FOR WORLD PEACE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21422, 14 March 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR WORLD PEACE

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF GUIDE

Lady Baden-Powell, world chief guide, while she was in Christchurch last Saturday, wrote a special message for the readers of "The Press Junior." Her message is dated March 9, and runs: "The Chief Scout and I have been having a lovely tour through New Zealand and we both think it a glorious country. And some of the nicest and finest 'things' in the country are the jolly keen splendid Scouts and Guides and Brownies and Wolf Cubs.

"May they go on growing in quality and quantity! "Olave Baden-Powell "Chief Guide.."

Thirty years ago Lord BadenPowell, who had been soldiering in India, training his men in the value of outdoor life, realised that there were groups of boys who needed just the encouragement that they might have from a huge movement or organisation to which they could all belong. He planned the beginnings of the scout movement and issued a booklet "Scouting for Boys," setting out the aims, objects and methods of scouting. This book has been translated into numbers of languages and is said to have, next to the Bible, the largest circulation in the world. Boy Scouts from Scotland to South Africa, Northern China to the

The Chief Scout and the Chief Guide are full of praise for New Zealand and have fallen so much in love with the country that they have expressed their desire to return to spend the rest of their lives here. Every guide and every scout in the country will be delighted if this happens, for the two chiefs have won themselves a warm place in the affection and regard of all young New Zealanders. - It is not a thing to wonder at that the girl guide and boy scout movements have become the world organisations that they are to-day; it seems a very natural thing when the spirit of the leaders is considered. Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Baden-Powell are both extremely busy year in, year out, at work for the scouts and the guides; but they are both very cheerful people, full of enthusiasm for the work of peace that the movements are doing all over tbe world.

South Sea Islands, and Canada to South America, thousands of boys in every civilised part, read and follow the teachings in this book.

The scout and the guide ideal of service and helpfulness does not show itself merely in the sometimes mechanical good action for the day; every, guide meeting and every scout meeting sends hundreds of boys and girls away with the idea that it is each one's duty in life to make hard things easy for others. They are seeking health, happiness and helpfulness, not for themselves only, but for all other boys and girls, men and women in the world. Anyone who has ever been to a meeting of either scouts or guides must come away feeling this; in everyday life not much is said about it, but most people believe that the work for peace in the world is . being well done by the members of these two huge, world-wide movements, White

boys and" black boys, the palefaces and the dark faces, are carrying out the aims of the Scout movement and the girls are doing similarly in the Guide movement. Often the work is dull, without glory or heroism that may be noticed—not every scout receives awards for bravery, not every guide receives certificates for endurance —tout the spirit of the worker makes the unrecognised task worth while. The words "Be Prepared" mean, more often than not, "Be Prepared to be Kind." The readiness to be kind and helpful, in so many thousands of boys and girls over the world, will surely at last have its victory in world peace. GIRL GUIDE HONOURED : The last day of her life was triumphant and gloriously happy for Miss Gladj's Emma Cleverley, an invalid for many years, who received on Saturday from the Chief Guide, Lady Baden-Powell, a certificate for fortitude and endurance, and who lost consciousnes on Sunday and died early on Monday morning. Miss Cleverley was a Post Guide, but has been an invalid for thirteen years; she was born thirtyfour years ago in North Otago and suffered from rheumatic fever when she was nine years of age. She persisted in studying and carrying on in her daily work in spite of periods of illness, until she was twenty-one. Then she was considered incurable, but has struggled on for the last thirteen years. She had been steadily growing worse through the last few weeks. Her visit to the rally was made with a great effort. She conquered over her body to the last with her. cheerful spirit. She was a Post Guide, whom all other guides will honour in memory.