Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-06-26


Iene Council Of the Boy Scouts Q
America was organized, sixty-tw
boys, ranging in age from IL to 1S
have taken the Scout oath. TIL
council is flourishing. and the boy
manifest a real interest in the move
ment and its objects.
P. F. Schilling is scout master
and the organization and admins
tration of the Abilene council is un
der his direction. The boys NEE
once week. They have taken mum
erous hikes, and are planning for
more. The biggest event of the sum-
mer, If plans now under way can be
carried to a successful elimination,
will be a ten days camping trip, in
conjunction with the Junction City
scouts during August. A farm not
far from Junction has been leased
and the plan is for the two councils
to camp there. A physical director
will be present to instruct the boys
In swimming, sports and woodcraft,
and another man will have charge
of drilling them.
The general supervision of the
boy scouts is in the hands of the
local council, an organization COM
posed of twenty Abilene business
men. It's officers are: B. H. Smith,
president; VIM. sterl, secretary and
treasurer; J. M. Walters, scout COM
missioner. The scouts are divided
into six patrols, each commanded by
a patrol leader.
p. f. Schilling received his COM
mission as scout master from the
national offices in New York. The
national council has jurisdiction of
the entire movement in the United
States, and issues manuals, instruc- ,
lions. dispenses uniforms and equip
ment, and performs similar duties.
In the United States there are about
two million scouts.
The boy scouts of America have
drifted away. somewhat from the in
ternational organizations in Europe
because of the latter's tendency to-
ward militarism. The Socialists and
certain labor organizations in this I
country denounced the movement
because they believed 1t tended to
arouse military spirit, but the ma
tional council strongly opposes any ,
thing Of the sort.
Boys between the ages of IL and
Is are eligible to membership, after +
the scout law, sign, salute, \
history of the American flag, and
low to tie four knots from a speci- Z
led list. A boy is first tender
'oot, and may later be promoted to I
he second and third degrees. =
The second degree requires q t
months service as a tenderfoot, and b
he possession of certain scoutcraft Il
The work Is primarily
n the open. A third degree scout Il
must stand well in scholarship, and z
lave information on a variety Of sub Il
ects, specific and general. when a 81
10Y has qualified to become third fl
Legree scout he must be well-in-
ormed, must do well in school, and :,
tand well with his employer, If he
as one" said Mr.. Schil1ing. Gle
aust have knowledge of first aid
,ork and of scoutcraft, and there are
variety of other requirements. o.
When a boy becomes a third degree F.
cout he is about as we'll developed OF
long all lines as he can be, and is be
bout as good boy as one could Fl
SIX for Four boys in the Abilene hi
ouneil are training for the third FL
egrse.
Speaking of the movement, Mr.. "
chilling said: "when people come WI
, thoroughly understand the OBJ pa
cts and benefits Of the organiza- "a
on they will show a more healthy ca
terest in the work. 1 venture to
y that not single mother Of Ii
out would have her son give up
e work. 1t makes for better citi-
nship. 1t gives a boy something
do, and keeps him off the streets.
fosters a healthy love Of the out -
doors, makes a boy courageous ~
ID manly. and inspires patriotism. =
the organization may -
nd practical aid to the commun- ~