Sunday, July 6, 1919

Cloudy. Up 8:30 A.M. Cleared up with intermittent sunshine and cloudiness. To 3 services A.M., P.M. and night. Life service day. Challenge put up strong. Signed life service card. To bed 10:30 P.M. central time.

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I was able to find a picture of Stanford that was taken at the Exposition, but by whom I don't know.

I ran across a newspaper report on the Exposition that talks specifically about the challenge Stanford refers to.  Below is a clipping from the article entitled, "The Centenary Celebration of American Methodist Missions," part of a series about the event written by Rev. W.L. Halberstadt of Centenary Church. It appeared in The Southeast Missourian of Cape Girardeau, MO, on July 31, 1919.

See the highlighted paragraph for an explanation of what Stanford calls "life service day." He must have been one of the 376 young men and women under 30 mentioned by Rev. Halberstadt who "came forward in consecration of life to the Master's work."

Though the Reverend is quick to point out that the "hearts of the visitors were not set on levity alone," there was plenty of levity to be found, apparently. Ohio History Central Website has this summary of some of the fun on offer:

"The exposition consisted of a number of popular entertainments, including a Ferris wheel, lemonade and Coca-Cola stands, and a ten-story motion picture screen. Built by local Columbus carpenters contracted by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the enormous screen showcased recent Hollywood and New York silent films, as well as amateur missionary pictures and thousands of glass lantern slides."