Peter Tallman, a Union soldier in the 127th Volunteer Infantry–1861. Later he and other Civil War vets moved to Ocean Grove. They were “secular” and unrelated to the Methodists who founded the town.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor.  Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, 2023.

In 1939, Ocean Grove celebrated its 70th birthday.  Also that year, a new history of Ocean Grove was published and contained “An Appreciation of Ocean Grove As a Member of that Family of Communities Which Constitute The Township of Neptune.”

The “Appreciation” was signed by The Neptune Township Committee and a number of Township officials. Here it is, and pay attention to the words and any hidden meanings.   The italics are mine:

“To the people of Ocean Grove and to those who administer her secular affairs , the Neptune Township Committee, speaking for all the several other communities which are joined in the one municipality, extends felicitations on the occasion of the famous resort’s seventieth anniversary.

“In the unique governmental relationship between Ocean Grove and Neptune Township is demonstrated the advantages and practicality of a union of communities with distinctly different interests and ways of community life.

“Neptune is proud of her beach front resort.  Neptune appreciates Ocean Grove’s importance in the greater municipality. Neptune pledges her continued cooperation with those of her people who are citizens of Ocean Grove in the preservation of their community and its ideals and distinctive characteristics of community life.

“Seventy years of worthy purpose, plan and effort have gone in to the great achievement of today.  May many more happy fruitful years of prosperity and contentment lie ahead.”

Blogfinger. 2023:     It’s curious that this proclamation reveals no appreciation for the religious life that was dominant in the Grove of 1939. They mention  “secular affairs” and stress that OG is a “beach front resort.”  And they speak of a “unique governmental relationship” between OG and Neptune Township. And they seem to view the Grove’s people as one “community”.

They do understand that Neptune is uniquely different from OG, but they seem to be clueless regarding  the varied demographics in the Grove.

The proclamation skirts the life style differences and divisive issues. (eg taxes)  underlying that “unique relationship,” and little did they know, but 41 years later, secular Neptune Township  would actually take over governance in the Grove.

It is that “governmental relationship”  that they were dancing around, failing to acknowledge its specifics and peculiarities.

So Neptune Township, even today, views we Grovers as having “distinctive characteristics.”   They speak in generalities as if they cannot consider paying attention at all to the specifics of OG life.

And today, when problems arise that demand their attention, such as permit parking, they just shrug and move on.  Ocean Grove can never know its true self without secession. That’s because Neptune Township and the CMA keep muddying the waters of life here for “we-the-people—the secular community.”

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY.  The Canadian Brass.  Maybe the Camp Meeting viewed music as a way to bring people together. They still favor hopeful  music in the Grove.