JOHN HARVARD CELEBRATION

The week of celebration of John Harvard's three hundredth birthday was brought to a glorious finish last night when the undergraduate part of the program was carried out. President Eliot's address, the torch-light procession to the Stadium, the bonfire on Soldiers Field, and the return to the Yard were the features of the celebration. Unique in the history of the present College generation, it will be remembered by all who saw it, whether as participants or spectators, as one of the most beautiful sights that Harvard has ever witnessed, surpassing in some respects the illumination of a Class Day night.

President Eliot's address, printed below, was given from the steps of Holworthy at 7.30 o'clock, immediately after the parade had formed. Led by the Pierian band, the march to the field was then started. About eight hundred men, mostly with torches and sashes, were in line as the procession moved from the Johnston Gate down Boylston street. In the Stadium several formations were tired, ending finally in a gigantic "H" of torches, covering nearly the whole gridiron. The fireworks, while hardly sufficient to make a good showing in so large a space, added to the beauty of the scene. West of the Stadium the bonfire, a big, substantial one, was started as soon as the fireworks were exhausted. Gathered around the fire, cheers were given for "John," and "Fair Harvard" was sung just before the march back to the Yard was begun. After a march through the Yard the procession was led to the John Harvard statue in the Delta, where the Marsellaise was sung. Then three last cheers for "John" were given, and the singing of "Fair Harvard" closed the celebration.

President Eliot in his address from the steps of Holworthy said that twenty years ago nobody knew anything about John Harvard. His parentage, education, and life were a mystery. Since 1884, through the researches of a Harvard man, Mr. Henry F. Waters '55, more has been found about John Harvard than about almost any other man of colonial times. We know that he and all his kindred were tradesmen--butchers, cloth makers, coopers, goldsmiths--and that for several generations they lived in Southwark, one of the humblest quarters of London.

But John Harvard was well off. He spent seven years at the University of Cambridge and had his master's degree from Emmanuel College. This was about all that was known of him up to 1884. Now we know besides that he was a well-trained youth, and had a long and thorough preliminary education.

Under these favorable circumstances he resolved to break with the church, family and country and come to New England. That one great resolve is the sole basis of his fame. His life here was short and broken; he was for a few months minister of a church in Charles- town, and then, worn out in body, he died at the early age of 33.

Why is his fame so deathless? Because in youth he made one high resolve and carried it out. He came to this country in search of liberty of thought, and of speech. By that act he tied his name to the great love that lives in the human heart, the love of freedom. And when he came to die he started the great custom of giving his estate for the advancement of education. A stream of benefactions has followed that first gift of the sick young minister, a stream that is characteristic of the American belief in education. And a host of young men, more than one thousand every year, go out from this University that John Harvard founded, and which has existed by reason of the stream of benefactions which he started.

There were two great aims in the life of John Harvard. First, there was the love of freedom--the source of progress, the inspiration of mankind. Secondly, there was education, its promotion, diffusion, improvement, and enlargement.

Most of you here tonight are bearing torches. John Harvard was a torchbearer, and he bore a light that will never be extinguished! Down in the Stadium you will light another fire in honor of John Harvard. He lighted here a torch that will never go out