Imperial Valley press., 1923-03-21
M'CR0RY MAKES
STRONG TALK TO
co. MINISTER'S
Tells "HOw" and why
of Boy Scout Work in
Valley

In remarkable address before
the County Ministerial Association,
s. l.. McCrory, Boy Scout executive,
cleared up any misconception of the
plan and purpose of scout work that
may have existed in the mind of
any of the ministers of the valley.
The address is attracting wide at
tentiOn from those interested in the
organization. which has taken def
mite form i'll the county this year.
Mr.. McCrory stated that adOles-
cent youth is the gravest problem
which ministers Of the gospel have
to meet. Character building and
citizenship training of the boy dur
ing this period is a task of import
ance second to none and should be
undertaken with great sOlicitude
and seriousness, he said. 1t is at
this period that the boy scout move
ment undertakes to supplement the
work of the preacher, the teacher
and the home.
A Cooperative Movement
cit does not attempt to supplant
other agencies, organizations and
institutions, but co-operates with
them in every way practicable in
the sane development of American
youth. Scouting is the process of
making real boys into real men by
real program that works.
The speaker said that character
building is the keynote Of the scout
program, which is especially adapt
ed to the boy s leisure hours.
The scout movement is democra-
tic, Mr.. MeCrory said, in that it
knows neither class, creed nor race,
it speaks the universal language of
boyhood; it is the great melting
pot Of American youth; it helps to
develop every boy into the fullest
manhood of which he is capable.
Rc.igious-but Creedless
One of the strongest points in
favor of boy scout work is that it
embraces all classes and ereeds, and
at the same time allows the greatest
possible independence to individual
organizations, Officers and boys.
"It is religious, but not sectari-
an. The recognition Of God as a
ruling power in the universe and
the grateful acknowledgement of
His; favors is fundamental in the
development OF boy into a good
citizen, the secretary said.
The plan of organization is such
that any church, whether Roman
Catholic, Protestant or Hebrew may
have its boy scout troop with a
seoutmaster chosen by troop com
mittee appointed by the organiza-
tion which win sponsor it. No man
can be appointed scoutmaster Of a
troop without the recommendation
Of the troop committee and the man
who is the official head Of the in
stitutiOn sponsoring the troop. 1T
it is church, the pastor must sign
if by Sunday school, then the sup
erintendent must sign.
''All scout officials and men who
are given certificates of leadership
in carrying out the program of the
boy scouts of America are required
to subscribe to the scout oath and
law and the constitution and by
laws which include the declaration
of principles heretofore set out"
A Liberal Education
The speaker said in all earnest
ness:
Scouting is literally education
it does not aim to plaster something
on from the outside, but draws out
and cultivates what is always latent
within the boy. 1t provides outlet
for his exhuberent energy; it gives
direction to his random impulses
and crude abilities. 1t shows him
the how and why of things. II
teachers him to use his eyes and
ears and hands and feet to the bes.
advantage. Above all, it teaches
him to use his head. A scout learns
to take care of himself and the
other fellow. He knows what TO dc
in case of accident, and how to pre-
vent accident. He knows how ia
build fires in the open and even in
wet weather without matches; he