Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-04-03
The Boy Scouts of America

Realizing the importance of get
ting in touch with the boys of this
generation and of aiding the ones
living in cities and villages to be-
come strong, athletic and self-reliant,
and, at the same time to develop
the best qualities in them, the
qualities that will make for the bet
terment of their country.
Lieut.. Gen. Sir Robt. S. S. Ba-
den Powell of England, hit upon
plan for organizing them into
troops and patriots with the motto
BE Prepared" He acknowledges
that he drew from America for
many of his ideas, but it was for
America, under Ernest Thompson
Seton to take hold of the move
ment and bring it to its present
perfect form.
1t is hard for us to realize just
how large an institution this has
become. There are no less than
two million boys already in Its
membership. The movement has
spread until it is embraced in Ger
! many, France, Italy, Australia.
New Zealand, Canada, the United
States, and the South American
States. In fact tits a world wide
movement.
SIN Germany the boys have en-
gagged in the work with such enthu-
siasm and in such numbers, that
the Prussian and Bavarian authori-
ties are giving the movement tinan-
cial aid" 1t has attained, however
its greatest growth in the United
States, and it is here placed on the
highest plane, that of efficient citl,
zenship, service, and character
building. :.
''The Boy Scouts of America
was Incorporated February Sth
1910, with Hon. VIM. H. Taft as
Honorary President and Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Honorary Vice
President. Associated with them
are eminent influential men from
all walks of life. They are
organized into the national council
and the local councils in the cities
and towns. This movement is not
intended to do away with other boy
clubs and organizations, but IN
many instances acts as auxiliary to
them, more especially of Sunday
School and church clubs. The
movement is non military, although
it aims to q "instil in the boy al of
the military virtues, such as honor,
loyalty, obedience and patriotism.
The uniform, the patrol, the
troop and the drill are not for mill
tary tactics; they are for the unity,
the harmony, and the rythm of
spirit that boys learn in Scouting.
It is in doing these things together
that the boys absorb the truth and
force of the scout law, : Scout is
a friend of all, and a brother to eve
~ other scout" "The movement
stands for patriotism, the patriot
ism that causes boy to love his
country and instead of boasting
about it, serve it by being good
citizen" Scout craft, includes
First Aid, Life Saving, Tracking,
Signaling, Cycling, Nature Study,
Seamanship, Camp-craft Wood.
craft, Chivalry. Patriotism and
other subjects" This is accom-
plished in games and team play
and is pleasure, not work for the
boys.
1t aims to show the boy after he
reaches Scouting Age that he is an
asset in the community, that we are
taking an interest in him.
1t makes him cooperative with
the community's interest, it places a
value on the minority years of his
citizenship life. Itgives him some
thing to do. 1t teaches him to dc
something for himself; it makes
him selfreliant, courageous and
manly, and the community's inter
est in the healthful normal devel
opment of the boy as such, holds
out to him its laurel wreath of ap
proval and works with him."
There are three classes of Scouts.
The Tenderfoot, second-class Scouts
and frst-class Scouts. There are
certain requirements and examina
tions which the boy who wishes tc
become Scout must meet, before
he can be enrolled. Then before he
becomes Scout he must promise
On my honor will do my best
1st, To do my duty to God ant
my country, and to obey the Scou