Ocean Grove Record

Camp Meeting Assoc. News

What Were They Thinking?

The Camp Meeting Perspective
By Scott Hoffman, CAO OGCMA

Every time I think about it, I find myself in awe of the vision of the men and women who were responsible for the founding of our beloved Ocean Grove. They were people of incredible insight and remarkable accomplishment, who had a dream for what Ocean Grove would be, and then allowed God to make their dreams seem small in comparison to what He had in mind for this square mile by the beach!

Rather than tell you about them, I thought it would be great for all of you to hear directly from them. The following are a few brief vignettes designed to introduce you to the original thoughts of those inspired men and women who paved the way for the great life we enjoy here in Ocean Grove.

William Osborn. A rugged, stalwart man of splendid physique – “preeminently a child and lover of nature” – with hair and beard to rival David’s; whose great ambition was to provide: “somewhere along the sea, a convenient place where a few families of like mind can pitch their tents, and for a little while in summer enjoy the sea air, bathing, fishing, etc., having such social and religious exercises intermingled as convenience and inclination might suggest.”

Ellwood Stokes. A charter member of the OGCMA, and its first President - “To Ocean Grove I have given the best judgment of my ripest years – the toil of brain, and bone, and blood and heart. The joy of her success is like the joy of one’s nuptial days; but when she departs from her original principles, my grief will be like that with which I followed my dead to the silent grave – and as I have mourned for them, so should I mourn if Ocean Grove failed to fulfill her high and holy mission. But she shall not fail; God is with her, and so long as we are true to Him, He will be true to us. If I speak to you no more on the subject, this is my last request for Ocean Grove:

“Still let this place be held for God,
By Him be blest, to Him be given,
Its hearts and homes be His abode,
His, morning, noon, and dewy ev’en;
My heart repeats it o’er and o’er,
His all the while, HIS EVERMORE.”

James Fitzgerald. A bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and second President of the OGCMA - “When the great tablet “Holiness to the Lord” was placed in position in the new Auditorium, Dr. Stokes called attention specially to it expressing the earnest hope that we might never depart from its principles. If our grounds can be preserved from invasion by forces that would destroy our distinctive features, and from influences that are inimical to the great object that we have in view; and if in the spirit of true consecration we adhere to and exemplify the great scriptural doctrines which we are set to maintain, we should move forward to even more glorious achievements in the name of the Master.”

Mrs. Joseph Thornley. In a little old dingy tent, one of ten erected on the sand drifts of what was later to be known in Ocean Grove as Thompson Park, but now called Founder’s Park, there occurred on the night of July 31, 1869 – 140 years ago – an event of immense significance. What happened was not unusual of itself, and the surroundings were not such as would impress one that history was making within the confines of the poor little tent, illumined, as it was, in Mrs. Thornley’s words, “by a few tallow candles; but great oaks from little acorns grow.”

“On this occasion, which has now been commemorated at Ocean Grove for 140 years, there had gathered about a score of persons. The night was dark, save for the stars which twinkled brightly from overhead, while the few candles within cast weird shadows upon the scene. Some had come directly from their own tents while others had preferred to wander over the yielding sands to the edge of the dune overlooking the sea to watch the moon rise from her briny bed. But shortly after nine o’clock all had gathered in the little dimly lighted tent for the first religious service – a prayer meeting – held at Ocean Grove. What a memorable occasion, and how much has resulted therefrom!” It was during this prayer meeting that Dr. Stokes was heard to say, “I feel compelled to speak the first four words of Scripture, ‘In the beginning, God,’ and with those words having been spoken it was as if God had taken possession of this land for His great purposes.”

There is so much more to learn and to experience from our founders, but that remains for another time. Enjoy these winter days…summer is surely coming!