Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-01

The Boy Scout movement has OBJ
tanned the endorsement of the most
prominent men of the country, chief
among these endorsements is one by
Eugene V. Debs, sufficient proof that
the Socialists who are opposed to
anything that savors of military or
ganization do not consider them a
militaristic body.
Mr.. Debs, makes the following
statement: "Of course | need not eX-
plain that il the Boy Scout organiza-
ton in any manner fostered mill
tarism / should not have the slight
est use for it. But it does nothing of
the kind. On the contrary its litera-
ture contains the strongest articles
against militarism, war and blood
shed, and some of the noblest pleas
for human brotherhood and peace
that ! have ever read"
Mr.. Buddy this morning related
some of the things that he had per-
sonally seen happen during a Boy
scout campaign and the improve
ment that the community and sur
rounding country owed to the Boy
Scout campaign.
Do Good Turn
Filled with enthusiasm, as he
would say, ito the very brim," Mr..
Buddy is we'll qualified to describe
the benefits and the objects of the
movement that he has made a life
work. Mr.. Buddy said:
DO a good turn daily" is part
of the duty of Boy Scout, but back
of that the organization stands for
even bigger things, the inspiration of
service, service to the community,
service to the State, service to the
country, to the end that boys may
grow into fine citizenship. The Scout
oath and law eXacts a promise to-
ward God and country; to help
others; to keep physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight
to be worthy of trust, to be loyal, to
be helpful. to be friendly. to be
courteous, to be kind, to be obedient
to constituted authority to be cheer
full, to be thrifty, to be brave, to he
clean in body, thought and speech,
to be reVerent
The Scouts Religion
The Boy Scouts of America main
tain that no boy can grow into the
best kind of man without recognizing
his obligation to God. The first part
of the scouts oath or pledge is "On
my honor | will do my best to do my
duty to God and my country" The
and ruling power of the universe and
the grateful acknowledgment of His
guidance is held to be necessary in
directing the growing boy toward the
best type of American citizenship.
The Boy Scout movement, how
ever, is nonsectarian in its attitude
| toward religion. Its policy is that the
religious organization or institution
with which the Boy Scout is connect
! ok. III ..t. he IaI aNE a.
his spiritual life. If he is a Catholic,
the Catholic Church should be the
agency for his religious training, If
he be a Hebrew boy, then the syna-
gogue will teach him the fafph of his
fathers. If he be a Protestant the
church of which he is an adherent
is the proper organization to give
him an understanding of the things
that pertain to his allegiance to God.
A National Asset
Dean Russell of the teachers COL
lege. Columbia University, pronounc-
es the Boy Scout movement, "one
of the most valuable educational
agencies of the generation" Presi-
dent Wilson has given 1t his cordial
commentator, and Theodore Roose-
welt considers 1t distinctly an asset
to our country for the development
of efficiency, virility and good citi-
Zenship."
These testimonials are we'll within
the bounds of moderation, for the
swift growth of the organization, the
enthusiasm of the boys within 1t and
of the big brothers" who are help
ing to direct it, and its admirable
blending of high ideals with ply
steal betterment and manual effic-
iency must excite the admiration of
every one who will pause to view
its achievements.
Eighteen thousand men are serv-
ing as scoutmasters and assistant
scoutmasters, and $4,000 additional
men are serving as members of
troop committees, local councils and
special officers. Two hundred thou
sand boys are registered as members
| in good standing. and 100000 others