2022. Sunday OG Boardwalk Pavilion. Freedom from religion? Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net. Our images tell stories and provide facts.
Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor Blogfinger.net
We are going through a period of dumping on the Camp Meeting Association in the “Letters” section of the Coaster and at the Home Groaners’ meetings.
Today, 6/8/23) we received the latest Coaster, and its Letters section had one letter by a Grover whose long dissertation attacks the CMA with no facts to support the assertions. The writer is Paul Martin, a member of Neptune United. He may be correct in some of his complaints, but where are the facts? You should obtain the Coaster and read his claims.
Let’s list his points and evaluate any facts:
a. “Concerns about human rights.” But which of those rights is he referring to, and specifically in Ocean Grove?
b. “Parity for homeowners”–if that’s a concern, shop it over at the Mother Ship.
c. “Social media” where people don’t politely agree with him regarding the CMA.
d. “Concerns about freedom of and from religion—violations of the First Amendment.” Well, no facts, and the CMA also has rights.
e. “Neptune is failing to protect our constitutional rights,” but tell us where Neptune is failing, and what to do about it.
f. The CMA formally restored Boswell Park’s historic name. He says that Boswell was President of the CMA when the Ku Klux Klan had an event in the Auditorium. But he apparently knows nothing about that Mothers Day celebration from about 100 years ago.
g. During Bridgefest, “speakers preach repeatedly against the LGBTQ+ community.” He says that this is “offensive.” Why doesn’t he tell us which speakers he is berating and what did they say that was “offensive?” And then what would he want the CMA to do? There are freedom of speech and freedom of religion issues with this complaint.
h. The crosses on the badges are “offensive” to some people. Offensive is relative and is a weak-kneed complaint. No one has a right to freedom from feeling offended.
i. The cross shaped pier “was never inspected by Neptune Township.” But Neptune had reason to avoid that inspection. However, if Mr. Martin is upset, don’t write a letter–investigate the truth and then complain to Neptune Township.
j. “The CMA should not impose their religious beliefs on others.” Mr.Martin should give specific examples of such imposition. Blogfinger has written about this, but with facts.
k. “Neptune United asks only for respect for diversity in our community.” Which groups in the Grove do not receive respect? And who is entitled to respect? Explain what is “diversity in our community.” And define what is meant by “community.”
Clear language is essential to clear up misunderstandings, and this also applies to the Camp Meeting.
Writing letters to the Coaster is useless. The generalities in this letter are mind-numbing and unconvincing. He is blowing smoke. (definition: to speak in a way that it is intended to make someone confused or prevent them from getting an accurate idea of a situation)–MacMillan dictionary
When does Neptune United hope to present the facts and tell us what they will do next.
ANNE MURRAY. Snow job music: (definition: “an intensive effort at persuasion or deception”. Oxford dictionary)
The revived Klan of the 1920s did engage in racial lynching though not locally to my knowledge. Monmouth County had the highest membership in NJ and the Klan operated a sort of resort in Brick. Only native-born White Protestants were allowed as members.
DAvid: This is from The NY Times in 1925:
KLANSMEN HONOR AMERICAN MOTHERS
Five Organizations of New Jersey Order Hold Service in Ocean Grove Church.
OCEAN GROVE, N.J., May 10. — In the Ocean Grove Auditorium, centre of Summer religious activity of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Ku Klux Klan conducted Mother’s Day services this afternoon before an audience of approximately 8,000 persons, many of them affiliated with the various Klan organizations.
The KKK of that time were mostly about religion. No mention of racist homophobic activities then. So to link the CMA to the KKK of 100 years ago is an obnoxious and manipulative distortion of history. PG
The KKK meetings in the Auditorium took place as single events in 1924 and 1925 when the OGCMA President was Bishop Joseph F. Berry of Philadelphia. Previously, he wrote that he had no object to clergy belong to the Klan or any other organization.
The Auditorium events were without Klan regalia. In 1920, the group was refused permission to march robed in OG, though this was allowed in Neptune. On the evening of 4 Jul. 1923, a cross was burned by Fletcher Lake at Central Ave. and Broadway.