THE PHILLIPS BROOKS HOUSE.

The Phillips Brooks House was formally dedicated and transferred to the University yesterday afternoon. The exercises took place in Peabody Hall, and opened with a prayer by Mr. R. T. Paine '55. Bishop Lawrence then spoke on what the building stood for. He said that it stood for the power of Phillips Brooks. In his early life Phillips Brooks was not a leader, and he failed completely as a teacher, so that his later power seems almost a gift from the Almighty. This power had its source in his knowledge, love and worship of God. The power became his, because he chose to elect spiritual light as his life work. Thus the Phillips Brooks House becomes an addition to Harvard, with an influence to broaden and complete other more intellectual influences.

Mr. Abbot '55, secretary of the building committee, spoke on the history of the building. The subscriptions for erecting it were purely voluntary and came from all parts of the world. Two-thirds of them were from people who had no direct association whatsoever with Phillips Brooks, but who were touched by his enthusiasm as a reformer and wished to perpetuate this feeling. The fund was originally $70,468.54; but with the addition of interest it grew to $70,478.98. The building when complete with fixings and furniture will cost about $65,000, which will leave an endowment of $10,000, that the committee hopes to keep constant.

Bishop Lawrence then formally handed the building over to the University and President Eliot, acting for the Board of Overseers, accepted it. He said that those who knew Phillips Brooks feel the pathetic side of this effort to transmit to future generations, the force, personality and inspiration of the man. But, though this was impossible, the profound interest of his character and his high example could and should be perpetuated. And the Phillips Brooks House was for this purpose. To be a teacher was the supreme ambition of Phillips Brooks's life. When President Eliot first saw him he was coming down the steps of Professor Walker's house, after having been told that his success as a teacher was hopeless. Then he became a minister, and for fourteen years worked assiduously in his profession. Owing to his steadfast stand for the Union, in Philadelphia, he was invited to speak at the Harvard College Commemoration Exercises in 1864, and this was the second time President Eliot saw him. Here Phillips Brooks poured forth such a flood of joyous, triumphant thanksgiving that not a man who heard him ever forgot him. It was this marvelous speech that led to his being elected to the Board of Overseers when he came to Boston in 1870. He served on this board from 1870-1882, and again from 1883-1889. Among his greatest works while connected, with the University was the harboring of the "experiment" of voluntary religious worship. At first he had opposed this scheme, but he finally changed his view, and devoted himself to its success. He was among the first of the preachers at the chapel, where his power forced itself into student's lives.

Phillips Brooks was, first of all, a preacher; and then a poet. If he had lived he might have been an administrator. One of his greatest powers was that of spontaneous prayer. With bowed head he would rapidly repeat some favorite passage; and then, throwing back his head, burst into thanksgiving, glowing and unbounded. His influence on undergraduates resulted from his diverse interests and his power to apply himself to little things. Not one of the officers of the University failed to feel the man's force and personality.

Professor Peabody then spoke of the uses of the Phillips Brooks House. He said that it was intended as the house of all the religious societies; but it was hoped that its influence would be felt on the social life of the University, dignifying and chastening it. It is dedicated to piety, hospitality, and charity.

The mass meeting in memory of Phillips Brooks was held last evening in Sanders Theatre, Gibson Bell '01 presiding. The exercises opened with the singing of "Interger Vitae," by the Harvard Glee Club, which later in the evening sang "Harvard Hymn" and "Onward Christian Soldiers." Bishop Lawrence '71, Dr. G. A. Gordon '81, Rev. Endicott Peabody, Dr. C. Cuthbert Hall, President Eliot, and Dr. F. G. Peabody '69, gave short addresses.

Bishop Lawrence spoke of the life and mental development of Phillips Brooks. Some men come to College with their minds already turned towards the study of a profession, but Phillips Brooks came rather to get a liberal education. Simple and companionable, he was capable of sympathy with all human interests. His note-books show that he was a much deeper man than even his most intimate friends realized. Without any of the eccentricities of genius, Phillips Brooks stood out as the great normal man, beside whom others seemed small. He was always an optimist, because he was a devout Christian, and he was always ready to pour this spirit into men who were lacking in religion. Though successful in influencing many people, it was his great regret that he could not reach the hearts of all Harvard men with the Gospel.

Dr. G. A. Gordon of Boston, said that it seemed strange to call the attention of any Harvard man to the great figure of Phillips Brooks. In speaking of the man as a preacher, it is worthy of note that Bishop Brooks was disappointing to one who heard him for the first time. This dissatisfaction was due to the vagueness of what he said and the rapidity with which he talked. "When I am interesting," he said once, "I am vague, when I am definite, I am dull." When he came into the University the cry went up that the pulpit had lost its power. He quietly took his book, and convincingly proved that the pulpit would henceforth be a power. He was a prophet of idealism in the midst of a wave of materialism. At a time when Christianity was narrowly conceived he arose and made men thrill with a new power.

Rev. Endicott Peabody spoke of Phillips Brooks as a friend. His simplicity invited people, who might have felt a certain reticence in going to other great men, to seek him as a friend. Bishop Brooks was not interested in talking about himself, but he poured out his whole soul in his preaching. His greatness was in his faith in God and his faith in Heaven. His personality was such an inspiration that one seemed filled with a new life after talking with him. He loved young men and boys, he loved Harvard, and loved to talk of any plan for Harvard's higher development. On the day of Phillips Brooks's funeral, all Harvard turned out to pay respect to his memory. He was appealed to as a friend and adviser by men and women in trouble from all parts of the country.

Dr. Hall, the next speaker, said that one of the problems Phillips Brooks had to face was the unnatural relationship of religion to morals,--the relationship of speculative to practical religion. This same relationship between speculative religion and the simple way of living had existed for ages, and it was this state of affairs against which Bishop Brooks made his protest. The innermost key to the power of the great divine was his perfect balance between religious faith and true moral living. Religion at Harvard, as seen by an outsider, may be considered from three points of view. The point of view which may be taken from the Phillips Brooks House shows a gathering of men who have a manly simplicity of purpose and a real desire to serve God; that from Appleton Chapel shows an assemblage of men and women who are come together to hear truth and who have a modest shrinking from all self-expression; that from the Wadsworth House, shows the personal revelation of young men to the preacher. Harvard men have not only a mighty work before them, but they have a prospect of a mighty harvest.

President Eliot followed Dr. Hall, and said in part:

Phillips Brooks was essentially human in his character. He was easily provoked to righteous anger; but at the bottom of his character there was an infinite sweetness. It was in the great prayer in July, 1865, in commemoration and thanksgiving for those Harvard men, who had taken part in the war, that Phillips Brooks revealed himself to Harvard graduates. It was through him that freedom and liberalness of religion was established at Harvard. Prayer was his great power. Through prayer addressed solely to the Almighty he reached human hearts.

Dr. F. G. Peabody, the last speaker, said that our purpose in religious meetings was religious unity and a continuance of religious unity. In this movement the first step is easy, the second difficult. What we want to do is to keep a movement on foot, and establish a tendency in that direction so strong and steady, that it will not subside. Accordingly, every month simple University meetings will be held in Phillips Brooks House, with addresses by well-known speakers of different organizations