The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1948. LESSON FROM THE YOUNG

Grey River Argus, 20 April 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1948. LESSON FROM THE YOUNG

NOT only because the juvenile organisations with which she is identified have a prestige, and influence of international dimensions, but also because of her own unique influence and status as their Chief, the visit of Lady Baden Bowel] to the West Coast is one of more than passing interest. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, along with the Allied troops of young folk, have, as remarked, last evening by our distinguished visitor, spread in scarcely more than four decades far and wide through almost every continent. That expansion never could have been so, had the inspiration been one of mere gregariousness or sociability alone. Although the movement is certainly.. restricted neither in race, realm, creed nor colour, it is nowise negative. Its appeal is to authentic sentiments of a humane, helpful and hopeful character, as spontaneous as they are natural; but sentiments which in the modern trend of peoples towards urbanism and depersonalisation, are liable to be thwarted unless fostered by forms of organisation fashioned in the present century. The founder, Lord Baden Powell, with great experience of human associations in a military milieu alike in war and peace, may be judged to have related that experience with tradition, by means of a rare insight into human nature, and an initiative no less rare in the period when the spirit, of unity was a declining quantity in the intercourse of peoples. That, the inspiration was more than British therefore, the welcomel for tihe movement ever since has exemplified in one nation after another. While some regimes have capitalised on the goodness of the young by dragooning them into purely political or racial channels, it must go to the credit not only of the founder but the people among whom he launched scouting and guiding with their cult of helpfulness that it continues to flourish. Aptly Lady Baden Powell last evening quoted among others the case of France as an illustration of the potentialities of the young in uplifting a nation when thus inculcated with a I spirit of co-operation and afforded the means to give it vent in actual practice. In that country where the European -world had some of the earliest instances of those violent breaks with tradition which to-day are more widespread, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides have become relatively the most numerous. The fact has a lesson for this critical time. Before peace can be cemented there must underlay it a spirit of agreement and co-operation. Differences that may inevitably occur must be viewed in the light of common humanity, and recognised as secondary to the necessity of underlying agreement. It is still conceivable that these linkinks of juveniles by millions in bonds of helpfulness and fellow feeling may yet work as a leaven more effectually in future than they have even done in the past. It might indeed be questioned whether the scope for such co-operation and example remains what it might have been, when there appeal’s to be a growing diversity in thought and aim. That raises the question of what might be the core or the essence of such a movement as makes service and helpfulness the ideal for all. It is quite easy to name that thing. It is the spirit of chivalry. A flower of the Christian centuries, it remains native with the young, and fades with their elders mostly as they jettison the good along with the evil # in tradition. Hence may there be a lesson learned from the young in the way of their willingness to work together generally for the common -welfare, and to displace conflict by co-operation. If the present uncertainty of international relations leave the i future problematical, it is yet a

good omen when those who, like. Lady Baden Powell, are able to do so, extend a wide influence towards reconciliation.