New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-17
THE RISE OF OCEAN GROVE.
GROWN FROM THE PRIMITIVE CAMPMEET.
ING TO IT'S PRESENT SIZE.
CONTRAST BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW
BORN FROM A NECESSITY OF TUE AGE
THE REFORMS cHAMPIoNED At
THE sEAsHoRE.


THE sEAsHoRE
ocesn Grove. Aug 10 (specal.-The great annual
campmeeung begins here next Monday. 1t will last
len DAYS The crowds will undoubtedly be larger
This year than ever, judging from The demands for
hotel and cottage board The original camp meeting as
remembered by the Oldest church goers was pilml-
tive affair. Fifty years ago or even less. the tents
were made OF heavy unbleached muslin, then caed
" factory CLOTH in distinction from the homemade
,rhyics woven by the frugal housewives. The seams
here patiently backsiitched together by the women
These same busy hands prepared quantities OF pf0Vi-
SONS to last during the weeks stay in the WOODS,
When all was ready the paterfamiss would pack all
The family In the twOhOrsc carlyail, ana tue eo"'
things slowed in a chest, and hal-trunk or two con
tanning the simple wardrobe of the family, when aIso
served as seats for the youngsters. Then sphh''
5ottomed chair for the mother, aud the whole ianiy
went 10 woIship God In the leafy grove, leSVns o'
snough at home 10 " tend to the critters"
Arriving at the camp and being assigned pace
In the circle by the presiding elder or some OIL INC
preschers who assisted him. the new tent was pu' UP
an poles cut in the woods. and without moor vi ~
sheet IL looked upon as perfect OF us NINA az"
lust fitted for The purpose designed The "ooo'"'o
was built a few feet from the back door " gree"
ssplng placed across two croched sticks held round
bott0med pot, I'm which was cOoh"u "'S
green corn the coin'mesl mus"
which was an essential requisite at camp-mee"ne'
So with friendly chahing Of each other anu s'O''e
of their quaint experiences, the good men "o"i" o.
round the blazing fire far into the night Anu u''r
TO he'd the sweet fresh straw spread on The g'ou""
With a comfort laid over it answered every p"
nose The tent had at night partition cuF'"i"
made of sheets or quilts, which separated INC n0"
and BOYS from The wOmeniolk. in The uaS 'H'o
the straw was piled up in one corner, anu oo'e'o"
with the bedding made comfortable sea's anu
lo,ncing place. These straw beds, freshly "a0e
ucople did not sing and pray all night as they DIV"
asa the sleepinr was entirely satisfactory Ia course
of time the old campers began 10 iaAe VIII" ''''"
straw ticks These mostly made up OF 'Aa' sH"o
factory muslin. and being filled at the sra" s'dON
made it more easy tent life to have neahess anu
order The table built generally wi'hm the D'"Sn
.nclos,ue and with canopy of brush overhead
he benches being nailel fast, the getting 10 one
Mace al the table not always an easy UT
graceful performance.
The next thing in the evolutionary process was
the building Of rough board hunks and floors "ncn
could remain standing year after year lh'se' WI"
regular tent poles and the addition OF hies for Deer
p,otectjon IN times of rain. mark the camp-meeHhg
period of about thirty years ago Then, too' 'he
primitive manner Of cooking gave way 10 oha'.
-oal furnaces and fIyng-pans The nc"-lsnsien
cooking stoves with all their appuiehahces, dneu
by the lore Of the cooking schools VIII never DC aole
10 give such fricassees and pOtpes as came ON OF
that round bottom pot or such faky shorcaRes ana
IusciouS Johnny cakes as produced by our
grandmother with the three-legged baking oven ana
the live hickory Goals for accessories The uoVei
opment of tent oonveniences has lesui'eu III 'n0
canvas cottage. with lis apa' 'meh's' "Inuo"s'
toIdinC-beds chairs and tables. portable Kitchens,
which with the cooking stove make camping ENJOY
able, although II may and undoubtedly does lach
sumo OF the spice aud flavor which were the result
OF moro primitive times. In lumber districts 10"
and then a slab tent would be built. These came
into favor for boarding tents, aud were let from year
10 year From this simple Style was evolved
the cottage idea. These at first were pam
wooden structures without plsstering or omamentng'
But the plain style did not last long First came
more convenient cottages, then more stylish ones ana
now after twenty years Of development the pam
shell of period looks as much ont OF pace among
the stylish camp ground cottages as an lAsnio"eo
bonnet does on pretty woman.
Ocean Grove at the beginning was the outcome OF
cross between the campmeeting and ministerial vaca
ton the need Of which began to be felt about twenty
five or thilsy years ago, and is an Illustration OF
the Survival OF the fttest" In the summer OF looS
a few congenial souls selected six acres Of land
boered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Wesley
Lake on the north as place where they could rest
awhile combining recreation with the worship OF GOd
The fact of this enterprise becoming known Others
wished TO in and share the advantages, and Tie
following winter the Ocean Grove Campaigning AS
ISOLATION was chartered. The members pledged their
Christian hOnOr9 maintain the objects Of the
Association such objects being the holding VI annual
camp meetings and providing tie opportunity for
families TO spend a season at the seashole out
nj tIa way Of temptation and designations.
In providing such safe retreat from the cares Of
life the association has been singularly successful
would be hard 10 find a place where weary mother
can turn loose Ter children with so much assurance
of safety Broad avenues fine roads, elegant cot.
tsges, broad board walk along the front, fine
make this queen of watering places! Then, as
centre of reiigious and mental culture. It takes
front rank. Here all the leading clergymen and
of the Republic, and from the Fourth Of July
10 the seasons close the soul hungry for Intellectual
Iabuum can feast 10 It's iunesS. The great reforms
Oi The day are represented ia the meetings preceding
me camp msetngs some OIL Ven haT9 Decomg
Orsin Missionary society the sunday School A..
.cmby, with It's curriculum conducted by men aud
women Of wide reputation. Even the black is
here a man and brother few meetings draw more
interested audience than the African Missionary
Jubilee held by coloed psOpe. VcsSn Grove being
I'm fact a. well "a In name Prohibition town, the
of temperance is represented here by that staid
and cOnserVauNe, Dut most useiul DOdy the National
IempeIa society, and The Woman Christian Tenn
pelance Union, with vi the most gifted platform
speakers Of the age t. plcai iol the prohibition Of
n liquor tIaflc This wear two new organizations
representing the Christian woInanbOod OF the Nation
have come TO the fore The Kings Daughters an
unienOmin atonal organization without auy creed
little badge Maltese silver cross, Is
of Him who went about doing good the weaier viii
do all tho good she can. These forces OF the Chris
tian army are under The efficient leadership Of Mrs
Margaret Bottome, of New-YOIk Ms BottOme has
been active Christian worker frUia her girihood.
She is The wife Of the Rev. Francis BOttome Of the
New-York Annual Conference of the Methods, Epis-
copal Church. She Is well known through her par
lor and church Bible readings. The DcacOness Con
vention. another wOman's meeting. was the result
of the movement begun near the close OF the late
General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
held IN the Metropolitan Opera House IN New York
10 give 10 the OF that church recognition
m az organized capacity. al least such of them as NAV
choose TO serve the Master by becoming member Of
a sistelhood The Rev. Or Morris d. G.. Craw-
ford IS the head Of The committee
a. arranged by the General Conference. Dr.. Craw-
ford Is IN fun sympathy with this work. a. IN
deed are all the noble men and women who have
been authorized by the Methodist Church to launch
this enterprise.
Bishop John Fletcher Hurst IS always welcome