which was then made a separate charge by the New Jersey Conference. At the same time Dr. A. E. Ballard succeeded Dr. E. H. Stokes as the presiding elder of the New Brunswick District. Dr. Ballard in the course of his duties organized the first Official Board of Saint Paul's Church, Ocean Grove, on June 11, 1871.

Mr. James A. Bradley fitted up free of cost a room over a blacksmith shop for religious services. He was the first superintendent of the Sunday school. Prayer meetings were held on Sabbath evenings at the Elim Cottage. The first four members enrolled on the Saint Paul's Church membership record were William A. Harvey and Catharine Harvey his wife, William Laird, and Abigail White. The first regular Quarterly Conference was held August 17, 1871. James A. Bradley, John F. Briggs, and W. A. Harvey were made stewards; W. A. Laird was class leader. These four constituted the first official board. James A. Bradley was recording steward and Sunday school superintendent.

The first annual report of the Ocean Grove charge made to the Annual Conference in 1872 follows:

Members, 6; Probationers, 7; Sabbath school officers and teachers, 10; Sunday school scholars, 4; with benevolent collections:

The pastor's support was $203.73, of which Mr. Bradley gave $100. When Park Hall, Asbury Park, was constructed, Mr. Bradley fitted up the second story for religious services. It was there that divine worship was held from June, 1872, till the church was built in 1876.

On Thursday afternoon, July 15, 1875, ground was broken for Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Ocean Grove. The site was just south of the Main Avenue gates, where now stands the Neptune High School. During the afternoon of Saturday, July 31, 1875, the corner stone was laid by Bishop Scott. The building contract called for an expenditure of $8,000.

The next year when the church was completed it was valued, with its grounds, at $12,000.

It was first opened for religious service on May 28, 1876, and was formerly dedicated on Tuesday, August 1, 1876, by Bishop Edmund S.

Janes. The dedicatory sermon was preached at the Auditorium in the morning. In the afternoon the services were held in the church, when the dedication took place. This proved to be the last service of the kind performed on earth by Bishop Janes.

For some time thereafter-until the establishment of a cemetery, the grounds surrounding the church were used as a temporary cemetery. Later the bodies were removed when a cemetery had been permanently located.

In 1879 one hundred or more members were transferred to a new society organized in Asbury Park, but leaving one hundred and fifty-nine full members at Saint Paul's. In view of this depletion the bishop was requested to appoint the president of the Association, Dr. E. H. Stokes, as pastor at Ocean Grove. The removal of the church to another location began to be agitated at this time.

The old Saint Paul's church building facing the turnpike at the head of Main Avenue was sold in 1882 for public school purposes. The same year a chapel was built in West Grove to accommodate those who lived in that vicinity. The West Grove enterprise started with thirty-two members and thirteen probationers. After the sale of the property the church services were held in Association Hall while an application was made by the

society to the Association for ground upon which to locate the new church edifice. "After careful and prayerful consideration," the plot then occupied by the Young People's Temple was offered to the society as a site for their new building. After some deliberation, the official board of the church unanimously accepted the proffer and the matter rested there. Some months later, nothing having been done, the Association by vote requested the church to reconsider the matter. This was done and the church, upon further consideration, reached the conclusion that if the Association would grant the use of the plot of ground known as Park Square, where now stands the church, the needs of the church would be fully met.

A special meeting of the Association was then called, the entire question recanvassed, and the request was granted.

This was during the pastorate of the Rev. W. W. Wythe, M.D. Saint Paul's church has had a substantial and satisfactory growth during the period of its existence, and has enjoyed the services of some of the leading preachers of the New Jersey Conference, as the subjoined list shows:

William B. Osborn, 1870-1871; H. B. Beegle, 1871-1874; Levi Larew, 1874-1876; William T. Abbott, 1876-1878; William S. Barnart, 1878-1880; E. H. Stokes, 1880-1883; W. W. Wythe and George Hughes, 1883-1884; John B. Westcott, 1884-1887; Henry Belting, 1887-1891; D. B. Harris, 1891-1893; Milton Relyea, 1893-1896; J. G. Reed, 18961901; E. C. Hancock, 1901-1905; J. W. Marshall, 1905-1907; Percy Perinchief, 1907-1909; Marshall Owens, 1909-1913; James D. Bills, 19131918; T. J. J. Wright, 1918

BANCROFT REST HOME

The Woman's Home Missionary Society has nearly five hundred deaconesses and three hundred and fifty missionary workers in its service. under the flag. These workers become very weary in the service they render to God and humanity. For this reason Rest Homes have been established in various places.

Bancroft Rest Home, at Ocean Grove, for Missionaries and Deaconesses was among the first to be opened by the Woman's Home Missionary Society. Here at a moderate rate of board these workers may spend their vacation period. At Ocean Grove they gain not only physical rest and recuperation, but the religious environment makes them "strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." Thus they are enabled to return to difficult fields of labor to which God has called them to render more acceptable service.

Some who have given long years of service in various departments of

the activities of the Society have come here to rest during the later days of life, and here at the "evening time it is light."

Bancroft Rest Home is open during the entire year, and at all times. missionaries and deaconesses, as well as other guests, are made welcome.

Mrs. J. A. Hudson, of Philadelphia, is president of the Local Board of Managers; Miss Kate Quarry is superintendent, and Mrs. W. B. Scott, assistant superintendent.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL HOME FOR THE AGED IN OCEAN GROVE Ocean Grove is deeply interested in religious and benevolent enterprises, and does what it can to promote them. A Home for Aged Persons is consonant with its character and purposes. From the viewpoint of religion or benevolence a better place for such an institution cannot be found in the State. The Home was founded in 1907.

Started at first as a local enterprise of the New Brunswick District of the New Jersey Annual Conference, it quickly took in all of Monmouth County and later became a general enterprise for the Methodists of the State of New Jersey including both the New Jersey and the Newark Annual Conferences.

On Sunday morning, February 6, 1916, the Home was destroyed by fire. Fifteen aged persons were in the building, the oldest just ninety-two

years of age. Though all were in great danger, by a gracious Providence all were saved without injury.

It is particularly appropriate that it should be located at Ocean Grove -this center of Methodist Episcopal activities-where the residents may have all the advantages of the religious services and other features of Ocean Grove's summer life as well as the local social and church activities during the autumn, winter, and spring.

Mrs. John H. Parker of West Long Branch, New Jersey, is President of the Board of Managers.

CONVENTIONS

THE CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL CONGRESS

There was an innovation in the program of 1881, by a meeting of a Church and Sunday School Congress. There were lectures and addresses by men and women of distinction. Chief among these was the Rev. J. L. Hurlbut, A.M., conductor of the Sunday School Department, who, with the children, brought out the topography of Palestine on the sands at the foot of Ocean Pathway. There was issued daily a little paper called The Children's Hour, printed from a stencil made with a pulsating pen, which proved to be of wonderful interest to the children.

The congress closed with a concert under the direction of Professor