Secrets of the 1883 Anniversary Vase.

In this blog we will be addressing the mystery of the 1883 Anniversary Vase. This past summer I came across information which mentioned a park called Memorial Park, which was located on the corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Olin street, on the same lot where Kearny Bank and the Post Office now stand. My first blog logs this information. It was during this investigation that I learned that this Memorial Vase of 1875, which stood in Memorial Park, was at some point moved to Founder's Park. This put into question everything I had learned in the past, so I dug deeper. In my search I looked through hundreds of newspaper articles and I searched the early annual reports of the President of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. It was through this search that I discovered that in fact there were two vases called by the same name. One erected in Memorial Park (later moved to Founder's Park) and one erected in Thompson Park (now called Founder's Park.) Somewhere along the way these two vases were historically merged into one, which is historically inaccurate. This is perfectly understandable, considering that there have been a number of Anniversary/Memorial Vases. In order to make things clearer I will refer to one as, The 1875 Memorial Vase and the other one I will refer to as, The 1883 Anniversary Vase.

The 1875 Memorial Vase is the vase which is now standing in the Southeast corner of Founder's Park. The purpose of this Memorial Vase was to commemorate the first religious service and also a memorial for the original Camp Meeting Trustees. The 1883 Anniversary Vase was also to commemorate the first religious service in Ocean Grove, but also a memorial to Maria Thornley (Joseph H. Thornley's first wife.) Maria Thornley was responsible for the first religious service, for it was at her urging that they gathered and had a prayer service. It was here at the Thornley tent meeting that Ocean Grove was born. 


It was thirteen years later (1882) that a group of people returned to the place determined to be the spot where that first meeting was held.  They conducted a prayer service to remember and commemorate that evening in 1869. At this time Mrs. Thornley was in poor health.

MEETING IN THOMSON PARK,

“It was a conception of Dr. Stokes, “Let us go,” he said, “to the spot, or as near as we can determine the place, where Bro. Thornley’s tent stood on that memorable Tuesday evening, July 31, 1869, and hold a half-hour’s prayer service before the evening meeting.” Accordingly, as the sun was sinking in a gorgeous western sky, the people gathered around the small pavilion at the junction of Pilgrim Pathway and Lake Avenue. Hymns were sung and prayers were offered by the president, R. J. Andrews, A. Wallace, J. H. Thornley, Dr. Alday and others, and the story of that first meeting, held at the instance of Mrs. Thornley, its baptism of power and lasting significance, was given by Doctor Stokes.”

-Ocean Grove Record 8/5/1882

Mrs. Thornley's health continued to decline and on October 26, 1882 she went home to be with her Lord and Savior. 

“Mrs. Maria THORNLEY. 

Awaiting a suitable obituary notice of the elect lady whose name stands above, we simply announce the fact of her peaceful death, which occurred Thursday, Oct 26. This event was not unexpected. Her health has been feeble for several years, but her presence at Ocean Grove, with the interests of which she was so prominently identified from the beginning, in connection with her husband, Rev. Joseph Thornley, was as regular as the season rolled round, until last summer. She has been entirely prostrated by severe illness for about a year. How frequently her name was affectionately mentioned in prayer, those in attendance at the last anniversary, and other exercises, will remember. But she is well, for God hath called her to that land where the inhabitants shall never say, "I am sick." Her funeral was largely attended at her sorrowing husband's residence on Green Street, Philadelphia, on Monday last, President Stokes, Rev. Dr. Todd, and others, officiating. The internment was in a beautiful site in West Laurel Hill.”

-Ocean Grove Record 11/4/1882

In 1883, on Anniversary Day (July 31st) a memorial vase (The 1883 Anniversary Vase) in the memory of Mrs. Maria Thornley was erected on the exact spot of the first religious service held in Ocean Grove, which was in the tent of Joseph and Maria Thornley. Here is the account from the Ocean Grove Record, the Ocean Grove newspaper of that day: 

“Right on the spot, where it is remembered the tent of Mrs. Thornley was pitched, a beautiful memorial vase had been erected. Some object of this kind, adorning the grounds, and monumental in legend, has, under the devising of the president, marked every anniversary for several years.

 A large gathering, just about sunset, assembled to see the vase unveiled, and joined in song and prayer. Revs. Bros. Daniels, Adams, Thornley, Evans and Wallace, were present, with Dr. Stokes, who addressed the people, and was followed by Secretary Evans, with a statistical resume of the maternal development of this wilderness and solitary place, to its present comeliness and large promise for the future. Inscriptions on the four sides of the vase, recount the facts we have referred to, and especially commemorate the name of the late Mrs. Maria Thornley, as associated with our origin.”

-Ocean Grove Record 8/4/1883

At this point I would like to point out the fundamental difference which differentiates the two vases. The inscriptions on the 1875 vase (in the southeast corner of Founder's Park today) are different from the 1883 Anniversary Vase. This is shown below in the Fourteenth Annual Report's account of the unveiling of the 1883 Anniversary Vase.

“6.30, P. M., the unveiling of the Anniversary Vase took place at the foot of Thompson Park, near Wesley Lake, on the spot where 14 years before, the first religious service was held at Ocean Grove. The objects of erecting the Vase at this point, were two-fold. First, to mark the spot where the first meeting was held, and secondly, to perpetuate the name of Mrs. Thornley, who had died during the year, and also to commemorate the fact that she arranged for said Meeting. The Vase has the following inscriptions: 

South Side 

“Site of First Meeting held at Ocean Grove,

Tuesday Evening, July 31st, 1869.”

                           

East Side 

“First Meeting at Ocean Grove, held in

 Joseph H. Thornley’s Tent, July 31^st, 1869.”

North Side 

“Mrs. Joseph H. Thornley, (deceased, 1882) 

arranged for the First Meeting held at 

Ocean Grove, July 31^st, 1869.”

West Side

“The First Meeting held at Ocean Grove, 

July 31^st, 1869, numbered 22 persons.”

After the unveiling, prayers were offered, songs were sung and addresses made, showing the progress of the 14 years past, and the Meeting closed amid general rejoicings and congratulations.” 

-E. H. Stokes D. D. Fourteenth Annual Report

Where was this 1883 Anniversary Vase located? After an intensive search of books, postcards and newspaper articles, I believe I have discovered where it once stood. Everything points to the Northwest corner of Founder's Park near the Heck Street Bridge.

(note the vase behind the tree in the photo on right)

Here are newspaper articles and a 26th annual report excerpt, telling the location of the 1883 Anniversary Vase and the anniversary exercises of that day.

The 17th Anniversary

“Last Saturday evening as the sun was disappearing, about 1,000 people gathered on the supposed spot, now marked by a memorial vase at the northwest corner of Thomson Park, to commemorate the event. Dr. Stokes, who conducted the original meeting, was there. Revs. R. J. Andrews and J. H. Thornley, two of the attendants at the first, were also present, and while hymns were sung and prayers were offered by the president, Vice-president Ballard, Dr. Hanlon, Dr. Wm. Reddy and others, the scene became quite impressive to many strangers who mingled with the audience.”

 -Ocean Grove Record 8/7/1886

Twenty-Third Anniversary.

“The first religious Service ever held in Ocean Grove occurred July 31, 1869, in the late Rev. Joseph H. Thornley’s tent which, as near as can be determined, stood on the spot now marked by a memorial vase in Thomson Park, overlooking Wesley Lake, near the corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Sea View avenue.  It was only an Impromptu prayer meeting, but the event has been celebrated every season for the last 20 years,...” 

-Ocean Grove Record 8/6/1892

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

“Wednesday, July 31st, was the anniversary proper. There was an out-door service, at the Memorial Vase, in Thompson Park, near the south end of the lower Bridge, across Wesley Lake. A large company of the old and new friends of Ocean Grove, gathered at 6.30 P. M., to listen to the oft repeated story of our humble origin twenty-six years ago. The tides of enthusiasm rose high as narrative, songs, prayers and testimonials rolled in rapid succession. Congratulatory words were spoken by friends from far and near, while the shades of evening seemed to be in holy sympathy with all that was said and done. But the hour is up, the procession formed, and the lines moved on towards the Auditorium, the singers in the lead, while down to the rear the lofty strains of "Marching to Zion," could be distinctly heard by all. As the crowd reached the open doors of the Auditorium, the organist sprang to her place, pulled out the stops of the great instrument and in full blast joined in the familiar strains, while the congregation already assembled, arose, and with exultant voices joined in the general joy.” 

-E. H. Stokes D. D. 1895, TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT.

This is a postcard from sometime after 1908... note the vehicles. The pavilion in Founder's Park was gone at this time:

The last mention I found of the 1883 Anniversary Vase was in the early 1920's. The last postcard I found of it was postmarked 1934. It would seem from the picture of it in "The Story Of Ocean Grove 1869-1919" that the vase was in quite a bit of disrepair. Perhaps it crumbled and was scrapped. This remains a mystery to be solved.

I hope you have found this post to be informative. Please leave a comment. I enjoy reading them. I would like any information of the whereabouts or fate of this vase. Does anyone have any old family photos surrounding the 1883 Anniversary Vase? Maybe together this mystery can be solved.