The Washington herald., 1911-02-15
WORDS OF PRAISE
FOR BOY SCOUTS
Encouraging Messages Read
at Council Banquet.
MGR. SHAHAN A SPEAKER
University President Voices His
Hearty Approval of Movement and
Mortimer l.. Schin, of New York,
Makes Glowing Speech-CoI. Roose-
veIt's Letter Provokes Enthusiasm.

With representatives of nearly every
denomination present to lend moral and
oral support, the dinner of the National
Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
at the New Willard last night, marked
an epoch in the history of the organiza
ton and gave It an impetus that will
greatly facilitate the already encOurag-
ing strides being taken to establish the
movement as the strongest and most
potential for the advancement of the
youth Of America
President Taft, Col. Roosevelt, and
other distinguished men. by word of
mouth and mail, united in praising the
movement
Mgr. Thomas J. Shahan, d. D.. presi-
dent of Catholic University. and Mortimer
L. Schiff, of New York, were among the
speakers of note who commended the
aims of the organization at the dinner
last night Others included Clifford Pin
chot John l. Alexander, DR.. Charles +.
Neill, Ambassador Bryce, Lee MCClung.
Treasurer of the United States; Repre-
sentative Hobson, and Assistant Secre-
tary Hays, of the Department of AgTicul-
ture.
Scouts Give Exercises.
During the serving of the dinner a DEM
onstration of various scout activities by
groups of Boy Scouts Of this city and
Baltimore was given al one end of the
red room, the exercises giving the
guests a good insight into the training
accomplished by the boys.
In delivering the invocation Mgr. Sha-
han voiced his hearty approval of the
Boy Scout movement and declared that
any organization which wields such a
Grafton of this country deserves nothing
but the highest praise and cooperation
from all religious and State bodies. re
gardlesS of creed or party affiliations.
Mr.. SChiff declared IL his belief that
the work being accomplished by the move
ment would ultimately render unneces-
sary the extended activities among the
Juveniles of great cities in that 1t would
eradicate the causes that make for de-
linquenCy among boys.
THE United States is not a military
nation nor is this a military movement"
said Mr.. Schiff. but if the great good
that is being wrought through the Boy
Scout movement could not be accom-
plished otherwise, / would favor its being
termed military movement
Aim TO Train Boys.
Mr.. Alexander said the movement was
resourceful citizenship.
"A nonsectarian movement recog
nizes no lines so far as a boys faith is
concerned, and its personnel welcomes
Catholics, Protestants, and Jews alike"
said Mr.. Alexander 1T seeks to incul-
cate reverence for God and loyalty to
country, and their physical expression in
a good turn done daily
You have in the Boy Scouts move
ment," wrote Ambassador Bryce, the
means of doing great good by pouring a
fresh stream of vigorous and wholesome
aspirations into the lives of our young
people, stimulating their sense of COM
radeship, refining their sense of honor,
and giving them high ideals of self
respect and mutual help toward which to
strive"
Col. Roosevelt's letter was read. and
provoked plenty of enthusiasm among the
diners. The former President said he
earnestly believed in the possibility of
the movement among boys. There are
several things" he said. (which we
should see in the lives of our American
boys. They should grow up strong and
alert, able to stapd the strain of an hon.
est days hard work and of an honest
attempt to help forward the material and
moral progress of our nation"
All Indorse Movement.
Cows. Hadley. Of Missouri, Foss, OF
Massachusetts,. and Brown of Georgia in
dorsed the movement in messages read
to the banqueters. Ernest Thompson
Seton, chief scout of the Boy Scouts of
America, who is IN England lecturing on
the subject. and Jacob A. Riis, of New
York a member of the council, also con-
tributed words of cheer.
Yesterday afternoon President Taft re-
ceived the members OF the executive coun-
Gil in the East Room OF the White
House and made a brief speech in which
he showed not only that he believed in
the Boy Scout movement, but that he
knew what joys camping out and play
ing scout had for the youth of the
country.