New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-29
IN THE CHURCH PORCH
RELIGIOUS SUMMER RESORTS.


Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, which are separated
from each other by the little body of water hundred
feet wde called Wesley Lake, are both distinctly
religious resorts but they are not religious In exactly
the same way. Ocean Grove is not a borough town
at all in the ordinary of the word but religious
association governed by clergymen who enforce very
strict religious discipline at all times. To the outsider
this discipline may unnecessarily severe and
puranical but It be remembered that the resort
was established for religious object, and one who
does not like its government IS Obliged 10 patronze IT,
1t is for people who like that sort OF thing, and as tho
large numbers Of good people who there every year
are entirely satisfied with things as they are
else has any right TO complain. have recently visited
Ocean Grove and much impressed with its cleanl
ness good order and entire freedom from vice of any
kind The hotels and cottages, in beauty and comfort
will compare avorably with those Of any seaside resort
and the prices for rooms and board moderate
that poor go there. There is, to DO
sure air of aggressive reigosIty about the place,
and religious function is nearly all the time TAX
ing place in the great auditorium But all this need
not interfere with the rational enjoyment Of visitors
unless they pine for the and rapture Of vice.
in which case they would better move to some other
resort, Ocean Grove does not deal in that
modify
In Asbury Park you do not ind that hfghy-charged
religious atmosphere which pervades Ocean Grove.
Nevertheless the moral law hedges you in at every
STEP This prosperous and growing town is the
ton Of Mr. James A. Bradley whose idea to found
a resort In which there should be Objectionable
feature. He is sort Of moral censor against whose
decisions there is no appeal On the whole. he has
exercised his power wisely and WELL even from
business point Of view, The town has grown with
wonderful rapdlty In addition to its summer visit
ors, 1t has large permanent population who rejoice
because they have found place richly endowed
by nature. where vice cannot aunt its presence. Mr..
something must be yielded by the individual in every
community for the general good. And in Asbury
Park you need yield nothing that is worth having.
l doubt II Mr.. Bradley's ideas will always have tho
ascendancy in Asbury Park The wicked outside
world will probably sweep most Of them away
day. But In the meanwhile for long time to como
Asbury Park is ideal home for a Christian family.
One plausible objection may be urged against such
semi-religous towns Asbury Park. The principle
on which they founded, II carried to its extreme
limit would result in the absolute separation OF the
good and tho bad, and such a separation would be a
deplorable thing for the community at large. IL
would doubtless be very pleasant for all the upright
and religious people of, say the State Of NewJersey,
live together in welLorlered towns governed
lgous principles. But how would it be for the rest
Of the population consisting 1t would, Of all grades
and kinds Of law breakersl Would not their enforced
association together be public calamity resulting IN
the final overthrow OF social order1 Certainly it
would The fact is, the religious and moral
element certain duties TO the whole community
1t is the duty Of good citizen not only to consider
his personal advantage but to do what he can for
his fellow men and the greatest service religious
can render any city town in which there Is large
vicious element, is to vo in that city or town. and
do what they can to mako It relg lous town Tbs
great need of modern civilization Is not the establish
mcnt of little moral communities here aud there, but
tho leavenlng OF the whole Of modern life with
the fundamental principles of religion and morality
One cannot but be impressed with the amount Of
earnest zeal and enthusiasm that is shown In tho
great summer religious gatherings. Such places as
Ocean Grove and Chautauqua-and there are many OF
them throughout the counry-have become vast store
houses OF religious activity. Immense sums OF money
have been expended them, and some Of the aoless
men in the various churches have been enlisted In
their service. Hundreds OF thousands Of people from
every part of the country attend the religious gath
erngs held under their auspices and the literature
which they publish goes into thousands OF Christian
homes And yet am heretical enough TO ask II there
IS not great deal of moral waste in these welmeans
efforts TO do good For instance, when great evan
gelist in Ocean Grove makes fervd appeal to the
vicious and dcpraved 10 turn from tho error OF their
ways, he is addressing men and women who are nos
only not vicious and depraved, but who are already
presumably converted Christians The people who
really ought TO these speakers never
Lake or Chautauqua. or Ocean Grove. They wouldn't
be welcome II they did And yet great deal OF the
zing at these Llaces las point except on tho
theory that the hearers abandoned sinners who
must be plucked brands from the burning have
no intention of criticisng these great gatherings
Doubtless they stimulate and strengthen the religious
life of good Christians But respectfully SUD-
init that instead of holding the fort all the time the
leaders of the churches make q sally once In wmio
and capture fort two from the enemy
A great many Western Epscopalians are beginning
10 think t unwise to 90 TO Eastern cities for their
bishops This feeling says The Michigan Churcn'
man, ais quito prevalent among many OF our aymcn'
and was well illustrated by an incident at an Eplseo
pal election about ten years ago, when an EASTERN
rector Of character and reputation failed Of connfmS
ton by the laity. through q rumor about waxca
moustache and dog headed cane. There has been MI
idea among our church leaders that our churchs spne
is city work 1t has begun TO be demonstrated 'hs.
we could do equally well in the country II We "oui
only try Tho prayerbook is adaptable enough
used as a primer first. II our men were only "o'o
jealous II is = pooa rellgionsm which claims 70 20
the rightul one. and will not do everything hs' COZ
be done. For long time the universal iayman es
dldate was Bishop Tuttle The coun'ryman peno'
that Bishop futile understood him ana his me- s
could hitch up and 'unhitch, and was as ia'in
with a sshakc-down as four poster, and Knew al wv
ns and outs Of pot luck II Is far easier thns w.
such n man TO adapt himself TO New-iork, han IVA
ifseif things. because NV