University of Oregon monthly., February 01, 1908, Image 10

U niversity
of
O regon M onthly
13
pf America with, the exception of Princeton. Harvard has ninety
organizations all tending to bring men of congeniality closer togeth­
er.;, The societies were started before mingling of classes was made
possible by the elective system and while class organization and
class feeling were strong—thus we find at Harvard sophomore,
junior, senior societies, and recently a few general" societies. The
basis of membership is sociability and general affinity. Among the
older sophomore societies, is the Institute of 1770, originally a debat­
ing club of seniors, but it ha£ finally descended to sophomores. The
oldest of senior societies.'is the “Hasty Pudding Club”, organized in
1795 “to cherish the feelings of good friendship and patriotism.”
The name of the club was derived from a clause in the constitution
which provided that a hasty , pudding should be furnished at each
meeting by some of its members. Debating was the main purpose,
at first, but they .graduaily gave way to mock trials and later to
plays... In 1834 if became a secret organization and each year’s
membership chose their successors. The Signet, the last prominent
senior society organized in 1870 is much smaller in size and is de­
voted to literary work of a high, character.
The.Porcellian Club was the first distinctly Harvard society to
include members from all classes. Their aim was to establish the
society “on some of the strongest principles of pur nature; upon
sociability, brotherly affection, and generosity ; and upon those qual­
ities of liberality and courtesy and that .spirit pf a . true gentleman
which are best expressed in the Greek motto of the society,’? This
club has. a strong,organization, All business affairs are in the hands
o£ graduate members. Among its Alumni haye been.men. of talent
and influence' such » a,s Wendall Phillips, Story, Adams, Charles
Sumner and JaniCS Russell Lowèll.«
A freshman of Harvard, if ambitious, may become a high scholar,
but the çojllege offers him so; much besides high scholarship,, that
he is content to be but a passably fair student, devoting considerable
share of attention to the accomplishment of social ends. In his
freshman year; if he has made himself conspicuous through athletics
or college politics, or if he already has friends in the upper class
societies, he is called upon by members of the sophomore society ;.
if he makes himself agreeable, he is invited to .b.eèome one of ten
elected members of the Institute of 1770.
His social career is now- started. In his sophomore year,he is
invited to join p’ne pf the small clubs, composed of juniors and seniors
who-take in a few sophomore^. This affords him the convenience