Communications

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

A communication, signed "A Freshman," appeared in the CRIMSON of Saturday, to which I, an upperclassman, wish to make this reply. The spirit of the writer of that article was excellent; the spirit of the article was the contrary. The gist of the article, in brief, is this: We have mighty fine accommodations in our new dormitories; we must set good precedents; the President is at once much interested in the success of the Freshman dormitories and much concerned over the decreasing Freshman attendance at Chapel. It is, therefore, our common obligation to go to Chapel. Now this article, inspired by the best of motives, utterly misconceives what Chapel stands for. Any man, believing, spiritually and religiously, in those things for which Chapel stands is a spineless puppy if he dosn't attend. Attendance at Chapel, however, is not to be regarded as an indication of class or college spirit.

To the class of 1918, young in the ideals of this University, there can be no better time of explaining what "Harvard" means. Harvard stands for moral, spiritual, and intellectual independence in the formation of one's convictions, and, above all, for the fearless maintenance of those convictions. The call to duty of the class of 1918 is not to be based on attendance at Chapel; it is to be based on the appeal to each individual member of the class to live up to his own honest convictions, be those convictions what they may.

And let me add that nothing can excuse the characterless culpability of those men who stay away from Chapel that they may lie abed and postpone for ten minutes a three blocks' walk. AN UPPERCLASSMAN.