Miki101

Right Bob, Thant's my point. It does not appear in "Aids to Scoutmasteship" or "Varsity of Life" as noteed in BSA training manuals. It was a combination of Baden-Powell's concepts done by the BSA National leadership in the 1920's. It's much like if you say something enough times then people will believe it as a fact. That's all.

Thanks Bob, Now, please provide page number for the quote "Scouting is a game with a purpose."

Actually GB, In the spirit of accuracy, Baden-Powell never said "It's a game with a purpose." He said that "It's a game not a science." Most likely, the BSA National office under James West came up the the "game/purpose" quote. I'm sure that Kudu would agree. He's a student of B-P misquotes.

Thanks for your accent GB. Now, I have been in contact with Clan MacLaren North America and they emphatically endorse a Wood Badger's RIGHT to don the MacLaren tartan kilt as a non-voting MEMBER of Clan MacLaren. Both the VP (Barbara Gard) and the Mambership Secretary (Steven Lowry) of Clan MacLaren approve of it. That being confirmed. Is the MacLaren kilt a part of the "Official" BSA Uniform...NO...It is acceptable for a WoodBadger to wear the MacLaren tartan kilt...YES. (There are even times when I don my family's Ancient Scott Hunting kilt when I wear the BSA Class "A" shirt)

Actually Greying Beaver, you are incorrect. Any beaded Wood Baddger is an honorary member of Clan MacLaren for an additional $10. http://members.aol.com/Rapmack/maclaren.html

Interesting Topic... This should help in this discussion... From: Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Scouting & Youth Movements, London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1929, pp. 58 66. Chapter VI, The Religious Aim The aim of the Boy Scout and Girl Guides Movements is now generally understood to be that of making happy, healthy, helpful citizens. In this material age, with distractions and pleasures more than ever accessible, the training of the spirit is becoming correspondingly difficult, and is too largely neglected. Our object in the Scout Movement is to give such help as we can in br

Thanks Ron 'Ole Boy, The book will be out in spring 2006. As for BP, I feel quite confident and he did not mind being known as the "Father of Scouting" whether or not he deserved the title. As for Seton, he would be the only other man to legitimately claim the title, since Beard was pretty much a "me-too" guy but who kept the passion in the BSA's outdoor program when Seton left in 1915. Quite simply, Beard became the symbol of the pioneering spirit in Scouting's history, which was beloved by the millions of Scouts whose lives he touched. Thusly, he was kept in BSA by West

Good reading, Ron. I see that you have been studying your Scouting history. You have hit upon several important themes with regard to the development of Scouting. One is that Theodore Roosevelt had an important role in the development of the Back to Nature movement in the United States, keenly advance by the YMCA and their quest to develop another way for boys to get closer to God. Another is that B-P used some material from Seton. He did so because Seton was the identifiable figurehead of the aformentioned Back-to-Nature movement. Therefore, Seton should get more credit than he was

Pine Tree Patrol 1930 edition $27.50 Chris Hartman Bookseller Morganton, NC 828-433-5478

Jack-Knife Cookery 1946 edition from Dutton (5th ed) $30- Book Mine Sacramento, CA 916.485.0342 books@bookmine.com

Hi Kahuna, You might also take a look at Wilder's 1919 book The Pine Tree Patrol.

How about today, May 17...it's the 105th anniversary of "Mafeking Day," the day that the garrison was relieved. Let's raise a glass to Major Karri Davies who led the Imperial Light Horse Regiment into the besieged city and allowed Col. Baden-Powell to exit the city as a hero and enter the world stage as a visionary. Hip Hip Hooray!

Hi Greg, In your opinion, what do you think would make the museum more interesting?

BP's Personal Diaries and Beard/ Seton artifacts.

Hi Semper, I think that you have something there. As I have found, there is relatively little known about West and I look forward to making more information about him public. Now Kahuna, I am interested in knowing more about your book. If you would care to contact me offline that would be fine also. I would like to know (the information that you are willing to share at this point in your project) about your research and preliminary findings. My studies do not go into the Scouting Professional in the sense that you have indicated, but I do know have information about them in the West/

I have been a student of scouting history for some time and have wondered as to whether any troops tell the stories from the founding of Scouting or of the BSA. I know that I have told many a story to my boys as various topics come up in order to give them an historical perspective as to how the program developed and why it still matters. Are there any particular topics with regard to Erenst Thompson Seton or Dan Beard or James West or William Boyce or the American Boy Scouts or Baden-Powell or of the founding of the BSA/Scouting that are lacking in the print media available to a Scouter,

This site provides an excellent history of the Wood Badge. http://www.scouting.milestones.btinternet.co.uk/

Good stuff Rick, I really would like to disagree with you (I like a good discussion) but I think that you have made the correct analysis. > I think I remember reading in one of the biographies of Ernest Seton ("Black Wolf," maybe) that > while all the BSA's experienced youth leaders were off in Silver Bay, some sort of Coup took > place back in NY which removed Seton, Beard, and other experienced youth workers from their > decision-making positions and replaced them with bankers and lawyers like James West. I > believe that the author stated that the BSA a

Grab a re-print of SCOUTING for BOYS, there are a couple in there that were used by BSA in 1910.

1. Kahunas Katalog by Joe Price 2. Fisk and Bearce's Collecting Scout Literature

As students of Scouting history we are bound to split hairs...therefore, I will. Were talking apples and oranges.BPs Patrol System was based upon boys creating their own patrols without the direction of an adult. That was because he intended his Scouting program to be an additional element to other programs like the Boys Brigade. As you know, he did not intend upon creating a self-running organization but thats ultimately what happened. To state that the BSA did not have a BP Patrol System would be correct in spirit, I guess, because the BSAs program was driven by the YMCA and they

Both the BP and the BSA campaign hats were made by Stetson with the BP type hat being used by him back in the 1896 Matabele Campaign in Africa. It did not have the crown in the front like the BSA hat did. Furthermore, today's Royal Canadian Mounted Police wears the "BP type" of campaign hat.

Kudu writes: > remember that the YMCA-influenced BSA did not use the Patrol System until William Hillcourt's arrival). Are you sure, Kudu...the first SM Handbook (1913 - 1914), p. 18, states: "Troops and Patrols. The Boy Scouts, themselves, are organized into troops and their subdivisions, the patrols. A patrol consists of eight boys, one of whom becomes the patrol leader." Hillcourt took the idea and improved it by writing the PL Handbook in 1929. dave scott

That "How to Pray" circular is actually a letter dated Feb 17, 1910 to "Dear Sir." I will quote only a couple of sentences using the US "Fair Use" statues: "I attach very little importance to prayers in a set form which a boy has to learn by heart. I have met so many men, even well brought up men, who said they did not know how to pray - had forgotten "their prayers!" He continued by providing 3 guidelines for praying and providing 3 samples of very simple, basic prayers. BP then closes with a statement that: prayers, when combined with a good day, equals a relationship wi

Well said Kahuna, That is probably the most level-headed, non-inflammatory statement of opinion that is, I bet, really near the mark of fact. My examination of his writings clearly shows a belief in traditional church-going, mixed with patriotism, temperance and the ability to pray for guidance. Good work.