PHILLIPS BROOKS HOUSE WORK

The year which is just closing has seen a general advance in the religious and philanthropic undertakings of the societies quartered in Phillips Brooks House. The Phillips Brooks House Association, which was organized only two years ago, in order to include and bring into co-operation all men working in existing societies and other men not members of any society, and to perform general services for which everyone stands--such as giving the Freshman reception, publishing the Handbook, carrying on social service, etc.,--has thoroughly proved its worth and branched out in a number of new directions.

Within the last few weeks, local societies have been started in the Dental and Divinity Schools, to co-operate with the Association. The Christian Association, and St. Paul's Society have maintained their old activities and tried some new plans successfully. The St. Paul's Catholic Club has had a particularly active and successful year. The Religious Union, one of the oldest societies, which was organized to promote liberal religious thought and discussion, has been inactive this year. Its field has been occupied to some degree, however, by the new Ethical Society, and the dormitory classes introduced by the Christian Association.

Phillips Brooks House Association.

The annual reception to new students, which is most men's introduction to Phillips Brooks House, was attended by about 500 men, and was so crowded that it has been decided to change next fall from the Parlor to the large hall on the third floor. The Handbook was revised and enlarged, and better bound than before; 1800 copies were issued, but as the demand outran the supply, a larger edition will be printed next year.

The new plan of Sunday afternoon gatherings in the Parlor of the House was fairly successful. Music and tea were provided each day, and a considerable number of excellent talks and readings were given. Some of the most successful entertainments were those at which Dr. Henry van Dyke h.'94, Judge Robert Grant '73, Professor G. H. Palmer '64, and Mr. George Riddle '74 read; and others with talks by Professor W. M. Davis on South Africa, Professor H. S. White '73 on "Harvard Athletics a Generation Ago", and by Dr. W. C. Farabee Ph.D. on Iceland.

In the entertainment troupe work, the great development and improvement begun under the chairmanship of R. N. Baldwin '05 was continued by J. L. White '06 and an efficient committee. From November to May, 65 applications were received and all were filled successfully except three. Over 160 different men have gone on these entertainments, and on 59 entertainments there were a total of 413 performers, or an average of seven men to each entertainment.

The clothing collections were managed by D. C. Hyde '06 in the fall, and C. Woodman '07 in the spring. The first was unusually large, but the later collection was not so successful as usual, be- cause of the carelessness of many individual collectors. The receipts of books and magazines were greatly augmented by large contributions from the Union, and aggregated about three tons. A start has been made on collecting a permanent text-book library for Phillips Brooks House.

Through the Assignments Committee, which has been managed by F. S. Montgomery '08, about 75 men have found social service work to do, such as managing boys' clubs of many kinds, coaching teams, conducting children's home libraries, etc. At the request of the Faculty Committee which exercises supervision over all Phillips Brooks House activities, Montgomery and J. H. Stannard '08 made an exhaustive investigation of the amount and results of volunteer philanthropic work done by members of the University. This showed a total of 152 men working in 27 institutions during the year, not including entertainment troupes or any other temporary service.

A new plan was tried this year for undergraduate subscriptions toward the expenses of the Association. Over $500 were raised by a general subscription early in the year, and this sum was apportioned among the various societies, according to their needs. The expenses were increased by a number of new services undertaken, but reduced in the direction of printing, postage, and other office expenses.

Christian Association.

The work of the Christian Association, though less obvious because concerned