The Literature Campaign at the Lewis and Clark Exposition
By G. W. PETTIT.
Above the colonnade reaching from Festival Hall to the Administration Buildings at the main entrance of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition and Oriental Fair the following appropriate quotation was to be seen: “Westward the course of empire takes its way.” Thousands of Eastern people who visited this exposition, saw, for the first time this great Western empire, to which the poet Bishop George Berkeley looked forward. While it is true that the course of empire takes its way westward, it is also true that this message has gone by the hand of faithful pioneers from the rising of the sun in the same westerly direction. Where a few years ago were found a few weak churches, are now to be found strong conferences, dotted here and there with scores of churches and institutions standing for the one aim of closing the advent movement in this generation. The various conferences on the Pacific Coast united in an effort to place our message-filled tracts and papers in the hands of the two-and-one-half million visitors at the fair. Thousands of pages were given away and sold. The chief points of distribution were the Portland Branch Pacific Press, the Portland Sanitarium, the Vegetarian Cafe, and the sanitarium quarters on the fair-grounds. Sister B. G. Booth was chosen to lead out in a campaign of literature distribution which was kept up during the entire season, and for a time after the closing of the fair. This was done by placing literature in racks in depots, and in appropriate places on the grounds, and by giving and selling to passers-by on the streets and near the main entrance to the fair. The average daily attendance at the fair was above nineteen thousand. We are certain a good work has been accomplished. Our only regret is that a stronger effort was not made. Already the Lord has watered some seed sown. We are endeavoring all along the line to continue the good work of distributing our message-filled papers and tracts. Assist. Missionary Sec. P. U. Conf.