The exact function of a Christian Association in the religious welfare of a university is quite impossible of definition; its activities constantly change as the conditions around it change. What was a need a few years back, ceases to be such today. New enterprises are undertaken; old ones are given up or done in another way, Thus, the work of each year differs from that of the preceeding.

Welcomed Freshmen

Early last spring, letters were sent out by the New Student Committee to various schools requesting the names of men expecting to enter Harvard in the fall. In the summer, when the list of Freshmen was almost complete, personal letters of welcome were sent to seven hundred of the entering class. After college opened, each of the fifty members of the New Student Committee was assigned a certain number of first year men on whom he called. As the size of the Freshman class continues to be large, more men will have to be put on the committee in order to reach students living outside the dormitories.

Foreign Students Advised

In September the Foreign Student Committee made up a list of advisors who helped the students from other lands adjust themselves to the new surroundings. Two weeks after college opened, a reception was held for these students in Phillips Brooks House and other meetings with the Cosmopolitan Club and the Technology Club took place during the year. Both this committee and that for new students was headed by M. A. Cheek '26.

Fosdick, Grant, Straton Spoke

For the first time, the Association this year had direct supervision of the twelve Monday Night Meetings for Freshmen. Dean Sperry of the Harvard Theological School was in charge, and was assisted by Bishop Slattery, Dean Brown of Yale, and Reverend Sidney Lovett of Boston Other meetings, open to the university, were addressed by Dr. Fosdick, Bishop Brent, and Sherwood Eddy, while in the winter a series of three lectures on science and religion was given by Professors Parker and Lyman of the University and Professor Lane of Tufts College. Recently, two meetings relating to the religious controversy Dr. Percy Stickney Grant and Reverend John Roach Straton, both of New York, spoke. In general, the attendance at most of these gatherings has been very good. Dr. Fosdick spoke to about 400, while 700 and 400 heard Dr. Grant and Dr. Straton respectively. In addition to the meetings, five informal Bible Study groups, a total of seventy men, have been holding discussions each week in the dormitories. A number of professors and students of the Episcopal Theological School, have acted as leaders. The chairman of the committee on meetings and Bible Study has been H. H. MacCubbin '26.

Brought Learning To Jails

Under the direction of H. P. Sharp '25, the social service committee secured a number of men to help at the Cambridge Y. M. C. A. in leading boys' clubs and conducting classes for men wishing to take the naturalization examinations. This along with teaching elementary subjects to prisoners at the East Cambridge jail comprised the more important phase of the work. The social service committee has done well during the two years of its existence.

Eight deputations teams have been sent out since the fall to talk to groups of high school boys. A delegation last week took charge of a conference of one hundred and fifty boys in Lawrence. Besides this, deputations have visited seven small towns. The men have spent two days in these communities, taking part in the boys' activities on Saturday and leading in the church services on Sunday. This work has proved most valuable, over thirteen hundred people being reached, and its continuance is warranted. A. D. Phillips '26 has initiated and carried on this new activity.

Big Silver Bay Delegation

The Silver Bay Delegation of thirty-four men last June was the largest since the War. Credit for this good showing is due to W. E. Crosby '24, the chairman. Plans for the coming conference which will be held this year from June 12-20 have already been stated by W. H. Gratwick '25. A committee of twenty-four men has been appointed to give out information regarding the nature of the Conference.

Urges Personal Appeals

Although the activities of the Association have widened, the tendency is still present to emphasize organization at the expense of failing to make a personal appeal to any larger number of students. The work done has been necessary and has shown an encouraging progress due to the continuous efforts of the chairman of the committees, but the danger of the Association's becoming a purely executive department must ever be guarded against. This and other problems remain for future cabinets to solve.

The Association is very grateful for the splendid help and advice given by F. C. Lawrence '20.  Respectfully submitted,  R. H. Sears '24, President.