West-Jersey pioneer., 1873-08-22
For the w. j. Pioneer
THE CAMP AT OCEAN GROVE.

THE CAMP AT OCEAN GROVE.
1f.. Editor:--The opening service of
Ocean Grove Camp was held in the presence
of thousands of people. The weather was
bland and beautiful, and everything prom
ised fairly for success. The preaching was
excellentrthe praying talented, the exhor-
tations fervent, the singing both pathetic
and triumphant, the accommodations supe-
rior, the boating and bathing generally
given up, and no reason could be assigned
of converts, and large number of people
made the recipients Of higher religious
! life. Still, these results did not follow, and
very few people other than members showed
any special personal interest in the question
of salvation. The preaching was largely
directed toward awakening unconverted
persons, and the prayer meetings were of a
similar type; but the sinners refused to be
awakened, and consequently there were
scarcely any conversions. The originators
of Ocean Grove had modelled it's religious
idea upon the thought that the first great
work of the ministry is to fill the church
with spirit Of fervent power which in itself
would overflow upon the hearts Of uncon-
itual interests of their natures. Forseveral
days there did rot appear to be any pro-
nounced policy, but toward the close of the
meeting, the latter line was adopted, as the
only hope of success; and at once the tide
of religious life began to rise. On Satur-
day, as the Camp was to close on Monday,
a number of persons were protesting expe-
rience Of conversion and sanctifcation, and
many more gave evidence of deep feeling
of need in this regard. On Sabbath, the
interest deepened both morning and after
noon, and when the time came to commence
the evening service, it was found impossible
to close the prayer meeting. Men and wo-
men, score after score were kneeling at the
alter in an intensity and fervor of prayer,
and absorbed concentration of thought and
feeling which forbade any notice of service
or ringing of bells. Others were joining
them, agonized prayers were ascending from
lips which had seldom prayed in earnestness.
before. Ringing voices were uttering their
Joy as sense of forgiven sin flowed across
their spirits, and it was as we have said, ut
terly impossible to interfere with the SER
vice, as it was being conducted, The
preacher himself announced that God had
taken the meeting in his own hands, and
that he proposed to fall in and help; and SO
he went to work among the seekers of par
don and purity, The aisles were cleared,
the settees upon the stand were improvised
into alters. A prayer meeting or two were
organized elsewhere and the work went on.
Before long, two or three hundred people
in these various meetings were on their
knees at the affairs or in the congregation
openly seeking God. Some were conscious
christians seeking him in higher life.-
Some were church members in good stand
ing, but backsliders in heart, seeking recla-
nation. Some were people openly wicked
in their life and seeking the pardon of their
sins, and altogether it was scene of Won
derful display of religious power, lasting
the entire evening, and far on toward mid
night. Conversions and sanctification were
being avowed during the entire time
Sometimes there would be five OF six people
in different parts of the altar, who would
rise almost at once, and avow their CONVEX
sion, and their radiant faces attested the
truth of their feeling. Then there would
be another earnest struggle of prayer, and
numbers would profess the reception of a
clean heart. After while, wave of re-
ligious emotion would apparently surge
over all the assembly, and the religious peo-
pie, without regardao denominational lines
would give vent to their pent up feelings in
ringing shouts of praise. Then one of those
soft sweet melodies, the minor keys of re-
ligion would be sung, and all the people
would melt to tears. Altogether it was the
most wonderful display of religious power
which those present had witnessed, except
in connection with the National Camp meet
ings. The interest did not close on Sabbath
night, but on the morning of Monday, al
though the rain was pouring in torrents the
people assembled in the Tabernacle, and a
number presented themselves at the altar
as seekers Of religion.
After the first day or two of the meeting,
the weather was stormy most of the time,
but the storms made no serious Interrupt
tion to the meetings The tent holding fif-
teen hundred people, was dry and comfort
aole, and the services went on in that. The
tents as far as we can learn, did not leak,
and nobody suffered. The newspaper res
ports about the tents blowing down were
incorrect, only two or three out on the beach
suffering in this way. The preaching was
good, some of it ornate and eloquent; yet
the people gave unmistakable evidence of
preference for the plain and solid kind, a
fact which we thought creditable to them.
Most of the people will remain month or
so still, to enjoy the recuperative influen ces
of the sea air and bathing.
The Soldiers of the I'd Brigade. now at
Cape May, had a rough time in getting
there, on account of the rain, and have had
a 'WeG season moSC oI CHe ClIne Sluce 1T
irving there. Gov. Parker, Gen. Stryker,
and several State officials went to the Island
on Tuesday afternoon. The troops are well
provided for, and if the weather proves
favorable, the last of this week will be a
lively time at Cape May.
Bishop James preached with unusual ear
nestness and power in the open air, at Sing
Sing Camp meeting, on the 9Th inst, since
which time he has been seriously ill. The
Bishop has been unable to attend to CORES
pondence and has recalled all his official en-
gagements prior to the session of the Erie
Conference, which he hopes he will be able