New-York tribune., 1874-08-17
SEASIDE WORSHIP.

NNrN
THIS WEEK.
Six miles below Long Branch is a secluded
nine wood known as Ocean Grove. A long irreguarly
SHAPED placid lake skirts its northern boundary ON
the southern side is another charming sheet OF fresh
water OF somewhat less extent On the west Is Wucr
ness and the eastern boundary is the Atlantic ocean
Five years the natural advantages of tins que' r
treat were unrecognized Il was then rather forest
than grove, and was regarded as eompafat'eS
yalueless tract Of territory IL was 700 Idl 'ro' WV
cation attract much notice and there were u" NoOu
means Of communication with the active world Ii was
only an hours drive from one OF the most i"S"''""
Summer resorts ths continent ont the eun't res %
denis of Long Branch knew little or nothing OF 'he
charming grove which almost pushed itself INTO the sea-
and Of these fresh water lakes which were almost
sprinked by the oceans spray
II WAS considerably more than five wears ago tha'
several of the clergymen Of the Methodist Episcopal
Cburrt began 10 feel need OF TO themselves such
as nothing then discovered could supply They Wlsneu
90 withdraw from the world for few weeks OF summer
rest to be If possible on the seashore' "hero so
beach would furnish bathing, and where the snirouu
Ing country would supply attractive drlNeS' lucy
wished 10 be wholly beyond the reach OF Fashion ana
her yotaries and to give themselves up to tle genuine
rest which only secluded retreat would proNuc
Could such place be found company OF eohgeni"'
friends would there assemble ana ioru' ~
ile community which should be reunited lrom
year TO year Though the plan might
hardly be practicable yet Of the most enthusiastic
were strongly favor OF carrying into execution 'o
project thus happily devised 1t was several years. nov"
ever before the plan took definite shape ana EaNo pio
ise OF speedy realization. The Rev w T. OSoorn' an
active Methodist never allowed the seed thus soWn TO
perish He had talked with many on the subject ana
had also conceived the possibility Of an annual camp
meeting somewhere along the coast 10 be held at the
same time His efforts 70 accomplish that which
many OF his friends had almost forgotten at length gave
promise Of abdnd1nt fruit. Interest IN the SUD-
icct increased daily, and at last a little company
set ont on a tOur OF exploration along tho
NewJcrscy coast Every available plot of ground De-
tween Cape May and Sandy Hook received attention.
and the advantages OF what is now Ocean Grove were
seen al glance. There much to contend with' TOT
The wilderness needed partial clearing, the ulderOrush
being well nigh impossible. SIX acres OF lana were
purchased however along the borders of the larger
lake and here few Methodist pastors assembled al tne
close OF years laDOrs. They hunted hShed ufO'e'
and bathed IN the vicinity and held frequent religious
ser,,ees among themselves. In 1869, there were 10
families thgs brought together. The meetings
held increased in interest, and the tdncs reached
the ears Of the outside world. The primitive man
Icr Of life possessed peculiar charm ior many
outside the profession by whom it was originated ana
number OF men from various ranks of life desired with
their families to enter the little community Their re-
quest was quickly granted and IN the Winter OF 90 an
oreauzlon was formed and chartered known as Inc
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association ofthe Methodist
IN Ipi.copal Church" Thirteen ministers and an equal
The exact end in view is well shown by portion OF the
preamble q the charter:
Beng especially impressed with the propriety Of
having portion Of the land skrting the sea conSe-
Grated 10 sacred uses we whose names are hereunto
annexed, with single eye to the Divine giory aad IN
humbe dependence upon our heavenly Father aiH u9
hereby Soemny covenant together 70 use certain land
which has been pr0yldeutilly committed 20 our trust
Tor these hiSh anu hOy purposes; Ahq We iuIt ItnC' @
declare 10 10 be design 70 keep these llnfs per
duIy upou those who may succeed us. 70 this end we
mutually pledge our Christian honor
From such humble beginnings the work has gone
steadily on. The Rev. l. II. stokes, ID. o. Camden
Nj was elected President Of the organization.
The Association purchased large tract of land,
amounting 70 13J acres II cut up into lots and Of
ferco for sale at moderate terms All speculation was
nc condemned and the money received from the sale
o lots was to be expended in the improvement OF the
spcctys property. and the surplus to be devoted to
bercvolenf objects No salaries were 10 be paid
off ser except the superintendent Tds plan has been
Iiedly adhered TO- and the superintendent now knows
where every dollar has been expended The
Ilcsout superintendent H. b. Beege, was appointed To
that office IN 1870 He then to Ocean Grove for
the first tirne AMI found two cottages completed and
four others building From that time forward the
growth been most remarkable. for there are now on
the grounds cottages and about 800 tents OF these
500 cottages ab0;t bCilt durag 1873 Some have
cost upward. Of S] TIe panic of last Fail has been
fcl, however even in this worldly spot aud the num-
her of raised this year Las hardly equaled the
half Of that O: year Lots have also been pur-
chased more re uctntly buit thought another season
VIII present record surprising than that OF 1873
Upon seeing the demands likely to be made upon
them the members of the Association cleared large
portion of their land surveyed It and laid it out in
streets cutting each otner at right angles
O! these several derive their from the noun
tans Of the Holy Land and others from the names OF
some Of the brightest hsh;s Of MethOlsm. There IS
Mount Hcrmon Way, Mount Tabor Way, Mount Zion
WAY aud Mount Pi>glh WAY. There Is a Wmteheld-
ave and Wesey-place. There is a Pilgrims Pathway
and strangely enough a worldly Broadway. The Ocean
Pathway is a splendid avenue. 2)) feet wide,
lined with cottages, and which runs in
straight line to IN" II is becom-
iusa fayorl;e promenade and 900 persons are some
times seen upon IT, Central Park has been laid out,
md has already some attractions The character of the
so is such. however 10 preclude the possibility OF
ANYTHING of extreme beauty i'm vegetation. IL is the dry,
sandy soil for which Southern NewJcrey Is noted. and
winch no yerdure can conceal. fortunate discovery
has been made however. Along the beach several feet
below the surface is found a bed OF hard clay
several feet in thickness. Much of this clay has
been taken out ana covers all the drives in the
vicinity. IL In turn covered with gravel and then
An excellent road IS formed hard aud dry and vet free
from dust may here be mcut Oncd that beneath this
he'd Of clay stratum of peat several fee in thickness
bas been found. In thus llyng out the streets and
building the drives little difficulty mas been expert
ruccd. some Of the avenues ere almost as nara ana
level as a floor Ia the vicinity OF Pilgrims Pathway
eaudhank nearly 10 feet hight has almost entirely dis
appcared and its former Is covered with tents and
cottages Since the cearn. and surveying less than
FIVE years ago. the material growth has been
steady and rapid More than $4,000 have
heen spent. aud thus extensive improvements
have been made every side. The cottages
now built are better adapted 20 the purposes required
than the first attempts. They built on much the
same plan as those vel known at Martha's vineyard