The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-02
By MignOn Hall

rive the benefits of the Boy Scout movement, three or five men form what is known as a troop committee. and this committee communicates with the local council which holds charter for that particular district In cases where there is no local council the troop committee applies directly to the national council. A scoutmaster is then selected and he receives commission from the na- tional council upon the recUmmen- dation of the troop committee.
 Local councils are formed in com- munities where there are three or more troops. Such a scout council is made up of ten or more men. Thess men are elected as representatives of the various interests of the com munity, including religious, educa- tional business and civic activities In many cities each troop elects at least one member of it's troop com mittee as a member of the local council.
 The national council Is made up of delegates from the various local councils, presidents and former pres idents of the United States, gover- nors of the various states, and a limited number of other men distin- grished for their achievements in work for boys.
 This, in brief, Ia the scout organi- zation. It was planned with a view of insuring proper supervision of all scout work and of keeping the local council and the national council d. rectly in touch with both scout and scoutmaster. As soon as any impor- tant addition is made to the scout programme, as soon as some means ia discovered of doing things better than they have been done before, this information can be readily sent to every branch of the organiza- ton.
 Some recognised authority in ont or another of the various scout ao- tivities every now and then volun. teers valuable suggestions to tht local councils and to tho national council. and 1t is very necessary thai these latest details of scouting should reach the scout and the sooutmaster with the least possible delay.
 The Boy Scout movement is not military in thought, form or spirit although 1t does instill in boys such military virtues as honor, loyalty obedience and patriotism. The uni form and the scout divisions. such as the patrol and the troop. are for unity and harmony. These have been introduced because they help a group of boys to work together.
 The movement stands for patriot ism-the patriotism that leads boy to love his country and serve it by being a good citizen. It teaches boys to recognize their civic duties and encourages them to help work out the problems of the community in which they live by taking part in safety first crusades, in swat the fly campaigns, in clean-up rallies and in ot her fOrroa of YalniciraI 1uorlr ,ubirh tends to the betterment of the public.
 The scout movement aims to sup plement the various existing educa- tional agencies by offering a pro- gramme of activities which will in- terest boys during their leisure hours and enable them to put to practical | use on the playground many of the things which they are taught in the classroom.
 This method of teaching is summed up in the word "scoutcraft." It in- cludes first-aid. life-saving. track ing, signaling, cycling, nature study. seamanship, campcraft. woodcraft and other subjects. Much of the in- struction is accomplished through the medium of games. Team play Is al- ways encouraged. The movement does not attempt to develop individ- nal prodigies. Boys never look upon scouting as unpleasant work; they enjoy every moment of their instruc- ton. All that is needed in order to test the programme Is group of boys and a competent leader.
 Something to do, something to think about, and something to enjoy with a view always to character building; for manhood, not scholar ship, Is the first aim of education and is tho first aim of the Scout movement"