The New York herald., 1873-07-19
OCEAN GROVE.
Close Of the Evangelical
COnvOcatiOn.
Christian Charity Above Church Creeds-A sue.-
cessful Experiment in Rehgion-A Meth
odist City by the sea-An Enter
prise Of Piety and Thrift
Scenes at the Parting.

OCEAN GROVE July Is, 1873
The remarkable religious Conyocaton which has
been in session at Ocean Grove, experimenting
in religion" as q brother called 1t, closed yester-
day. To understand the importance OF this con.
venrion and the obstacles that most likely to
hinder its success, 1t must borne IN mind that.
all the evangelical denominations in the world
sent representatives TO II, by general votion ap-
parently, for, although there was an invitation,
there was no concerted plan OF action, no organ
ization and. In fact no definite idea OF what they
intended to do. 1--WE just met" said good old.
reverend, ito see n we could not live In Christian
brotherhood, despite tenets aud doctrines, INNER
sion, sprinkling, universal salvation, total deprav
ity, second adventism and general damnati0n =.
and, sir, we succeeded"
THE OCEAN GROVE ASSOCIATION
is one OF the numerous wealthy Methodist Or
ganizatons which have dotted the whole Union
with their camp grounds. 1t has made Ocean
Grove-two years ago thicket OF mosquitoes-to.
blossom like the rose and now 1t rises from the
lowand city, with colleges, avenues stores,
stages-a complete illustration not only Of re-
ligious devotion, but OF Yankee enterprise. The
TaDcrnacle-a huge circus tsnt-rises in snow
magnincence on the "Pilgrm's Pathway" while
across that avenue is pilgrims boarding house.
where Christian having thrown OF his burden OF
SIM may refresh his inner man. barber shop and
a cake bakery present their needs Of usefulness
within hearing the fiery preachers exhortation!
or the humbed sinners wall The telegraph and!
Post Ofice perform their duties next door to q.
housefull Of young Christians at prayer meet.
ing. The rattle Of dishes In an ice cream
saloon mingle with the voices OF elders vehe-
mently singing to the music OF melodeon oppO-
siJed "Plunged in Gulf OF Dark Despair" With
all this happy harmony Of plety ana thrift, Ocean
oxunar
pertinent for the harmonizlng Of the different
brothernoods Of Professionalism. To be sure
LAPSE
may appear now and then. The too thrifty for Inc
stance, have sprung back-door arrangement on
the elders, and CIGARS the sale Of which Is forbid
den on the ground may be obtained at a certain
rear door, and strong beverages may even be
secured In the same way, though this latter is a.
proposition that your correspondent will not
the strict letter Of metnOdistic propriety, some
times venture on arcn gances anu fascinating
smiles tnat SAVIOR very fully Of an aching desire to
nirt, and other unortnodox lapses may be discov-
cradle at ocean Grove; but, as general thing,
Christian brotherhood and true piety predominant,
and certainly such sma. lapses as have men-
toned need not condemn the whole meeting.
Here, then 1t seemed appropriate TO inaugurate
THIS NEW EXPERIMENT
toward evangelical brotherhood. The denomina-
tions represented Included even the Quakers and
the diminutive organization IN Pennsylvania call
ing itself "Tne Holy Churcn OF God" There were
representatives from Canada, England, Germany
and from all portions OF our own country. AS to
the crowd gathered opinions differ, as regular
census would probably lail to reveal the iull num-
ber, owing to the ''transient' character OF great
many visitors. But at great meeting which took
place on the seashore one fne day during the
week, there could not have been less than 5000
The sand, to hear the expos tlon Of Gods Word
from vain man, whe the sea ut their feet thun-
dered its great monotone IN HIS praise.
TENETs AND DOCTRINES
were discarded during this friendly convocaton.
Baptist, EpiscOpaan, Methodist and UnIversaist
mingled in brotherly unity without permitting the
questions OF divinity, Trinity or ritualism to enter
even into their conversations. The last meeting
Of the Convention was held this morning in the
canvas tabernacle, and Dr. Ward, OF the Presby-
terian Church, President Of the convocatlon, pre-
sided. He made address to the congregation
where all the representatives OF the various de-
nominations had assembled. aud congratulated
an experiment. They had come together
in great harmony from d.nerent churches,
entertaining % raer d,ere1t ,,ne tieores beliefs.
They had met independent OF doctrines and tenets
In brotherly harmony, on the hign plane Of Chris
tan brotherhood, and he believed they had at
tanned the true evangelical alliance, the unity
which the Lord had loretold in His Sermon on the
tempted to do away with doctrines and destroy
tenets had proven failure Ihis. the true alli-
eral standard OF morality and CHRISTIAN love- the
Medes, the Parthians and the strangers IN Cappa-
docia naa come together % as one iamiiy' Tor they
The venerable Doctors exposition OF the inten-
tons OF the cOnvOcatlon was
HEARTILY ENDORSED,
Jonathan sturgs, Jr., Episcopallan. OF Boston;
Rev. Mr.. See, Dutch Reormed; Rev. Mr.. Tuomp-
son, Methodist; Dr. Ball. Baptist Union, and Friend
Ladd Of the Quakers all addressing the meeting
III endorsement OF his views. A committee OF
twenty five, IN which all evangelical denomIn ations
were represented, was appointed with Dr. Ward
as chairman, with power to Call other conventions
in view OF the fruits OF this. When this meeting
was concluded the brethren depar ed or home, after
bidding each other hearty adieus. The grove will
remain occupied by the Methodist persuasion, 1t
being permanent Summer watering place ior
SANITY PLEASURE SEEKERS.
The gracious income from tue goody investment
has 'set up' so many Jerseymeu in aliluence that
they have never ceased to wonder at their go0l
millionaire, with bewiderment ripping all over
his freckles, "them Methodlsts are the devil for
Stages, with horses that partook OF the "bare
bones" style, in complement to orthodoxy, prob.
ably, have been driving away from the grove all
that they banged the springs at every revolution
OF the wheels, while the drivers to give more room,
had TO seat them on top.
The departing brothers nrst, however had
ana treat e was see ns some sea Ss
brawny. Christians buffet the waves. 1t was
sy wTese Sny By s on s wo sea
at revival The heavy breakers rolled in ten
feet high, their white caps chasing one another SO
closely that the sea, 0r 100 yards from shore, was
sea OF upheaving foam. These brawny Chris
tians had to tug but they were hardy swimmers.
OF professionals, and, indeed, in their bathing
suits, few of them looked clerical enough to save
them from being classed with professionas-swim-
mers, or oarsmen or prize fghters-anythng mus
cular. White cravats, apparently, could seldom
have been placed more inappr0prately than on
their collars. Some OF the sisters also attempted
to take a parting plunge; but the surf was too
heavy Tor them and one dip was enough.
THE CLOSE.
Most OF the conventionists had departed in the
cribs, called stages, ere noon and q cold drizzle
about three O'Clock drove all the rest away, leav-
ing Ocean Grove to it's legitimate functions OF
an orthodox Methodist camp meeting ground.
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THE DEY STREET EXPLOSION.