And here it is in fact, that they
principally level their arguments against it. They prohibit all members
of their society from being present at balls, and assemblies; and they
think, if their youth are brought up in ignorance of the art of dancing,
that this ignorance will operate as one preventative at least against
attendances at amusements of this nature.
The Quakers are as strict in their inquiry with respect to the
attendances of any of their members at balls, as at theatrical
amusements. They consider balls and assemblies among the vain amusements
of the world. They use arguments against these nearly similar to those
which have been enumerated on the preceding subjects.
They consider them in the first place, as productive of a kind of
frivolous levity, and of thoughtlessness with respect to the important
duties of life. They consider them, in the second place, as giving birth
to vanity and pride. They consider them, again, as powerful in the
excitement of some of the malevolent passions. Hence they believe them
to be injurious to the religious interests of man; for, by depriving him
of complacency of mind, and by increasing the growth of his bad
feelings, they become impediments in the way of his improvement as a
moral being.
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