So much had been seen of the restless, and sometimes violent, behavior of these students that the Christian Scientists felt they could bring to this potentially turbulent situation some calm, God-directed thinking. The Reading Room was right in the thick of the action. And for the first time in years there were no riots and no police incidents reported. Even inside the Reading Room, not one untoward incident took place the entire two months, although it was open from ten every morning until ten at night.
The beach Reading Room was designed to attract the young wearing beach clothes and bathing suits. There were waterproof chairs, and cushions were scattered about the floor. A striking mobile with the seven synonyms of God turned gently in the salty breeze blowing through the open door. Out on the sidewalk was a table filled with free pamphlets and a sign with the double entendre, "Help Yourself." Hardly anyone passed the table without stopping to examine and perhaps to take some. Policemen, parents, ministers, all came in to thank the Scientists for being there. Total number of pamphlets distributed: 3716.
Four branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, supported and staffed the beach Reading Room: the two branches in Fort Lauderdale itself, plus the one in Plantation and the one in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
