This tract against the practice of social dancing is based on a series of articles written by Jones in 1852. Jones notes alarm because dance is gaining favor with the public. Two of his arguments are common in this genre of literature. First, he claims that dance is an unhealthy exercise. Second, he claims that dance in the Bible is exempted from criticism because it was interpreted as being performed only by women. Jones argues that dance is the natural result of "fervent piety, and of a heart overflowing with gratitude."