FOUNDER OF SCOUTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 February 1931, Page 7

FOUNDER OF SCOUTS

LORD BADEN-POWELL MOVEMENT’S AMAZING GROWTH DEVELOPING SELF-R ELIANCE Founder of a movement that has been described as “(lie most hopeful means for ensuring the peace of the world that the heart and brain of man has been able to devise,” Lord Baden-PoweL, Chief Scout, accompanied by Lady Bnden-Powell, arrived at Auckland by Ibe Rangitata last week, thus inaugurating a tour of the Dominion which lias long been anticipated with pleasure (says the “Herald”). Lord Baden-Powell will need no introduction lo the people of New Zealand, for in the Dominion, as elsewhere throughout the Empire and even beyond the borders of the Empire, his name has long been held in honour. A tribute well worth recalling, for in many ways it expresses the nature of the welcome which awaits him in Auckland this week, was paid a short time ago oy the Vice-Chanceller of the University of Liverpool, when conferring the. honor "v degree of doctor of laws on the Clref Scout.

“To-day,” said the vice-chancellor, “we greet and acclaim and take to our hearts a man illustrious in tlie arts of peace and of war, a model of chivalry, a pattern of courage and courtesy, a * is ionary who has brought noble dreams !o noble fulfilment, a practical idealist. Soldier and sportsman, writer and sculptor, traveller in many lands, he has learned to turn romantic hope to assured reality, and has given unity to many gifts ay dedicating them in love and loyalty to his God, his King and his country. The world has been his university, but England is his home.”

DEFENDER OF MAFEKING Born in 1857, son of the Rev. Professor Baden-Powell, of Oxford, RouertStephenson Smyth Baden-Powell vas educated at Charterhouse. Between the time of joining the 13th Hussars -viid his retirement from the Army in 1910, he did fate and gallant work for liis K’ng and country in India, Afghanistan, Zululand, Ashanti, Afatabeleland and other parts of South Africa. By his defence of Mafeking he made for himself and his tiny garrison a name that stands by itself iii the annals of the British race for cool and courageous and cheerful, resourcefulness in face of great anxiety and danger. In spite, however, of his fine military record, in spite even of Mafeking and its peculiar glory, it is as a man of peace that he has achieved the greatest distinction, and done the most valuable work of his life. It was in 1893-94, while serving with the 13th Hussars, that ho realised that the peace training of soldiers was not sufficiently practical. Accordingly, he started classes in scouting and camping, with the object, of developing self-re-liance. The Boy Scout idea was first putinto practice at Mafeking. where his chief staff officer, Major Lord Edward Cecil, organised the boys of tho town into a corps for general utility on scouting lines, and the experiment proved a great success.

SUCCESS OF TRIAL CAMP A trial camp for scout training for boys was held in England in .1907. Its results exceeded all expectations. In January. 1908, Lord Baden-Powell issued “Scouting for Boys” in six fortnightly parts', and before the series was half completed a number of troops had been started in different parts of the United Kingdom. By 1910 the move inelit, had reached such proportions that he felt, he must be free to lead it as Chief Scout. A Royal charter was granted to the organisation, in 1912.. On the outbreak of war in 1914 thousands of scouts just starting for their camps were diverted to other work. Laud scouts were set to protect railway bridges waterworks and telegraph lines, sea scouts took over the watching of tho coast from tho coastguards, who had been called up. About 23,000 scouts were employed in that work and as messengers in Government departments, and over 100,000 older scouts served in the Army. . Since tho war several “jamborees, oi vast gatherings of scouts, have taken place in England. By 1921 there were 350,000 scouts in the British Empire and about 1,500,000 throughout the world, totals which have considerably increased during the past decade. How wonderful the progress made has been is illustrated by the fact that in 1907 there were only 30 scouts.

CONFERRING OF A PEERAGE On the occasion of the jamboree at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead, in August, 1929, the King conferred a peerage on the Chief Scout, who was knighted in 1909 and received a baronetcy in 1921. In a message to the scouts _ attending the jamboree His Majesty said: “It has given me great pleasure to mark this signal event in your history by conferring a peerage on the Chief Scout. Ever since its inception lie has been the mainspring of this great adventure from its small and almost humble beginnings until today, when you number nearly 2,000,000 in your ranks. This recognition of his valuable services to the cause will he welcomed by all who realise the importance of training the world’s youth both in mind and in body.” Baden Powell’s scout law is based on the knights’ code of chivalry. The watchword of the movement is “Be Prepared,’’ and one of the rules is that each lad should do some good deed every day. To nieet the hoys’ spirit of adventure lie held up tlie ideal of backswoodsmen and explorers. He aimed at filling up the gap left by ordinary schooling in developing character and general intelligence, skill at handicrafts, physical development and health knowledge, as well as service for others and for the State. In 1912 the Girl Guide movement was launched, and this, too, has spread all over (he world.