September 10, 1879, brothers (left to right) Ezra B. Lake, S. Wesley Lake, James E. Lake, and an associate, William H. Burrell, all Methodist clergymen, sailed to “Peck’s Beach.” With Rev. William B. Wood and Simon Lake (the brothers’ father, who mortgaged the farm for the initial purchase--not pictured), they established a “Christian Seashore Resort,” the island city that would become Ocean City, New Jersey.
Rev. Burrell wrote in 1881, “We consecrate another portion of this coast to the service of God, and for the best interests of humanity . . . where a Christian family may . . . pleasantly and profitably spend the heated term.”
By 1904, S. Wesley Lake wrote of the future when: “larger and better buildings take the place of these. . . still more beautiful because of the thousands that are yet upon these grounds to become acquainted with the Lord Jesus.”
Indeed, those “larger and better” beautiful buildings have taken their place, and thousands have “become acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ.” The “heated term” has also expanded to include spring and fall activities.
During the years of the early 20th Century, land was sold to individuals, originally as tent sites. The proceeds were used to develop the City of Ocean City and the ministry of Ocean City Tabernacle.
Once all the land was sold, the Tabernacle had to rely on gifts. Some years were difficult. Strong leadership, first from the Lake Brothers, and then from father and son Ralph Luff and William Luff, kept the ministry active. Donors kept it solvent: Charles Stilwell, Robert Bell, Marian Richardson, and many others. And Chaplains such as Franklin Buck and Jack Kulp kept it true to its mission.
Dr. Lake’s century-old benediction still rings true: “That we all unite to keep Ocean City an Ideal City and may God’s Blessings be upon us and crown our efforts with marvelous success.”
 |
| The Tabernacle in the 1950s |
In 2009
For photos and more information click on the timeline.
The early history is detailed in Fred Miller's book, Ocean City, America's Greatest Family Resort (Arcadia, 2003).
A more personal account is in William G. Luff's The Story of The Ocean City Tabernacle (Luff/OPS, 1995).
