C. L. Jackson, Moses Williams, Jr.

Arthur E. Jones, April 4, 1882.
These include the Dean and ten other mem- bers of the Harvard faculty. It should, perhaps,
^ Boston Daily Advertiser, April 10, 1882.
THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM. 35
be added that the Advertisei- of April 26th con- tained a reply from an active member of the club, and promised one from graduate members; but, up to June 2, no further communication on this subject had been printed in the Advertiser,
Student friendships, then, do not need secret societies. Great natural and healthy forces work in association and friendship which will secure all right ends without calling in the doubtful aid of secrecy and exclusiveness. Viewed as taking the place of general society, the societies are inadequate, besides being open to other objections ; as promoting club life, they foster a demand which is not legitimate.
The discussion has thus far considered this sys- tem as social, because, on the whole, that is its most prominent feature, though particular socie- ties may be chiefly literary or political. The in- troduction to the catalogue of Psi Upsilon, from which some of Ex-Gov. Hawley's words have been quoted, dwells mainly on this. Baird does the same. ^ Prof. Coe, in his article on the Literary Societies of Yale, says that the secret societies were " the expression of a want long felt in the larger bodies ; the want of sociability?' ^' Class societies flourished "^ ^ because they knew how to promote friendship and friendly sociability, whether they conferred intellectual and moral benefits or not."
^ American College Fraternities, circ. p. 195. ^ History of Yale College, p. 322.