Boy Scouts Charter

[Bob White]

Excuse me sir, can I get you some cheese to go with that whine?

 

So Wheeler, are you saying that since Plato and Socrates have nothing to tell you about the history of scouting that leads up to the Charter and charter organization concept, that you have no intention to learn about it? Just how old does information have to be for you to accept it as a truth?

 

Whose vision of the original BSA do you want? Boyce's, Seton's, Beard's, West's? They were all different. This was not a group that got along together or had a similar philosophy.

 

Why a Congressional Charter Wheeler? Why was it needed? Who made it happen and why? What did it establish?

[OldGreyEagle]

http://www.inquiry.net/ideals/what_is_scout.htm

 

From the First Edition of Handbook For Boys. Copyright 1911, Boys Scouts of America

 

A Glimpse of the Life of the Boy Who "Belongs" A SCOUT!

 

He enjoys a hike through the woods more than he does a walk over the city's streets. He can tell North or South or East or West by the "signs." He can tie a knot that will hold, he can climb a tree which seems impossible to others, he can swim a river, he can pitch a tent, he can mend a tear in his trousers, he can tell you which fruits and seeds are poisonous and which are not, he can sight nut-bearing trees from a distance; he can reef a sail or take his trick at the wheel, and can pull an oar or use paddles and sculls; he knows the stars by name and can find his way by them; he can identify birds and animals and fish and knows the ways and habitat of each.

 

A Scout walks through the woods with silent tread. No dry twigs snap under his feet and no loose stones turn over and throw him off his balance. His eyes are keen and he sees many things that others do not see. He sees tracks and signs which reveal to him the nature and habits of the creatures that made them. He knows how to stalk birds and animals and study them in their natural haunts.

 

He sees much, but is little seen. A Scout, like an old frontiersman, does not shout his wisdom from the housetops. He possesses the quiet power that comes from knowledge. He speaks softly and answers questions modestly.

 

He knows a braggart but he does not challenge him, allowing the boaster to expose his ignorance by his own loose-wagging tongue. A Scout holds his honor to be his most precious possession, and he would die rather than have it stained. He knows what is his duty and all obligations imposed by duty he fulfills of his own free will.

 

His sense of honor is his only taskmaster, and his honor he guards as jealously as did the knights of old. In this manner a Scout wins the confidence and respect of all people. A Scout can kindle a fire in the forest on the wettest day and he seldom uses more than one match. When no matches can be had he can still have a fire, for he knows the secret of the rubbing sticks used by the Indians, and he knows how to start a blaze with only his knife blade and a piece of flint. He knows also the danger of forest fires, and he kindles a blaze that will not spread. The fire once started, what a meal there in the open! Just watch him and compare his appetite with that of a boy who lounges at a lunch counter in a crowded city.

 

He knows the unwritten rules of the campfire and he contributes his share to the pleasures of the council. He also knows when to sit silent before the ruddy embers and give his mind free play. A Scout practices self-control, for he knows that men who master problems in the world must first master themselves. He keeps a close guard on his temper and never makes a silly spectacle of himself by losing his head. He keeps a close guard on his tongue, for he knows that loud speech is often a cloak to ignorance, that swearing is a sign of weakness, and that untruth shatters the confidence of others.

 

He keeps a close guard on his appetite and eats moderately of food which will make him strong; he never uses alcoholic liquors because he does not wish to poison his body; he desires a clear, active brain, so he avoids tobacco. A Scout never flinches in the face of danger, for he knows that at such a time every faculty must be alert to preserve his safety and that of others. He knows what to do in case of fire, or panic, or shipwreck; he trains his mind to direct and his body to act. In all emergencies he sets an example of resourcefulness, coolness, and courage, and considers the safety of others before that of himself.

 

He is especially considerate of the helpless and weak. A Scout can make himself known to a brother Scout wherever he may be by a method which only Scouts can know. He has brothers in every city in the land and in every country in the world. Wherever he goes he can give his signs and be assured of a friendly welcome. He can talk with a brother Scout without making a sound or he can make known his message by imitating the click of a telegraph key.

 

A Scout is kind to everything that lives. He knows that horses, dogs, and cats have their rights and he respects them. A Scout prides himself upon doing "good turns, " and no day in his life is complete unless he has been of aid to some person. A Scout does not run away or call for help when an accident occurs. If a person is cut he knows how to stop the flow of blood and gently and carefully bind up the wound. If a person is burned his knowledge tells him how to alleviate the suffering. If anyone is dragged from the water unconscious, a Scout at once sets to work to restore respiration and circulation. He knows that not a minute can be lost. A Scout knows that people expect more of him than they do of other boys and he governs his conduct so that no word of reproach can truthfully be brought against the great brotherhood to which he has pledged his loyalty. He seeks always to make the word "Scout" worthy of the respect of people whose opinions have value. He wears his uniform worthily.

 

A Scout knows his city as well as he knows the trails in the forest. He can guide a stranger wherever he desires to go, and this knowledge of short-cuts saves him many needless steps. He knows where the police stations are located, where the fire-alarm boxes are placed, where the nearest doctor lives, where the hospitals are, and which is the quickest way to reach them. He knows the names of the city officials and the nature of their duties.

 

A Scout is proud of his city and freely offers his services when he can help. A Scout is a patriot and is always ready to serve his country at a minute's notice. He loves Old Glory and knows the proper forms of offering it respect. He never permits its folds to touch the ground. He knows how his country is governed and who are the men in high authority. He desires a strong body, an alert mind, and an unconquerable spirit, so that he may serve his country in any need. He patterns his life after those of great Americans who have had a high sense of duty and who have served the nation well. A Scout chooses as his motto "Be Prepared," and he seeks to prepare himself for anything--to rescue a companion, to ford a stream, to gather firewood, to help strangers, to distinguish right from wrong, to serve his fellow men, his country, and his God--always to "Be Prepared".

 

 

If this looks familiar, it should, I posted two years ago. I realize Mission Statments and Vision Statements are recent buzz words, this is what a scout was supposed to be in 1911, Cant wait to see where this leads us,

Note to self:: You have to get a life!

 

BTW Ed, I didn't mean to ignore your question, being called a Yahoo is rarely meant as a complement, although I guess it could be used as a friendly insult, as in in "hey Ed, you ornery old cuss" would not be derogatory if spoken by the "right" person in the right manner. As for its intent here, I would consider the source and go from there.

 

(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

[WHEELER]

Yahoos is slang for country people much like rednecks. "Those yahoos sitting on the porch over there".

 

Where did the l948 Field Manual get the idea of "Becoming a man" from?

There must of been something in the Boy Scouts that triggered this phrase to be written in the manual

 

Where does "See to it that each boy . . . has the chance to develop himself into a MAN (emphasis original)" from the l962 Scoutmasters handbook come from?

 

Look there is a huge discrepancy here! We have two seperate books that say "Being a Man". These were central ideas of the Boy Scouts. Now, in these modern mission and vision statements. "Being a Man" is non-existant. The word Man does not appear either in the modern Scout handbook.

 

The question remains Why? Why the change? The new documents surely point to a fundamental change within the Boy Scout organization. No, there is something going on here. Is "being a Man" something terrible to be or something proud to be?

 

These two statements from two different books "Being a man" show the mentality and philosophy of the Boy Scout Program! They came from somewhere?????

 

The current mission and vision statements are nothing but the whitewashing of history!

 

[evmori]

Thanks OGE.

 

Then I take offense to being called a yahoo and would like an apology, Wheeler. After all, the words have meaning!

 

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

[NJCubScouter]

I have been called a lot of things in my life, but I've never been called a "redneck." Even collectively. One might think that being a nice Jewish boy born in Newark, New Jersey, and never having lived more than 40 miles from there, might have shielded me from the "redneck" label. I've even read Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck book, and saw no resemblance.

 

As for the more important issue of "becoming a man," I think what I already said really resolves this. Though some may not agree, I think the concept of "becoming a man" is still present in Scouting, it is just expressed in different language.

[WHEELER]

I forgot. Thank you very much OGE for your post. It will help me a lot.

 

Yahoo could also be a "country bumpkin". (How many did I offend here?) It is also the name of a chocolate drink. Anyway I see that "yahoo" will now enter the Boy Scout lexicon.

[WHEELER]

I stand corrected on the why of the charter. From the l948 Handbook for boys, pg 447

 

"On June 15, 1916, because they had proved themselves such useful citizens, Congress granted a Federal Charter to the Boy Scouts of America, protecting the name and insignia, and authorizing the Scout uniform so that no one but Scouts might use the uniform of Scouting."

 

But on pg 446, "The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on Feb. *, l910".

 

Are these incorporation documents also on line???? OGE do you have your magic? If not, these incoporation documents would also be helpful from Irving TX.

 

The Federal Charter solved one clue on the usage of the word 'virtue' in the BSA, it is not a complete picture. What other original documents are there? I would like to view them.

[Bob White]

Sit here Grasshopper and listen. You have told me what the flower looks like but what about its roots? You must dig deeper in order to see them. The flower is put there by the plant to show everyone it's beauty, but it is from the roots that the plant gets its life.

 

What are the roots of the charter young Grasshopper? Why was it needed. What purpose did it serve when the flower was planted? What happened to the other scouting program? Yes Grasshopper...there was another. See what you miss when you allow yourself to only gaze at the flower.

 

Go back to your cell little one, assume the lotus position and meditate on the roots, see if you can find the the truth.

 

OHHHMMMMMMMMMMM.....OHHHMMMMMMMMM

[WHEELER]

The mission of scouting is not to turn boys into men. How does one deliver a scouting program without understanding its purpose? From Bob White.

 

1948 Field Manual: "Becoming a Man".

 

l962 Scoutmasters Manual: , "See to it that each boy . . . has the chance to develop himself into a MAN (emphasis original)"

 

You are a HYPOCRITE Bob White.

 

Many derided the word virtue but it is found in the Federal Charter of the Boy Scouts.

 

I know the ROOTS of the Boy Scout Program Bob White you and headquarters do not. You are the hypocrite par excellence. The Pharisees and the Saducees.

 

Psalm 11 "Truth has vanished from men. Everyone has spoken vanity to his neighbor."

 

Psalm 17.44-45 "...the strange children lied to me. The strange children waxed old, and fell away from their paths through LAMENESS."

 

Malachi 2:8 "But ye have turned aside from the way, and caused many to fail in following the law: ye have corrupted the covenant.."

 

Jer 2.8 "And they that handle the law knew me not."

 

It is people like yourself Bob White that through lameness have corrupted the BSA program.

 

I know the ROOTS of the BSA. The viscious attacks against my posts are proof positive that you people don't have a clue. V-I-Rtue.

 

Bob White I am certain you don't have a single clue where "best" in the Boy Scout Oath comes from. I do and that is what irritates the heck out of you.

 

I want to view the originial documents so I can disprove you and the other yahoos on this message board that the Boy Scout Program is about "Becoming a Man" just like the l948 Field Manual says. "Being a Man" is the whole purpose of the program. I know the Roots to this idea which you don't.

 

Once a Scout Always a Scout. Forget that saying did we?

(This message has been edited by WHEELER)(This message has been edited by WHEELER)

[Bob White]

Sticks and stones Wheeler. I am shocked that a man of your self-importance would stoop to name calling. That does not seem very Socratic to me.

 

Let's get back to the topic which you are constantly evading. Why a Congressional Charter. Why was its purpose? Who asked congress to do it? Why did congress agree? If the charter and its content are a key role in your discourse then you should know why the charter exists. So far you have not explained that.

 

You present yourself as someone with incontrovertible knowledge of the BSA and its origins. This should be a cake walk for you.

 

Lets try something new in your next post. No quotes from dead thinkers. No outdated manual excerpts. No name calling, just simply and calmly explain the purpose of the BSA congressional charter.

 

Stop filibustering and communicate.

[WHEELER]

If you would scroll up the thread You will see where I posted to why the Federal Charter was written.

 

I am a Doric Greek, our character is to be honest and straightforward. I do not beat around the bush.

 

St. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ did not one instant refrain from DEFINING the character of the Jewish Leadership of their times and neither shall I.

 

If it talks like an hypocrite, it is an hypocrite and I will say so. Hypocrisy is when one's speech is inconsistent. One day you decry that the BSA had anything to do with "being a man"; the l948 BSA book proves that wrong which I provided and then slam me for not knowing anything about the BSA program. Get real! Your inconsistency is proof of your hypocrisy.

[WHEELER]

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency. Consistency is the criterian of truth. You want to re-write the rules and say "no use of out-dated manuals". They are not outdated. They are a WITNESS to the ORIGINAL Philosophy of the BSA program not this progressive whitewashed program you are provided now.

 

Whose right and whose wrong?

 

I am consistent with the original intent of the BSA program. You have hijacked it to serve socialist principle of unisexism and progressiveism. That is why you hate "out-dated" manuals. You are even trying to "slander" and "demean" the old. Those manuals are the consistent witness to the purpose and plan of the Boy Scout program. You and your mission and vision statement are not consistent therefore NOT THE TRUTH.

[OldGreyEagle]

Before WE get all indignant about OUR treatment, would Mr Wheeler please explain the meaning of the term "Palios Xristos"? and the emotion you were expressing when it was used?

[WHEELER]

Palios Xristos is in English "Old is Golden". It is in the parable of old wine in new wineskins. Xristos in the Greek means Golden. Xristos is also applied to Jesus i.e. Christ is English for Xristos and St. John Chrysostomos, i.e. St. John the Golden mouthed. Xristos is the Greek for the Hebrew word annointed.

[NJCubScouter]

Yeah, well you know that BobWhite, he's just a big ol' Socialist, poisoning young minds with those left-wing radical ideas of his.

 

It's all just too funny.