--- 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: 24 number: 6 published: 1921-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Scouting in the Y. M. M. I. A.," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 6 (April 1921): 554–557.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2406unse 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: improvementera2406unse start_page: 554 end_page: 557 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2406unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Scouting in the Y. M. M. I. A. — Scouting in the Y. M.jjM. I. A. (From the Boy Scout Bulletin) The Scout Promise Before he becomes a scout a boy must 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; 2. Help other people at all times; 3. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. THE SCOUT LAW /. A Scout is Trustworthy. A scout's honor is to be trusted. If he violate his honor by telling a lie, orby cheating, or by not doing exactly a given task, when trusted on his honor, he may be directed to hand over his scout badge. 2. A Scout is Loyal. He is loyal to all whom loyalty is due; his scout leader, his home and parents, and 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 for somebody 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, especially 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, scoutmaster, 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 receive tips for courtesies or good turns. 10. A Scout is Brave. He has the courage to face danger in spite of fear, and to stand up SCOUTING IN THE Y. M. M. I. A. 555 for the right against the coaxing of friends or the jeers or threats of enemies; and defeat does not down him. 11. A Scout is Clean. He keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean speech, clean sport, clean habits; and 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 religion. Scout Motto: "Be Prepared." Scouting Scouting develops the power of initiative and resourcefulness. It helps boys. It insures good citizenship. It takes the boy at the time of life when he is beset with the new and bewildering experience 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 upon his mind, he has learned to be resourceful. The simple, help-yourself experience which a scout receives in his impressionable years prepares him to meet emergencies covering the entire range of his life. In scouting the boy does not stand still. Opportunities and incentive for progress are always at hand. He first becomes a tenderfoot, then a second class scout, and then a first class scout. After this the whole sphere of the scout program is made available by the boy's own application, in qualifying himself to pass the tests of the various merit badges. A boy adopts a hobby with the same zest that he plays tennis or football, and that hobby may become his trade. In other words, a boy has thus transferred his efforts from idle play or harmful mischief to vital achievement. And when the boy has learned to think constructively, through the agency of play, his problems are greatly simplified and his life more worth the living. Sunday The General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. is opposed to the scouts taking hikes on the Sabbath day, or using that day for the return from a hike or week-end encampment, assured that it is not in harmony with the Lord's command requiring us to keep the Sabbath day holy. If a troop is on a hike or encampment which includes Sunday, the day should be observed with proper exercises, and the daily program outlined so that the scouts will be made to feel the sacredness of the day. Tobacco The standard set by the M. I. A. is that no person shall be chosen a scout official who uses tobacco. If there are any scouts in the troop using tfbacco, their attention shall be called to the Scout Promise, in which the scout has promised to keep himself physically clean. If the scout will show an inclination to try to overcome the habit, and his actions are consistent with his promise to try, he should be given every encouragement by the scout master. Where he wilfully disregards his reasonable promise and does not try to discontinue the habit within a until he can conform to time, he should be suspended from the troop I. A. shall not use tobacco. the rule requiring that scouts of the Y. M. M. 556 IMPROVEMENT ERA If he still continues, he should be dropped from the troop. It is suggested, even then, that the scout master continue his efforts with the scout until he has accomplished a reform. Scout Work in the Church Scouting has been made part of the Mutual Improvement Association work, and is, therefore, not an independent organization, but is under the control and management of the Y. M. M. I. A. According to a ruling made by the First Presidency this work is not to be taken up by any other organization of the Church. As a part of the M. I. A. work, scouting must receive the same attention and supervision from the stake and ward officers as any other part of the Mutual program. The Church. Boy scout work is handled through the Junior Committee of the General Board. The Board employs an M. I. A. Field Secretary, at present Dr. John H. Taylor, whose duty it is to visit stakes and wards in the interest of scout work as well as all other Y. M. M. I. A. activities and give help in any way, either through visits or correspondence. Dr. Taylor has been granted a special field scout commissioner's certificate from the National Organization, which entitles him to represent the National Organization as their commissioner among all the organizations of the M. I. A. scouts. All organization and business matters connected with the scouts will be done through him, in order to maintain uniformity and to enable the General Board to keep a record of what is being done by the different stakes in scout work. Address Dr. John H. Taylor, 406 Church Office Bldg., Salt Lake. City, Utah. Organization Stake. A deputy Stake Scout Commissioner should be appointed to supervise the scout work of the stake. His relationship to the Stake Superintendent should at all times be the same as that of any other member of the stake board. On application to our General Office he can register with the National Organization as a Special Field Deputy Commissioner. Before making this application there should be at least two troops of scouts from his stake registered with the National Organization. This indicates from a national standpoint that the Deputy Commissioner has troops to supervise, and that they can expect additional enrollments because of his appointment. Because of his appointment from the stake he has authority to direct the scout work of the stake with or without appointment from the National Organization. By also having national appointment he is entitled to represent the National Organization which gives him national standing with registered troops and entitles him to all of the privileges of that organization. Assistant Deputy Stake Commissioners. Assistant Deputy Stake Commissioners may be appointed in a stake where more than one man is needed to carry on the work. The number of registered troops in a stake should be a guide as to the number of registered scout officials needed. His duties are the same as the Deputy Commissioner's, except that he does his work under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner. The Ward Scoutmaster. The scoutmaster is the keyman in the whole scouting program. His ideals, his inspiration, his help, in directing — scout activities, his companionship without these there could be no scouting. To help boys into high ideals and good citizenship is a great SCOUTING IN THE Y. M. M. I. A. 557 privilege. The scout master chosen by Y. M. M. I. A. ward pres- is idency, and is, like leader, an M. I. A. ward officer. a class This officer of the ward organization is in immediate charge of the boys. He may or may not be the junior teacher. He must be at least twenty-one years of age, and should be chosen because of good moral character and interest in the development of boys. He should be genuine in his own life, have the natural ability to lead, and should command the boys' respect and obedience. All commissions for scout masters are issued by the National Council upon the recommendation of the Y. M. M. I. A. Field Secretary. Assistant Scout Masters. Each troop has one or more assistant scout masters. They must be at least eighteen years of age. It is the assistant's duty to take the place of the scout master in the latter's absence and to perform any duties that may be assigned to him by the scout master. He is often selected and promoted from the scout ranks because of his experience, training, and having demonstrated his ability as a leader in scouting. Troop Committee. A troop committee of at least three is required for each ward, and the Scout Master's application blank cannot be sent to National Headquarters unless it contains the signatures of this committee. The troop committee shall be responsible for: 1. The selection of a scout master and one or more assistant scout masters. 2.Providing proper facilities for meetings. 3.Advising with the scout master from time to time on questions of policy affecting the proper interpretation of scouting and the requirements of the institution with which the troop is connected. 4. The observance of the rules and regulations of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. 5. Encouraging the scout master and his assistants and the members of the troop in carrying out the boy scout program. 6. The operation of the troop in such a way as to insure its permanency. 7. The finances, including the securing of adequate support and the proper disbursements of funds. The troop property. 8. 9. Securing suitable opportunity for the members of the troop to spend one or more weeks annually in camp, with adequate facilities and supervision. # 10. active direction of the troop in case of the inability Assuming of the scout master to serve, until his successor has been appointed and commissioned. As these duties pertain to the M, I. A. ward presidency, and the scout work being under their direction, the personnel of this committee should be as follows: The presidency of the Y. M. M. I. A.; or members of the presidencv of the Y. M. M. I. A., and members of the bishop- I. A. and two or ric; or, a member of the presidency of the Y. M. M. more Church members who are interested in scouting and are willing to devote a part of their time in making it a success. The Scout Troop. Boy scouts are organized in patrols and troops. A patrol consists of eight boys, one of whom becomes patrol -eader and another assistant patrol leader. A troop consists of not more than four patrols. By special per- the Boy Scout Bulletin. mission the number may be increased.-From scouting. Price 15c. Order Send for copies. It tells the whole story of from Improvement Era, Salt Lake City, Utah.