EXCERPTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF ROBERT BADEN-POWELL

And as the Founder said - "When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding also."

 

A FAREWELL NOTE TO MY BROTHER SCOUTERS AND GUIDERS (Found after the Chief's death, this note must have been written before he became a peer in 1929)
"Cecil Rhodes said at the end of his life (and I, in my turn feel the truth of it), 'So much to do and so little time to do it.' No-one can hope to see the consummation, as well as the start, of a big venture within the short span of one life-time. I have had an extraordinary experience in seeing the development of Scouting from its beginning up to its present stage. But there is a vast job before it. The Movement is only now getting into its stride. (When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding also.) The one part which I can claim as mine towards promoting the Movement is that I have been lucky enough to find you men and women to form a group of the right stamp who can be relied upon to carry it to its goal. You will do well to keep your eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to whom you can, with confidence, hand on the torch. Don't let it become a salaried organisation: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service. The Movement has already, in the comparatively short period of its existence, established itself onto a wide and so strong a footing as to show most encouraging promise of what may be possible to it in the coming years. Its aim is to promote healthy, happy, helpful citizens, of both sexes, to eradicate the prevailing narrow self-interest, personal, political, sectarian, and national, and to substitute for it a broader spirit of self-sacrifice and service in the cause of humanity; and thus to develop mutual goodwill and co-operation not only within our own country but abroad, between all countries. Experience shows that this consummation is no idle or fantastic dream, but is a practical probability - if we all work for it; and it means, when attained, peace prosperity and happiness for all. The 'encouraging promise' lies in the fact that the hundreds of thousands of boys and girls who are learning our ideals to-day will be the fathers and mothers of millions in the near future, in whom they will in turn inculcate the same ideals -PROVIDED THAT THESE ARE REALLY AND UNMISTAKABLY IMPRESSED UPON THEM BY THEIR LEADERS OF TO-DAY. Therefore you, who are Scouters and Guiders, are not only doing a great work for your neighbours' children but are also helping in practical fashion to bring to pass God's Kingdom of peace and goodwill upon earth. So, from my heart, I wish you God-speed in your effort.
ROBERT BADEN-POWELL"

Baden-Powell's speech at the first Jamboree in August 1920 (It was pointed out to BP, that at that time, the dictionary had the definition of Jamboree as: A noisy revel; a carousal or spree. The Chief said: "Then we will give it a new meaning.") On the Friday evening of the Jamboree, a week after the opening, BP was spontaneously acclaimed 'Chief Scout of all the World' by the 25 nations represented.
"Brother Scouts, I ask you to make a solemn choice. Differences exist between the peoples of the world in thought and sentiment, just as they do in language and physique. The war has taught us that if one nation tries to impose its particular will upon others, cruel reaction is bound to follow. The Jamboree has taught us that if we exercise mutual forbearance and give and take, then there is sympathy and harmony. If it be your will, let us go forth from here fully determined that we will develop among ourselves and our boys that comradeship, through the world-wide spirit of the Scout Brotherhood, so that we may help to develop peace and happiness in the world and goodwill among men. Brother Scouts, answer me. Will you join this endeavour?" And from every corner of the vast building there came back a great shout of 'Yes'.

The founder had very strong views on the subject of badges:
"There are nearly sixty different subjects among which every boy should be able to find one or more suited to him. Thus he is encouraged to take up a hobby, and a lad with hobbies will not as a rule waste his life. "Moreover there is only one standard by which a boy is judged as qualified for a badge, and that is the amount of effort he has put into his work. This gives direct encouragement to the dull or backward boy - the boy in whom the inferiority complex has been born through successive failures. If he is a trier, no matter how clumsy, his examiner can award him the badge and this generally inspires the boy to go on trying till he wins further badges and becomes normally capable." BP fought against any schemes for the standardisation of badges on to the level of school examination or competitive tests. Scouting was a GAME.

More of BP's writings:
"Take a negative instance. A Mahommedan Guider comes to England and addresses a lot of Girl Guides on religion, in the course of which she quotes Mahomet as the one divine teacher. This in spite of the fact that her audience are believers in Christ. How would you regard her action? As tactless, as insulting, as fanatical? At any rate it wouldn't be exactly polite or in accordance with our laws of courtesy. "Yet I have known Christian Guiders as well as Scouters do exactly the same thing with Jews or Hindoos or people of other beliefs present, and these on their part have sat under it, too polite to raise objections but none the less made uncomfortable by it. "Once, at a mixed gathering at a 'Scout's Own' a speaker carefully avoided much reference to Christ and was accused by some there of 'denying Him'. His defence was that he was rather following Christ in that he was showing Christian deference to the feelings of others who, equally with himself, were sons of one Father, under whatever form they rendered homage to God."

The famous "Look Wider" quotation:
"There are two ways of climbing a mountain. One man goes steadily upward, following the track that has been made by others or has been pointed out by the guide book; he keeps his eyes fixed on that track so that he may not miss it; his one determination is to be successful in getting to the top. The other climber is equally anxious to reach the top, but he looks wider. He looks ahead and higher and sees where the former track may now, owing to wash-outs, etc., be improved upon, and he varies his course accordingly. Occasionally he pauses to look around him and to realize the glorious view that is opening and unfolding itself at every step; thus he gains the spirit of exhilaration that lightens his task and gives him fresh encouragement to press on. Then, too, he looks back and realizes that the foot-hills through which he has laboured are mere mole-hills now, and he is in a position whence he can wave encouragement and direction to others, who are still struggling through the early part of their climb. Thus he pursues his way in cheery exaltation rather than with the stern laborious doggedness of the other climber.
So in our work - indeed, in any work of life - we should look forward, well forward, with high aims and hope; look around with joy and goodwill; look back with thankfulness at what has been accomplished and then press on with renewed vigour, with helpful initiative, and with broadened outlook, towards the highest goal, not forgetting to give a helping hand to others as we go. But when you look - look WIDE; and even when you think you are looking wide - LOOK WIDER STILL. "

B-P's final letter to the Scouts :
"Dear Scouts - if you have ever seen the play 'Peter Pan' you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possible, when the time came for him to die, he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of goodbye. Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear from me, so think it over. I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have a happy life too. I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness does not come from being rich, nor merely being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man. Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one. But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. 'Be Prepared' in this way, to live happy and to die happy - stick to your Scout Promise always - even after you have ceased to be a boy - and God help you to do it. "

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