The New York herald., 1879-07-02
OUR WATERING PLACES.
AsBURY PARK AND OCEAN GROVE

THE MEccAs OF THE MErHoDIsTs-How NEP-
BY THE SEA AND REVEALS IN THE SURF
WHAT roop CHRISTIANS ACCOMPLISH BY Sue
CEssFUL SPECULATION.
AsBURY PARK, N. j.. Juno 80, 1879.
About the year 1760 physician visiting Brighton,
England, found it to be village of fishermen. Be-
eving that it specially adapted to the wants of
those who were in search of health and pleasure he
made certain improvements in the property he se-
cured and established the nucleus of to xn 1t is
now beautiful city, with population OF over one
hundred thousand inhabitants. In 1860 the town of
Gravesend L. l.. which owns a portion of Coney
Island leased piece of ground on the sea front for
ten years and received therefor the sum Of $780, The
lease expiring in 1870 the authorities renewed it
again for ten years for 5000. To-day the value the
sea front Coney Island, with all of it's improve
ments, is probably not less than $4,000 900.
A similar wonderful change in the character
of property and under snearly the same con-
ditions. is taking place hero and across the
creek at Ocean Grove the famous Methodist resort.
When you remember that ten years ago only a strag-
CLING house to be found along the beach in a
stretch OF many miles; that the sea gull screamed
unfrghtened and the ceaseless roar of the waves
alone disturbed the a-prevailing silence, the sud
startling the legend of Jonah,s gourd. Listen to
the story.
OCEAN GROVE
In 1869 twelve ministers aud twelve laymen, all
Methodist brethren. desirous securing place at
the seaside for camp meetings. subscribed $25 EACH
or total OF $780, 1t was rough and almost for
bidding locality, but chosen after much discus
sion as the most available site in the neighborhood
The first cottage built in June. 1870. is in
500. and others going up more rapidly than at
any former period. I am credibly informed
that from the beginning every dollar added to
the original investment of 5000 has been
faithfully reinvasted, aud that the personal prop
erty of the association is represented by very
large sum. These good Christians. however, are
markaby exclusive. Like ST. Peter they hold the keys
OF their paradise, and whoever gains permanent ad
mission must moral gantlet to demonstrate
that he is not like other men Some of the regu-
lations almost Purianic in their binding force
as, for instance, one which forbds riding on Sunday
through Streets and is said that the real blue
blooded Christians abstain from eating anything but
cold vIctuals Sunday. The sale use of liquor
is, Of course, peremptorily forbidden The conse-
quencc is that Ocean Grove and its inhabitants wear
goody- -goody aspect that is eminently impressive
and calculated to disarm you from all suspicion that
on Offering for sale piece of property they have
You will not fail to notice. however. what
is not to be elsewhere this side of Sandy Hook
save at Long Branch that policemen uniformed.
like the '.cubbers of New York. are always on hand
to enforce the Ten Commandments and that con-
spcuously planted on the banks OF Wesley Lake as
athn stream OF water is called, is representative
of the Church militant i'll tho shape OF rhed
cannon. Architecturaily viewed Ocean Grove is an
exceptionally beautiful village and its residents,
whether transient or permanent. have every reason
to be proud OF the enterprise OF its founders Many
of the cottages and smaller villas quite valuable
and in their fresh bright colors present handsome
contrast to the great masses OF foliage by which they
surrounded. Religious meetings of one kind
and another are OF frequent occurrence, as may be
inferred from the following programme
L. One hundred and third anniversary OF American
Independence Friday, July f.
2. New Jersey State Sunday School Assembly. en-
bracng all evangelical denominations, Saturday,
July -. to Sabbath July 20.
Lathrop, Mrs. Youmans and others-Juiy %. %. "a.
A. Tenth anniversary of first religious service held
at Ocean Grove, Thursday, July 81.
D. d.. Salem. Mass. author Of Love Euthroned."
and Rev. b. M. Adams. New Haven, Conn.,. August
&. Anniversary of the women's Foreign Missionary
Society, Sabbath. August II.
Z. Annual camp meeting, Monday. August 18, to
Thursday, August 2o.
The singing at the camp meeting will be led by the
The summer Sabbath school will be opened on tho
first Sabbath in July.
In addition to these special meetings religious SER
vices commence in the Grove early in the season
as circumstances require and continue as long
they may be needed. Services are also held in the
church all through the year. unless 1t may be few
Sabbaths during the height OF the meetings in the
grove
The great success Of the projectors OF the enter
prise above described, with capital OF only $780,
speedily attracted the attention Of Others and some
OF the neighboring land was purchased by parties
with the view Of making an honest profit outside of
the religious guise and strictly business prin-
ciplcs. Among these Mr.. j. A. Bradley, Of
New York, a Comparatively young man. probably
not more than iorty years OF ago. who became the
founder and is now the owner of the principal part
Of Asbury Park. which as above stated is separated
from its neighbor only by narrow strip OF water
from three TO forty rods wide, the central line Of
which IL the boundary of the two estates The story
OF its requirement and growth thus far is Of suii
cient interest TO be told in his own words to the
writer. He said
I had Just returned from an auction and was stand
ing in front OF the HERALD Office one day in May,
1870 when brother David H. Brown. the treasurer Of
the Ocean Grove Association came by and greeted me-
1 inquired how his company was getting along.
very well he replied. why don't you buy
lotY thought a minute and remarked, Pit me
down tor two think purchased the first lot
ever sold there the premium being 1856. A few days
later in company with Two or three friends, drove
down to the place. and as it was mere wilderness
carried u tent ard servant. We went into camp
the site of what is now the associations office pill.
lowed heads on the carriage cushions and
covered with the carriage blankets. The same spot
to-day hears the click OF the telegraph instruments
and witnesses vast throng OF men and women call
ing for their letters when the mail arrives During
the camp meeting that took place In the following
August the question was often asked, Who owns
the land the other side Of Wesley Lake?' min
lister aud myself crossed day at the risk OF
having our clothes torn from our bodies. until we
came a beautiful sheet of water that recalled to
mind the word 'Alabama-'here rest II
cal led sunset Lake. Wild a they were the entire
surroundings impressed Inc, and returning by way
of the beach Iconcocted plan for the organization
of n company to purchase the entire tract of 800
acres. for IL was only in lump that the owner
1 couldn't make anybody see profit in that sand
anu underground.
BRAVE srEcuIAToR.
s'Not dishoartcned. determined to buy the place
alone, and did at once put force of men Mt
work. cleared away the briers for II little better
than Jungle, and at cost OF several thousand dol
lars began 10 open roads. by and by somebody came
along. purchased lot and built cottage. and now
we'll, you for yourself--thcro are hotels, hve
churches boarding houses, stores of every variety
necessary for large population, fine reading room
open all the year round weekly paper with crcu-
lation of over twenty-five hundred copies, a post
Office telegraph Office. public hall in the village,
another in the centre of the park known as Educa-