The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-22
The Degencraey Of the Religious Spirit and the
Activity Of Land Speculation. 4
CAMP AUCTIONS AND NOT CAMP MEETINGS
4 Small Attendance and but Little Cody
Fervor and Religious Zeal.
3ohn Chamberlain Subject for the Prayers
Of the Congregation.
OCEAN GROVE CAMP MEETING,

OCEAN GRUVE CAMf MCCAANV'
OCEAN GROVE, N. j., August q, 1872.
Ocean Grove is another OF those curious summer
settlements which have sprung up during the past
NV years in the neighborhood OF our great cities
nnder the auspices Of the National Camp Meeting
association and which have for their object the
3ninging Of pleasure ana piety, Of recreation and
redemption, According to the wicked and the I'M
charitable 1t has already proved very satisfactory
and profitable pecuniary operation for its founders;
but then, of course the unsanctifed many always
scon and sneer at the prosperity OF the family Of
israeli What after all, could be more natural
han fits success II Its affairs have been managed
Nth anything like just regard for those princi-
y.es Of business wisdom which enjoy the respect Of
6 Amt and sinner alikea The Church, in modern
ages, has always numbered among Its supporters
many of the moneyed leaders Of society, ana with
a little aid from these golden pillars OF the taber-
uacle 1t was found easy to float the project into
smoothly running order. tract Of land very
hvorably situated for the site of o Summer
watering place, only six miles from Long
Branch, and with an admirable beach, was
selected and purchased, and then the Legislature
81 the State OF New Jersey was persuaded without
0taculty to grant charter containing the amplest
powers to the irreproachably pious gentlemen who
announced themselves as the trustees Of this pro-
D0eed colony Of Zion. The charter obtained the
work went briskly forward. The ground was accu.
tately surveyed and mapped or into lots, and the
principal avenues and streets were cleared and
named and constructed, with more or less regard
% permanence. Then big camp meeting was an
nounced, and the disposal OF the lots began. The
grand idea underlying the scheme was one that
commanded the respect Of every loyal member Of
ehe household Of faith. This nothing less than
10 relapse, with certain necessary notifications,
Into the simple and delightful tyranny Of the patri-
archal system OF government, and thus secure an
exemption from the temptations Of the wicked.
The new town, so II was solemnly promised, was to
b Inhabited by the deyout and the regenerate
a2one; and though as Christ pointed out, the good
God makes Has sun to shine and His rain to fall
On the righteous and the unrghteous alike, yet 1t
Was deliberately proclaimed as a wise and humane
policy by these modern believers in the Gospel that
the unsanctihed should not be permitted to reside
pide by side with the sanctihed, but that they
should be shut out from the constant contempla-
lion Of the shining lights Of Israel unless they chose
70 relinquish certain privileges which democratic
Institutions teach US are right, and abandon GER
lAin carnal pleasures which, until the present gen.
pFation were looked upon by no one, In the Church
II out OF It, a. vicious. True, the wicked were to
- invited and entreated to come In and attend
ne services In the local churches, and II they
would only consent to "get religion" and
Darade themselves as fruits OF the camp
meeting" much, indeed, would be made
y them, and they would DO received by the breth-
tsn, and by the sisters too, with open arms. But
his, after all, is very much like the permission
xranted to the servants OF an arstocratic family to
bmerge from the kitchen for few minutes each
morning and evening and IN the intervals OF family
tate arlorwwhich is not pleasant basis Of adj
mission. No citizen, indeed, with an unwashed
pheerfully accept hospitality on terms 50 humin-
Bad Boy, and you might corrupt and contaminate
us; but II you win promise to behave yourself you
may come In now and then to see how good we are,
one Of 70 even the worst
buch speech as that is not sugar-coated pill.
Now look at what has been done under the SANG
don OF the State OF New Jersey which Is supposed,
u member OF the Federal Union to have o sincere
hesire for the maintenance Of free institutions In
carry out the scheme Of pure and unadulterated
Romrn9nity OF pious people, and pious people alone,
sSie power to handful Of men within the limits Of
1his large property over the police and government
the colony TO still further confirm their power,
around on the old feudal system OF tenure for a
FERN Of years. No resident upon this sacred soil is
k6ement Of the community in which he has been
9olish enough to acquire domicile. he Is warned,
w " the hS eSss ar ee STRICT tSS
That he won't be allowed to change or modify them
No whiskey and not even glass Of lager, is allowed
20 be imported within its precincts and In seasons
pf camp meeting no one must proong visit out
fide the gates after halfpast ten O'Clock, under
pain OF being kept out until the morning. Boating
Ind even bathing are rigldly prohibited on the
Sabbath day. 1t has been proposed so 1t Is said, to
decree the abolition Of tobacco smoking aud per-
haps the edct may 60 further when all the lots
bAte been disposed o. and the absolute power Of
the trustees is not tempered with an inducement
20 make things for the present mildly endurable.
8sven now q man finds himself hampered at every
yurn with all sorts OF blue law regulations, ana In
further Tightening OF this medi@vai legislation.
30 FAR, however, the scheme has been very sue
oessful, and 1t must be confessed that the people
owing at the grove do not themselves as yet COM
plain Of the institutions under which they live. But
bne cannot help thinking about what win be the
smother quarter OF century. Suppose a man &C.
4uires lot there now, while he is q good Methodist
lp the course OF a few years after he has become
fnorongny accustomed to the place and has grown
ohanges his opinions and comes TO think that Clam.
payne Is not liquid Hampatlon, and that heaven
nomination which he leaves He viii then S have e de e.
cell his vested interests, probably at great sacr
nee, and and depart, for the authorities win not al
anypropositon to erect church Of any other than
whS are, In their eyes, the sole orthodox sects:
and, bearing in mind the constant changes of opin,
ION With people go thoughtful as ourselves II is
Tdse ta there T be- II the future o.
hardship and injustice TO individuals. Indeed, il
may be aaid that every man who goes TO Ocean
Grove yves pecuniary bonds that he win forever
remain AMethodist, or Presbyterian or Low
bargain.
The greatteature OF the year at Ocean Grove Ia,
q course, itsannual camp meeting, which is looked
ssSU.ward TO- II this little earthly Jerusalem with
ne proioundes> emotions OF pleasure and delight.
Sns one ~ the sesept year was inaugurated last
b,km., ano unfortunately under by no means very
az ass auspices, as the attendance, In spite OF
shree az tou, q Tue preachers, was limited TO