v. RAR Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutmovementOOrichuoft THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT APPLIED BY THE CHURCH k. THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT APPLIED BY THE CHURCH BY NORMAN E. RICHARDSON, S.T.B., Ph.D. PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS PSYCHOLOGY AND PEDAGOGY IN BOSTON UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND ORMOND E. LOOMIS SCOUT COMMISSIONER, AND EXECUTIVE OF THE GREATER BOSTON COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA EX LIBRIS ST. BASIL'S SCHOLASTICAT!: TORONTO THOMAS ALLEN Publisher 1916 MAR - 9 1953 COPYWGHT, 1915, BT CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS Published December, 1915 Printed in U. S. A. TO THOSE BUSY MEN WHO AS SCOUT OFFICIALS ARE DEVOTING THEIR TIME AND ENERGY UNSELFISHLY TO THE INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE OF GROWING BOYS FOREWORD The thorough analysis of the Boy Scout movement in the book written by Doctor Norman E. Richardson and Scout Commissioner Ormond E. Loomis, of Boston, under the title "The Boy Scout Movement Applied by the Church," is a valuable contribution not only to the literature on scouting but to all of the churches of our country. Showing in such a convincing manner as it does the availability of the Scout movement as a pro- gramme for boys' work in churches and all institutions having a point of contact with boy life, it will prove to be of practical value and help to all leaders in church work as well as to all of those interested in working with the boy problem of the twentieth century. The complexity of present-day conditions and the difficulty of the Sunday-school and church in holding the interest of the adolescent boy are universally recog- nized. It has been fully proved that with proper leader- ship the Boy Scout movement can be made a great asset to the church or any institution working for the welfare of boys. The Boy Scout movement as it has developed in this country, while non-sectarian, has proved to be dis- tinctly a religious movement, because nearly all of its leaders are religious men and nearly all of its troops are connected with religious institutions. The scheme of organization permits of the greatest freedom of thought VU1 FOREWORD and action along religious lines, and therefore the move- ment has been made use of by leaders in all forms of religious work. For these reasons the book on "The Boy Scout Move- ,, ment Applied by the Church is most timely and useful. The psychology of boy nature and the theory of lead- ership are concisely and accurately treated; the mate- rial is abundant and the development logical. As a text-book for training Scoutmasters it is sure to prove itself invaluable. The methods of procedure and practical plans out- lined show familiarity with Scout problems; in fact, the Jbook is rich in suggestions as to how to attack success- fully the difficult problems encountered in the training of our boys during adolescent youth. In the moral training of our boys its value is measured only by the application of the principles it sets forth. This whole book is in keeping with the motto of our Boy Scout movement, and there is no doubt that the man who honestly and conscientiously studies it will "be prepared" more thoroughly for the leadership to which he aspires. V| w (I Chief Scout. Executive, Boy Scouts of America, PREFACE The phenomenal development of the Boy Scouts of America has revealed two significant facts: First: Though no specific attempt has been made to promote scouting as a suitable form of recreation for use by the church, over eighty per cent of the entire movement is vitally related to local churches. The men who, for the most part, have taken advantage of it and have used it to conserve what is best in boy life have come from the church. Scouting has met with intelli- gent appreciation on the part of men whose motives are religious. Second: The movement is yet in its infancy. Being in a formative period of development, it is yet plastic. Its policies thus far have been so broad that contri- butions are being made to it from a large number of sources. An increasingly valuable body of literature is being created, and scouting is receiving increasingly serious consideration on the part of leading educators, social workers, and churchmen. As time goes on it is sure to develop into the most popular and successful movement in existence for boys. The material is an exposition of the Boy Scout move- ment and its application to the needs among boys of every race and condition. Special care has been taken to represent accurately the responsibilities and oppor- tunities of leadership. iz X PREFACE It is submitted for the use of churches because we feel that, by using it wisely, they can add greatly to their socializing and evangelizing power. Our thanks are due the many personal friends who by their suggestions and criticisms have contributed to its value. Especially do we thank Charles C. Jackson, President of the Greater Boston Council; Arthur A. Carey, Second Vice-President; James E. West, Chief Scout Executive of the National Council; Edgar S. Martin, Scout Commissioner of Washington, D. C; James A. Wilder, Scout Commissioner of Hawaii; Walter L. Tufts, District Commissioner of the Third Greater Boston District; and those whose names are mentioned in the text. Norman E. Richardson. Ormond E. Loomis. Cambridge, Mass., November, 1915. CONTENTS PAGE Foreword < vii Preface ix I. Boy Scouts of America i Origin: Historical statement. Where the Boy Scout idea originated. Introduction into America. Early growth. Its cos- mopolitan character. The general need among boys of purposeful action in co-opera- tion with others and under adult leadership. Elements that have determined its usefulness. Its ruling policies. Relation to other organizations for boys of adolescent age. How its programme can supplement other programmes of work with boys. Structural organization. Character, form, and functions of the national organization and the local and small-unit organiza- tions under it. Means of financial support. The programme of work for boys and adults. Leadership and delegated responsi- bility. Latitude given leaders for exercise of individual initiative. Its attractions for boys and adults. II. The Boy Scout Programme 40 Aim: The conservation of the boy for his own sake. Character development through recreation guided by high ideals. Social values in the community organization. Early marks of leader- ship. The development of initiative and resourcefulness in boys. Method: Suitable indoor and outdoor activities that em- phasize the Scout oath and law. Military training in a pacific spirit and for non-military pursuits. The educative value of actions that spring from moral motives. Leadership of boys and its responsibilities. Scope: Correlation of home, church, school, and recreational activities. Religious policy. The suitability of the Scout pro- gramme to be applied by the church. The extent to which it has been adopted by the church. Xll CONTENTS PAGE III. Boy Instincts and Interests 61 The twofold attitude of the church toward human nature. Suspicion and repression versus appreciation and culture. The medium course. The freedom given to the Scoutmaster. Prin- ciples to guide him in the selection of activities. Adolescent life as having value in and of itself. Dangers and values in the recapitulation theory. The nature of instincts. Their influence upon the develop- ment of a boy's character. Relation to physical growth. In- stincts and interests. "Strike while the iron is hot." Habit. The classification of instincts. Conduct that is at first in- stinctive may come to be guided by Christian ideals. IV. Mastery of Scout Requirements .... 76 Methods of giving instructions in Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, and merit-badge requirements. Supplying incentives. The need for a variety of approaches to each subject. The momentum of success. Need of thorough- ness. Value of a clearly denned purpose. The place of competition and co-operation in the mastery of requirements. Interpatrol and intertroop contests. Use of preparation for special demonstrations and events as a stimulus to individual preparedness. The Scoutmaster's position. Some pitfalls to be avoided. V. Education Through Recreation 117 The aim of education. Moral enlightenment subject to de- velopment. The religious basis of moral conduct. What is recreation? The nature of pastime activities. Mak- ing use of spontaneous interests rather than ignoring them. The educative value of self-expression through recreation. Play properly supervised. The need of recreation. Dangers in the present study pro- gramme. The essentially social nature of recreation during Scout age. The value and danger in providing equipment. "The lure of the out-of-doors." Nature's charm for the boy. Getting away from the city—the simple life. Sunshine and open air. Imitating Indian life. The place of laughter, freedom, re- laxation in boy life. The cry of the cramped and the crammed. CONTENTS XU1 PAGE VI. The Development of Leadership . 133 Principles of leadership affecting Boy Scout training. The nature of leadership and what it involves. Personality and training as factors. Leadership and adjustment. Place of common sense and good judgment. Value of academic training. Value of experience. The leader's relation to the church. Leadership and authority. The art of influencing others. Developing interests, inspiring confidence, and distributing re- sponsibility. How to get results, where to begin, and how to co- operate. Value of sincerity and transparent honesty. Character, information, enthusiasm, and forcefulness as the basis of leadership. VII. Steps ln Character Building 162 The nature of character. How it is " built up in the course of life." Assembling the dynamic qualities of a boy. Symmetry, organization, dominant interests.