--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 17 number: 10 published: 1914-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Mutual Work," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 10 (August 1914): 994–997.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17010unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera17010unse start_page: 994 end_page: 997 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17010unse publication_year: 1914 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work 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 2. To help other people at all times; 3. 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. 2. A scout is loyal. He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due: his scout leader, his home and parents, and his country. 3. 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. 4. A scout is friendly. He iS a friend to all and a brother to every other scout. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. A scout is obedient. He obeys his parents, scout master, patrol leader, and all other duly constituted authorities. 8. A scout is cheerful. He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt and cheery. He never shirks nor grumbles at hardships. 9. 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. 10. 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. 11. 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. 12. 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.