The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-13

PRAYING BY THE SEA.

OF YOUNG FOLK-sURF MISUNDERSTANDING
TIES.
OCEAN GROVE, August II, 1870
There lisa religious iul here at present, which the
brethren arc improving to get themselves in proper
trim Tor tho Centennial Camp Meeting. which opens
Wednesday next. series of morning and evening
prayer meetings have been held during the week, and
will continue to be held until the camp meeting opens
Rev. George Hughes late Secretary OF the National As
socstion for the Promotion Of Holiness, has charge
OF tho evening meetings.; aud, contrary TO-.
what l have and heard In this grove,
tho burden of his prayers and celebrations has
for the conversion OF the ungodly II should be
that for years gone by this purpose hos
been ignored kept IN The background altogether at
camp meetings, 80 that one thinks now Of measure
ing at those places by the number OF converts
gathered In but rather by the crowds that flock to
them and the pecunisry receipts OF the trustees II
was therefore, very pleasant surprise TO 10 hear
Brother Hughes impress upon the praying people here
that they should make this centennial camp meeting
memorable by earnest labor and prayers Tor tho con-
version OF souls Indeed, at the very FIRST OF those
meetings held Monday evenings he organized league
OF prayer aud work Tor this object and quite goody
number pledged themselves to engage heartily In II
When the camp meeting closes, therefore, wo may
BKrrKR SPIRITUAL RESULTS
than generally flow from those gatherings This is
encampment was established Tor tho especial
purpose of promoting holiness in the Methodist
aud other churches Whether Is has done
not others declare II does not appear very
spicuousiy here indeed very sonsiby at all There
hundreds and thousands of ungody persons on this
ground and have heard as low and vulgar language
from Of them rs ever heard Iii the most abnn-
doncd quarters Of New York. have been amazed, too
at this. For place and people so prossscdly de-
voted making and women better and more
holy ought least 10 have influence enough over men
TO prevent athy language on the public streets There
is certainly plenty OF work here for TINS prayer and
work league, IL they will only do it.
There arc large numbers OF young people here. but
comparatively few Of them attend tho morning prayer
meeting which Is for their especial benent The lake
the beach have greater attractions Tor them. And
indeed, don't blame those who can do II TO spend
much time as possible on tho water or ny mo sea-
The air OF
IN. GROVE Is NOT MxALruYrL
for persons troubled with pulmonary or catarrhal dis
eases. Notwithstanding all that has been wr,t,ou
about the healthtuness Of tho place. and all that has
been done to make Il So there arc eight or dozen
do at Their calling Wesley Lake. a sheet Of mixed
fresh and salt water stagnant nearly during tho
summer about half milo long and few rods Wide Is
thickly studded with boats as TO make rowing for
pleasure dangerous we'll disagreeable pasIme.
And yet thore arc boys and girls ON this
lake on an average eight hours daily. Some OF
the smaller boys too. who want 10 swim but can't do
in tho sur exhibit their skin in this stagnant pool
and after staying in it AN hour or go sick and
send for tho doctor. Rowing so long on this lake,
swimming in and bathing in the surf until the body
becomes chilled, enables the physicians here TO reap
pretty good harvest pccuniariy.
Theodore Tton was here Tor fcw days, and may DO
here SILL though have net seen him Tor tho past two
days He was making himself agreeable to the ladies
tho beach the other day, giving them instructions
his locks flow as beautifully as over l understand
Mrs Tilton is In Asbury Park, on the other side OF
Wesley Lake II ., would not be strange Co. II they
Grated spot and returned 10 Brooklyn In the tall
to live together in the future more happily
than they have lived In the past Governor Hayes,
republican candidate for tho Presidency here
tenting have been told though aftcr digent inquiry
| have not been aole ind out his locale He has
probably been confounded with Senator Hayes, Of New
ark, n. J. Alderman Ripley Ropes, OF brooklyn, Is
also down hero, and Colonel Mcclure, Of tho Phadcl-
ph,a Times and wife, hero. Rev. j. d. Adams and
family, OF Ames church, New Orleans, La, are spend
ing lew days tho Grove.
Tnx SURF MEETINGS,
especially Sunday evenings, peculiar feature OF
this camp. But they not now what they once were
after those gatherings marked by cecply spjr
tual character Tho audiences were then small enough
said and they were devou as became the hour and the
service But Ocean Grove has outgrown the most
guins expectations o. us origlnaors ana the beach
not than ten per cent Of them can get
enough to hear tho most stentorous speaker.
There 5000 here slast Sabbath evening.
Hence TOO many OF the religious aspects Of the meet
ngs lost Some talk OF religion some Of lot speeu
ation business At home some discuss tho political
situation and the young folk nrt aad enjoy themselves
II a yards of minister not trying his best
and prettiest to show them how much better religion
Is than real estate politics courtshp Then too, 1t
has happened and the fact has become noticeable here
that on Sundays nsh come hither In schools and tho
boys who not allowed catch them on Sunday. long
for the opportunity, and discuss with each other the
chances good haul instead Of attending 10 the
hortatiors OF the minister These surf meetings
immense gatherings, getting larger as the years roll
but becoming every year spiritually less and less
useful As samples Of what might be sung here on the
beach on Sunday evenings If there legal
religious that day than there the
Of y popular songs which have heard sung here on
week nights For ought TO DO known that there arc
surfsgathernes here every evening from eight to ten
O'Clock. The young people gather TO see the moon
rising talk sentimental nonsense and tho papas
and mann 60 along their hopefuis don't
pass the bounds OF propric,y. One OF those dittes
runs ollows:-
The girl that gets stolen kiss
And goes and tells her mother
The girl that ssi. ., = , sol ks.
Gets what she ought TO se,,
Gets what she ought to
Hut don't deserve anoths
Another this wise:-
There is = boarding house
wSste sssy hay. onion hash
o, how tho boarders yell
When thcy hear the dinner bell.
o. how tho onions smell.
Three times dayt
These arc but samples There is much more Of the
same SORT and those doggcrels rrevcrcntly
sung to tunes In the Moody and Saukey collection.
They great offence stad and piols old folk
the ground but there seems TO be no way to stop
this species Of irreverencc heard an old gentleman
The prayer meeting tho other day call attention
this thing and ask the prayers Of the meeting for tho
irrevcrcnt songsers In icw days, However, every
body will be put his her good behavior for tho
local police will not allow boating. bsthng lounging
playing OF any sort this oncampment during tho
Of any meeting, PRAYER or preaching People must
either remain in their tents, cottages and boarding
houses go church. This 10 least tho form Of
godncss, but has Il the power.
MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS .
BAPTIST.
For missionary purposes the Baptsts OF this State
unto in q convention which meets in some central
point every year. Next October the State Convention
will meet Albion. and the Executive Committee need