The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-21
ntt5fflloufolts.
y he Big Camp Ground of the ''Nor-
thern' MethOdiSts.

These are two seaside resorts, separated by
. narrow lake, on the New Jersey coast, six
miles below Long Branch, having in common
one depot on the Long Branch division of
the New Jersey Central Railroad.
Ten wears ago these twin cities by the sea
had no existence. A Methodist preacher
one day penetrated this wilderness of sand
and stunted pines to the sea. As he stood
nnon the beach and beheld a beautiful lake
Nesting In a grove a few hundred yards away
he Thought of the multitudes that might be
attracted to this spot to battle, fish and sail,
and led to pray and sing at the Methodist
altar for penitents in the tented grove. This
suggestion proved IN inspiration. In $50?
rbe legislature granted a charter to The
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church This
ASSOCIATION was composed of twenty-five min
isrers and laymen, with a capital OF six hun
dred dollars. They bought a few acres Of
land. divided it into a camp ground, aad a
section of building lots each 80 by Go feet,
which they graveIy offered for twenty-five
dollars a lot. Many business men smiled
and declined to invest. 4 few bought.
The just shall live by faith The impe-
cunious brethren got hold of a wealthy broth
er. who lent them money. They bought
two hundred more acres OF land, and divided
it into building lots. They put up the price
of the lots to fifty dollars, and ordered that
A purchaser could own but two lots In his
own name. Some more laughed. The
brethren put up the price of the lots to sew
~enty-five dollars, and the Ocean Grove fever
became an epidemic. Lots began to be sold
fast, until IN two years a piece OF land thirty
by sixty feet brought one thousand dollars.
4 Brooklyn gentleman meanwhile had
bought a tract of land for ninety thousand
dollars, which 2 few years before had been
sold for fifteen hundred, and on it he laid
out the present city of Asbury Park, across
the lake from Ocean Grove. The railroad
was built, and spectators poured IN faster
than ever. They bought all the land within
miles OF Ocean Grove, at high figures, and
the poor fishermen and farmers Whereabouts
woke up one morning to find themselves very
rich. So it has gone on. The desert has
been made to bloom and blossom as the rose,
The solitary places nave become the resort
of multltudes.
The impecunIous association of preachers
all got rich. No. They solemnly covenanted
that the profits OF the investment should be
spent III improvements, and beyond that in
charity. They started a camp ground to
save souls, not to make money. They
builded bigger than they knew They new
er dreamed of this development. 1t had
come, but they would not depart from the
L LIE VI LIZ Cudul ~ ~
asses" however, only believed in their per-
lection after abundant evidence. Their camp
ground has become a model. 1t Is lighted
at night with gas. Snowy tents, with nicely
carpeted floors, luxurious furniture and even
instruments Of music, are occupied by the
wealthy and cultured. An immense audito-
rum, seating four thousand people, has be-
come filed to overlooking every day with Il
iine-looking audience, who sing TO the ac-
compartment oftwo Organs and II cornet, and
are led by Il precentOr. The gifted and
learned preachers OF all denominations, and
from all parts Of the land, do their best to
lift the people Heavenward. Noted Evan
geIists work at the affairs and in the prayer
meetings, and in spite OF Il Thousand attrac-
tious distracting the mind from serious con-
temptation, hundreds have protested con-
version at Il single camp-meetIng, and thous-
ands have listened to sermons, to whom such
things are a variety.
On Sabbath evenings at sunset asurf meet
ing Is held, when sometimes 10000 people
stand along the shore and answer with ap
pTOpTlate songs the remarks OF different
speakers suggested by the grand old ocean
rolling before them. \ Southern steamer
for New York occasionally bends Its course
near enough to the shore to answer with Its
whistle and the hand-wavings OF its passen-
gers the greeting song OF the multitudes on
tie land. North and South unite IN the
thought of the shores of time, the ocean OF
eternity, the multitude on the shore OF heav-
en- welcoming weary ships into d quiet haven
otrest, \ few Sabbaths ago a vesper ser
wee OF responsive reading OF passages cullcd
from the Bible, relating to the sea, was
held.
Around the camp-ground finely paved
streets, lighted with gas and lined with neat
and tasty cottages, with here and there an
elegant hotel, stretch away in the distance.
At the hotels no liquor is sold. No hops
are allowed. Brass bands discourse their
music, however, and other evidences Of wa
tenng place gayety prevail. These r%estric-
tons Of liquor, &C.. give a tone to the place
agreeable to the thousands who come, but
faIIed against by the crowds who stay away.
Asbury Park is more liberal in the estima-
iigh OF some, and a one cent ferry across the
IaHe takes the children of pious parents to
-1>inlfV p1tI- hatAl.- = 4lan +Ia .rrc IN