Nowadays, save to those who were my contemporaries, or immediate 

 successors in the student body, it would be very difficult to give a con- 

 ception of the vigorous life of the Halls and of the very large part which 

 they played in the activities of the College. The secrecy of their pro- 

 ceedings was strictly maintained and almost every student was a mem- 

 ber in active standing of one or the other Hall; Hall spirit and rivalry 

 entered into every department of college life, save athletics, which were 

 neutral ground. The Junior Orations, which were established in Wash- 

 ington's day, and the Lynde Prize Debate were held before crowded 

 audiences and the prizes were among the most coveted honours. The 

 announcement of the names of the prize-winners was made on the Com- 

 mencement stage and these names were received with the wildest en- 

 thusiasm and storms of cheering from the members of the victorious 

 Hall. 



After evening chapel on Friday, was held the business session of an 

 hour or so, and at 7:30 in the evening came the formal exercises of 

 debating, deUvering of speeches and reading of essays. At intervals 

 through the academic year were held contests and gold medals were 

 awarded as first and second prizes to the winners. For the most part, 

 each one of these contests was restricted to a single College class, but 

 the extempore debate, open to both Juniors and Seniors, was the com- 

 petition which aroused the greatest interest and enthusiasm and the 

 medals for it were the most coveted of Hall honours. 



Our debates were very far from being merely academic; the passions 

 of the Civil War were still hot and often broke out fiercely between 

 Northern and Southern students. I recall many evenings, when feeling 

 ran very high and bitter words were exchanged, but I never witnessed 

 any violation of decorum, except such as could be controlled by the pre- 

 siding officer. As the business and exercises were entirely under the man- 

 agement of the students, the Halls held a very high place in the affec- 

 tion of their members. Graduate, honorary and Faculty members be- 

 longed to an upper house and had no rights in the students' weekly 

 meetings, except such as were extended by courtesy. Judges for the 

 various contests were elected from the upper house by the members of 

 the lower and, when I became a member of the Faculty, I often found 

 this duty a burdensome one. The training in parHamentary law and 

 practice given by these meetings was extremely valuable and the stu- 

 dent who followed his Hall work faithfully gained not only a familiarity 

 with parliamentary law, but also an experience in debating and think- 

 ing on his feet that was most useful in any walk of life. In my own 



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