FRESHMEN CROWD LIVING ROOM FOR FACULTY RECEPTION

More than 800 Freshman filled the Living Room of the Union last night to hear the speakers of the evening welcome them to the University, and eloquently present the opportunities than may be found within its walls.

The first speaker of the evening was Mr. George Wigglesworth '74, President of the Union. After quoting the old Danish proverb of "New Come, well come," he spoke of the part the Union played in the life of the University, and outlined some of the ways in which it helps to make that life more "glowing and gregarious." He dwelt on the value of meeting and hearing men such as speak at the Union throughout the year, touched on the opportunities for social life, and explained the system of the awarding of the four prizes to Freshmen after mid-years. "Above all," he concluded, "the Union gives one a chance to study the fine art of living with one's fellow men."

Introduced by Dean Briggs as the one man whose job he envied most, Dean of Freshmen Philip P. Chase spoke of the two phases of college life that 1925 will find the most important: first, their relations with one another; and second, their relations with the College Office. In connection with the first, he touched on the value of the Freshman dormitories and, and expressed his regret that those buildings had been inadequate to house the whole of the class of 1925. But the spirit of generosity that those who had been lucky had shown in offering to share their rooms with strangers, and the good natured way in which the others had received their disappointments, were, he said, favorable omens for the success of the class. With regard to the dormitories, he said he hoped that they would be found to be really what they have been called: halls of friendship.

The opportunity for learning, which the University offers he compared to a machine, and declared that it was meant to be used, and used intelligently by students to cultivate their minds to yield bumper crops for the country and humanity "Throughout the generations", he said, "Harvard has proved to the country the worth of educating its leaders."

Urges Freshmen to Study

Coach William J. Bingham '16, in an amusing and forceful speech, stressed the importance of being a candidate for "the king of indoor sports--study." He urged the Freshmen to enter extra curriculum activities for the purpose of making acquaintances, and stressed the importance of their remembering that they were now Harvard men, and that everything they did, good or bad, reflected on the University.

Professor Kirsopp Lake, whose address followed that of Coach Bingham, spoke of the "University tradition" which is the same as in the days of Abelard. The three characteristics of the tradition are: freedom of thought; the ability to learn for oneself; and the ability to cooperate with other men while not necessarily sharing their opinions. In regard to the first, he said, thought can be free as long as it is straight. In regard to the second he declared that the Library was the most important member of the Faculty, in that it was there that the student tought himself. The war, he added, proved that the college men was better than the man who had not been to college at working with other people of different opinions. But the fee of a man's initiation into this tradition, Professor Lake concluded, is his life. "The University takes his life, not to keep, but to give it back to him better, and also so as to give it to a world which needs men who can think straight.

Pres. Lowell Final Speaker

President Lowell, the final speaker of the evening, in an impressive and eloquent address declared that the best thing the Freshman class could have come to College for was to acquire a standard, and that the destinies of the members of the class of 1925 were in their own hands--now.

No man, he said, can ever attain his standard, for if he could it would not be a sufficiently high one to live up to; and no man can do as well as he can. He can, however, always do better than he did before, and for this reason the speaker advised that whatever was undertaken be done as well as possible. From this habit comes that force of character which enables a man to mould his own destiny. In concluding President Lowell said: "The object of the University is a preparation for the strongest, best, and noblest destiny that any man can achieve in these United States."

At the close of President Lowell's address, Keith Kane '23, captain of the football team, led a cheer for Harvard, and the meeting sang the first stanza of "Fair Harvard" under the leadership of Coach Bingham