OUR MAJOR PATTERSON The truest greatness is ever the most modest. The words are trite, perhaps; but the truth has been rarely illuminated for us at Ocean Grove during the last few months, as we have contemplated the life, so recently ended, of General John C. Patterson. For more than forty years a hero walked among us-a hero, too, of the kind that the whole world loves to honor, especially in these days when military achievement and distinction count for so much. Yet day by day he went his quiet ways in Ocean Grove so unassumingly that pride in the soldier and officer was almost forgotten in love and respect for the man. Some, indeed, of those who thought they knew him best were scarcely aware of his brilliant record in the Civil War and later in the Life-Saving and Coast Guard Service, until they read in the eulogistic columns of the public press and his brave exploits and successive promotions. We thrilled to them then; yet, after all, it was not the honors he had won that meant most to us of Ocean Grove, but our own memories of the upright man, the simple gentleman, whom we had known. Colonel, brigadiergeneral-whatever rank or title might have been conferred upon him-to us he was still, as he always will be, "our Major Patterson." It is not our purpose to present a biographical sketch. That has been ably done by others. A brief tribute to the character of one of Ocean Grove's best and oldest friends, however, we would offer. best? What are the qualities we remember GENERAL JOHN C. PATTERSON There was, first of all, his personal integrity. A man without guile and above reproach, the confidence which he inspired was absolute and unquestioning. And any work which he directed or controlled, whether material or moral, was faithfully and thoroughly performed. There was his justice, which, like his charity, never failed. Just the other day an old laborer, past his days of activity, was heard to say, with a look of infinite pathos and yearning in his eyes: "Thirty years and more I worked for the Major in Ocean Grove, and never once did I know him give a man anything but a fair deal. We was friends, Major Patterson and me." In the many years of his service as superintendent and as chief of police, offenders against law and order had sometimes to be punished. But never a man or boy among them felt that he got more than he deserved, or that the Major was anything but his friend. There was his courage. Several boys of a generation ago, now men in middle life, declare that they have no more vivid recollection than that of the Major, standing erect in the stern of a surf-boat, in a sea which no man on the shore had dared face until inspired by his example, putting out to the rescue of some foolishly venturesome lads caught outside in a storm. It was the same courage that marked the exploit at the storming of the breastworks at Cold Harbor in 1864, that carried him unflinching through thirty-two engagements in the Civil War, and that won for him as captain of the Coast Guard the highest honor medal awarded by Congress for "saving life from the perils of the sea.". There was his courtesy, so fine, because so simple and sincere-the courtesy of the true gentleman, based on kindness and equal to high and low, to rich and poor. There were other qualities too, best known to the small inner circle of intimates -his great love of reading and of good literature; his artistic sense and the native ability which, had greater things left time and place for them in his life, might well have won him distinction; the deeply thoughtful element in his faith and religious life; his affection for his friends, to so many of whom on later birthdays-his own birthdays—he has sent beautiful and valued cards of remembrance and greeting. It was Major Patterson who with his own hands laid the foundation of our great Auditorium and helped construct our famous Board Walk; whose soldierly figure we have so often seen marshaling the veterans in our patriotic and national gatherings. It was he too who for many years drew and adorned the scroll of names of those remembered on our Memorial Day. This year his own name appears in the list of those who have passed on within the twelve-month. In this first halfcentury of Ocean Grove's history no name has been more untarnished, no man has lived a nobler life within its gates or been a more beneficent influence than "our Major Patterson." THE GREAT WASHOUT Request for assistance to defray expenses of restoring the damaged ocean front. Ocean Grove, N. J., July 25, 1896. DEAR FRIEND: Greetings of Grace, Mercy, and Peace! You have doubtless heard of the destruction wrought on our ocean front by one of the terrific storms of the past winter. To restore the former conditions will cost at least $25,cco. The whole beach and plank walk were so seriously threatened that to prevent the further destruction of one of the highest interests of our town something had to be done at once. The best knowledge growing out of years of experience along the sea was sought and applied to our situation. The unanimous conclusion reached was that a series of jetties and bulkheads should be immediately constructed to prevent the further encroachment of the sea on Ocean Avenue and, if possible, restore our wasted beach. The success thus far has been exceedingly gratifying. To reach our present restorations over $20,000 has been borrowed, on which we are paying an annual interest of six per cent. This burden is too great for us to bear alone. Our lot owners have always shown sympathy with us in our efforts to protect and promote their property interests. Ours is a mutual copartnership. The permanent loss of our plank walk would depreciate the interests of all, and by that much lessen the attractions of our beautiful seaside resort. This heavy burden of expense is felt all the more seriously in that it follows so quickly after other large and imperative outlays in providing better systems of electric light and water supplies; and now we have the added cost of constructing a larger and stronger water tank of sufficient capacity to meet the increasing demands of our people. These last-named improvements, however, will in time make such remunerative returns as will, to a large extent, lighten their own weight. But from the beach and plank walk there are no direct returns whatever, only as they come from the general prosperity of the place, in which prosperity all property holders share, some more, some less, and all are in their measure benefited. We, therefore, appeal not only to all of our lease holders, but to you also, as an interested friend of own town, as shown in your gifts to the great Auditorium, for help to remove this largely added debt, which has, in the providence of God, so unexpectedly come upon us. Some of the members of our Association have given months of uncompensated toil to the restoration of our sea-smitten front, and will, in answer to this appeal, give of their means also to lift the debt incurred. I, therefore, in view of all these things, in the name of and on behalf of the Ocean Grove Association, most kindly, earnestly, and notwithstanding all the financial depressions which embarrass our country, even hopefully ask you to join us in the effort to raise this money. We would be very thankful to have you answer this appeal at once, or at the farthest by September 1, 1896. If not convenient to pay immediately what you would desire, our ends would be served if we receive it by September 1, 1896. In the best interest to secure the highest spiritual and material results, and to hold our beloved Ocean Grove for God, Copies of the above circular were sent to all property owners and a large number of friends, not lot owners, whose names and addresses were on our Auditorium subscription book, altogether aggregating about one thousand six hundred. By change of residence many failed to reach the parties for whom they were designed, so that between one and two hundred, to the Auditorium contributors, not lot holders, were returned to us, and, having failed to reach their destination, did not do their work. You will be interested to know the result: To these statements it should be added that a number of letters were received expressing profound sympathy with the situation, and at the same time very greatly regretting utter inability to render financial aid. It is also just to say that several gentlemen of high standing in their home relations of thoroughly intelligent and successful business habits, wrote us, in the most kindly spirit (which letters are not only preserved, but highly appreciated), of their fullest sympathy, readiness, and perfect willingness to help at once; but as parties appealed to could not know their share in the matter, that by far the better and much more equitable way would be to raise the amount by a special assessment. This plan, however, and indeed almost every other had been fully discussed in our Emergency Committee before sending the circulars. It was finally decided to try the circular plan first, and wait developments. There is another item of interest in this history, which will enlighten you somewhat, namely, the relations of each subscriber to our work: 18 resident lot owners, total amount subscribed.. 73 summer residents, total amount subscribed. 55 friends, not lot owners.. 2 subscribers, out of town, not yet paid.. I friend, not yet paid I subscriber, lot owner, not paid I Gordon Lecture (net)... 151 total subscribers. Total amount 4 not paid Total cash $138.00 979.00 746.00 10.00 50.00 10.00 215.75 .$2,148.75 70.00 $2,078.75 Dr. Stokes, in reporting this said, "I add, in conclusion, it gives me great pleasure to say that in all the correspondence I do not recall one unkind sentence or word, and to all who wrote or gave I render profoundest thanks." |