A Blast From The Past

This is one of my favorite articles, which I would like to share with you in this post. I have added period photos to add to your reading enjoyment and to give you a picture of what life was like over 140 years ago in Ocean Grove.

From the Evangelist, Dublin, (Ireland,) November 1st, 1874.

SUNDAY AT AN AMERICAN CAMP-MEETING.

Beach Scene

Ocean Grove, N.J., is fast becoming a favourite summer resort for those who desire a quiet seaside residence apart from the pomp and show of fashionable watering-places. It is situated about six miles south of Long Branch, which is one of the most celebrated summer resorts in America. Ocean Grove is connected with the latter by a line of stages, no railway having yet been built, although one is now in contemplation. It is situated on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, where the sea-view is one of unsurpassed grandeur. There is a good sandy beach, which affords visitors a rare opportunity for surf-bathing, and for whose accommodation bathing-houses have been erected and life-lines placed. 

About five hundred yards from the beach is the grove from which the place takes its name. It belongs to an Association, who have the entire control of it. It is laid out into avenues and

streets, and quite a number of elegant villas and cottages have been erected, so that it may safely aspire to the name village, although in the winter time its census would be small. This summer it was reckoned to have about ten thousand visitors at one time. The avenues and streets are mostly named after prominent Methodist worthies, whose names are familiar to

all Wesleyans. There is Heck Avenue, Embury Avenue, Coke* Avenue, and many others. There are also two beautiful sheets of water, called respectively Wesley Lake and Fletcher

Lake. The former is of considerable size, where visitors can enjoy boating in perfect safety. But the Grove Association had a higher object in view than mere recreation, when the scheme was contemplated. It was proposed to establish a camp-meeting here with the specific purpose in view of promoting the advancement of Christian holiness. A more beautiful place could not have been selected for the purpose, the grove affording good shelter from the rays of the sun, and the additional attraction of the wide ocean, the thunderings of which can be heard from the camp-ground, as the waves dash them-selves on the shore, adding beauty and effect to the scene. The writer had the privilege of spending a Sunday here during the camp-meeting this summer, and a sketch of it may not be uninteresting to our transatlantic friends.

But the principal audience-place is a large bower, formed by fastening branches from one tree to another, at a suitable distance from the ground, thus making a complete-shade overhead. At one end of the bower is the preacher's stand, with a platform elevated about

Bower

four feet from the ground, and capable of accommodating about one hundred people. Around this stand is a railing placed, which serves as an altar for penitents. There are generally two or three services going on at the same time in the camp-ground, but without causing annoyance to each other. With regard to the particular Sunday in question, although there were singing heard from an early hour in the morning, the regular services for the day commenced with a love-feast, at 8.30 A.M. this was largely attended, not less than from three to four thousand persons being present. After the presiding elder had formally opened the meeting, the “speaking” commenced. Never did I see an audience so ready and willing to testify for Christ, or so many testimonies given in so short a time. In such a large audience, it was necessary that the testimonies should be short, and this was strictly adhered to. No sooner did one sit down; than another arose, and frequently two or three together; so that there was no “dragging” in the meeting. Some contented themselves with repeating a verse of Scripture expressive of their desires, and others by repeating a suitable hymn, and many expressed themselves in a single sentence. One young man arose and said, “Saved this morning by the precious blood.” An old veteran preacher got up and said, “That he was now laid aside from active duty, and was sitting in his tent-door watching the progress of the battle; but,” said he, “I never see an empty saddle, but I am ready to fill it.” A gentleman from Chicago said, “That he had come from what might be termed „the land of fire,‟ where he had witnessed the devastation caused by it in a few short hours, and that it was not his desire to go to dwell with everlasting fire.” Another said, “He had come to Ocean Grove the previous year with no particular object in view; but during his stay he attended the services, and was convinced of sin, and returned to his home a new man. On coming back this year to the “Grove” he said the text came to his mind, Ex 3:5 "put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.‟”

A colored lady gave her experience with such touching earnestness and depth of feeling, as to draw tears from many eyes. On concluding she sang a beautiful song, the chorus of which was “I‟m saved by the blood of Jesus.” Another compared Ocean Grove to Mount Pisgah from whence a clearer glimpse of the Promised Land could be obtained. But it would fill a volume to rehearse all the experiences that were given, which were all expressive of the undoubted witness of the Spirit.

The love-feast was concluded at 10 o‟clock, and the preaching-service then commenced. It was conducted by the Rev. Anthony Atwood, of Philadelphia, who took for his text Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” &c. He particularly dwelt on “holiness,” and pressed his conviction that a man may have as much grace as will save him; but unless he is endued with “special power” he cannot be useful in saving others. He concluded his discourse with an appeal to all to seek a deeper baptism of the Holy Spirit. The congregation was dismissed about 12 o'clock, and Sunday-school was announced to begin at 1.30. At the hour appointed the grown-up scholars met in the large tent, and an infant-class was formed in another tent, while an advanced Bible-class occupied a third. The infant-class sang some beautiful Sunday-school hymns just before dismissal.

During the school-hour a large congregation had collected at the preaching-place, to hear

 Amanda Smith

the exhortations of Amanda Smith, a colored lady, of camp-meeting notoriety. I understand she is a member of Old John Street Church of New York, which is the first Methodist Episcopal Church of America. Her discourse was full of fire, and her appeals to the impenitent searching and powerful. She invited all who had a desire to come to the Saviour to hold up their right hand in token thereof, and a goodly number responded to the invitation. She then asked them to come up to the altar, which was soon crowded with earnest penitents. A glorious time followed; but how many were brought to God will only be known when the secrets of all hearts are revealed. At 6 o‟clock a beach-meeting was held on the sea-shore, during which exhortations were given, hymns sung, and prayers offered.

Beach Meeting

“Beside the sea the wondering people stood,

Or sat, or bowed. Devotion's earnest throng;

the spirit, lost in worship's attitude, Mingled

its praises with the billow's song.”

About 7 o'clock the audience began to move up towards the preaching-place, singing, as they went, that favorite song— “In the sweet by-and-by We shall meet on that beautiful

shore.” Here the evening preaching-service was held, while another service was going on in the large tent, and still a third in another tent, there being generally three or four congregations meeting at once.

After the sermon a penitent-meeting was held, and, as usual, the alter was crowded; the cries of the seeking penitents could be heard all over the camp-ground. One young man had thrown himself on his knees on the ground, and seemed unconscious of the presence of any one while he communed with God in prayer. Much good was done by exhorters and others going through the audience, and speaking words of counsel to such as seemed disposed to listen. In the good work they were ably aided by Sister Amanda Smith, who seemed to be in her element at the penitence-meetings. She also gave an address, in which she related the following incident: She said she had been coming from Pittsburgh a few days before in company with a friend, and a man came along the railway-cars, putting a lighted lamp in each. She asked her companion what that was for? it being broad daylight all the time. Pretty soon, however, they came to a very long tunnel, and, speaking to her companion, she said, “Ah! I see now what the light was for.” Carrying on the idea, she applied it to spiritual things, and said, “that God never sent his children through dark places, without giving them light to guide them.”

Tent Living

Many souls professed to have peace, and the meeting continued up to 10 o'clock, and was then dismissed. But the difficulty seemed to be to get the people dispersed, and many still lingered around the altar, where so many had been blessed. In many of the tents could be heard the voice of prayer and weeping, as some sin-burdened soul wrestled with God in secret, and Jacob-like, saying in his heart, Gen 32:26 “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Soon after 10 o'clock the camp-bell rung out its good-night, and in a short time all had sought the shelter of their tents for the night. Thus closed the Sunday at camp-meeting.

* To my knowledge there was never a Coke Avenue in Ocean Grove.

Map of Ocean Grove 1873

In "The Book Of Historical Secrets," I will be interspersing some old newspaper articles, passages from old books and sermons by the founders, which I will call... "A Blast From The Past." Hope you enjoyed this "Blast From The Past."   Feel free to leave a comment, ask questions, etc. I will do my best to respond in a timely manner. Keep your eyes posted for future posts.