PRIMITIVE METHODISTS AND BOY SCOUTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 3

PRIMITIVE METHODISTS AND BOY SCOUTS.

Sir—"Tho Primitive Methodist Conference has done good service to the community by drawing-attention to the growing spirit of common sense which is being promoted and fostered among our boys, and which cannot but have a beneficial iiiiluenco on their character." Such should have been the reading of "Civio's" first sentence. But poor "Civic" has been bitten-, by the microbe of pusillanimous indolence and selfishness that is so marked a characteristic of many of the modern English ,-folk. "Civic" remarks that the .euphonious jinglo assent being delivered from battle, murder and sudden death is still read in the churches. Quito so, and has been for some 2000 years or so, presumably, but it has never done any good, or put a slop to such calamities.

"Civic's" remarks are directed principally against the organisation termed the Boy Scouts, and arc both unjust and untruthful. 1 havo been a careful observer of the movement, and keen listener to many advisory speeches made to them by their officers of different grades. Ever have I been struck by the remarkably good advice so tendered to the boys, by the emphasis laid upon tho-desirable-ness of: cultivating .high moral qualities, and by the utter absence of the "spirit of aggrossivo militant jingoism" complained of by the narrow-minded

"Civic." No parents could desire, better advice and training for their sons than such as they receivo in the above organisation, and it has 1 "en a great pleasure to me to note how iho boys are taught, and acquire' politeness in social intercourse. "Civic" should have hcon' on hand, yesterday, in or ler to listen, to tho speech made by the comniis.-,;xier to tho boys, when he might have tried to detect "militant jingoism" v-ilhout avn'l. Tho organisation is. doing better work in training the boys of thtso isles than oither parents or churches arc.—l am, etc., OBSERVER. January 21. ■