BOY SCOUTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14139, 19 February 1910, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

NO. 3. ITS SOCIAL ASPECTS

(By J. R. Sullivan.)

“Wo arc members one of another. Every deference, every courtesy, every kindness that is not in sonic degree shown to all with whom wo come in contact indicates a hidden root of selfishness from which they spring.” Tho greater part of morality involves social relations. What is justice but a relation between man and man? What is kindness, generosity, chivalry, if there are no objects to wh„h these feelings go out? What is truth if there is no one to whom to be truthful? Patriotism, public spirit, chastity, temperance, .unselfishness, reverence, etc., have all as equally significant references. By teaching boys how to practice these virtues and make them their first and all-important concern, scouting has a direct relation to society. - It postulates a lav? of social well-being, and insists on a ready .and willing recognition of and obedience to such a law.. Every form of wrong it considers a violation, because such is* nothing but a negation of tho claims of others to a free, unfettered existence. Tho scout, under a scoutmaster with intelligence, probity and grace, who is, in fact, a living embodiment of truth, justice, and love, learns, in the most practical manner possible the fun-, daraentai principle of the social ideal; “Every man shall bo an end as well as n means.” A little reflection will show that if wo unkind, discourteous, untruthful or unjust it is because we are ignorant of tho ideal destiny of every human being; because wc eve exalting individual caprice over the tnie order of society. I Scouting aims first , at the improvement of tho individual, and next at the improvement of society. It takes tho developing manhood in> every bov and directs it in channels which will load to_ a dearer and bettor compre-1 hflnrion" of social ends and alma than that possessed by many hundreds of persons who, through ignorance and selfishness, cause the larger ]>art of human unhappiness. It fits the lad to play his part in society with intelligence and uprightness; and it' does this by dealing first and foremost with tho present, order of human, life. How to bo tactful in dealing with others, how to render immediate assistance, to respect and treat the aged and infirm, to bo useful in daily life, to maintain good health, to bq good mannered, courteous. and pure in thought and action, to discipline and improve himself, to bo patriotic and faithful to his country. to defend the rights and privileges of bis Empire—these are ,a few of the many things a scout leatns. Such an education will contribute far more to social peace and happiness than many of the reforms'so strenuously advocated by leading men in both Church and State. The real remedy for most social sins is true, moral education. Thin scouting does not,claim to afford by itself alone, but it has one great recommendation that, if it is carried out in an honest 'spirit, and under the direction of sincere and earnest men it will materially assist in preventing many of tho injustices, and wrongs daily committed in our midst. Oh, that every lad wo see on our public thqroughfares had boon trained as a scout! The slanders and sins of many would cease.- Tho vile, uncomely : language, y the conceited and haughty disposition, the ungenerous and ungqntlcmahly attitudes, and the evil .practices and habits prove more eloquently than words of mine, the total failure of our system of education. Where is tho remedy ? Our State offers none; men seem to believe that such conditions are a matter of course'. But let" us not despair., ' Scouting if properly and generally practised will assuredly remedy a great d&al. , Give those poor, deluded, ignorant lads one year’s training as a scout and most of their deadly practices and filthy habits will ho abandoned. ' The, trouble, it is true, often lies in the homo train-, ing; but the condition exists and must bo altered. Scouting claims to do this. It is a social organisation because it is an ethical one. If adopted by all classes of the community there, can be no doubt that in a very short tune poople would bo astonished at tho magnificent results it would accomplish. But a temporary impediment has arisen; tho movement has been lamentably misconceived by those in authority ; its glorious message, to mankind has been overlooked. . A baser and grosser injustice could not be 1 done to any reformer than to make what ho, advocates a mere appendage to a system which, in comparison, is farcical and useless. , Yet! this is what has’ happened to Sir Baden-PoweU’s grand organisation. Our Now. Zealand -.authorities have had the intelligence and foresight to make it .what, they . call “a specialised branch of the cadets.” Tho truth is that the movement, is not. understood. Its aims, ethical _ and social, have not boon fully appreciated. However, when more enlightened, they will surely leave scouting whnt-its founder intended it to be, an independent 'movement wdth ends peculiarly its own. “Small service is true service while it lasts,” says Wordsworth. All observant men ogre* that nothing more contributes to the cheerfulness and serenitv of our own and other minds than tho' saying of pleasant- words, doing little insignificant services) and rendering little attentions. “That host portion of a good man’s !i fell is little, nameless, uureinomborcd acts of kindness and of love,” Those small services the hoy scout learns to render; and the habit of doing a good turn and speaking a kind word becomes, like most hr-hits, part of his nature, F ! ocietv 'onns for such characters ; and scouting can, and ought to. produce the-p. “Thy worth, O fellow man or woman,' in in thyself—in thv patient soul, in thine incorruptible will, ,in thy readiness to accent whatever part- the universe assigns, thee, in thv quiet faithfulness there w’v'ther amid sunshine or, tho dark, amid Joy or sorrow'.” ’ (To ho continued.)