud Allan 927b 51 2008-2-61.jpg
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Felix Cherniavsky - Censorship, Dance, and Morality

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Maud Allan Research Collection
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51.2008-2-61
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T Jan 14,1 Inter Missing This sorrow was further . Since to expose one's self to what is called the proximate Orcusion of sporto become the proximate ocenion or sin to others , is in itsellainful , then taking on the character of the Coca sion or act , it dollows that a panitent who knowingly and voluntarily ex poses himsell to the danger of con mitting brievious ein , or is the occa sion of others committing it is not contrite , and hence cannot receive ab solution in the tribunal of penance . The application of these principles is obvious . It these indecent dances are 3111 Occasion of sin to those who indulge in thom , or iť by indulging in them they themselves become an oc casion of sin to others , and if in the tribunal of penance they refuse to promise to ceuso indulging in them , it follows that they are not sincerely sorry for their sins , and hence cannot receive absolution . By well instructed Catholics these principles are clearly understood , as they are also by the children in our schools , and I only felt it necessary to request the priests of the diocese to call the attention of the people to thern in reference to these vile dances , and to warn both young and old that if they indulged in them , it would be yseless for them to go to confession in the hopo of obtaining absolution . Should any priest be so indiscreet as to attempt to absolve a penitent in these dispositions , the absolution would be worthless , and the contes sion would bring a curse rather than & blessing I had long been convinced that these dances Wero working sad havoc among young men and women , and I had long felt that it was my duty to speak out , but I had no reliable in formation on which to base a con demnation . Fortunately , this was sup plied by a society of Catholic gentle men In Memphis , namely , the Knights of Columbus , who , in their corporate capacity , published a circular con demning these dances . They further publicly avowed their purpose to ex . pel any member who should attend any entertainment at which such dances were indulged in , or who , en tering & place of amusement , should not at once leave it on learning that these dances were to be part of the programme of the evening . They further called upon Catholic parents to ostracize and exclude from their homes all young men and wom en who engage in these dances , and warned them to shield their sons and daughters from the slimy touch of such moral lepers . They called them Infamous dances , the spawn of the red - light district , and the prolific means of securing from the homes of purity and virtuo recruits for tho bawdy house . These are strong words , used by gentlemen who seemingly knew what They were talking about , and they an ply Justify me in admonishing Catho Tion that they who do such things aro not of Chrlet , and cannot hope to re celve Ills pardon , peace , and blessing . TIIOMAS S. BYRNI , Cathollo Bishop of Nashvillo . Nashville , Tenn . Bishop Olmsted's Donbts , In reply to your request for an ex pression of oplnion as to the harm ful effect of the new dances in America , I would say that I hardly . feel competent to express an opinion on that point , seeing that I have not the means of knowing what moral ef fect they may be producing . I am almost never present at balls or dane ing parties , and have never seen the so - called new dances . " I should judge from what I have heard and read about them , however , that there must be somethin moralizing in the use of them , your editorial the other day you con tended , I believe , that the lanmornity 11 anywhere , must be in the dancers and not in the dance . Probably that is so ; but is it not tantamount to sayins that the intoxication is in the drun ard , not in the stuff that he drinks ? Yet , as there is something in tho liquor which makes a man drunts , may it not be that there is something in these new dances which beguilos the men and women who practice them into immodesty ? From all that I have read on the subject I should think there must be something of that sort ; and if so , it does seem to me thet it were better to prohibit them . I am not a political Prohibitionist ; but I do approve of 119 license for hotel bars and saloons , bo cause it is wrong to make it so ensy for men to ruin themselves and their famllies and to lend young men and eyen boys into the sulmeldestruotion . CHARLES TYLER JOLMSTED , Episcopal Bishop of Central New York . Utica , N. Y. Inclined to Oppose Them . In reply to your Inquiry of Jan. 9. concerning my opinion as to whether the new dances are hay ing a harmful effect in America , I would say that I have never seen them danced ; but from the descriptions of them , from the illustrations I have seen in the papers , from the statements I have read of their origin , I am strongly disposed to array myself with those who are opposed to them . We are not living in & puritanical age , but rather in one of extreme tolerance , The fact that these dances have been so widely denounced by those who are intelligent and reasonable and neither fanatics , nor extrem ists , is sufficient evidence to me that these dances are most ob jectionable and inevitably dangerous to those who engage in them . LOUIS W. BURTON , Episcopal Bishop of Lexington , Ky . are For Individual ' . Conscience . In reply to your request I desire to say that , not being in a position to glve a direct answer to your question , I take the liberty of submitting the following : 1. From Inquiries which I made , I conclude that some of these modern dances to which you refer are vulgar and indecent . 2. Until they have been purgated and all that is evidently objectionable eliminated from them , It seems to me self - respecting persons will refrain from them , No refined young man or lady should participate in a dance the moral character of which is ques tioned . 3. Even dances which are generally approved may be to some individuals , owing to their peculiar temperament , an occasion or wrongdoing , and such persons whould refrain altogether from this diversion . To eum what I have sald : Dances which are regarded as in decent by persons who are familiar with them , and who are known for their prudence , elfuld bo avoided by all ; those dances which are looked upon as proper can be Indulged in , but it rests with the individual's con . science to determine whether such are licit for him or not . HENRY MOELLOR . Archbishop of Cincinnati . מון

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