New-York tribune., 1889-12-23
OCEAN GROTE TWENTY YEARS OLD.
CELEBRATING THE ANNIvERshRY OF THE
CAMP.MFETING ASSOCIATION.

CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE
cAMP.MEETING ASSOCIATION.
Asbury Park. Dec. % (SpecaD.-The twentieth ami
versary oi the organization # the ocean Grove Camp
meeting Association Of The Methodist Episcopal Church
celebrated here to-day. The morning services
were held IN the st. Luke's Church In the
grove. Messrs. Adams, Wallace, Wardell
and Ballard conducted the opening ser
vices. President stokes delivered the anniversary
sermon. lie took for his text the first part of the
first Of the first chapter Of the Bible, In the
beginning. God"
AT the first little Informal meeting held upon
these grounds moro than twenty years ago." said Dr.
Stokes, the motto came pnsoueht. sudden inSush
aud then a sudden outgush'In tho beginning, Cod
we seized at from Heaven, and we since have
rested upon it our cornerstone. ocean Grove was
founded for the purpose OF giving place of rest TO
ministers and Others who suffering from over
work and wanted to to the seashOre without
going to the usual OF watering places. The site
of ocean Grove was then scene OF desOation.
little strip Of land was purchased, and ten families
came here 10 spend the summer in tents. The first
religious meeting held in the tent Of the Rev.
Joseph ii. Thornley,, Of Philadelphia.
THE association was formally organized in the
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Trenton twenty
years ago to-day by thirteen clergymen aud thirteen
lsynen. and charter secured from the state
legislature The preamble to the charter contains the
following clause The objects of this association shall
be to provide for the holding Of camp meeting for
the promotion of Christian holiness rgtdy excluding
ali forms of speculation, and TO afford those who
would spend few days or weeks at the seashOre an
opportunity of doing at moderate cost, and free
from the temptations to dissipation usually attendant
at fashionable watering Places The world jeercd
at our project. The press rdiculed The general
church hdd nttle or no sympathy, and We often
seemed to stand alone, ready almost to cry with our
expiring Lord My God, My God, why hast Thou for
saken meP The clouds rolled away, and to-day we
are In the midst OF large and constantly growing
town. But IL Is religious town. our sO-called
strlctOns were made on our convictions and the
laws Of the Methodist EpiscOpaliah Church. We in
sst upon the strict Observance of the Christian
bath. We prohibit the undertaking of such diversions
Lord drunkenness buying selling spirituOus liquors.
or drinking them, unless of extreme necessity
ana the sale Of tobacco. Under the blessing and
guidance of God ocean Grove has been greatly blessed
hrstclass arteSian well system with twelve and a
haIf miles Of pipe an electric light plant with thirty
miles of wires sewer system with over twelve miles
81 pipe, twelve miles Of avenues. nearly thirty miles
Of sidewalks. and not saloon a cgar-storc.
out Of this place have sprung and. therefore, must
IN some direct sense be claimed part of work.
Asbury Park, West Park LocharbOur. nteraken, West
Grove, Ocean Park. Ocean Beach Spring Lake, Island
Heights ocean City Sea Clih. the Atlantic Highlands
and other minor places, with all the churches they
contain. Twenty years ago ocean and Wall town
ships were assessed at less than 5000 900 The in
crease in two decades has been over $100O0.000.
Five fun years time ont of the twenty years have
been devoted TO religious meetings
The Rev. George Hughes, Editor of The Guide TO
Holiness made the closing prayer. The singing OF
immense choir. under the leadership Of Professor
Dey. was feature of the meeting. This afternoon
held I'm the hall In tho association building. II
one of the most remarkable efeasts ever held in
Of Gods goodness to them. The celebration will last
rntl tomorrow evening.