and D. E.
McClure, we tried to make the latter believe that the crowd would
not be forthcoming on that first night of the fourteenth annual
"big meeting." It was zero weather and mighty breezy. For such a
movement to succeed two years is creditable, to hold out for five
is wonderful, to last ten is marvelous, but to grow bigger and
better for fourteen years is a little short of miraculous. McClure
is recognized as the father of the movement and his faith didn't
waver a hair's breadth. And sure enough there was the
crowd--standing room only, to hear the governor and see the great
cartoonist J. T. McCutcheon of the _Chicago Tribune_. For three
evenings and two days the big hall is crowded with patrons, pupils
and teachers from the towns and country round. During the fourteen
years that these meetings have been held, the country community has
heard some of the world's greatest speakers. The plan has been
adopted by other counties in Michigan and other states both east
and west. Its possibilities are well-nigh unlimited and its power
for good is immeasurable. Everyone connected with it may well feel
proud of the success attending the now famous "Hesperia Movement."

In 1897, Kent County, Michigan (of which Grand Rapids is the county
seat), organized a Teachers and Patrons' Association that is worth a
brief description, although in more recent years its work has been
performed by other agencies. It nevertheless serves as a good example of
a well-organized association designed to unite the school and home
interests of rural communities. It was for several years signally
successful in arousing interest in all parts of the county. Besides, it
made a departure from the Oceana-Newaygo plan which must be considered
advantageous for most counties. The Hesperia meeting is an annual
affair, with big crowds and abundant enthusiasm. The Kent County
association was itinerant. The membership included teachers, school
officers, farmers generally, and even pupils. An attempt was made to
hold monthly meetings during the school year, but for various reasons
only five or six meetings a year were held. The meetings usually
occurred in some Grange hall, the Grange furnishing entertainment for
the guests. There were usually three sessions--Friday evening and
Saturday forenoon and afternoon. The average attendance was nearly five
hundred, about one-tenth b