Re: Society of Friends (Quakers)

Hi,

I was a member and later assistant scoutmaster at a troop chartered to the
Adelphi Friends Meeting in Adelphi MD. The troop existed from 1969 to 1975.
It was started by three members of the congregation David Iwomoto, Bert
Smith, and Bill Laughlin. David Iwomoto was the scoutmaster for the first
couple of years. He was replaces in the early 70s by Geen Wood who was a
Unitarian. Rumor had it that we obtained the rare charter to a Quaker group
because nearby Lutheren Church would no allow blacks although I do not know
that first hand. The Friends tolorated the existance of the troop but did
not help or hinder its operation. Some Friends found the uniforms
distastful but felt a duty to correct the injustice done. The troop was
later merged with Troop 728 in College Park Md.

At 02:19 PM 8/22/98 EDT, you wrote:
>I am a graduate of a Quaker school in Delaware. I missed Scouting in my youth
>and perhaps because of this have been involved for many years as an adult.
>In Pennsylvania our troop was sponsored by the Baptist Church. Recently I
>chaired a committee which obtained the National Award of Merit for four
>Massachusetts Scouts from a troop sponsored by the Catholic Church.
>Over the years I have tried to determine the position of the Society of
>Friends (Quakers) toward Scouting. Although representatives will say they
>agree with our basic values, I know of no situation where a Scout troop or
>pack is sponsored by a Quaker Meeting or Quaker school or uses its facilities.
>My impression is that Scouting is regarded as "too militaristic" to be
>supported by the Society of Friends. Am I right?
>I would appreciate any official or unofficial comment on line Scouts-L or
>private (fphowland@AOL.com)).
>Howie Howland
>Pocasset, MA
>Cape & Islands Council
>
Dan Brown (Mimawanachen Wikhetschik) Committee Chairman
Troop 56 Blacksburg VA New River District Tutelo Lodge
dabrown2@vt.edu or brown30@tetra-fish.com
Regulatory and Documantation Specialist @ Tetra Second Nature

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