The New Overseers' Views.

Copies of a pamphlet containing a circular letter addressed to the candidates for the board of overseers of Harvard College and the replies of candidates have been sent to the Harvard classes of 1878 and 1881, inclusive, by the secretaries of the classes. The letter states that many of the alumni know little or nothing of some of the candidates, or of their views on matters affecting the university, and desiring to exercise their franchise for the best interests of the university, they ask for information in regard to certain important questions. Of the fifteen candidates for the full six-year term, all but three sent replies; of the three candidates for the five-year term vacancy all but one replied; of the three candidates for the one-year term vacancy, all but one sent an answer, and of the three outgoing overseers only one made reply.

The answers may be grouped under four general heads: 1. As to making attendance at morning prayers voluntary; 2. as to making it possible to enter Harvard without the knowledge of Greek; 3. as to the ultimate admission of women to the medical school or the other professional schools; 4, as to the abolition of the marking system. A summary of the answers is appended; where the Greek and prayer questions are concerned.

James Freeman Clarke, '29. 1. "I have been and am in favor of making college prayers voluntary, simply because the view I take of prayer makes a constrained presence at such a service abhorrent to my convictions. 2. Latin should be a condition of admission to college, while Greek should be made a condition only for those desiring to pursue a strictly classical course.

Darwin Erastus Ware, '52. 1. "I think attendance at morning prayers should be made voluntary. 2. I think it should be possible to enter college without the knowledge of Greek.'

Moses Merrill, '56. "I should never compel attendance at prayers. Compulsory worship is a mockery. 2; I shall always favor Greek as a requisite for collegiate instruction and the degree of A. B."

Alexander McKenzie. '59. 1, "The question of morning prayers is virtually settled I think. I do not see how the system can be maintained on its present basis. * * In the new plan, what-ever it may be, the voluntary principle must prevail. 2, I should favor the change which should admit students without the knowledge of Greek, provided they offered a substitute for it."

Charles Edward Grinnell, '62. 1. "Attendance at morning prayers should be voluntary. This is according to a sound elective system, to a true morality, and to honesty in religion. 2. It should be possible to enter college without the knowledge of Greek."

Charles Warren Clifford, '65; Thomas Perry, '66. In favor of voluntary prayers and the substitution of another course for Greek.

Henry Ware Putnam, '69. Is in favor of voluntary prayers, but favors the retention of Greek.

Henry Parkham, '70. Is in favor of voluntary prayers "if the opposition to them arises from principle." Desires retention of Greek.

Moses Williams, '68. 1. "If, as I am informed, Rev. Phillips Brooks does not approve of compulsory prayers, I should vote against them. 2. I believe that modern languages should be accepted in lieu of Greek as a requisite of admission."

Henry W. Haynes, '51. 1. "I can see no more reason for making attendance at a religious service voluntary in the university than there is in the army and the navy, 2. I cannot favor the doing away with Greek, as a preliminary to admission."

Francis Cabot Lowell, '76. 1. "I am strongly opposed to compulsory attendance upon prayers. 2. I believe some knowledge of Greek necessary to a liberal education."

John William Sargent, '30. Favors voluntary prapers, and is undecided about Greek.

Messrs. McCleary, Gould, Hall and Coolidge declined to commit themselves. The opinions on the other questions stood: 1. Favorable to coeducation, 6; opposed, 5. 2. Favorable to a change in marking system, 7; opposed, 4.