The various lectures which have been given of late under the auspices of Harvard student organizations, notably Mr. Du Chaillu's lecture last night, and Colonel Higginson's address last Friday, have a significance and suggestiveness which do not appear at first thought. Doubtless they seem to very many of the students to have no special meaning beyond their intrinsic value. Yet it seems to us that these organizations, which have provided public lectures, have shown that they appreciate a greater sphere of usefulness than mere activity among themselves. Of course, the business of a Natural History Society must be primarily to promote the study and the knowledge of science among its members; a debating society must first of all give men an opportunity for learning to debate; both, however, can do more than this. A Natural History Society does not attain its highest end till it interests others in science; a debating society cannot produce the best debaters till it brings in from the outside world men who are themselves models in debate, and it cannot be most useful till it gives the public a chance to hear the history of debate in its various methods as personified by just such men as Wendell Phillips. In other words no society which has an aim other than mere social intercourse, has done a complete work till it has taken hold upon the public interest. College men are too apt to look upon themselves as not yet really in active life, as not yet having any relation to the public. This view is narrow and boyish. With all the opportunities for culture which college provides, college men should be most active in real life and that while they are yet in their studies. Knowledge is of practically no use till it is imparted and college societies fail in so far as they limit their activity to their own members. If a society is worthy of existence its existence should be felt by the public. Our plea, then, is for a greater measure of the broadened view, the importance of which our societies are just beginning to appreciate.