SM Minute
Mark Arend (arend@PEOPLES.NET)
Sat, 30 Nov 1996 16:36:51 -0600
You will remember my "Presidential Scouting" posting of a month ago; I have
been continuing my researches into this. I got a nice package of materials
from the Harry S Truman Library, among which was a letter the President sent
to the BSA for a training conference in 1947. Several paragraphs in this
letter make a good Scoutmasters Minute:
"The Boy Scouts of America, since it was founded in 1910, has
contributed greatly to the character training of our youth. With all the
problems we face today, not only in the United States, but in the world,
there is nothing more important that the proper education and guidance of
young people from whom will come the leaders of tomorrow.
We Americans have a tremendous responsibility. While food, clothing
and shelter are urgently needed the major task which faces us is not
economic, it is *moral*. The world needs self-reliant young people who have
a sincere regard for others, irrespective of racial origin or religious
belief. If we can impress upon our yough principles of friendlieness and
mutual respect, we shall go a long way toward establishing a better
understanding among the nations of the world. The Boy Scouts of America is
making a vital contribution to the character building of our boys and young
men. Scouting is giving them leadership, adventure in the out-of-doors,
training in woodcraft, nature study and other worthwhile activities.
As more and more boys become Scouts, they will be inspired to do
their best to do their duty to God and their country and to obey the Scout
Law, to help other people at all times and keep themselves physically
strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
What a greater nation this would be if the principles of Scouting
could be woven more closely into our daily lives. Let us work together to
make the program of the Boy Scouts available to every American Boy."
Mark W. Arend
Beaver Dam Community Library
311 N. Spring St. Outside of a dog, a book is
Beaver Dam, Wisc. 53916 man's best friend. Inside of
(414) 887-4631 (fax 887-4633) a dog it's too dark to read.
--Groucho Marx
www.peoples.net/~bdlib/
Scoutmaster, Troop 736
mailto:arend@peoples.net
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