Scouting, Volume 12, Number 9, November 1924 Page: 1
8 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SCOUTING
NOVEMBER, 1924
Copyright, 1924, by Boy Scouts of America
VOL. XII. NO. 9
Builders of Our Nation
A Thought or Two and a Fact or Two to Start
Thanksgiving Day Right
"The United States now leads the world in lawlessness."
"The bulk of crime in the United States is committed by
minors."
"The Youth of America refuses to accept the dogmas of
religion." (From the Press. Is it true?)
WE UNDERSTAND that it is the consensus of
opinion of judges of Juvenile courts that Boy
Scouts never get into their courts. So scouts
keep out of the courts—and therefore out of crime-news
headlines. That's something to be thankful for!
There now are 536,798 registered scouts, including Lone
Scouts. Here, at any rate, are a goodly number of young
fellows who have set their faces like a flint toward good
citizenship. But it is up to their scoutmasters to keep those
faces "set."
Also as Scouting goes to press, there are 37,774 scout-
masters and assistant scoutmasters:—BUILDERS OF OUR
NATION.
How are we justified in applying that characterization to
scout officials? We have it indirectly on the authority of
President Coolidge. On October 15 th a monument was
dedicated to Francis Asbury, one of the founders of the
Methodist-Episcopal Church in this Country and its first
Bishop here. President Coolidge made the speech of
dedication. It was an authoritative declaration as to the
fundamental and essential part that religion has in the
history of America. Below are some of his incisive
statements. Read yourself into them, scoutmasters.
WE DO NOT SAY that every scoutmaster, or for
that matter, any scoutmaster, is a second Francis
Asbury. But the scout official who understands
and is in thorough sympathy with the rock-bottom principles
of Scouting, and who is giving himself without stint to boy-
hood, belongs in the company of Francis Asbury and "is
entitled to rank as one of the builders of our Nation."
It will start Thanksgiving Day right to remember the
origin of our nation, and the part that religion had in establish-
ing our form of Government.
It will help to start Thanksgiving Day right to remember
that the Ship of State has not yet gone on the rocks. And it
will not go on the rocks so long as citizens show that they
want righteous men at the head of national, state and munici-
pal affairs.
It will help to start Thanksgiving Day right to remember
that you have an important place in the Movement that is
steadily producing for the Nation young men of character
trained for citizenship and pledged to keep themselves
morally straight.
With destructive forces ceaselesly working at the foun-
dation of our Government, in public life, in the press, in
educational circles and business life and in society, yes and
within the religious world also, it should help every scout
official to start Thanksgiving Day right, to realize that he is
in the company of those who, in all these departments of life,
are still building our Nation on the firm foundation of right-
eousness.
From the Asbury Speech by President Coolidge
o
UR GOVERNMENT rests upon Religion."
"It is from that source that we derive our rever-
ence for truth and justice, for equality and liberty,
and for the rights of mankind."
"Unless the people believe in these principles, they cannot
believe in our Government."
"The ability for self-government is arrived at only through
an extensive training and education."
"Calling a people to righteousness is a direct preparation
for self-government."
"Francis Asbury, as a Methodist circuit rider, spent his life
making stronger the foundation on which our Government
rests, and seeking to implant in the hearts of all men, how-
ever poor and unworthy they may have seemed, increased
ability to discharge the high duties of their citizenship."
"It was because of what Bishop Asbury and his associates
preached, and what other religious organizations, through
their ministry preached, that our Country has developed so
much freedom and contributed so much to the civilization
of the world. It is well to remember this when we are seek-
ing for social reforms. The Government of a country never
gets ahead of the religion of a country."
"There is a lesson of contentment in the life of Francis
Asbury. Without ever having the enjoyment of a real home,
constantly on the move, poorly clad, often wretchedly shel-
tered, much of the time insufficiently nourished, yet his great
spirit pressed on to the end, always toward the mark of his
high calling."
"His recompense was not in the things of the Earth, yet
who can doubt that as he beheld his handiwork, as he saw his
accomplishments grow, there came to him a glorious satis-
faction and a divine peace."
"He sought to prepare men for the more certain production
and the better use of wealth, by inspiring them with a rever-
ence for the moral values of life."
"Howmany homes he must have hallowed!"
"What a multitude of frontier mothers must have brought
their children to him to receive his blessings!"
"Who shall say where the influence of Francis Asbury,
written upon the immortal souls of men, shall end?"
"He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our Nation."
Doesn't Society judge a Religion by the believer's conduct toward his Fellow men, and not by his form
of Worship?
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 12, Number 9, November 1924, periodical, November 1924; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310778/m1/1/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.