The New York herald., 1874-07-17
OCEAN GROVE AND THE CHRISTIAN UNION
CONVENTION.

OCEAN GROVE, July 16 1874.
The second annual Christian Union Convention
vt this place opens to-day. 1t IS iraternaI meet
1ng Of NeShodists, Baptists. Episcopalians,
Quakers COngregati0nalsts and OF all other Chris-
tisn denominations that may choose to come into
the tabernacle. The grand idea OF the Union is that
OF the late Worlds Evangelical Alliance in New
York. the SPECIAL object, however. being .the pro-
motion OF holiness OF life through faith in Christi
Prom the spirit OF Christian harmony manifest
among the men OF dinerens churches already on
the ground, we Ebenold how good thing 1t is for
men and brethren to dwell together in unity"
But to the average Gentle this settlement itself
Is far more interesting than this religious FESTIVAL
OF hitherto belligerent denominations. some four
years ago there WAS nothing here but q waste Of
sand hills and nats, crossed at intervals OF half
mile or 80 by swanpy bordered little inlets, out
9ets Of water Running down 80 the seashore, but
cut on from the sea itself by broad SAND bars, the
whole region OF sand hills and nats being thicky
covered with stunted pines ana oaks, with dense
underground o. myrtle and hucKeberry bushes.
thc coast was that OF sterllity, intense heat,
drought and desolation, Notwithstanding the rank
growth OF the stunted oaks and pines and the un-
.dergroWtng jungle Of shruhbery vines and weeds.
Now mark the transformation. For mile
two along the coast here and extending back half
. mile or more from the beach, we have two four-
Ahing summer settlements Ocean Grove and
Asbury Park. two villages with broad streets and
tavenues, running north and south and east and
west, with scores OF handsome cottages in every
direction and with scores in course OF c0nstruc-
1,on. In the heart o. Oce0n Grove IS the rustic
kpulpit from which at these summer camp meetings
sIhe Gospel is preached to thousands OF attentive
listeners, and she Auditorium under the trees IS
surrounded by hundreds OF tents. Adjoining the
open auditorium there IL great tent. Ike that of
q circus, In which meetings are held when the
weather rainy or Otherwise ,nnfaVofabie for
open air services. The fOrpidding lagoons OF four
years ago have been changed into besutiini lakes.
One OF these iagOons, that which uiyldes Ocean
Grove from Asbnry Park, ~ covered with little
pleasure and ferry boats and day and night 1t is
ecene OF busy life ana hearty ENJOYMENT
In the two villages there are probably now not
acss than 2,OO0 people, and the gathering Will De
increased TO 10000 at the grand Methodist camp
meeting in August. The permanent population ol
she two villages keeps so TAR ahead OF the census
that the 'oldesp inhabitanu' cannot guess what IT
10 to-day; out We shoSld estimate 1t to be at least
5000.
Forty odd Jersey stages, carrying each eight
passengers, keep up the communication lOur
shines day with the railroad station seven miles
above At Long Brancn ana the ride down along
the coast and through the fields q mile or two in
1end In a pleasant jaunt Tor = summer morning.
Hhe whole establishment here is the marvellous
,putgrOwth rom the original idea OF permanent
.encampment OF the Jersey Mcthodists for q
great annual August camp meeting lew years
hence we shall have here perhaps the very hand
soonest summer settlement along the whole Az
Danto coast.