Memorial Service.

At Vespers yesterday Rev. F. G. Peabody spoke in memory of Judge Hoar. He said Judge Hoar was one of the most prominent citizens of Massachusetts and one of the best known of Harvard graduates. He was for twenty-four years an Overseer of the College and for the greater part of that time president of the Board. In character he was one of the last of the Puritans, a typical New England man. Like the Puritans, he was simple minded, devoted to his duty, and of a strong Christian faith. His wit was like a New England winter, bracing and keen, sometimes cutting; his heart like the New England June, soft and beautiful; and his whole character like a New England landscape, rugged and strong. He had all the Puritan's love of controversy and all the Puritan's firm confidence in God and His wisdom.

Is not this spirit of Puritanism, the spirit of simplicity, love of duty, and confidence in God, fast dying out among us? We sometimes congratulate ourselves that we live in better times than the Puritans, and we think that their rugged dutiful lives were much harder than was necessary. We live in luxury, sometimes we sneer at duty, and unfortunately there is not among us a great deal of simple and strong faith in God Many social evils of today we can trace to the lives of luxury led by some and to the carelessness of duty in others. If we are inclined to smile at the stern religion of the Puritans let us remember that on the firm rock of their faith was founded our state and our college, and that they have stood firm through two hundred and fifty years of controversies and trouble.

Let us then take an example from Judge Hoar and follow what is best of these Puritan traits. Be simple, do your duty, and fear God, is good advice for all men.