Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-02-18
WHAT THE SCOUT
MOVEMENT IS
Murray McMurray, Scout Master Of
Webster City Boy Scouts,
Writes Very Interest
ing Article.
WHAT THE BOYS ARE DOING
Mothers and Fathers Should Read
This Whether Their Boy is
Scout or Not.
WHAT THE BOYS ARE DOING

Recently in Webster City the Boy
Scouts have been reorganized and
along with the reorganization has
arisen a number of questions. These
questions have come. mainly from
mothers and fathers of boys who
want to join and it is with the hope
of answering some of them and tell
ing as briefly as possible what the
Boy Scout movement is, that this
article is written.
The aim of the Boy Scouts is to
bring boys of from twelve to seven
teen years together in patrols and
troops and to seek to cultivate in
them courage, loyalty, patriotism,
fellowship, courtesy, cheerfulness,
purity and .onor. These are the
main points in the scout law which
every boy must know before becom-
ing scout. There is a call for the
scout movement right now because
present day boys, especially those in
the cities and villages, should have
the chance to get acquainted with
nature and outdoor life and to be-
come strong, self-reIiant and help
full. 1t believes that with such train
ing American boys will as men be
leaders in progress, peace and all
things right and good.
AS an organization the scout
movement is neither military in
thought, form or spirit. The uni
form, the patrol, the troop and the
drill are not for military tactics |;
they are for the unity, the harmony
and the rhythm of spirit that boys
learn in scouting. 1t is in the do
ing of things together that they alb
sorb the force and truth of the
Scout law which states: "a scout is
friend of all and a brother to ev-
cry other scout" The Boy Scouts
of America as an organized body
recognize the religious element in
the training of boys but it is abso-
lutely non-sectarian in its attitude
towards that religious training.
Parents should understand that
no uniform or equipment is neces-
sary. 1t Is, of course, desirable, but
according to the rules of the organ
ization, every boy who wishes to
have a uniform is encouraged to
earn the amount of money necessary
to secure it. A boy can have just as
good a time and be just as much a
Boy Scout, however, whether he has
uniform or not.
The organization of the Boy
Scouts of America is promoted and
governed by group of men called
the national council. This national
council is made up of leading men
of the country and it is their desire
that every American boy should
have the opportunity of becoming
good scout A local council through
its officers deals with all local mat
ters that relate to scouting. The
scout master is the active leader of
the troop and has charge of the
boys at all times when they come
together.
At present the local boys are
meeting twice week. A meeting
is held on Wednesday nights at
1880, lasting about an hour or an
hour and quarter and in addition
to this, 1t is the plan to have the
boys take a hike" OF two or three
miles out into the country at least
once week. This tramp is usually
taken after school. When the
weather gets better 1t y hoped that
the indoor work can be discontinued
and all the meetings be in the form
of outdoor exercise and amusement.
The scout motto is "Be prepared"
and the scout oath which every boy
must take before he becomes scout
is: On my honor / Will do my best
to- /. To do my duty to God and
my country and to obey the scout
law. 2. To help other people at all
times. 3. To keep myself physical
ly strong. mentally awake and NOR
ally straight.
The members of the national