Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-03
OCEAN GROVES SCANDAL.
The Brahmin Who Reviled Ameri-
can Missionaries to India.

OCEAN GROVE. Aug. 2S.-Very early
IN the season, and about the time that
the first tenders came down here
10 their summer encampment,
uindoo appeared about the street. He
dressed like an American laoorer, except
mo that he wore an Indian turban Of
Hack silk. aud his skin was dark and his
taamres Aslatic. He lived in a hut across
the railroad track and just outside the
confines OF Asbury Park. His name was
s. Grovnda Row Sattay.
The HindOo was frequently seen about
the streets here, and he called once upon
President Stokes of the Ocean Grove
Camp Meeting Association. Last week
q stranger appeared at the Grove who
asked for Sattay. and said that he had
first met him New Orleans, where he mad
heeu stranded by missing his steamer for
New York, aud had appealed to this gen.
tleman for a iive-cent postage stamp for
t0reign letter he had written. The gen
tlpman had since beard that Sattay had
rame North, and was anxious to renew
his acquaintance with the wandering
Hipdoo. Later the two men were seen
constantly together about the streets, and
twas apparent from their conduct that
kney were more intimate than had been
Indicated by the strangers story.
Salty presently began to attract atten-
hon. Wherever he could collect group
OF listeners, in the grove, along the board
walk, or at the hotels, the Hindoo would
address them. He was boasfully mimi
raj to the Christian religion, which is the
essence of the Ocean Grove settlement.
Sattav was notified to leave the place,
and officers conducted him across the line
into Asbury Park. He repeatedly re-
turned. however. and continued to preach
agast Christianity. He never failed to
take up a collection from his listeners.
Finally one day last week he went to
the United States Hotel and addressed the
ladies' who filled the parlOr. He de-
nounced Christianity in terms of I'M
affected candor. He said that he was I'M
familiar with the forms of English speech,
and if what he might say should offend
the sensibillties of his hearers he begged
them to believe that the fault was entire
" due to his lack of understanding OF our
language ard customs. He then launched
into the most indecent and obscene tirade
against the practices of American mis-
slOnaries in India, causing confederation
among his little congregation. Many
ladies left the room in great embarrass-
ment, and others remained only because
they We're ashamed to rise up and go out
In the presence of room full of people.
The Brahmin's speech created a great
scandal, and then he went out along the
board walk and haraugued. He de-
clared that American missionaries lied In
their accoHnts OF the good they had &C
complished in India. Their efforts were,
in fact, he said without such results as
were sought. and they made no CONVEX
siOns. When he was warned to leave the
Grove, he declared that American mis-
slonarIes were allowed, unmolested, to
preach about the public streets in the
towns of India, and he claimed the same
right here in free America. II this was
not free country, where every creed
might have its believers and preachers, he
wanted the world TO know it. and he
should preach until he was forcibly pre-
vented. Then be passed the hat.
The authorities of Ocean Grove finally
lost patience with the infidel Hindoo and
arrested him. He was locked up in the
Freehold jail and sentenced to thirty
days. imprisonment. He begged pite-
Ously to be set free, and promised to
apologize to the Ocean Grove authorities,
4 and then quit the place. He was finally
u liberated on writ of habeas corpus. and
4 came back here for day. Then he disap-
4 peared, and the Ocean Grove community
j hopes 1t is through with him. 1t is learned
a hOwever, that he has been seen lettering
81 Grove police are on the lookout for Sat
4 tay's return. If he comes back here to
i preach against the religion OF the peO-
s. pie he will be arrested again for
i blasphemy and locked up for disorderly
conduct.
4 There is perfect freedom of speech at
Ocean Grove on most matters, and liberty
q in social customs and bathing habits is a
s marked feature OF the place. But Brah-
min preachers must hold their peace.
THE IMPRISONED HINDoo.
Il TO the Editor of the Ne,C York Tribune:
q SIR-As you have been pleased to publish
q II your issue of Aug. "A, under the head
] Arrest of Blasphemous Hindoo," and
he dale Ocean Grove, n. J., Aug. %, that
q VI made myself obnoxious by making
blasphem0us utterances against Chris
Il tlanlty and that l disturbed religious SER
q vices" VIII you kindly be also pleased to
u publish that | have delivered lectures in
8 almost every hotel parlOr at Ocean Grove
i and Asbury Park every noon and even
q ing until the date of my sudden arrest by
q Inc Ocean Grove police If YOU should
q be pleased to do so am sure that several
81 respectable, charitable and liberal
81 minded ladies and gentlemen who have
heard me speak in parlors as well as in
# open places will respond from wherever
M lue! Oe, through your columns or through
tder own favOrite papers, that / have 8l-
ways respected Christ and his doctrines,
but have been dead against the sO-called
Missionaries and church associations,
VINO under the garb OF religious camps
nave aspired to ard grasped political am
btiOn.
While in Ocean Grove | have always
attended almost every religious meeting,
Sld have never disturbed religious SER
wees. Generally after the services were
o'eF, When used to stand awhile outside
le church premises, my HindOo dress
naturally attracted the attention of some
h'd and cbaritably disposed ladies and
gentemen, and they always used to ask
ne my whereabouts and my beliefs
eI'alnly had to answer their questions,
gu When my answers seemed to be quite
inherent from their beliefs, their questions
Increased as the crowd gathered round
"so increased. Thus there was always a
ouO.I discussion after the services were
Ever and never during or before, and
was always outside the prem
Nj5 VI the church buildings. DR.. Stokes
e e'u hot IKE to see these gatherings and
e,pd times ordered the people to dis
peIse; but when he saw that he could not
eUIIPel them TO dispense, ne came to me
nu pulled me out Of the crowd by my
Sn rn ana l always calmly walked away.
n oaou scenes excited The sympathy OF the
SeUPe the more and they almost every
sa as used to gather round me after the
'Ices we're over. At last DR.. Stokes
pluefed his police officer 10 put me in
80 80 ana sail me off across the lake to AS
TAl. t,II