Philmont Grace

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The original version of this grace before meals was written in 1930 by Jerry Fulkerson, long before Philmont Scout Ranch existed. It was written for Worth Ranch Scout camp in the Fort Worth Area Council in Texas. It was used at Worth Ranch Scout camp during the 1930's and was eventually taken to Philmont by Clarence Dunn in the early 1940's. He was a Fort Worth area Scouter and school teacher who was the first Director of Rangers at Philmont. When Philmont began in the early 1940's it was decided that Philmont needed a simple grace to say before meals. Clarence Dunn offered the Worth Ranch Grace, and it was adopted. Over the years, it was forgotten where it came from and, with a couple of minor variations, became The Philmont Grace. But The Worth Ranch Grace continues to be used in the Fort Worth Area.

 

The original version, known as "The Worth Ranch Grace," is no longer in use. It went like this:

 

"For food and for raiment,

For life and for opportunity,

For friends and this fellowship,

We thank Thee, O Lord. Amen."

 

Note that this original version differs from the Philmont Grace in several ways: 1) The word "and" appears three times, instead of once; 2) The word "opportunity" is singular, instead of plural; and 3) The third line says "friends and this fellowship," instead of "friendship and fellowship."

 

The version of The Worth Ranch Grace that Scouts have learned and used since after World War II is this:

 

"For food, for raiment,

For life, for opportunities,

For friends and this fellowship,

We thank thee, O Lord. Amen."

 

This current version of The Worth Ranch Grace differs from the original version in two ways: 1) The word "and" in the first and second line are replaced by a comma; and 2) the word "opportunity" is now the plural "opportunities." The 3rd and 4th lines remain the same.

 

However, both the original and current versions of The Worth Ranch Grace differ from the Philmont Grace in that 3rd line of The Worth Ranch Grace is and has always been: "For friends and this fellowship." This is a reference to the "fellowship of Worth Ranch Scouts," or the "Worth Ranch Fellowship" which is a line in the Worth Ranch Song.

 

See the Wikipedia article titled: "The Wilderness Grace."

 

 

 

 

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Yes, all 3 High Adventure bases have their own grace.

 

The Philmont and Sea Base Graces have been given.

 

The Northern Tier's Wilderness Grace is:

 

FOR FOOD, FOR RAIMENT

FOR LIFE AND OPPORTUNITY

FOR SUN AND RAIN

FOR WATER AND PORTAGE TRAILS

FOR FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

WE THANK THEE, OH LORD

AMEN