Scouting, Volume 10, Number 1, January 1922 Page: 1
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S C O U T I N G
JANUARY, 1922
Copyright, 1922, by Boy Scouts of America
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We A re A Tenderfoot!
VOL. X. NO. 1
THE Boy Scout idea had been de-
veloped by Sir Robert S. S.
Baden-Powell into a Movement
actively operating in England, and
to some extent in other countries, with
substantially but not exactly the same oath
and law with the 11th and 12th section
purely American added and program of
activities now used by the Boy Scouts of
America, before February 8, 1910. Prior
to that date, the Baden-Powell Handbook
for Scouts had reached America and a
number of troops had been started in
various parts of the country. In the be-
ginning of 1910 the idea of introducing
the movement along lines similar to those of the English Boy
Scouts was first proposed by William D. Boyce of Chicago, who
had been impressed by a Good Turn done him by a London
scout. He secured the cooperation of friends in Washington,
D. C., and proceeded to incorporate an organization of the Boy
Scouts of America under the laws of the District of Columbia.
This was effectively accomplished on February 8, 1910. Head-
quarters were temporarily established in 124 East 28th Street,
New York City, with the cooperation of representatives from
a number of national organizations.
Simultaneously with this effort, other organizations estab-
lished national headquarters for themselves. It became the
first concern of the Boy Scouts of America to unite all these
efforts into one for the most effective service to boyhood, and
happily, before the middle of July, 1910, all these organizations,
with the exception of the American Boy Scouts, merged with
the Boy Scouts of America. "At the very outset, the operation
of the American Boy Scouts, continued until 1918, with their
emphasis on military drill and training, confused the public
as to the true aims and purposes of the Boy Scout idea, and
even yet the handicap thus created has not been fully overcome
by the Boy Scouts of America.
THERE now lay ahead of the new organization the culti-
vation of public interest, the building up of troops and
leadership, the formulating of policies and standards more
suitable to the United States than those of the English Scouts in
their entirety. Representatives of all organizations working
with boys cordially cooperated in getting the new movement
under way. Men of national reputation and of wide experience
in organization work consented to serve upon a National
Council and its Executive Board. Conferences were frequent
and the situation was
thoroughly canvassed
from every angle and
the methods in use in
other countries care-
fully studied.
This was just twelve
years ago. The Boy
Scout idea was new
here, untried, unorgan-
ized. But by the end
of that year hundreds
of thousands of boys
were clamoring to be
scouts, several thous-
and men had offered
themselves as scout-
masters, still more
men were ready to
serve on local supervis-
ing councils. This
growing enthusiasm
and readiness for serv-
ice were still to be
The Boy Scout Movement has arrived at
Tenderfoot age. It seems an appropriate time
for a look backwards, as well as ahead. While
many men, particularly of the National Council,
. have been with the Movement from the start, the
turnover of scoutmasters has been almost com-
plete. It will be of decided benefit to every
present scoutmaster to get a birdseye view of
the past twelve years, to know the steps by which
the policies and standards, equipment and ad-
ministrative procedure have been formulated.
This outline, or strictly speaking, " headline"
review, has therefore been prepared, but covers
only organization development, for space does
not permit any attempt at a narrative of the
progress made year by year in community in-
terest and in troop and civic activities of scouts
throughout the country.
given practical and effective methods of
expression, and the rest of this " head-
line " review must be merely a summary
of those practical methods as developed
by the Boy Scouts of America.
Governor Miller of New York about to become an honorary tenderfoot by subscribing
to Oath and Law in presence of scouts and members of Albany Local Council
VERY early we incorporated in the
scout oath and law recognition of
obligation to God, reverence, faith-
fulness in religious duties and respect
for religious convictions of others, as
essential in any scheme of citizenship-
training for boys. The twelfth law was
added to the scout law. Obedience to the
scout law was put first in the oath instead
of last, as in the English Oath. The added part, " physically
strong, mentally awake and morally straight," is entirely orig-
inal with us. Thus the great moral backbone of the movement
was defined as it stands today. In addition to this the Admin-
istrative Department of the Boy Scouts of America has given
to the movement the following:
Its comprehensive Constitution and By-Laws.
Development of the Troop Committee as the vital contact
between " parent" institutions and troops.
Development of the Local Council as the authoritative local
supervising body, with representation on the National Council
to insure the democratizing of national administration.
Development of Territorial Districts with Regional Commit-
tees to insure wise decentralization of administrative responsi-
bility.
A system of Registrations and issuance of Charters, Com-
missions and Certificates of Membership, which the whole Field
now recognizes as one of the strongest factors in the success
of the movement.
Development of equipment now standardized from coast to
coast but adaptable to local climatic and other conditions.
Development of an impressive Insignia, the most coveted by
boyhood today because of the things for which it stands.
Federal Protection of name, Insignia and uniform from
use by any but certified members of the organization. Secured
under Federal charter of incorporation June 15, 1916.
A Department of Supplies giving adequate service to all parts
of the country, supplemented by several thousand carefully
chosen local dealers authorized to handle official scout equip-
ment.
A Camping Department and a system of summer and winter
scout camps which has attracted the favorable notice of the
whole country.
Training Courses for
scoutleaders and a sys-
tem of constructive
Conferences between
leaders of all grades.
Development of Of-
ficial Literature cover-
ing all phases of Scout-
ing, inclusive of the
Boy Scouts' magazine,
Boys' Life—a distinct
achievement in itself;
Scouting, the Scout
Handbook—most popu-
lar of all books for
boys; the Scoutmas-
ters' Handbook, the
Manual for Scout Ex-
ecutives, the sixty-
seven Merit Badge
Pamphlets, the Scout
Song Book, the Sea
(Continued on page 7)
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 10, Number 1, January 1922, periodical, January 1922; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310750/m1/1/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.