Student at Luzerne portrays Boy Scout of ideal character

Editor's Note: In the spring of 1918, and when Ira Reynolds was just 16, one of the Wilkes-Barre newspapers carried in full a recitation he gave from memory at that year's Luzerne High School commencement about the Boy Scout portrayal of ideal character. The newspaper declared that few addresses during the commencement season "equaled the effort of young Reynolds in concise treatment of a given subject." Reynolds joined the Boy Scouts in 1914, and at 108 in Susquehanna, Pa., still recalls the impact the organization had on his life. He is believed to be the oldest living Boy Scout in America. For a story about him, see http://wcexaminer.com/sections/news/archive/2010/02/03/at-108-reynolds-likely-nation-s-oldest-scout.aspx 

The Boy Scouts of America

In the year 1908; General Sir Robert S.S. Baden Powell started an organization in England called the Boy Scouts. This organization was for boys between the ages of 12 and 18 years. It became so popular that in 2 ½ years there were about 800,000 boys enrolled.

In the United States at this time there were two organizations founded for the general purpose of upbuilding the character of the boys by grounding them in the principals of good morals and instructing them in useful occupation. One of these, founded by Ernest Thompson Seton was called the Woodcraft Indian; the other, founded by Dan C. Beard was called the "sons of Daniel Boone."

These two organizations combined and on February 8, 1910, were chartered in the District of Columbia as the Boy Scouts of America. The movement quickly gained great popularity and the government soon recognized the Boy Scouts of America as a valuable asset to the country. On Feb. 26, 1917, the organization was granted a federal charter by a special act of congress. On January 10, 1918, there were 307,466 active scouts in the United States.

A local council was organized in Wilkes-Barre in June 1916. There are now about 476 active scouts distributed throughout 21 active troops in Wilkes-Barre and vicinity.

The aim of the Boy Scouts is to supplement the various existing educational agencies and to promote the ability in boys to do things for themselves and others. It is not the aim to set up a new organization to parallel in its purpose others already established. The opportunity is afforded these organizations, however, to introduce into their programs unique features appealing to interests which are universal among the boys.

Its method is summed up in the term Scoutcraft, and is a combination of observation, deduction and hardiness or the ability to do things.

Scoutcraft includes instruction in safety, first methods, first aid, life saving, tracking, signaling, cycling, nature study, seamanship, campcraft, woodcraft, chivalry, patriotism and numerous other subjects. This is accomplished in games and team play and is pleasure not work for the boys. All that is needed is the out of doors, a group of boys and a competent leader.

The Boy Scout movement is founded on the Scout oath and the Scout Law. There are 12 points in the Scout Law.

1. - A scout is trustworthy.

2. - A scout is helpful.

3. - A scout is loyal.

4. - A scout is friendly.

5. - A scout is courteous.

6. - A scout is kind.

7. - A scout is obedient.

8. - A scout is cheerful.

9. - A scout is thrifty.

10. - A scout is brave.

11. - A scout is clean.

12. - A scout is reverant.

These laws a boy promise to obey when he takes his Scout Oath. The Scout Oath is; On my honor I will do my best.

1. - To do my duty to God and my country and obey the Scout Law.

2. - To help other people at all times.

3. - To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Scouts are divided into three classes. Tenderfoot, Second and First Classes.

The requirements for a Tenderfoot Scout include knot tying and the composition and history of the American flag.

To become a Second Class Scout, a Tenderfoot must know elementary first aid and bandaging, the signal code and the sixteen principal points of the compass. He must be able to build a fire in the open and cook over it without the ordinary cooking utensils. He must be able to follow a trail in the woods and use properly a knife or axe. He also must make and deposit at least one dollar in the bank.

To become a first class scout a second class scout must be able to swim for at least 50 yards and make a round trail of 14 miles and write a satisfactory account of the trip and the things observed. He must know advanced first aid and how to resuscitate an unconscious person. He must be able to prepare and cook in the open almost anything that comes his way. He must be able to read a map and to draw one from field notes made on the spot.

He must be able to judge distance, size, number, height and weight within 25 percent and to describe fully, from observation, the trees of his locality, also he must know at least three constellations of stars and how to find the north star.

When a boy becomes a first class scout, he is capable of taking care of himself under any circumstances and is fitted to take the lead in any emergency. The scout's motto is "Be Prepared." Another is "Do a good turn daily." The entrance of the United States into the world war brought new responsibilities and opportunities for the Scouts. Now a scout's first consideration is for his country.

They have co-operated in various ways with the American Red Cross and other national organizations for relief throughout the country. Under the slogan "Every Scout to feed a Soldier," Scouts and Scout officials throughout the country have joined enthusiastically in the food supply and conservation campaign during the past season by operating war gardens and working in agricultural camps and on farms. This is perhaps the most important service undertaken by the Scouts.

In the first Liberty Loan campaign President Wilson sent a special request to the Boy Scouts of America to help. Under the slogan "Every Scout to save a soldier" they worked with a will and although they had only last week of the campaign in which to do it, they raised over $23,000,000 for Uncle Sam. In the Second campaign they raised over $4,000,000 and in the last campaign they did still better.

Since the United States declared war on Germany, the Boy Scouts of America have been enlisted as messengers of Uncle Sam and because they were peculiarly fitted for this task they have saved the government thousands of dollars.

We are at this time, each and every one of us banded together to do what we can for our government either directly or indirectly. The Boy Scouts because of their training and adaptability are prepared to lend their aid to Uncle Sam in many ways. So in lending a helping hand to the Boy Scouts of America every patriotic American will be effectively helping the government to make the world safe for democracy.