[English] THE SCOUT MOVEMENT. SIR R. BADEN POWELL AND ITS FOURFOLD OBJECT.

THE SCOUT MOVEMENT.

SIR R. BADEN POWELL AND ITS FOURFOLD OBJECT.

The boy scouts and girl guides organisations were discussed in their many aspects at the World's Sunday School Convention at Glasgow on June 21st.

Speaking at the St. Andrew's Hall, Lieut.-General Robert Baden Powell said inquiries had resulted in the conclusion being reached that eighty per cent of our men are not religious. Even the remainder did not carry out the Christianity which they professed. Selfishness, instead of selflessness, was at the root of our troubles to-day - selfishness of class against class, party against party, between employer and employed, and between the rich and the poor. There was continual fighting for self-interest, and that was what they were out to combat. (Cheers.)

At the same time there was kindliness in the hearts of the people, and the right way of bringing it out was what we were still looking for.

The fourfold object of the scout movement was the stimulation of character, handicraft, and physical health. All three went together, and the fourth was to harness those three points of efficiency to the service of others of the community. Religion could be caught, not taught. They did not try to make the children to be good, but to do good. One of our scoutmasters, a clergyman, has called it applied Christianity.

Source:

1. Page 3, "Hong Kong Daily Press", Tuesday, 29th July, 13th Year of the Republic of China

   • 28th Day, 6th Lunar Month, Jia-zi Year

   • Tuesday, 29th July, 1924 Common Era