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Mutual Work

Improvement Era, vol. 17, no. 10, August 1914, pp. 994 to 997

Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations

Mutual Work

Of Interest to Scouts

It has been found necessary to print preliminary application blanks

for stake scout masters, ward scout masters, and assistant ward scout

masters, as the blanks used by the National Organization of Boy

Scouts of America, for that purpose, cannot be supplied in quantity

to the stakes, and are only sent out when the men are ready to reg-

ister. By using the preliminary application blank, the men will be

able to satisfy themselves that they are ready to take up scout work,

and have made the necessary preparations. The signatures of the

superintendent of the stake, the bishop and ward president, are re-

quired, as the M. I. A. Scout Commissioner is required to certify as

to the character and ability of the men making application to the

National Organization, and cannot do so without the endorsement of

these men.

The blanks should be filled out and mailed to the M. I. A. Scout

Commissioner, Deseret Gymnasium, Salt Lake City, who will return

to the applicant the registration blank used by the National Organiza-

tion. The stakes may obtain these preliminary blanks in quantity by

sending to the M. I. A. Scout Commissioner. A scout application

blank has also been prepared. Scouts should be required to fill the

blanks out before being admitted to the scout organization. The

blank will also serve as a record, and should be kept on file by the

scout master. On the reverse side of the blank the scout laws,

promise, and a short explanation of scoutcraft is printed, so that

when the blank is signed by the parent he does so with a better un-

derstanding of the work.

M. I. A. SCOUT APPLICATION BLANK

No hereby apply for membership in the M. I. A. Scouts

I

of the Boy Scouts of America and promise to do my best to keep the

Scout Promise and Scout Laws at all times.

Name Date

Address

Occupation or School

Age* Day Month Year

(Applicant must not fill out below this line.)

Patrol Troop Ward Stake

hereby certify that the above applicant has qualified as a

I

Tenderfoot Day Month Year

Second Class Scout, Day Month Year

First Class Scout, Day Month Year

Scout Master.

*Boys under twelve years of age MUST NOT be enrolled as

scouts. There are no exceptions to this rule.

SCOUT PROMISE

On my honor I will do my best:

  1. To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the scout

law;

MUTUAL WORK 995

  1. To help other people at all times;
  1. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally

straight.

SCOUT LAW

  1. A scout is trustworthy.

A scout's honor is to be trusted. If he violates his honor by tell-

ing a lie, or by cheating, or by not doing exactly a given task, when

he is trusted on his honor, he may be directed to hand over his scout

badge.

  1. A scout is loyal.

He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due: his scout leader, his

home and parents, and his country.

  1. A scout is helpful.

He must be prepared at any time to save life, help injured persons,

and share the home duties. He must do at least one good turn to some-

body every day.

  1. A scout is friendly.

He iS a friend to all and a brother to every other scout.

  1. A scout is courteous.

He is polite to all, esecially to women, children, old people and

the weak and helpless. He must not take pay for being helpful or

courteous.

  1. A scout is kind.

He is a friend to animals. He will not kill nor hurt any living

creature needlessly, but will strive to save and protect all harmless life.

  1. A scout is obedient.

He obeys his parents, scout master, patrol leader, and all other

duly constituted authorities.

  1. A

scout is cheerful.

He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt

and cheery. He never shirks nor grumbles at hardships.

  1. A scout is thrifty.

He does not wantonly destroy property. He works faithfully,

wastes nothing, and makes the best use of his opportunities. He saves

his money so that he may pay his own way; be generous to those in

need, and helpful to worthy objects.

He may work for pay but must not receve tips for courtesies or good

turns.

  1. A scout is brave.

He has the courage to face danger in spite of fear, standing up for

the right against the coaxing of friends or the jeers or threats of ene-

mies; defeat does not down him.

  1. A scout is clean.

He keeps clean in body and thought; he stands for clean speech,

clean sport, clean habits; and he travels with a clean crowd.

  1. A scout is reverent.

He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties,

and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and re-

ligion.

The Boy Scout idea is a movement rather than an organization.

Scoutcraft has been made a part of Y. M. M. I. A. and is not a separate

organization.

The Scout movement endeavors to supply the required environ-

ments and ambitions through games and outdoor activities which lead

a bov to become a better man and a good citizen.

Scouting develops the power of initiative and resourcefulness.

It helps boys.

It insures good citizenship.

996 IMPROVEMENT ERA

It takes the boy at that time of life when he is beset with the new

and bewildering experiences of adolescence and diverts his thoughts

therefrom to wholesome and worth-while activities.

Doing is learning and when a scout in the formative stage of his

life has this lesson thoroughly impressed on his mind, he has learned

to be resourceful. Scoutcraft includes instruction in first-aid, life-

saving, tracking, signaling, nature study, campcraft, woodcraft, and

all other forms of handicrafts.

As an organization the Scout movement is not military in thought,

form or spirit, although it does instil in the boy the military virtues,

such as honor, loyalty, obedience and patriotism.

I have read the above and approve of the plan and purpose of the

organization. This application is made with my knowledge and con-

sent.

Date

Signed by Parent or Guardian.

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION BLANK

This blank should be filled in under the proper heading by the

men chosen to be stake scoutmaster, ward scoutmaster or assistant

ward scsoutmaster and mailed to the M. I. A. Scout Commissioner,

Deseret Gymnasium, Salt Lake City, who will return to the appli-

cant the proper blanks for registering with the National Organiza-

tion of The Boy Scouts of America.

Name „

Age at last birthday

Ward,

Stake

Postoffice

APPLICATION FOR STAKE SCOUT MASTER

If making application to be a stake scoutmaster answer the fol-

lowing questions:

What previous experiences if any, have you had in scout work or

other organizations for boys or young men?

How many hours a week do you expect to be able to give to this

work?

State the preparation you have made to supervise the scout work-

in the stake

What scout books or other scout literature have you read?

r As Stake Scout Mast er

Superintendent of Stake

APPLICATION FOR WARD SCOUT MASTER

If to be a ward scoutmaster answer the fol-

making application

lowing questions.

How many boys have you who desire to become scouts?

How many of these boys have paid their 25 cent annual M. I. A.

Fund?

How many hours a week do you expect to be able to give to this

work?

What scout books or other scout literature have you read?

We recommend:

, As Ward M. I. A. Scout Master

President of Ward

Bishop of Ward

MUTUAL WORK 997

APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANT SCOUT MASTER

If making application to be an assistant scout master answer the

follownig questions:

Name of scout master

Number of troop

Is your scoutmaster registered with the National Organization?

What previous experience have you had in scout work?

We recommend:

Assistant M. I. A. Ward scout master

President of Ward

  •  -                            Bishop of  Ward

On the reverse side will be printed suggestions on how to

organize the scout work, which were printed in the May number

of the Era, 1914.

HOW TO GET GOOD TIMBER FOR VOCATION WORK

The following letter has been forwarded to the ward Presidents

of the Y. M. M. I. Associations, through the stake superintendents. In

this connection, officers will please note the letter to Seventies, in this

number, under Priesthood Quorums' Table.

Dear Brother: Complaint is often made of the inability of stake

superintendents and ward presidents to find in the Associations per-

sons suitable to act as Vocation Counselors to take charge of our

Vocational and Industrial work in the respective wards; and some-

times even in the stakes it is difficult to find suitable men for Voca-

tional supervisors: and yet the success of our cause rests largely in

the finding of such suitable persons.

In view of these facts it has been thought proper to go to the

Seventies quorums in search of such suitable persons, where they

cannot be found in the membership of our own organizations. The

matter has been taken up with the First Presidency of the Church,

with the General Board, and with the First Council of Seventy, with

the following result: The superintendency of the respective stakes

and the presidency of the ward Improvement associations will be at

l-'^prty to make application to the Seventy's quroums within their

stakes and wards, for the purpose of finding such stake Vocational

Supervisors and ward Vocation Counselors as may be necessary to

properly carry on this work.

The application may be made either by calling upon the councils

of the quorums in person, or submitting in writing the application for

the appointment of such suitable persons, as may be necessary. The

councils of the quorums by circular letter from the First Council of

their organization, have been notified of these arrangements and will

be prepared under their instructions to attend to the aforesaid re-

quests. They have also been advised, in order that there may be no

conflict in authority or confusion in appointments, to consult with

the bishops of the respective wards as to the selection proposed, that

they may receive his sanction an dapproval, so that there may be a

perfect union of effort in carrying out thisprosrram of bringing the

necessary helo to the movement of securing intelligent direction in the

matter of selecting vaocations for our youth.

We urge upon your association presidents prompt action and

enthusiasm for this cause, as no better field for the accomplishment

of great good presents itself for the activitives ofour organization.

Respectively yours,

B. H. Roberts, in behalf of the Committee.