History of "Be Prepared" Motto?

[bsandine 10]

I am interested in the history of the scout motto: "Be Prepared." For example, who coined the phrase and when? Be prepared for what? I know it refers to general preparedness for whatever comes your way and to meet the challenges of life, but has that always been its meaning? What was the importance of being prepared when the phrse was first adopted, and how has that changed over time? Any help and info will be much appreciated.

[OldGreyEagle 5]

I beleive BP himself came up with the term, try this link:

 

http://www.usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsmotto.html

 

and here is a printed interview by Lord Baden-Powell, this may help you as well

 

http://www.pinetreeweb.com/bp-listener.htm

[Dedicated Dad 10]

This link does not cover the Motto but its a great read if you havent read Aids to Scoutmastership.OGE, have you seen this?

 

 

[Dedicated Dad 10]

Let's try this link.

 

http://www.jccc.net/~mbrownin/badenp/bp-aids.htm

[slontwovvy 10]

If I recall correctly, there is something in the Scout Handbook about it. Look under "Scout Motto."

[spear 10]

The roots of the motto 'be prepared' stem from the biblical teaching to "be ready to do whatever is good" (eg. Titus 3:1), which every Christian should practice. The biblical teaching comes from God's good nature, i.e. "God is good." The truth is that we grow more Christlike when we do good works, and the motto 'be prepared' is our discipline of deciding in advance to perform a good work when opportunity presents itself.

[ozemu 10]

Couldn't see ref to 'be prepared' but this is best site I've seen on early scouting history, how it formed etc. I've mailed the author and he is very helpful. If there is a 'proveable' answer Colin will have it I'm sure.

 

http://www.scoutingmilestones.freeserve.co.uk/

[Bob White 20]

I can tell you that BP used "Be Prepared at Brown Sea Island. He would yell "Be Prepared"! and the scouts would yell in response "We are Prepared"!

I don't know where BP got it from.

[spear 10]

Lord Baden-Powell initials BP must have been partly responsible for the motto "Be Prepared."

[slontwovvy 10]

Somehow, I doubt that...

[spear 10]

Here is a quote from The Last Lion, by William Manchester, a respected biographer, page 380.

 

"Sir R.S.S. Baden-Powell, the hero of Mafeking, published Scouting for Boys in 1906 and founded the Boy Scout movement with the motto 'Be Prepared,' based on his initials."