SUNDAY TRAVEL "The question of Sunday travel has, as you all well know, exercised our minds from the beginning. The sanctity of the Sabbath is one of the fundamental principles upon which this place was founded. Numerous efforts, you are aware, too, have been made from time to time, to move us from our steadfastness at this point; and, I am happy to say, thus far without success. And so, my brethren, may it be written to the end of time. Entertaining these views, you will be interested in the following correspondence, which will explain itself. A correspondence, I might add, which in its beginning filled me with intensest anxiety, but which at the close gave the profoundest satisfaction. It is here placed upon record, in order that both parties may stand in their true light, and occupy their true position in the public mind: D. H. BROWN, ESQ., Office of C. R. R. of N. J. Dear Sir: Some of the patrons of our road at Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Ocean Beach, say that it would be a great convenience to them to have a few cheap excursion trains on Sunday between Long Branch and Sea Girt, at such hours as would enable them to attend church at Asbury Park, Elberon, and Long Branch. What do you and your people think of it? Yours truly, A. RECKLESS, Esq., A. RECKLESS, President. OCEAN GROVE, N. J., July 20, 1879, 10.45 P. M. Dear Sir: D. H. Brown, Esq., to whom your letter of the 16th inst. concerning Sunday trains was addressed, who has been absent for the last ten days, did not reach home until last evening, and did not find it convenient to show me your letter until after service to-night. I need hardly say, that its contents were a great surprise, and in view of the repeated pledges made by your company that no Sunday trains would be run to this place during your administration, a profound grief. I must also say, that if this proposition is seriously entertained by you, we shall feel compelled immediately to convene our Association in special session, to consider the propriety of abandoning our camp meeting, as we cannot, and will not under any circumstances or conditions that can be named, consent directly or remotely to be involved in the desecration of the Sabbath day. The day that Sunday trains commence to run to this place, will be the beginning of the end of the prosperity which has so wonderfully attended us, because we have reverenced this holy day. That which interferes with us interferes with you. The gentlemen who originated and are perpetuating this institution are a unit on this question, and will abandon the place rather than desert the principle. Very truly and respectfully yours, The following was telegraphed in reply: REV. E. H. STOKES, D.D., Pres't Ocean Grove: E. H. STOKES, President. Central R. R. Co., of N. J., We Your letter, owing to my absence, was not received until this moment. shall run no Sunday trains to Ocean Grove. I expect to stand by you in the future as I have done in the past. I regret that my letter, informing you that a request had been made by some boarders at Spring Lake and Sea Girt, for a train to take such persons from these places as desired to attend church to Ocean Grove and Long Branch, on Sunday mornings, returning after services, should have given you so much anxiety. The request was made to the "Receiver," and he desired me to inform you of it. I gave no intimation that such a train would be run, as I supposed you would not favor it. It seemed but fair, however, that it should be communicated to you. I will write to Mr. Brown. A. RECKLESS. HON. A. RECKLESS, OCEAN GROVE, N. J., July 23, 1879. Dear Sir: Your telegram of yesterday came to my hands last evening. Its declaration and assurances are a great relief and satisfaction to us all. It is the high moral tone of this place that has secured its unparalleled success. If this tone is leveled down to an ordinary plane, and it becomes simply a summer resort of a type like most of others, its chief attraction will be gone, and the uncounted thousands which have been drawn here because of these attractions, ceasing to feel assured of such moral protection as the past has given, will be scattered, or drawn to other places less likely to be interrupted by the frivolities of a costly so-called fashionable life, and so the gain that might possibly accrue to you by the running of Sunday trains would be lost by the diminished week-day travel, as it is quite clear, if Sunday trains were run, our present arrangements for summer meetings, which draw the people from all parts of our extended Union, would cease at once. Thanking you for the prompt and positive manner in which you have met and answered the question, I have to assure you that the bond of interest which has heretofore existed between your company and this Association, is hereby strengthened an hundredfold. Very truly, E. H. STOKES, Pres't O. G. C. M. A. M. E. C. It is proper to say too, that this correspondence is thus made public with the knowledge and consent of the parties concerned." THE FIRST PRAYER MEETING Of the first prayer meeting, the Rev. George Hughes wrote at the time: A company of ministers and laymen, with their families, had the week previously tented at Ocean Grove. On Tuesday evening the friends were invited to meet in one of the tents. The Rev. E. H. Stokes, presiding elder of the New Brunswick District, led the exercises in a prayer of wonderful unction. He took fast hold of the Eternal Throne. All hearts were drawn into the exercise, invoking divine aid in this new enterprise. The tokens of divine presence were unmistakable and glorious. The heavens were bent in gracious manifestations. O, as the pleading man of God grew vehement in the request that we "might have a single eye," there was a deep and thrilling response to that utterance. After a somewhat protracted season of prayer, the elder, evidently struggling under extraordinary emotion, rose to speak. The thought that pressed upon him at that hour was the nearness of the spirit-world, and the undoubted presence of the pure ones. He felt that there was only a thin veil intervening. He referred to the fact that just seven years ago that day a beloved daughter had gone to join the glorified. His heart was full-full of painful memories in view of that departure, and full of exultation that for seven years she had been developing her redeemed powers in the realm celestial. Then (with an emphasis not to be forgotten) our brother said he felt, in view of the undertakng before us, like quoting the first verse of the inspired Word, stopping in the middle, "In the beginning, God," and, added, "Lo God is here"here in the beginning, and he trusted would be in the continuance, and to the end. Mrs. R. J. Andrews was moved to speak in a similar strain, saying that she had been impressed with the fact that spirits from the excellent glory were very near. The occasion made an indelible impression on the minds of those present. The seal is on the work. The Lord has taken possession of Ocean Grove. The sense of his presence was deep and all-pervading during the week. The history of the week is comprehensively and truthfully written in the expressive sentence flowing so unctuously from the elder's lips, "In the Beginning, God." ON EXISTING LAWS The following paper, presented by the president, after the report was rendered, was adopted, not only by a unanimous, but one of the most emphatic votes ever given by the Association, and a special request made that it be incorporated as a part of the Annual Report. "It is the fullest and firmest conviction of our heart, that God has the right to rule, and to enact such laws as he in his wisdom sees will best promote the interests of all; that as Christian men, in harmony with him, we best promote his glory, and secure, as a result, our own happiness, when by all that in us lies, we strive to observe these laws, and do his will; that being governed by these principles for the last eighteen years, in the management of this place, we are this day, more than ever assured, that in all our multiplied and varied perplexities we have been, not only divinely guided, but in all have secured the divine favor, as is shown in the general prosperity of the place, as well as the approval of vast multitudes of good people of every name, which we continually receive. This being true, I ask you, without the slightest thought of relaxing in any feature of our government, that we do here and now reaffirm, all our past moral and religious regulations, and restrictions, emphasizing in the strongest possible manner that words can express such as bear upon the liquor traffic and holy Sabbath. "That we reinstruct our officers and all intrusted with authority upon these grounds, urging and insisting upon a still greater vigilance, in detecting and bringing to proper rebuke and punishment, all tendencies to infringement upon or disregard for existing laws, and that we call with renewed earnestness upon all Christians and order-loving people, who occasionally visit, or steadily abide with us, to aid in our Christly work of keeping this a holy place: "And furthermore, that we again proclaim, as we often have before, that there are no rules, regulations or restrictions at this place different from those which all evangelical bodies in this and other lands expect and require of their people, and as the purpose of all is to make this place what the Lord designs the whole earth should be at his coming, we have great confidence that all right-minded people will, as they have in the past, steadily cooperate with us in this great work, so that they and we may at all times have that which we most desire, the constant smile of God." THE FIRST LETTER FROM THE NEW POST OFFICE Post Office REV. E. H. STOKES, D.D. President O. G. C. A. Ocean Grove, Monmouth Co., N. J. 5 o'clock, A. M., August 1, 1881. DEAR BROTHER: In two hours the Post Office will open to the public for business in the large, elegant, and well-appointed room in that part of the new Association Building assigned for its use. It is becoming that to you, as the president of the Association which has provided these quarters at its own cost, should be delivered the first letter from the new office. In making this transfer and arranging for business I have been forcibly reminded of the change wrought in the past ten years. The office was established in 1871, and was opened in the small dwelling on Main Avenue, near the gates owned by Charles Rogers, and after a few weeks removed to the building in which it has since been kept, and which at that time stood where now stands the Janes Memorial Tabernacle. The first letters mailed after the office was established was on the 30th day of June, 1871, and the marked contrast between that time and the present will best be expressed when you are informed that the office now receives and distributes, and mails and sends out more letters in one day than were received and distributed, and mailed and sent out during June, July, August, and September (the whole season) of 1871. What of the next ten years? J. C. Patterson, chief of police; Capt. Rainear, Geo. Kellogg, F. Tantum, and others, together with the assistants in the office, have been very kind in assisting to transfer office fixtures and materials to the new building and aiding to begin business in the new room. Very truly yours, H. B. BEEGLE, P.M. FIRST TELEGRAM SENT To U. S. Grant, Elberon, N. J. Ocean Grove, N. J. Can you be with us on Monday at our anniversary? E. H. Stokes. To Rev. E. H. Stokes, Ocean Grove, N. J. Elberon, N. J. I am obliged to go to New York on Monday. Beg pardon for not having informed you yesterday. ANNIVERSARIES Sixth Anniversary-1875. Memorial vase at Post Office. U. S. GRANT. Seventh Anniversary-1876. Vase dedicated to Young People at Ocean Grove in Centennial Park opposite the Arlington. Eighth Anniversary-1877. Vase in rear of preachers' stand facing the sea at head of Ocean Pathway, dedicated to the Pioneer Women of Ocean Grove. Ninth Anniversary-1878. "Angel of Victory"-Monmouth Flace. Tenth Anniversary-1879. “Grace” and “Gratitude.” Eleventh Anniversary-1880. "Jennie and Joe"-Cold water fountain. Thirteenth Anniversary-1882. New Fountain "Good Will," northeast corner of the Auditorium was unveiled-a little boy in bronze. Fourteenth Anniversary-1883. Anniversary vase at Thompson Park to mark the place of the first religious meeting at Ocean Grove. Fifteenth Anniversary-1884. Six artesian fountains already running, taken as the anniversary monument. Eighteenth Anniversary-1887. Dedication of the Young People's Temple as the anniversary monument. Twentieth Anniversary-1889. Dedication of Thornley Chapel. Twenty-fifth Anniversary-1894. New Auditorium. Thirty-sixth Anniversary-1905. Unveiling of the Stokes Monument. Thirty-eighth Anniversary-1907. Fountain in Thompson Park, in honor of the late Bishop FitzGerald. THE OCEAN GROVE HYMN The Ocean Grove hymn was written by the late Ellwood H. Stokes, then and thereafter for a period of twenty-eight years the president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, to be sung at the exercises commemorating the sixth anniversary of the founding of Ocean Grove, or, perhaps to speak more correcty, of the first religious service held at Ocean Grove. The sixth anniversary was held on July 31, 1875, and it is said that the auditorium, where the exercises were held, was crowded to its limit. Altogether, the occasion was a most notable one. Ocean Grove had been in existence only six years, but two guests of national prominence were present, seated upon the platform; one, the President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, who sat at Dr. Stokes' right, and the other, a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Levi P. Scott, who sat at his left. The orator of the day was none other than the beloved president of the Association, Dr. Stokes. The oration was in the nature of a historical address and at its conclusion the Ocean Grove Hymn, written for the occasion, was sung by the choir and congregation; it is also said both the president and the bishop joined in singing. The beauty of sentiment and lines alike is such that we are sure all will be interested in it, and if, perchance, it shall be seen by any who were present on that occasion, doubtless they will remember it. In writing this hymn Dr. Stokes has not only truly portrayed his own sentiment but also that of the founders, toward Ocean Grove. These sentiments are of such a character as to make the singing of this hymn appropriate on many occasions. It is hoped that the custom of singing this hymn may be revived. God of the Grove, where leaves of green God of the lakes, where soft winds blow, God of the beach, whose ocean air God of the sea, where tempests sweep, As in the hollow of Thy hand- God, whom we worship, Jesus, Lord, O, make us wise and make us good- God of the land and of the sea, God of the human heart and will, O may we in thy hands be still- |