Evening star., 1926-05-02


| to the Boy Scouts follows in full:
Members of the National Council of
| the Boy Scouts of America:
The strength and hope of civiliza-
| tion dies in its power to adapt itself
| to changing circumstances. Develop
ment and character are not passive
| accomplishments. They can be Sc
cured only through action. The
| strengthening of the physical body,
! the sharpening of the senses, the
quickeninG of the intellect are all the
| result Of that mighty effort which we
call the struggle for existence. Down
| through the ages it was carried on
| for the most part in the open, out in
| the fields, along the streams and over
| the surface of the sea. 1t was there
| that mankind met the great struggle
which has been waged with the forces
| of nature. We are what that struggle
has made us. When the race ceases
| to be engaged In that great strength
giving effort the race will not be
| what it is now--it will change to
| something else. These age-old activi-
| ties or their equivalent are vital to a
continuation of human development.
They are invaluable in the growth
| and training of youth.
Born of Adversely.
Towns and cities and industrial life
are very recent and modern acquire
ments. Such an environment did not
contribute to the making of the race,
nor was it bred in the lap of present
day luxury. 1t was born of adversely
| and nurtured by necessity. Though
the environment has greatly changed,
| human nature has not changed. II
| the same natural life in the open re-
curing something of the same Strus-
gle. surrounded by the same elements
of adversely and necessity, Is Graou.
ally passing away in the experience OF
the great mass of the people; II the
old struggle with nature no longer
goes on: if the usual environment has
been very largely changed, it becomes
exceedingly necessary that an artll-
cial environment be created 10 supply
the necessary process for continual
ton of the development and charac-
ter Of the race. The cinder track
must be substituted for the chase.
Art therefore has been brought III
10 take the place of nature. one OF
tba r,Yat efforts in that direction is
-epresented by the Boy Scout move.
ment. 1t was founded in the Unlteo
States in 1910. In September OF that
wear the organization was given d
great impetus by the visit of the man
whom we are delighted to honor TINS
evening, Sir Baden-Powe4l. Thls dlS-
tincuished British general IS now
known all over the world as the orig
inator of this dea. That 1t has been
introduced intr almost every clFlilZeu
country must be to him a constant
source of erea qualification. Inc irSt
annual meetir. was held in the east
room of the White House in Febru-
ary. 1911, when President Taft made
an address, and each of his successors
has been pleased to serve as the hon
orary president of the association. II
has been dignified by Federai
charter granted by the Congress to
the Boy Scouts of America in 1916,
and thereby ranks in the popular
mind with the only two other organ
izations which have been similarly
honored, the Red Cross and the Amer
lean Legion.
Prominent Men Enlisted.
The Boy Scouts have been fortunate
IN enlisting the interest of prominent
men of our country to serve as ;he ac-
tive head of the organization. or
the current year that position was
hold by no less figure than the late
James ]. Storrow. His untimely tax
ing off was a sad experience TO all OF
us who knew him. l che rlshed nm
personally as friend. ! admired nm
for the broad public spirit that he al,
ways exhibited. Amid all the varied
and exacting activities as one OF our
foremost business men he YET iound
time to devote his thought and energy
end personal attention to the advance
nent of this movement. His mem Dry
will constantly bring to us all tDat
sentiment which he uttered IN the
New Year message that he gave TO
the Scouts. in expressing the nope
that It might bring "a more vivid re-
alization that it is the spirit and the
spiritual sides of life that count.
The more I have studied this move
ment, the inception, purposes or
ganization, and principles. the more
l have been impressed. Not only Is
it based on the fundamental rules
Of right thinking, and acting, but
# seems to embrace in it's code almost
every virtue needed in the personal
and social life of mankind. 1t is
wonderful instrument for good. 1t
is an inspiration to you whose duty
and privilege it is to widen it's hori-
zon and extend it's influence. II
every boy in the United States be-
tween the ages of II and IT could be
placed under the wholesome influence
Of the Scout program and should 1--we
IN to the Scout oath and rules, we
would hear fewer pessimistic words as
tc .+,he future of our Nation.
Boy Scout Oath.
The boy on becoming a Scout binds
hineels on his honor to do his best,
as toe oath reads:
u. 30 do my duty to God and my
count 4. and to obey the Scout law.
ny
times. =.
"3. To keep myself physically
strong, mentally awake, and morally
straight"
The IL articles in these Scout laws
are not prohibitions, but obligations;
affirmative rules of conduct. Members
must promise to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous,
kind. obedient. cheerful, thrifty,
brave. clean and reverent. How COM
prehensive this last. What for
mula for developing moral and spir-
itual character! What an opportunity
for splendid service in working to
strengthen their observance by all
Scouts and to extend their influence
to all boys eligible for membership!
1t would be a perfect world if every
one eXemplified these virtues in daily
life.
Acting under these principles, re-
| markable progress has been made.
Since 1910, 3,OOO0 900 boys in the
United States have been Scouts-one
out of every seven eligible. Who can
estimate the physical. mental, and
| spiritual force that would have been
added to our national life during this
period if the other six also had been
| Scouts?