is to his best interest every way. Now
that compulsory attendance has been
varied, though little modified, we hope
that more will feel that in being allowed
to attend where they please, their own
choice has been so far taken into ac
count as to make Bible class a privilege
rather than a requirement. We could
wish, however, that compulsion in the
matter might be entirely removed. We
believe that in most students it creates
a prejudice which destroys appreciation
of the Bible class as such, and in many
cases this prejudice becomes an odium.
With more than one-half who would
not, if left to themselves, attend relig
ious exercises, these exercises are by
compulsory attendance made an actual
farce. Of course in such cases there is
inexcusable wrong on the part of the
students, but we are sure that even the
most punctual attendants upon religious
exercises, those who appreciate them
most as a privilege, much prefer to con
sult their own choice rather than an ar
bitrary requirement.
IT is interesting and sometimes alarm
ing to conservative virtue to notice
how ready college men are to waive
their own personal independence, con
victions, and conscientious scruples to
the drift of their associations. Assent
to the crowd seems to be given, and
purpose of conduct abandoned on the
part of many individual students without
a feeling that it is self surrender. This
LANCE.
THE FRE
is perhaps owing to the fact that college
students in their unorganized associa
tions collectively consult their own im
pulse of pleasure and idle choice more,
and strive less to give character to their
doings, than does any other collective
body we could name. As an illustration
of this we might mention the practice of
hazing.. This is representative college.
action which seems not to be the off
spring of principle, good or bad. It is
anomalous action. We hardly know
whether to call it amusement or outlawry.
To this sort of conduct, having its char
acter masked or ill-defined and its pur
pose and consequences hidden or ill
defined, the individual student often
assents with the feeling (or perhaps
absence of conviction) that while nothing
is to be gained yet perhaps nothing is to
be sacrificed.
But there is another class of college
action and influence not good, among
students,which we think is more defined
in character, and is different, though
students are apt, with a little wounding
of their own consciences, to be uncon
sciously led by their associations to in
dulge it with as little serious reflection.
To this class of action belongs "pony
ing." We do not stop to enumerate its
evil effects; they are well known and if
they be taken into account, direct and
indirect, their name is legion. We do
not believe we have more students at
the Pennsylvania State College who
"pony" their way through than have