USA > New Jersey > Scheyichbi and the strand : or, early days along the Delaware ; with an account of recent events at Sea Grove ; containing sketches of the romantic adventures of the pioneer colonists ; the wonderful origin of American society and civilization > Part 11
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Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, and Christians of other de- nominations were already owners of the soil, and began to build ; be- sides, people, not members of any church, were drawn by the promise of order and morality to seek a resting-place in the borders of the new, fast-growing town. The frontispiece represents Cape May Point, the site of Sea Grove, as it appeared in 1776; the picture of "Sea Grove Beach by Moonlight" is a sketch of the same locality, from a different point of view, just before the lighthouse was moved inland, the constant action of the sea having worn away the low bluff until the tower would soon have been in danger of a fall into the encroaching waves. These engravings are essentially accurate, except that in the original paintings, from which both of them were copied, the artist, Mr. Charles W. Knapp, of Philadelphia, well known by his fine authentic American landscapes, though reproducing faithfully and beautifully from older sketches and various data the natural features of each scene, has in- troduced, for artistic effect, more figures of men and women than often gathered on "Barren Beach" in those days. The lighthouse being moved back in 1847, the scene remained without much change until 1875, when the improvements of Sea Grove began.
The "Bird's-eye View" is reduced from a design by Armitage, of Mr. Sidney's office, and gives the appearance of Sea Grove in the spring of 1876. Studied thus in connection and contrast, these pic- tures are more expressive than any words the writer can command. The other views in this volume, being from sketches by David B. Gul- ick, of New York, are, of course, reliable pictures ; they present ar- tistically the actual features in a peculiar landscape, and, as will soon be seen, are significant of the remarkable influence of changing phases of religious sentiment upon general progress. Let the reader look at the picture of the gateway of Sea Grove, at the view of Lake Lily, and at the architecture of all the buildings in the various scenes, and then com- pare the liberality, taste, and good sense of Presbyterians to-day, with the temper manifested by the conscientiously ugly and uncomfortable "meeting-houses" of New England Calvinists two hundred years ago!
§" A sea-side resort," say the Directors of the Sea Grove Associa- tion, in one of their publications, " is generally associated in the mind with lavish display, extravagant living, dissipation, and consequent ex- pense, to be regretted when the apparent pleasure is past and gone. To families of quiet habits, and who visit a summer resort, even where expense is no object, the glitter and show do not compensate for the health lost or for bad habits formed, especially by the young.
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SUMMER HOMES BESIDE THE SEA.
The fashionable hotel at a watering place may afford at enormous prices some luxuries and some exciting amusements, but attending these are generally small, inconvenient rooms, dissipation of every kind, a mixed, often immoral, company, the irreverent element preponder- ating over the moral and religious." In view of these facts, they ex- plain that their enterprise has been undertaken " with the idea of afford- ing a sea-side resort, and sea-side homes, with their economies and pleasures, as well as the influences arising from a religious sentiment, good order, and a freedom from all dissipation attending the merely fashionable watering places."
To encourage home life and influences at the sea-side, the greatest inducements are extended to those who build at Sea Grove. Aside from all other advantages of ready-made and perfectly graded streets, etc., each builder of a cottage will be entitled to a free pass over the West Jersey Railroad for one, two, or three years, agreeably to cost of im- provement ; and all materials will be carried at a reduced rate. The Association, to facilitate transit from Cape May City and the steam- boat landing to Sea Grove, have constructed a horse railroad between those places. Good-sized lots at Sea Grove have been put at moderate prices, and, to prevent monopolizing speculation, none are sold except to those who agree to build within three years. The observer can de- tect neither overreaching greed or insane fanaticism in the develop- ments of Sea Grove ; the enterprise is no crusade, no pilgrimage to some "holy" but unhealthy sacred place, at the command of super- stition.
Presbyterians to-day expect God's blessing of health only as they conform to natural laws, the dictates of sanitary science, and good sense. Speaking of the site of their enterprise, the Directors announce : "The land is sufficiently rolling to afford good drainage in every di- rection, and there are many building-sites rising twenty-five feet above the level of the ocean. There is no swamp on the tract, and the whole plot is available for building purposes. Water for drinking and culin- ary purposes, of the purest quality, is obtained on any part of the ground at a depth of sixteen feet from the surface."
Hospitable religion, broad boulevards, perfect drainage, pure, plen- tiful water, hygienic living ; this is the Presbyterian programme to-day. Not very long ago, moody, mistaken " saints," of varied sects, counted religion, or the madness they called such, godliness enough, leaving cleanliness and. care for the body to be regarded almost as a vice ; herein is evident improvement. Progress involves no shifting of the grounds of principle, no change in the immutable basis of truth; it is a matter of perception and receptivity. It is mankind that is " con- verted from the error of its way," to grow in intelligence, in morals, in spiritual unfolding, to the measure of a perfect life!
Peculiar in its origin, remarkable in its development, striking in its
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results, as a work of high civilization, as an index of progress, Sea Grove commands attention by the liberality, skill, and judgment every- where evinced, but is equally a display of good taste, a substantial re- cognition of the claims of the beautiful. Calling to mind the "crop-eared boors" of Marston Moor, the " Roundheads" of Cromwell's army, the parliament of " Praise God Barebones," the grim Puritans of Salem and Boston, the Pilgrim Fathers, "the Saints" of New Haven, the Cove- nanters of Scotland, and the early Presbyterians of New Jersey, with all the stern dogmatists of a persecuted denomination whose members were accused of regarding propriety and comeliness as a "wile of the wicked one," how strange, how inconsistent seem the works and ways of their lineal descendants in the spirit-the inheritors of the faith, the Presbyterians of to-day. Yet, whatever may, at first thought, seem to be the case, Sea Grove is a coherent outgrowth of Geneva, and Calvinism as much at home there as it was with the democratic and catholic Pilgrim. Fathers aboard the Mayflower and at Plymouth, or amid the privations, gloom, austerity, and exclusiveness of the per- secuting Puritans during the first years of Salem and Boston.
To make it still more plain that the principles, good manners, and morals of the elder generations of Calvinists are essentially preserved, and their foibles alone omitted, by the people of Sea Grove, the following, from the pen of an experienced, observing, orthodox minister, is here added: "Throughout the season a bright, cheerful, and sociable spirit prevailed. Innocent and agreeable amusements abounded. Cultured and friendly intercourse was cherished. Guests, without any constraint to do so, had an opportunity of attending family worship morning and evening, as well as public Divine service on the Sabbath. Nothing oc- curred of any kind to mar the pleasure of the visitors from North, South, East, and West, and every sign indicated a brilliant and useful future for Sea Grove. It was evident to all who visited the place for a day, a week, or a month, that it is just the resort that is needed, one where fashion and dissipation do not hold sway, where extravagance finds no sphere for display, where guests, without an affected pretense of piety or of devotional services, may enjoy the means of grace to which the inmates of Christian homes are accustomed in their church relations, and where, whilst religious advantages are supplied and cherished, everything like sectarianism and bigotry is eschewed. It was a joy to the writer that, during a visit of a number of weeks at Sea Grove, whilst witnessing much cheerful enjoyment, and sharing in it, he nei- ther saw a card or glass of liquor, nor heard a profane word. And this was peculiarly gratifying, as so many young persons were present, who could not but be benefited by so much exemption from evil influences, while under the power of others of an opposite character, genial, cheer- ing, manly, and eminently salutary."
§ It has been stated that not only Presbyterians, but Episcopalians,
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EPISCOPALIANS AT SEA GROVE.
Lutherans, Methodists, and others were attracted to Sea Grove. To show how some of these people regard the place and its arrange- ments leads the author directly to the point of his perhaps too long and circumstantial argument. The subjoined paragraphs are from an Episcopalian in training and by long affiliation a liberal man and a reformer, one familiar with great enterprises, and to whom some of the most remarkable acts of the Senate of the United States owe their conception. This gentleman made a careful examination of the affairs of Sea Grove at an early date, and in a letter from thence to a friend, but for publication, he wrote,-
"Another visit to this delightful spot demonstrated the fact that the success of the enterprise is assured.
" Although somewhat surprised at the rapid advancement of the work as it appeared a few weeks ago, the sight presented last Saturday seemed quite bewildering.
" The place, considering the brief interval, had assumed the air of a lively little village, with evidences on all sides of the greatest activity and healthy progress. Cottages are springing up as if under the inspiration of magic, the commodious hotel recently begun is now open, the beautiful wide avenues are being graded and graveled, the sidewalks gently elevated above the smooth, level drives, and the busy workmen finishing their labors give hopeful note of preparation for the coming season.
" The excursionists last Saturday appeared to enjoy the visit very much ; after taking a bird's-eye view of Sea Grove from the lofty steeple of the Pavilion, they strolled off along the beach, and visited the numerous objects of interest, as the clear fresh-water lake, the new hotel, the cottages, and grounds.
"A sign of the progressive times is the fact that men of large ex- perience, keen sagacity, and ample means are attracted to South Jersey partly from its superior natural advantages, and, in some measure, from the moral tone and growing sentiments of the people upon the vital questions of temperance and prohibition, without which no community can reach the highest degree of moral development and material wealth.
" The Sea Grove Association, composed of such men as Messrs. Alexander Whilldin, John Wanamaker, J. C. Sidney, and others of like earnestness and capacity, recognizing these principles, has founded this new settlement on the basis of morality, religion, and temperance, and procured such legislation as will effectually banish, within the cor- porate limits, the sale and traffic of intoxicating liquors. Built on this superstructure, with its natural advantage of position, health, accessi- bility, moral tone, and religious sentiments, the future of Sea Grove is assured.
" The temperance feature is one which your valuable journal cannot too highly commend. The beneficent result which will soon be ap-
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parent from the practical workings of the prohibitory provision will furnish you additional arguments and illustrations to continue the manly fight made in Pennsylvania against the rum traffic and in favor of prohibition throughout the State.
"The party returned to the city about eight o'clock without acci- dent, seemingly well pleased with the day's enjoyment."
But all the world are not Presbyterians, all are not Episcopalians ; some are not members of any church, and yet are people of discrim- ination, at least in secular matters. John Calvin, in Geneva, could not raise himself above the persecuting spirit of his age altogether. The Calvinists in Holland, in England, in Massachusetts, were by the record held guilty of conscientious bloodshed for the offenses of con- science. Coming down the tide of time, what spirit ruled at Sea Grove? The hospitality, tolerance, and courtesy of the Sea Grove Christians were early put to a test, and as to the manner in which they bore the trial, the evidence of the one who gave whatever provocation may have been felt shall be admitted.
The letters here quoted from were published at Boston, Massachu- setts, in the "Banner of Light," an old, ably-conducted Spiritualist journal, much respected by its supporters, and of world-wide circula- tion. Addressing the editor as a personal friend, the correspondent at Sea Grove freely comments as follows :
" While your various correspondents are sending you cheerful notes from different points where the thousands of liberal souls congregate and enjoy the satisfaction of a refined society and philosophical teach- ings, I add my scribble from another locality, where it may seem that I am out of place and ought to be uncomfortable.
"Sea Grove is a creation, and a creation by Presbyterians. If you take your United States map, and let your pen-handle run down the coast of the Atlantic southwardly until you reach Cape Henlopen, you will be fourteen miles beyond where I am. Still, Cape Henlopen light, shining across the entrance of Delaware Bay, threw its rays into my window last night, for I slept at the very end of Southern New Jersey, on the shore of the actual Cape May. The long-established watering- place of that name is north of here, in a much less desirable locality, not on a cape at all-hence, in our American way, its name.
" On the point of the Cape a few Presbyterian gentlemen and capitalists have laid out in noble style a small town, building, as their forefathers in the faith in New England did, a church first, and then, as the pilgrim fathers did not, a comfortable hotel, with modern improvements, next! Nor this alone, but they have leveled the sand banks, improved the shores of a small fresh-water lake, and multiplied streets, roads, ave- nues, and boulevards in every direction. Fine cottages have been erected, and the place is rapidly developing characteristics of material order and beauty.
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DISINTERESTED EVIDENCE.
"The Abraham, the Moses, the Solomon of this enterprise is Alex- ander Whilldin, Esq., a wealthy wool merchant of the city of Philadel- phia, in whose family the land hereabouts has been a legacy for genera- tions. Presbyterianism has descended in the same line as the property, but it must not be understood that the large fortune of Mr. W. was all inherited, or that he is of that class of men who accept their creeds ready-made from their ancestors. On the contrary, he is a thorough man of business, as liberal in his charities as thoughtfully tolerant in his adhesion to his sect. In association with him is the famous Napo- leon of clothiers, John Wanamaker, of the same city. Both these persons are remarkable in the same way-men whose broad views and ceaseless energies, coupled with catholic sympathies, make mere sec- tarianism seem impertinent, and exalt our conception of human nature as we observe their philanthropic activity and eminent public spirit.
" The plan of this sea-side paradise, this New Jerusalem in the sand, as well as the public improvements, reflects credit upon the taste and skill of Mr. J. C. Sidney, another Philadelphian, and an architect of repute. Under his superintendence, backed by abundant means, the growth of this place has been exceedingly rapid, and yet substantial completeness is everywhere evident.
"Under the favorable laws of this State (New Jersey), the regulations of this new town are as peculiar as the old Presbyterian Blue Laws of Connecticut; in fact, they smack somewhat of their character. I should hesitate long before I consented to such laws for a State or large city, but here, and now, very possibly they are excellent ; anyway, those who disapprove can go to-Cape May, or even Long Branch, which is worse.
" For my part I am glad to get to a place where rest and health and personal improvement seem really to be the object of those around me. I am rejoiced to be, even for a week, where my eyes are not offended by the emblazonry with which the rum traffic decorates so many fronts in town, and where the tippler tippleth not and the drunk- ard cometh not. Continual swearing (in others) is not essential to my happiness, while slang and obscenity, such as I often hear in some re- sorts, make me crawl all over with disgust. Sea Grove has no rum traffic-never will have; it has no scenes of riot, and moreover is clean and decent in every way. I don't know how rigid the regulations are, but I do know they will be enforced, whatever they may be; and that now the result is every way satisfactory if health and rest are really desired.
" It seems queer to see the people of a hotel convene twice a day for family prayers, where various clergymen 'address the throne of grace,' and a fine quartette like this of the Hayes family leads the singing ; yet such is the fashion here, and I, wishing to be in style, followed the fashion. I cannot detect any demoralization in myself in consequence
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of this self-indulgence, and if I think my own thoughts the while prayer and music go on, I do not think I am surrounded by a company of mere hypocrites and canting, pretentious formalists ! I am sure some people I know would be surprised to learn how much of real human goodness unspoiled there is in all the churches. The danger here seems to be that so much piety and propriety, 'taken straight,' may become dull from monotony, and so efforts have been made to avoid sanctimo- niousness. A very distinguished Presbyterian divine organized a minstrel troupe from the kitchen and the dining room, and they gave an entertainment. Then last evening there was in the parlor an exhi- bition of sleight-of-hand by ' Professor Guernella and lady.' He belongs to the assumed exposers of Spiritualism, and I have to say that he was decent in his remarks and clever in his tricks, but his imitation was as much like spirit phenomena as the pantomime of the deaf and dumb is like the eloquence of Wendell Phillips; and so as before the facts of Spiritualism remain, as Guernella says, to 'puzzle longer heads than mine.'
" To-day, after the teachings of Guernella, that ' we should attribute nothing to supernatural causes because we don't understand it,' we had a sermon from the Rev. Mr. Nevins upon the stilling of the sea by Jesus. He took occasion to inculcate 'muscular Christianity,' saying salvation was incomplete without health, and that Jesus healed the sick. He then told us that the storm on Galilee was the work of demoniacal spirits, as were all storms, earthquakes, and other destructive outbreaks of nature ! It was cheap science, even if good theology; anyhow, it showed Guernella had not effaced the idea that somehow good or bad spirits had much to do with our life and its environment. Nevins is an elderly Presbyterian minister. To-night, at 5 o'clock, we listen to the Rev. Mr. Stockton, an Episcopalian of reform tendencies, but still in full communion. From conversation with him, I expect liberal things."
Disagreeing radically and frankly with those around him, the writer of the above states, in the further course of his correspondence, that candor and courtesy were the only concessions made by him in frequent conversations and debates with both laymen and ministers; and yet he declares that nowhere was he ever so cheerfully tolerated, never treated with greater kindness, "not even in the radical Israel."
§ Such has been the course taken by the Presbyterian managers of Sea Grove, and such is the concurrent testimony of various parties as to the order, morality, and liberal tolerance of those who frequent the place; yet there resides and rules the same Calvinism which was believed in by the Puritans, who sanctioned the death of dissenters in 'England and Massachusetts a few generations ago. Since then, how much of growth in grace !
Divorced from the entanglements of state ecclesiasticism, the free
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CONCLUSION OF THE HISTORIC ARGUMENT.
Presbyterian Church, like other Christian organizations, has escaped from potent influences of corruption and gained in spiritual life. De- livered from persecution, endowed with freedom, resting secure, that Church has outgrown the old-time Puritan arrogance, intolerance, and cruelty. This is not a change in Calvinism, but it is progress among men. It was not the creed, but the fears of the Puritans, which made them exclusive and proscriptive.
The progress made manifest by the success of the Presbyterians in New Jersey has been shared by the Episcopalians of Virginia as well, and has extended to every Christian denomination in our country. It is the fruit of religious freedom, of security, prosperity, and culture ; the expression of the spirit of the nineteenth century, the outgrowth of the republican institutions of the United States of America.
" Calvinism ran to seed in Massachusetts," it is said; its thorns it put forth in Europe in defiance-a defense against its persecutors. After two hundred years of tolerance and liberty, it blooms at Sea Grove; the humanities, the courtesies, the graces of life, blossom in beauty on the same rugged stock which so long has nourished the sterner virtues.
Freedom is the natural basis of civilization, progress, and a true life. Religion needs no establishment except in the hearts of the devout. The only legitimate rule is the law of equal rights, "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people"-" never to perish from the earth."
Such are our conclusions. Such the lesson of New Jersey and Sea Grove; the historic argument of SCHEYICHBI AND THE STRAND.
7
GEOLOGICAL OUTLINES AND ITEMS.
"A FACT IN NATURE IS AN ACT OF GOD."
" THE COURSE OF NATURE IS THE ART OF GOD."
YOUNG.
CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE is at the southern end of the State of New Jersey, and. according to the United States Coast Survey Reports, is in 38° 55' 50" .42 north lati- tude, and in 74° 57' 15" ·57 west longitude; high- water mark by the same observation was 1188 feet due south of it, or in lati- tude 38° 55' 39" .65 north, and longitude 74° 57' 15" .57 west. The light is one hundred and sixty-seven and three-eighths miles from the northern limit of New Jersey, and between Delaware Bay and the At- lantic Ocean. Immediately west is located the settle- ment of Sea Grove, includ- ing the United States Signal Station at the extreme point CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE, 1876. of Cape May. Both the light and the settlement, as well as the long-famous resort of Cape May City, and the country thirty- two miles north, are included in Cape May County.
Geologically, this county, in common with all the southern portion of the State, belongs to the Tertiary and recent formation of the Ceno- zoic period, and is characterized by deposit, drift, and alluvium. The whole county is very low, level, and uniform, and, in the absence of mines, quarries, or other deep excavations, geological examinations have been
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THE ANCIENT SHORES.
confined to the surface, and the deposit to the depth of three hundred and thirty-five feet beneath it. The best opportunities for observations have been afforded by the boring of several artesian wells at different points.
§ Not very long ago-as time is counted in geology-the ocean shore of Southern New Jersey extended from Trenton, on the Delaware, to Woodbridge, on Staten Island Sound, running nearly along the present railroad from Trenton to Metuchen, Middlesex County, and from thence eastward a short distance. This was the southern limit of the appear- ance of the red sandstone of the Triassic formation. All the land between there and Cape May, to a depth of about seven hundred and forty-two feet, in the Cretaceous formation, and one thousand or more deep the rest of the distance, has been " made" either by deposits from the sea and from vegetable growth, or by " drift" and wash of materials.
The Cretaceous formation extends from the southern line of the Triassic southwardly about sixty miles along the Delaware as far as Alloway's Creek, Salem County, and from thence northeastwardly to Shark River Inlet, on the Atlantic coast, eight miles below Long Branch. Clayton Station, on the West Jersey Railroad from Philadel- phia to Cape May City and Sea Grove, is near the southern border of the Cretaceous formation.
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