catholic action in ireland. iii: the catholic scout movement

Irish Jesuit Province

Catholic Action in Ireland. III: The Catholic Scout MovementAuthor(s): Thomas FarrellSource: The Irish Monthly, Vol. 60, No. 704 (Feb., 1932), pp. 65-78Published by: Irish Jesuit ProvinceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20513190 .

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CATHOLIC ACTION IN IRELAND-Ill. The Catholic Scout Movement

By REVD. THOMAS FARRELL, C .C., NATIONAL SECRETARY.

HAT general spirit or state of mind which disposes men to heroic and generous actions, and keeps them conversant with all that is

beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world, is known by the name of chivalry. It is a spirit with which goes the necessity of hating all that is mean and base and loving all that is worthy of love. It is a

spirit which requires that a man should perform laborious tasks with cheerfulness and grace, should be an example of the most perfect courtesy in word and deed, should be humble of heart, gentle to the weak, pitiful to others, and in every way one in whom the greatest trust can be placed.

It has been said that " the days of chivalry are gone."

That is not true. It was the influence of the Church in ages past that brought chivalry into being; so, in spired by her, it still exists and must remain as long as she remains-that is to the end of time. She it is

who in every age prompts men to generous actions, and keeps them linked with the beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world. She it is who creates that true nobility, the chivalry of the heart, and causes it to be found not only in one born in high station, but equally in him who walks barefoot or in rags.

The origin of chivalry may be traced to a custom of the ancient Germans. This consisted in the solemn cere

mony of bestowing arms on the young men, thus marking their entry into civil life, and enrolling them as warriors of their tribe.

Rough and barbarous, indeed, were these ancient soldiers until the Church began to exert her influence over them. She impressed upon their untrained minds an esteem for certain virtues, subdued their fierce desire for combat, and gave to their profession of arms a



66 TH E IRISH MONTHLY

higher motive-namely, to use their valour and military prowess in defence of the Right and the True. Transformed by slow degrees they at length emerged the perfected, finished and radiant knights of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. A privileged body these knights had now become, and admitted men to membership only on certain conditions and with a special ritual. Once received they were bQund on their honour to observe certain laws. In this observance they aimied at an ideal which is known to the world by the name of Christian Chivalry.

To describe a knight truly you must say he was a

man, strong of mind and strong of body, with a burning devrotion to the service of Holy Church. Ardent and

brave, p-owerful and pure, valiant and gentle, proud, yet humble; a lover of the poor, a defender of the oppressed, a guardian to the widow, a father to the orphan, the instigator and encouirager of works of charity-a man at all times at the service of his fellow

men. Catholic scouting holds up the knight of old as a

model to those who take upon themselves the obligations of scouthood, and endeavo-urs to mould them to his great likeness. It aceepts only those as members who are willing to observe certain principles, to make a definite serious promise, and to bind themselves-after the manner of the knights-by a certain code of laws.

To cultivate, train, develop and strengthen all the faculties-physical, intellectual, moral, religious

which constitute in the boy mature and human dignity, and to do so with the high object of helpAng him to discharge efficiently and faithfully his life work for God and man, is the aim of Catholic scouting. From4.the physical aspect, Catholic scouting endeavours by means of certain play activities, participated in for the most part out of doors, to build up for the boy a sound, healthy body. From the intellectual point of view, it strives to create in him a, healthy mind and to store it with knowledge beneficial to himself and useful to others. From the woral aspect it endeavou s to Ainstil



CATHOLIC ACTION IN IRELAND-III 67

into the boy chivalrous sentiments, to keep alive the flame of heroism in his heart and encourage him to cultivate natural and civic virtues. But Catholic scout tig, realising that the appeal to merely natural motives is not suffieient for the Catholic boy, demands that there be iil his training a deeply religious foundation on

which to build. It emphasises the fact that the appeal to natural motives accomplishes little unaided by divin4 grace, and so it Jeads the boy, in a practical and cheerful

way, to make use of prayer and the Sacraments as the

means to obtain this divine 9sistance. Catholic scout ing is then a proved method of training, and takes upon itself in its interest for the welfare of the whole boy, soul and body, the noble work of education, both moral and practical.

The moral education of the boy as undertaken by Catholic scouting is obtained by means of the scout principles, scout promise and scout law, the observance of which is the life, the soul, the very essence of Catholic scouting.

The principles, promise and law are in the main an adaptation of the ethical code of glorious Christian knighthood, which code in its turn was derived from the teaching of the Catholic Church. The only thing new abouit them is the popular form in which they are presented as constituting the code of Catholic scouting.

The Scout Principles are as follows: The First-A scout glories in his holy faith, and is

true to it all his life. lThe Second-A scout loves his country.

The Thira-The duty of a scout begins in his home. It requires but little thought to see the seriousness

and imp6rtance of these principles, for through them the boy is kept miindful of the three big things. First, duty to his holy faith, next his country, and then his home.

As soon as a boy has passed a simple examination in certain prescribed practical subjects, such as first aid, scout craft and camp craft, he is eligible for admission to the iniatial rank of scouts-The Rawley Scout. He then accoring to rule approaches the Sacraments of



68 1THE IRISH MONTHLY

Penance and the Most Holy Eucharist, and thus pre pares for his reception, which takes place with appro priate and impressive ceremonial.

During the ceremony of reception the scout to be, after the manner of the knights of old, freely binds him self by serious promise to fulfil certain obligations and observe certain laws. This promise is a very essential and vital part of the system of Catholic scouting. In the scout's training it plays a ceaseless part, being applicable to every phase of the scout's life. It is a promise which, of course, is not taken under pain of, sin. It is but a promise. Nevertheless, it is a promise

which brings with it an obligation or sense of respon-, sibility-namely, that it must be kept. It is a serious promise. It is a promise of honour and is as follows:

" ' On my honour, with the Grace of God, I promise to do my best to serve God and Holy Church; to help

my neighbour at all times; to obey the Scout Law." Examinling this promnise even superficially, it can be

seen what a depth of meaning it contains, what a power

ful influence for good it can exert not only on the life of the boy who faitlhfully observes it, but still more on the life of a community where there are many boys bound by the same inspiring promise, and animated by the same lofty ideals.

"On my honour," he says, meaning by that the highest reverence for truth, the deepest devotion to right, and the brightest chivalry in conduct. Meaning an enthusiastic loyalty, a death-daring devotedness to what in truth is most delicate, and to what in right is

most refined. Meaning that character of mind by which he is disposed to regulate his life even to his most private acts and secret thoughts by what is beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world.

H-e says-'' with the Grace of God,"' knowing that, without that Grace he cannot fulfil the serious obliga tion he has taken upon himself. When a boy is being enrolled a scout he says-On my

honour, with the Grace of God, I promise to do my best . t * o . to observe the Scout Law.



CATHOLIC ACTION IN IRELAND-IIl 69

This law is composed of twelve articles, which are as follow:

First Article-A scout is trustworthy. He does his duity come what may.

Second Article-A scout is loyal. He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due.

Third Article-A scout is helpful. He does at least one charitable act every day.

Fourth Article-A scout is friendly. He is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout.

Fifth Article-A scout is courteous and chivalrous. He is polite to all, especially women, children, old people and the weak and helpless. 'He does not take pay for being helpful or courteous.

Sixth Article-A scout is kind even to animals. He does not kill nor hurt any animal needlessly, but strives to save and protect all harmless life.

Seventh Article-A: scout is obedient. He obeys his parents, scoutmaster, patrol leader, and all those placed over him, in matters not opposed to God's Law.

Eighth Article-A scout is cheerful under difficulties. He is not easily discouraged, and is not disheartened by defeat.

Ninth Article-A scout is thrifty. He saves that he may pay his own way, and be generous to those in need.

7Tenth Article-A scout is brave. He is everywhere and always the champion of what is right and good against what is unjust and evil.

Eleventh Article-A scout is pure in thought, word and deed; and

Twelfthl-That article which gives eternal value to all that has gone before. A scout does all for the glory of

God. The scout elect has previously learned this law by

heart and has had its meaning clearly explained. Its supreme importance in the scheme of scouting is im pressed upon him, and he knows that its observance

must enter into every phase of his life from now onward -for " once a scout always a scout." From the very

start then of his scouthood he begins to live in an atmos



70 THE IRISH MONT'HLY

phere of expected uprightness, honesty, loyalty, cour tesy, kindness and the rest. He shoulders bravely the responsibility for himself in thought, word and deed, and with the courage of a knight of old, sets out on a

great adventure in quest of the holy grail of a pure apd upright life. He has imbibed the true spirit of scouting, whtidct sinking deeply into the soil of his young and im pressionable heart, vitalises his whole life and makes it bear good fruit beyond any power of reckoning.

That a picture of ideals has been painted must be ad

mitted, for scouting is a movement of ideals. They are high. Occasionally a scout and occasionally a troop

comes up to them, occasionally either fall very short of them. But what g;ives one a splendid hope is the keen and consistent striving of the average scout towards his ideals, and that is the thing which counts.

The third article of the scout law says-" A scout is

helpful; he does at least one charitable act every day."

The daily " good turn ?2 as it is called is one of the

essentials of scouting. It is the final test of a good scout who quietly and without boasting seeks out each day opportunities to perform his charitable act. It must not be something that he is bound to do, no; but

an extra kindness and service, at least something more than what courtesy and good manners would prescribe. It may be the smallest and most ordinary act con ceivable, but if done with the proper motive it is an occasion of merit, and that is why instead of calling it a "' good turn "' it is called a charitable act.

Scouting takes upon itself the great work of practical education.

Those who have not a proper concept of the aims of

scouting consider it just a means of giving a boy a good

time. It does that, it is true, but it is very far from the

whole truth. Its purpose is not primarily recreation, but recreation for the purpose of education, or education through recreation. Scouting being built in a manner to appeal to a boy's instincts and using a method

adapted toa a boy's nature, the play instinct is used and

developed, so that in the many scout activities which I



(CATHOLiC ACTION IN IRELAND-Ill 71

slhall group under the general term of scontcraft and which are the sources of the practical edutcation of the boy, there is plenty of work to do, yes! real work which is eagerly undertaken by the boy because it is work that lools like play and being interesting grips him.

Under the name scoutcraft are included woodcraft, camperaft, watercraft and healtheraft, and these leavened by the practice of the scout principles, scout Iromise and scoant law are built into the larger life

crafts of service and right living. Woodcraft is one of the activities of boy scouts, and

means the becoming acquainted with things that are out of doors. It includes the tracking of animals, not to harm them, but for the purpose of studying their habits and getting acquainted with them. Tt means the study of bird life in its various interesting branches; the knowledge of our fish and their various forms and habits; the stuidying of the trees and plants and the many forms of insect life with which beauteous nature abounds. It teaches a scout to tell the stars and direct

his coourse by their position, to scan the heavens and tell by the wind and by the cloud formations if the

weather is to be wet or dry. Briefly, it means to live iT and move in and understand the great outdoor life which is all a(round him, and which when understood becomes so inte-nsely interesting, and to make uise of it all to lift his mind to God.

Canmp life means to live under canvas away from the smoke and dust of our towns and cities. To do so with a degree of success requires a knowledge which is called camperaft. Under this heading a scout learns how to make and set up the various forms of tents, how to fashion his bed from fallen branches, to make his mat tress from the grass or ferns, to build his own fire, and on wet and windy days, even without matches, to light it, no easy task it may be said. He learns how to cateh

his own food of fur or feather or fish and how to cook

it. How to use properly the axe and knife in the felling

and chopping of wood. He learns the method of setting

1p cpramp and the wav to strike it. In short, he learns



72 Y'TE [R1SI1 MIONTITHLY

to rely upon himself and to take care of himself. He finds that a period spent in camp puts the hardness of steel into his muscles and sinews, rich red blood in his veins, the glow of health in his cheeks, and presents to him a, unique and joyous opportunity for extending the horizon of his education.

Watercraft teaches a scout how to row and sail, how to swim, how to rescue from drowning; and in the case of the sea scout, it furnishes a more intimate and

letailed knowledge of boats and their management. Healtheraft is a further and most important branch

of scouiteraft. To secure endurance, physical power, physical couirage and skill, it is necessary to have the body in the best possible condition for doing its work, Ond then keep it in good order. To that end healtheraft instructs a boy in proper posture in sitting, proper car riage in walking. It provides setting up exercises to develop the muscles and help the proper functioning of the various organs. It stresses the necessity of exer cise, especially out of doors, with a necessary warning not to overdo it. It teaches the special care to be given to teeth, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the throat, the feet, the finger nails. It emphasises the fact that good, sound and sufficient sleep is essential to growth, strength and endurance.

Two further subjects are dealt with under the heading of healtheraft. The first is preventative of injury to the person and is popularly known as " safety first '? or as

designated by our movement simply "1 safety," because to us it is not only first, hut safety all the time. The second subject is more extensive and in its effects is remedial. It is what is familiarly known as "first aid to the injured."

Just a brief description of the method employed by scouting to further the practical education of the boy.

There are three grades through which a boy is ex pected to pass on his way to become an efficient and

well-trained scout. The Rawley, the 2nd Class and the 1st Class. To advance to any of these grades certain programmes of useful knowledge selected from the



CATROLIC ACTION IN IRELAND-III 73

vanous branches of scouteraft are prescribed for study. A boy passing successfully, when examined, in these different programmes is admitted to the rank of scout corresponding to the programme in which he has passed.

When he has qualified to become a Rawley scout he is allowed to wear uniform, and after that various badges worn on his uniform indicate the rank and office to which he has attained. In addition to these three grades there is a system of merit badge awards for attaining a certain degree of proficiency in some seventy subjects. These badges are meant as an incentive to a boy to develop his particular bent up to a definite stan dard, to encourage him not just to play about with a subject, but work at it uisefully. Or they may be an incentive to take up the stuLdy of something quite fresh and so widen the field of his interests and usefulness.

The subjects for which merit badges are awarded fall into three different classes which may be called voca tional-professions and trades-recreational (hobbies), and those badges with a social service aspect. Any of these a boy on becoming a second class scout may set himself to acquire. Again, there are two degrees in the merit badge awards, but Which can be attained to only by a scout of first-class rank. They are first Star Scout, when he has gained ten merit badges, which num ber must include seven prescribed subjects of which social science is the first, and second National Scout, a distinction which is given to a boy attaining twenty-one merit badges, this number, as in the case of the Star Scout, embracing(, certain prescribed badges. Even then a scout can acquire further merit badges and be awarded a silver palm for each additional five.

Before either of these two ranks, Star and National Scout, are awarded, evidence must be forthcoming that the scout has actually put into practice in his daily life the ideals expressed in the scout principles, scout promise and scout law, and thus to some extent are united the two broad aspects oF education, the moral and

the practical. A further means of promoting the practical education



74 THE IRISH MONTHLY

of a scout is in the use of scout contests and games. The latter may be classed in the order of their import ance as games for instruction, in which the prime pur pose of the game is instruction in scoutcraft in its various forms; games demanding attention, in which eternal vigilance is the price of victory; games demanding co-operation, in which team play is prominent; games involving vigorous action, in which physical exercise is the outstanding feature, and lastly, games for fun, in which the humorous and recreational vallues are perhaps the more important.

There is no age at which one's scouthood may be left aside, for "once a scout always a scout." Yet a time

comes when a boy feels the years of manhood are upon him and his future occupation in life has to engage his thoughts very seriously. From the outset of his scouit hood he has been taught to realise that scouting in the Catholic sense is a "c manner of living," therefore as he is about to make a step forward hle looks for the means to enable him to carry the obligations of his scouthood into his future life. To help him to achieve this end a special branch has been organised under the title of

Knights Errant. This section-composed of members who have attained

to that stage of development which separates the young man from the boy-aims at continuing them in the active occupation of their scouthood, and at the same time forming a chosen body of young men who will by a suiperior and more exacting scouthood exert an in fluence for good in whatever walk of life they may have adopted.

This is a most important section and is expected to be the source from which many of the future leaders and scoutmasters may be chosen.

A further older boy group is that of the Sea Scouts. It is a section whose members acquire skill in the

management of boats and seamanship and whose acti vities for the most part take place on water.

Any true educational theory must make education co extensive with life. It is claimed that scouting euc



CATHOLIC ACTION 1i IRELAND-III 75

ceeds in doing that by appealing to the whole boy-body and soul, by supplying principles that govern a boy's whole time-by helping the boy to form habits and develop character that will he invaluable throughout his whole life.

Scouting is a proved method of education, and since the true end of an eduication is to lead us to God, so

Catholic scouting whole-heartedly co-operates with the three, fundamentals by Which that true education is attained, namely, the school, the home, the Church.

Catholic scoutingr, as has been said, takes upon itself the noble work of education. To that statement is now added "' education for the building of character," for character, not scholarship, is the primary aitm of educa tion. Nothing matters but character. "In social life," says Father Bernard Vaughan, " you are a visit ing card, in political life you are a vote, when you travel you are a ticket, in a hotel you are a number.

But before God you are a character." If character is important for the individual it is no

less important for the nation; men of character are the conscienice of the nation. Now in the training of character, religion must play the chief part. That being so, it behoves us to have a deeply religious atmosphere in our scouting. If we are to succeed in the aim we have put before ourselves it must be Catholic scouting, that is, in the words of our Holy Father, " We must bring to our scouting the beauitiful and sublime char acteristics of the profession of the Catholic faith and the Catholic life." We must avoid association with any influence that would hinder us in developing the

Catholicity of our scouting to the full. Something is needed to counteract the ills of modern

life which beset the young. If we admit this contention we must ask ourselves, is there any scheme with a spiritual, educational and recreational aspect which

meets the many and various needs of the young so fully and satisfactorily as scouting does? If we feel obliged to answer in the negative then let us frankly admit that scounting is the best possible training for our Catholic



76 THE IRISH MONTHLY

boys. What then is the attitude of the Church towards scouting? -The way the Church has taken up scouting is fully in accord with the precedents of the past. If she has not initiated a thing herself) she has always been ready to borrow it and adapt it to her service, as, for example, liturgy from the Jews, philosophy from Aris totle, architecture from everywhere, plain chant, shall I say it? from the old Irish melodies. And so it is with scouting, the Church authorities in almost every civilised country have adopted it with enthusiasm, fashioned it to their own :needs, and presented it as an opportunity to be seized; a life to lead, a great force tow be turned into the channels of the Church of Christ to be used to the health of mankind and the greater glory of God.

It has come naturally to the Church to adopt scouting because scouting is a form of training based on prin ciples which are at the very heart of Catholicism. The late Popes Benedict and Pius have strongly approved of scouting, of Catholic scouting, and our Holy Father, Pope Pius the Eleventh, now gloriously reigning, has on many occasions spoken in its praise. Addressing 7,000 boy scouts assembled from various parts of Europe and from North and South America, he said: " You are

Catholic Scouts. You are scouts who bring to your scouting

the beautiful and sublime characteristics of your Catholic Faith and Catholic Life. Scouting is a good thing, but in

itself it is only a good thing of earth. You by your faoth

and spiritual motives doing all for the glory of God tun it

into an affair of Heaven. The Church is with you. The

Vicar of Christ is with you. Jesus Christ is with you.

Courage then! In this Companionship, with these friend ships there is nothing to fear. The purity and moral beauty of your life will be sustained and guarded by religion, and

you will remain without stain and reproach, without base

ness or defilement." "Apostolic work exercised by laymen is needed in

the world more in these days than ever before." So

wrote our Holy Father some time ago. Now scouting provides a valuable opportunity of exercising the Lay



CATHOLIC ACTION IN IRELAND-III 77

Apostolate. In the matter of leadership, the scouit master is the keyman in the whole system of scouting. His ideals, his inspiration, his help in directing scout activities, his companionship-without these there would be no scouting. He is privileged to imittate the example of Our Blessed Lord, Who came not to be minis tered unto, but to minister. It is his pride as it is his good fortune to spend his energies for thet good of his neighbour in the persons of the scouts unzder his charge, to serve in the temporal interests of the boys, and fashion them into stronag, healthy, useful members of society. But more especially to serve with a, view of training them to be dutiful Catholics, proud of their faith, and to do this with the express object of helping them to sanctify their lives. This is surely Apostolic

work, and so a scout leader glories in his watchword "1 to serve," for he knows when he serves his neighbour in charity he serves God.

This sketch, though necessarily inadequate, will, it is hoped, set many to examine the great possibilities for good there are in the Catholic Scout Movement, and help them to realise what a powerful instrument it can be

made to further that wish of our Holy Father, namely, "the promotion of Catholic Action."

Just see! In the movement there is an ever-growing army of young impressionable minds bound by their principle, "to glory in their holy faith and to be true

to it all their lives," and by their promise, to " serve

(od, Holy Church, and their neighbour," and whose spirit is to be Catholic minded; whose practice is to approach the Sacrament regularly and frequently; whose patrons are Mary Immaculate, our Apostle St. Patrick, all the Irish saints, and the scouts of heaven, the guardian angels. Whose special characteristic is to love and honour the Pope and keep the anniversaries of his election and coronation as days of special prayers for him. Whose badge is the Cross set upon their brow and above their heart. Would not such a spirit surely

tend to fashion a boy who when grown to manhood would exert a most powerfiul influence in moulding the



78 THE IRISH MONTPHLY

public conscience in accordance with Catholic prin ciples, who could be depended on to foster the love for

religion, and defend it as occasion required, and who would help to a large extent in the restoration of "1 the Christian mode of life"?

We have now an organisation spread throughoxut the country. The National Executive is in Dublin linking up the various dioceses which are governed by their own special Diocesan Councils, which in turn control the various units spread throughout the parishes of each diocese, and each troop in any parish with its Troop Committee, all controlled by a priest of that parish. It is there ready for all interested in the Catholic Scouting

Mfovement to take, use and direct for the good of souls, for the benefit of Holy Church and to God's greater glory.

Anyone who would be generous enough to devote his energies to the cause of Catholic scouting will find this sphere of Catholic Action demands much of him-time, energy, patience, courage, self-discipline, the meeting bravely of difficulties and disappointments. But to such there are joys and successes also, for to teach a boy

to make himself fit, through a simple and hardy mode of living, through an intelligent use of games, through hygienic ways in food, clothing and sleeping, is some thing worth while. To help him acquire through scout handicraft and the discipline of work, the taste for persevering effort and the joy of a finished job, to make him capable of using his fingers skilfully, -and able to take care of himself in all circumstances; these are things of no little value. To help him in his troubles and difficulties, to aid him to temper his character, to train his powers of observation, to increase his self-con fidence, to repress selfish tendencies and expand in the very joy of life; to realise in him the ideals of manliness, patriotism and religion. These are glorious results which bring their own great reward and consolation.

The spirit of the Catholic Scout Movement is a spirit of service, service to others, service to the boy, the whole boy, soul and body, for God's greater glory.



catholic action in ireland. iii: the catholic scout movement

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