The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-08-23
Life at Ocean Grove.

Life at Ocean Grove.
 To the Editor Of the JOURNAL AND COURIER;
 stranger. on his first visit to the new Auditorium at ocean Grove. would naturally suppose that the combined population of Asbury Park and ocean Grove had. with one accord, gathered together In one place. so great is the congregation therein.
 If he tires of the heat and the crowd. or grows restive in listening to the loud. strained voice of the preacher. and goes out of the edifice-as so many are constantly doing-and hies himself to the beach. his wonder increases.
 Crowds of people of all classes and conditions surge along the ocean prom enade. Primitive. unworldly people from the rural districts jostle elbows with the stylish and gaily-clad city denizen. and mingle in one common level. each with his own burden of se- cret care. his own longings and unrest. hidden by mask of smiling unconcern.
 Dozens of young men and women in undress-or bathing dress-recllne upon the sands. the color of their sun-blis- tSttN iaSNSs ao Wtii ho VI thtit uk hie ohe legs, would do credit to any Ute brave. This coat of tan is considered quite the thing, and is much sought after by the younger set.
 Hundreds of little children with pail and shovel play in the clean white sand. and. scattered at intervals along the shore, are numerous umbrellas, un- der whose protecting shade loving cou- ples sit, with hearts that beat as one, oblivious to all the world beside.
 If the stranger pursues his walk as far as wicked" Asbury. he is still more astonished. With its surging, .throng- ing crowds; its blatant brass bands; it's electrical casino; It's -go-round with its-wonderful orchestrian; its huge pavilions4 filled with bazars, and perme- ated with the appetizing aroma of freshly cooked pop-corns and hot pea nuts; its display of electric lights; it's gaily decorated and brightly-lighted boats that ply unceasingly on the beau- tiful Wesley lake, as we'll as the rush and crush everywhere. remind him of the Midway Plaisance at the recent Worlds Fair at Chicago.
 Ocean Grove is unique town. I do not know whether it is against the law for a man to kiss his own wife on a Sunday or not but in Puritan New England itself the laws could not have been more stringent, and vigilant po- licemen patrol the streets to see that they are enforced. At twelve o'clock on Saturday night the gates opening ;,,@o A Do or1r %b<x o1o and locked. After that hour carriages and vehicles of every description are not allowed within its precincts until the Sabbath day is over.
 If a housekeeper fails to supply her. self sufficiently with the lacteal fluid, or her supply, coagulates by reason of the heat, she must go hevelf or send her servant without the gates to pro- cure more, or dispense with its use.
 Query. Is it more sinful for milk man to go his rounds on an early Sun day morning than 1t is to allow ones servant to travel the streets? This question was propounded at recent Sunday school in Ocean Grove, and was answered affirmatively by the superin- tendent, as he considered that the en- trance of the milk wagons would be a direct violation of an old and estab- lished law.
 Woe to the luckIess knight who as- says to take his morning spin on his bicycle when that morning is Sunday. A short time ago policeman was seen to rush through the streets brandish- ing his club wildly in the air in the meantime. His objective point was an innocent looking young man riding on his wheel. He was dismounted very soon, however, and walked away a wiser, if not 8 sadder lad.
 Trains are not allowed to stop at the station on the seventh day of the week but, as the devil is fertile in expedi- ents, Sunday travellers walk into As riage and are driven to Deal Beach, the next station north, to catch the outgo- ing trains.
 Ocean Grove is well situated in re- gard to it's natural boundaries. It is separated from Asbury Park by Wes- ley lake, a lovely sheet of fresh water, on the north. On the east Old Nep- tune has watch over it night and day. With a noise as of mighty thunder he throws up great bulwarks of foaming white pillows that break upon the sands, the snowy, receding spray form ing patterns of lace-like effects, beauti- full in design and fairy-like in their f1eeting loveliness. Fletcher lake, with its pretty arched bridges, is its south- ern limit. '1
 Of their fine new Auditorium the res- idents of Ocean Grove are pardonably proud. It was erected at a cost of $66,- 900. It has a seating capacity of about ten thousand, and is the largest hall in the world which is devoted exclusive ly to religious work. The interior is handsomely finished in southern pine, and when lighted at night by the rows of incandescent lights which rib the ceiling, the effect is fine. At one end of the tabernacle, back of the speakers desk, is this motto in letters of light: Holiness to the Lord"
 Sunday, August 12th, was a red-letter day in Ocean Grove, for on that day $26, 900 was raised, which freed the Aud itorium from debt,-after a prolonged service and amid much excitement,- when the building was formally dedi- cated. pr. Stokes, president of