The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-22
All APPRECIATION 0f
/ BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT


OF all the movements inaugurated
during the last quarter OF century
to meet. and cope with, the dih5culties
of the boy problem. none have met
its demands so squarely - the Boy
Scouts Of America.
No organization founded ON basis
Of natural ethics has been able 40
successfully to coordinate all the
varied activities and interests of the
adolescent period-for the develop
ment OF character: the equipment Of
career: the training In the service
Of others. the fostering OF physical
health; the inculcation OF intelligent
citizenship, love OF country, and hdel-
ity OF God--as that of the scout move
ment.
The trend of today towards city life
works distinct harm to the growing
boy. He is by nature adapted TO the
out-of-doors. which. If he seeks with
in the cramped confines OF the city.
frequently leads to the precincts OF
ths Juvenile court. True, many sym
pathetic municipalities have made
wholehearted attempts to meet the
difficulties Of the boy problem by es-
tablishing Fairgrounds. but at best
these agencies only partially solve the
dif1lcuIti
In the past, attempts have been
made. both In this country and abroad
to bring the adolescent boy into
healthy contact with the outdoor
world, and at the same time promote
habits. Of obedience, reverence. discip-
line. seH-respect, true nanliness and
goodness. The basic ideas of these
orge nizations have Influenced. In q
large measure. the establishment Of
the Boy Scouts. which so ably blends
H. a. ti.y,
OF those virtues that are the back
bone OF sturdy Christian man.looe
The difficulties of raising a boy I'M
der the conditions prevalent in a large
city are a matter that demands pain
stalking study. To fnd a solution for
the vexing components OF the problem
Is worth the while OF everyone inter-
ested in the growing generation.
Every agency that is designed so to
direct and influence the Unborn ener-
gies and interests OF the boy. as to
make them aids and factors In his
development, deserves enthusiastic
moral support and encouragement. To
function as such an agency Is one Of
the salient features Of Scoutcraft.
Conservation has been the watch
word OF our day and hour. and so has
preparedness. From both these points
of view. Scouting deserves our ap
probation and recommendation. To
conserve boy for clean living. honor
able conduct, respect for law. love for
parents. reverence for God, is at all
times duty. Now the very ep1tome
of the scout movement is cunserva-
ton There. conservation means the
molding OF a boys character. arous-
| ing his initiative, hardness, self-reli-
ance; fostering the ideals OF esponsi-
BILE citizenship, bestowing health,
strength. contentment; intoxicating the
wisdom of purity and fidelity to God
and bestowing the clear eye and the
| healthy tan OF wood and stream
Likewise scoutcraft means prepared
ness Preparedness against the hate
full vices Of alley-life; bulwark OPP
posing the insidious influences of bad
companionship; remedy against idle
! hands, and the folly Of All empty
! head.
| Moreover the scout movement Ia
truly religious, for scout is taught
| to be reverent to God, to be faithful
| to his religious duties, and to re-
spect the convictions OF others in
matters that pertain to custom and
to religion.
| How much there is in the Boy Ccout
movement that recommends it to our
appreciation and use. Nowhere have
the home. the school, and the church.
more willing and efficient ally in
promoting their beneficent purposes
than in the scouting movement.
During the past decade, the estab-
lishment Of Catholic Boy Scout troops
has met with favor from many pre-
lates of the church, notably from their
Emiences Cardinals Farley and O'Con-
nell, more recently from Archbishop
Hanna, OF San Francisco, and from
| thu Bishops OF Toledo. Cleveland and
| Trenton. In the dioceses presided
over by these prelates, as well as in
many others, flourishing troops of
Catholic Boy Scouts are to be found
Only last year Archbishop Hanna.
OF San Francisco, wrote as follows to
! Father Hunt, chaplain OF the Catho-
! lie Boy Scout troops, II fully ap-
prove of the plan that you have placed
before me for the organization Of
Boy Scouts and / commend you and
your great work most heartily to the
clergy of the archdiocese. At any
time the movement. as outlined. would
merit every commentator, but in the
present national and world crises the
movement ought not only to be COM
mendable but deemed a necessity"
Basing ones Judgment upon the
moral. educational and physical ad-
vantages of Scoutcraft, the national
character Of the movement. as well
as upon the high esteem In which
this movement is held by many pre-
I, lates OF the church. It must be deem
ed very desirable that the advantages
of scouting come within the reach OF
pour Catholic boys by the establish
ment OF strictly Catholic troops OF
| Boy Scouts under Catholic leadership
and supervision.
AS Catholics we hold very strict
tenets with regard to the fulhlment
Of our obligations to God. We enter
tain no uncertainty about our obliga-
tins to our country and to our fellow
men. 1t is at all times a matter of
duty to maintain ourselves physically
strong. mentally awake. and morally
righteous. Now all this is demanded
/ of the scout under the obligation OF
his oath, circumstance that rec
ommends scouting very highly to a
Catholic.
Finally the organization of our
boys in this city and throughout the
land for the great common purposes
OF Scoutcraft--namely, at all times to
do their best to comply with their
duty towards God and their country:
to obey the scout law: to help others;
to keep themselves physically strong,
mentally awake. and morally straight
must engender a feeling among all