The annual reception to new students in the University, given by the Faculty, was held in the Living Room of the Union last night. Dean Briggs was chairman, and the speakers were President Eliot, Professor Peabody, Professor Neilson, and N. Kelley '06.

In a notable speech President Eliot spoke of freedom as the condition necessary to the progress of society, and pointed out its dangers and its opportunities in college life. A striking phenomenon of our day, he said, is the distrust of freedom that is manifesting itself in all walks of life. It is especially manifest in our educational institutions, for there is no moment when a young man is in a position of more freedom than when he leaves home and enters College. He can use or abuse that freedom, he can use it for good or bad purposes. It is there that freedom develops a man. It tests whether or not he can be his own taskmaster and whether or not he has the sense and resolution to do right. The freedom is dangerous, but it is necessary for the development of character. It compels a man to choose between two possible courses; and it is choice which makes the dignity of human nature. It is the right exercise of choice after examination, consideration, and advice, that makes a man of power.

At college, a young man is given the opportunity, because of his freedom, to train himself to choose rightly. Two of the most important fields in which he can exercise choice are his studies and his friends. He should choose those studies in which he takes a live interest and in which, because of that interest, he will work with real pleasure and happiness. In that way, he will learn the pleasure of work and will get into the habit of doing work with lively interest. That attitude will be most valuable in after life, as everything worth while in the world is accomplished by work. Secondly, the new student should choose good companionship. He should choose an environment and surroundings that will lift him up and not drag, him down. If he makes those two choices rightly, if he chooses the right work and the right friends, he will succeed in college and in after life.

Professor Peabody spoke on the excellent opportunities of the religious life here. We have no compulsory prayers, its is true; but Harvard makes ample provision for the support and quickening of religious life. Through the Appleton Chapel services and the Board of Preachers, the best spiritual teaching and advice is offered to the students of the University; and in Phillips Brooks House, the opportunity is given them for true religious and philanthropic service. The young man who fails to take advantage of these opportunities to broaden his spirit makes a serious mistake. The most pitiable group in our College community is the very considerable number of drifters and floaters who enter College but do not enter into the College with all its opportunities. They should learn that the University is fitting them for service to God and man-and they should learn that by entering into the spirit of the University.

Professor Neilson, who spoke next, emphasized the value of whole-hearted work and concentrated effort in doing all work at College both in and out of the classroom. President Eliot illustrated the importance of such work by an incident from the life of Charles Darwin, who said that his education first began when he learned to work with concentrated attention and effort.

N. Kelley '06, the last speaker, urged the new students to do their College work well and to take an unselfish interest in some form of University activity and to go into that with spirit. After the speaking, J. J. Rowe '07, leader of the Glee Club, lead the singing of "Fair Harvard;" and J. D. White '07 lead a long cheer