Our Work at the Panama-Pacific Exposition by E. W. Snyder; Mrs. E. K. Snyder

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 6, 1916

Our Work at the Panama-Pacific Exposition

By E. W. Snyder; Mrs. E. K. Snyder

At the invitation of the Pacific Union Conference Committee, we came to San Francisco about the middle of April, to take charge of the work at the Pacific Press booth. We found this booth favorably located in the Liberal Arts section of the Machinery Palace. The space occupied was about eighteen by thirty-six feet, and was a free concession by the exposition management. It had a frontage on two sides; and on these sides it was inclosed by spacious counters, on which were displayed, in morocco library binders, our leading periodicals. A small case on one of the counters contained several of our large books in full morocco, and at each side of the case was a sign reading, “Come In; Rest and Read.”

PACIFIC PRESS BOOTH AT THE PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION

The principal furnishings were a fireplace, electrically illuminated, and six sectional bookcases on either side of the same, which were filled with our various large books in the different styles of binding. A good-sized reading table, with two easy rockers and six other chairs, tended to give an inviting appearance. Near the front corner was located the large revolving globe, which was the chief attraction in the exhibit. This was five feet in diameter, and was studded with more than two hundred electric lights in red, blue, green, and white.

A key to the lights was placed on each of three sides of the globe stand. The red lights showed the location of our publishing houses and branches; the green lights, the location of our schools; the blue lights, that of our sanitariums and medical missions; while the white lights indicated the location of our evangelical stations.

On the globe stand was always kept a variety of our good tracts, from which the public were invited to select. Over 11,000 periodicals and 12,000 tracts were distributed.

In a neat rack back of the globe were shown photographs of our leading institutions both in this country and in foreign fields, while at the rear of the booth were shown samples of our literature in forty foreign languages. This feature drew the attention of the foreigners, many of whom left their addresses, in order to have publications in their own language mailed to them.

The attention of visitors was called to a booklet to be mailed from the Pacific Press to those requesting it. More than 3,500 requests were received. In one day, such requests were made by persons from seventeen different States and countries, including Java and New Zealand. The addresses of all these were sent to our various State tract societies, to be distributed among our churches for missionary correspondence.

One incident will illustrate the far-reaching influence of the work at the exposition. A young Japanese, just returned from Japan, presented a letter written in Japanese characters, with the exception of the words, “Seventh-day Adventist, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View,” and “Machinery Palace,” which were in English. He told us of the illness of his brother, which necessitated his going to our sanitarium in Kobe, where he was “made cured.” He further said that his brother was much interested in the religion of the Seventh-day Adventists, and that he, too, was interested and wanted something to read.

We also met a company of Chinese students sent by their government to various universities in the East. All

were bright young men, and manifested appreciation on receipt of the reading matter we gave them. They all left their addresses.

We had many opportunities to present our message to a superior class of people. Men prominent in the work of other denominations visited us, and expressed highest admiration of our exhibit. We have enjoyed most friendly relations with nearly all religious denominations having exhibits at the exposition.

Often, while explaining the lights on the globe, we were asked, “Does this represent the work of all the Protestant denominations?” And when informed to the contrary, many said, “I had no idea the work of the Seventh-day Adventists was so extensive.” This was also the remark of one of the international jury when making his official visit. We also enjoyed the privilege of meeting more than sixteen hundred persons of our faith, all of whom registered at the booth.

E. W. SNYDER, MRS. E. K. SNYDER.