the indebtedness. This is said to be true of each year up to and including 1909, except for the years of 1896 and 1904; in the former the disastrous washout occurred on the beach front which caused heavy and unexpected expenditure, "the indebtedness" for that year being increased, as stated by the annual report, "by ocean front disaster only." In the latter year an "unusual number of violent storms necessitated immediate and costly repairs to streets and parks."

In the last year of Bishop FitzGerald's presidency of the Association he reported a reduction of $10,000 in debt.

The annual report of the Association published in 1909 gives the liabilities of the Association as $115,700. Since then the annual reports for the succeeding years show increased liabilities. In 1914, the last year when the figures were published, it was said the liabilities were $690,171.94. No official statement of the present indebtedness of the Association has been published, but it is generally known that application has been made to the proper state authorities to sanction a bond issue of $750,000.

THE FUTURE

And here the telling of the story must end. "But what of the future?" is the natural query. Yes, what of the future? If those who chose the site and marked the way realized only vaguely that there were possibilities in the future of Ocean Grove far beyond their ability to comprehend, how much more, in the light of the marvelous development in the last fifty years, can we of to-day realize the greater possibilities which may still be attained?

In addition to the Camp Meeting and the present features of the summer program, some have suggested that Ocean Grove should become the seat of a great training institution for home workers and foreign missionaries. And, in this year of the Centenary of Methodist Episcopal missions, what more appropriate suggestion could be made? And some have expressed a desire to see a great popular university established at Ocean Grove. Much that would make for the success of such an enterprise is already here, and it would not be difficult to supply what is lacking.

Others would have a great school of music located here for the promotion of sacred music. What more suitable place could be found for this than Ocean Grove, with its great organ and immense auditorium? The melody of the organ and the human voice would blend harmoniously with the rhythm of the sea.

Lying as Ocean Grove does, at the most suitable spot along the Atlantic Coast and easily reached in what might be termed an overnight trip by nearly, if not quite, one half of the population of the United States, some or all of these suggestions and desires should come to pass.

What is needed? Nothing but a vision of its greatness and a genius -no less than that possessed by its founders-to bring it to pass.

Already there is a beginning; Dr. Stokes, by his will, left a bequest to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association amounting to about $17,500 in the following words:

I give and bequeath the other and remaining half of my estate to The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, to be used in aid of the erection of such building or buildings, as may be needed for further enlarged accommodations for carrying on our Ocean Grove Summer religious work; greatly desiring, as I do, that as now, if possible, still more fully after my decease, to the end of time, that the work of salvation, free, full, and eternal, may have all the appliances needed to reach the largest possible results.

This is, as one has aptly said,

"A GOLDEN YEAR FOR A GOLDEN GIFT"

APPENDIX

THE CHARTER PREAMBLE

Recognizing the truth and beauty of the Scripture declaration, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof";

And being especially impressed with the propriety of having a portion of the land skirting the sea consecrated to sacred uses:

We, whose names are hereunto annexed, with a single eye to the Divine glory, and in humble dependence upon our Heavenly Father's aid, do hereby solemnly covenant together to use certain land, which has been providentially committed to our trust, for these high and holy purposes.

And we further declare it to be our design to make this a perpetual oblation upon Christ's altar, enjoining its strict observance upon those who may succeed us. And to this end we mutually pledge our Christian honor, adopting the following as our Charter:

CHARTER

An Act to Incorporate the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That Ellwood H. Stokes, Ruliff V. Lawrence, George Hughes, William B. Osborn, David H. Brown, John S. Inskip, William H. Boole, Benjamin M. Adams, Alfred Cookman, Adam Wallace, John H. Stockton, Aaron E. Ballard, William Franklin, Robert J. Andrews, Joseph H. Thornley, George W. Evans, Christopher Sickler, George Franklin, Samuel T. Williams, William Manahan, John Martin, George W. Cheeseman, James Black, Oliver L. Gardner, Gardiner Howland, and William F. Jordan, and their successors, are hereby constituted a body, corporate and politic, under the name of "The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church," for the purpose of providing and maintaining for the members and friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a proper, convenient, and desirable permanent Camp Meeting ground and Christian seaside resort.

Section 2. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for said corporation to purchase and hold real and personal estate, and to acquire such lands in this State in fee simple or otherwise, as they may deem necessary, proper or desirable for the purposes and objects of the corporation, and the same or any part thereof to dispose of in parcels or otherwise, or in fee simple or otherwise, on such terms, conditions, and restrictions, not repugnant to the laws of this State, of the United States, as they may see fit.

Section 3. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for said corporation to construct and provide all necessary works to supply the said premises with water and artificial light, and to provide all other conveniences and make all other improvements which may be deemed necessary or desirable.

Section 4. And be it enacted, That the affairs of the said corporation shall be managed by twenty-six Trustees; the persons named in the first section of this Act shall be the first Trustees of said corporation and shall hold their offices until others are chosen in their stead-they and their successors shall be and remain mem272

bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in good and regular standing. Any Trustee dying, or ceasing to be a member of said Church, or being guilty of conduct deemed incompatible with the objects and purposes of the corporation, his place may be declared vacant, and a successor duly elected by a two-thirds vote, by ballot, of the remaining Trustees present at the regular annual meeting of the Association.

Section 5. And be it enacted, That said Board of Trustees shall from their own number elect a President, Secretary, and Treasurer annually, and may appoint any other officer of the corporation they may think proper, from time to time, and may pass and enforce such By-Laws as they may deem needful-provided that the same be not repugnant to the Constitution or laws of this State or of the United States.

Section 6. And be it enacted, That the real and personal property of said corporation (said property not to exceed in annual value five thousand dollars) shall be exempt from all assessment and taxation. Any surplus funds remaining to the corporation, after defraying the necessary expenses thereof, for improvements, or otherwise, shall be devoted to such charitable, benevolent, or religious objects or purposes as may be agreed on by the said Board of Trustees at their regular annual meeting.

Section 7. And be it enacted, That said Trustees shall have power to appoint such peace officers as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of keeping order on the Camp grounds and premises of the corporation, which officers shall be paid by said corporation for their services; but shall have, when on duty, the same power, authority, and immunities which constables and other peace officers under the laws of this state possess or enjoy, when on duty as such, and they shall have power to enforce obedience on said grounds and premises to any rule or regulation of said Trustees for the preservation of quiet and good order. All the provisions of "An Act for Suppressing Vice and Immorality," revision approved April fifteenth, eighteen hundred and forty-six; and of "An Act to prevent the disturbance of meetings held for the purpose of religious worship," passed February second, eighteen hundred and twenty, shall apply to all meetings or gatherings held in pursuance of, and under the authority of the corporation hereby created, in all respects.

Section 8. And be it enacted, That the meetings and religious services held on said Camp ground and premises shall, at all times, be under the directions of a committee for that purpose, to be appointed by the said Board of Trustees at their regular annual meeting.

Section 9. And be it enacted, That this act shall be considered a public act, and shall take effect immediately.

Approved March 3, 1870.

I, Horace N. Congar, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an Act passed by the Legislature of this State, and approved by the Governor, the third day of March, A. D. 1870, as taken from and compared with the original, now on file in my office.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal, this fourteenth day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy.

H. N. CONGAR.

OCEAN GROVE CAMP MEETING ASSOCIATION

Ministers

The Rev. J. H. Alday elected in place of Ruliff V. Lawrence.

The Rev. J. Reeves Daniels elected in place of Alfred Cookman.

'James L. Hays, Esq., elected in place of George Franklin.