The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-01
OCEAN GROVE CAMP MEETING.
OCEAN GROVE, August

OCEAN GROVE, August 81, 1872.
Yesterday the clouds that had gathered black
all the forenoon burst in cold rain storm In
the afternoon and brought dismay to many who
had come down to the grove to witness the kissing
and Handwriting that usually attend a camp
meeting closing. The steamer Plymouth Rock
steamed out from pier % North River at four
O'Clock with a large number Of visitors to Long
Branch and goodly few for Ocean Grove. ride
Of an hour and q half brought the ships company
to Sandy Hook and another half hours ride in the
cars Of the New Jersey Southern Railroad brought
them to the Branch. Here several stages awaited
the arrival Of the trains to convey passengers
to the camp grove. There are two lines Of
these stages running In opposition. but the only
benefit that passengers receive by the competi-
ton Is that they arrive little quicker by the oppo
sition than by the regular" line. There is no
ducton Of fare either but there is this advantage
to travellers going by the regular line that its
stages are allowed to enter the camp grounds,
while the opposition must "dump" them at the
gate, about three-quarters Of mile from the camp
hotels and preaching tents. And for this privilege
was informed that the proprietors OF the regular
line pay q tax to the camp meeting association Of
ten cents per passenger brought to the grounds
was assured upon good authority, however, that
the railroad company were the parties who paid
this tax, and not the stage company. These stages
are very pleasant for fair weather riding, but when
you have to travel distance Of seven miles over
JERSEY RED MUD ROAD
with the rain pouring In in front, behind and on
all Sides the Imagination is by no means carried
away with their beauty. The time occupied in
going over this road Of seven miles exactly one
hour and thirty-nve minutes. II was completely
dark when reached the grove, and the soft roads
there were so badly cut up that ruts and pools Of
front of OF the principal hotels in the encamp.
ment, pool Of water 0lled the roadway so deep
that the little lads amused themselves by wading
in bareOOt and ankle deep. to sail their minia-
ture boats. And through some Of this myself and
others had to wade last night to get supper and
bed. And what supper cup oflukewarm tea and
little minced ham. The bread and the Aour had
already given ont, and they had neither loaf nor
bun. few "hard tack'' took their place, and
with these and a little butter and q stewed
pear thrown in We had to make our feast
and be thankful as of course we all were. The rain
continued to pour In torrents, SO that praying or
preaching In tents or grove out OF the question
The dining han OF the Rowland Hotel was there.
fore converted Into preaching place, and meet
ing was organized and ''bossed" by Rev. Mr.. Os.
born, of Florida, the man to whom the Ocean Grove
Camp Meeting owes Its being. He IL was who first
discovered the beauty and convenience of the place
for such purpose, and went around among his
Methodist friends in New York, New Jersey and
Philadelphia and raised money to purchase the
camp grounds 800 acres in extent And from a
small beginning II has grown within three years to
be a respectable little summer village, containing
between two and three hundred cottages,
| some OF them very pretty and costly. Short
cxhortations were given ut the meeting by
q few prayers, experiences" were In order.
heard several Of these but they were Of the sereo-
| typed, 'sanctned' order, and contained nothing
impr0vised and seekers Of sanctincation or OF JUS
! LITIGATION were invited to step forward and be
prayed for. But they evidently did not relish the po
sti0n very much, for after repeated EFFORTS but two
or three OF the former class knelt at the bench ana
closed soon alter ten O'Clock and without much
enthusiasm.
| AN "ExPERIENCE" MEETING
| was held about the same time In DR.. Wards tent.
DR.. Ward is good Presbyterian brother from New.
ark who has fallen In with the doctrine Of sanctid.