Church Minutes - Warren County - 1856

Church Minutes

"Old Time Tales of Warren County"

"Liquor was not the only thing that sometimes caused good Presbyterians to stray from the straight and narrow path long years ago in Warren County.  The 'social dance' with it rhythmic allurements entrapped one here and there.  Dancing seems to have been officials banned by the session.  The following minutes are illustrative of the church's attitude toward dance.

January 23, 1856

Session met and was opened with a prayer.
Elder Moore reported, that according to public report, Miss Eliza Jane Upton had been charged with the impropriety of attending one or more social dances.  

Thereupon the Pastor of the church was requested to converse with the above named member in regard to this charge, and to speak publickly(sic) of the impropriety of such conduct.

Closed with a prayer.

John McMaster, Moderator

PS  Miss Upton acknowledged that the charge concerning her was true, yet did not seem to manifest that deep penitence which would indicate a full determination to 'come out from the world.'

One can easily picture the staid Rev McMaster interviewing Miss Eliza Jane Upton.  She was one of the prettiest girls in all the countryside, with very rosy cheeks, and bright roguish eyes.  Her small, nimble feet were made for dancing, she was full of fun and frolic as a kitten.  It is little wonder Eliza Jane failed to manifest all the penitence she might, or to come completely 'out of the world.'"

SOURCE:Ancestry.com. Old time tales of Warren County [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Pages 80-81

Original data: Bristow, Arch.. Old time tales of Warren County. Meadville, Pa.: Press of Tribune Pub. Co., 1932.