Evening star., 1926-05-02
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
.~ TO COUNCIL OF BOY SCOUTS

The program IL means to an end.
Its fundamental object Is to use mod
ern environment IN character building
anu training for citizenship.
Character Defined.
Character is what a person is; 1t
represents the aggregate of distinctive
mental md moral qualities belonging
to an individual or a race. Good char
acter means a mental and moral fiber
of high order. one which may be
woven into the fabric of the commu-
nifty and State. going to make great
nation---great in the broadest mean
ing Of that word.
The organization of the scouts Is
paI ticularly suitable for representa-
tive democracy such as ours, where
our institutions rest on the theory OF
self government and public functions
are exercised through delegated au-
thority. The boys are taught to prac-
tice the basic virtues and principles
of right living and to act for them
selves in accordance with such virtues
and principles. They learn SELL
direction and self-control.
The organization is not intended
to take the place of the home or re-
ligion. but to supplement and CO.
operate with those important factors
in our national life. We hear much
talk of the decline in the influence or
religion, of the loosening Of the home
ties, OF the lack of discipline-all
tending to break down reverence and
respect for the laws of God and or
man. Such thought as l have been
able to give to the subject and such
observations as have come within my
experience have convinced nae that
there is no substitute for the influence
Of the home and of religion. These
take hold of the innermost nature or
the Individual and play a very DOM
inant part in the formation OF person
ality and character. This most neces-
saly and most valuable service has
to be performed by the parents, or
it is not performed at all.
Root of Family Life.
1t is the root of the family life.
Nothing else can ever take its place.
These duties can be performed by
foster parents with partial success.
but any attempt on the part OF the
Government to function in these direc-
tions breaks down almost entirely.
The Boy Scout movement can never
be q success as a substitute but only
as an ally of strict parental control
and family life under religious in
f1uences. Parents cannot shift their
responsibility. If they fail to exercise
proper control, nobody else can do
it for them.
The last item in the Scout duo
decalogue" is impressive. 1t declares
that a Scout shall be reverent. He
is reverent toward God" the para
graph reads. He is faithful in his
religious duty-reSpectS the Convic-
tions of others in matters Of custom
and religion" In the past / have
declared my conviction that our Gov
ernment rests upon religion; that re-
ligion is the source from which we
derive our reverence for truth and
justice, for equality and liberty, and
for the rights of mankind. So wisely
and literally is the Boy Scout move
ment designed that the various re-
ligious denominations have found it
a most helpful agency in arousing
and maintaining interest in the work
of their various societies. This has
helped to emphasize in the minds OF
youth the Importance of teaching our
boys to respect the religious opinions
and social customs of others.
The Scout theory takes tho boy at
an age when he is apt to get en-
shared in the complexities and false
values of our latter-day life, and it
turns his attention toward the simple,
the natural the genuine. 1t provides
program for the utilization of his
spare time outside his home and
school and church duties. While Oft
times recreational. 1t is in the best
sense constructive. 1t aims to give
useful outlet for the abundant en-
ergies of the boy, TO have valuable
develop skill apd self-reliance - the
power to bring things to pass-by
teaching one how to use both the
hand and the head
Helps the City Boy.
In the citybred boy is developed
love for the country, a realization Of
what nature means, of its power to
heal the wounds and to soothe the
frayed nerves incident to modern
civilization. He learns that in the
woods and on the hillside. on the
plain and by the stream he has a
chance to think upon the eternal
verities, to get clarity Of vision-a
chance which the confusion and speed
of city life too often render difficult
IL not impossible Of attainment. There
is very real value in implanting
this idea in bur boys. When they
take up the burdens of manhood they
may be led to return to the simple
life for periods of physical, mental
and spiritual refreshment and rein
vigoration.
Scouting very definitely teaches that
rewards come only after achievement
through personal effort and self-disci-
pline. The boy enters as a tenderfoot.
AS he develops he becomes a second
class Scout and then a f1rstclass
Scout. Still there is before him the
opportunity, in accordance with
ability and hard work, to advance and
get merit badges for proficiency in
some 20 subjects pertaining to the
arts. trades and sciences. 1t is inter
esting to learn that in the year 1925,
$4,000 merit badges were awarded,
as compared with 100000 in 1924.
Twenty-one such awards make the
boy an "eagle Scout" the highest
rank. Not only does one learn to do
things, but in many instances he
learns what he can do best. He is
guided to his life work. Vocational
experts will tell you in dollars and
cents what this means to society,
where so often much valuable time
and effort is wasted by the young
before they have tested, proven and
trained their individual powers.
Learns Preparedness.
The boy learns "tO be prepared"
This is the motto Of the Scouts. They
are prepared to take their proper
place in life, prepared to meet. any
unusual situation arising in their per-
sonal or civic relations. The Scout Is
taught to be courageous and self
sacrificing. Individually he must do
one good deed each day. He is made
to understand that he is a part of
organized society; that he owes an
obligation to that society. Among the
many activities in which the Scouts
have rendered public service are those
for the protection Of birds and wild
life generally, for the conservation