Association Of Christians Through Scouting
ACTS
P.O. Box 1797
Warsaw, IN 46581-1797
USA
(Rovering To Success, 1922)
"Christ gave His life to show us that example, namely, to "Be Prepared" - no matter what it costs to ourselves - to do the right thing for others"
(Adventuring To Manhood, 1936)
"It is curious to me that men who profess to be good Christians often forget, in a difficulty, to ask themselves the simple question: "What would Christ have done under the circumstances?" and be guided accordingly. Try it the next time you are in any difficulty or doubt as to how to proceed."
(Adventuring To Manhood, 1936)
"Scouting is nothing less than applied Christianity" - (Scouting & Christianity, 1917)
"The religion of a man is not the creed he professes but his life - what he acts upon, and knows of life, and his duty in it. A bad man who believes in a creed is no more religious than the good man who does not." - Baden-Powell quoting Carlyle
"Christianity or broad-minded love-practice does not as yet prevail in this world." -
"When asked where religion came into Scouting and Guiding, Baden-Powell replied, It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding." (Religion and the Boy Scout and Girl Guides Movement--an address, 1926).
"....We aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life and dealings, and not mearly the profession of theology on Sundays.... The co-operation of tiny sea insects has brought about the formation of coral islands. No enterprise is too big where there is goodwill and co-operation carrying it out. Every day we are turning away boys anxious to join the Movement, because we have no men or women to take them in hand. There is a vast reserve of loyal patriotism and Christian spirit lying dormant in our nation today, mainly because it sees no direct opportunity for expressing itself. Here in this joyous brotherhood there is a vast opportunity open to all in a happy work that shows the results under your hands and a work that is worth while because it gives every man his chance of service for his fellow-men and for God." - (Scouting For Boys, 1908)
"No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every Scout should have a religion....Religion seems a very simple thing: First: Love and Serve God. Second: Love and serve your neighbour." - (Scouting For Boys, 1908)
"The atheists....maintain that a religion that has to be learnt from books written by men cannot be a true one. But they don't seem to see that besides printed books....God has given us as one step the great Book of Nature to read; and they cannot say that there is untruth there - the facts stand before them....I do not suggest Nature Study as a form of worship or as a substitute for religion, but I advocate the understanding of Nature as a step, in certain cases, towards gaining religion." - (Rovering To Success, 1930)
"Development of outlook naturally begins with a respect for God, which we may best term "Reverence. Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes. There may be many difficulties relating to the definition of the religious training in our Movement where so many different denominations exist, and the details of the expression of duty to God have, therefore, to be left largely in the hands of the local authority. But there is no difficulty at all in suggesting the line to take on the human side, since direct duty to one's neighbour is implied in almost every form of belief."(Aids to Scoutmastership, 1919)
"Father of us all, We meet before Thee here today, numerous in the lands we come from and in the races we represent, but one in our Brotherhood under Thy Divine Fatherhood.
We come before Thee with hearts grateful and gladdened by the many blessings Thou hast granted us and thankful that our Movement has prospered as acceptable in Thy sight. In return we would lay on Thine Altar, as our humble thank-offering, such sacrifice as we can make of self in service to others. We ask that during our communion here together we may, under Thy Divine Inspiration, gain a widened outlook, a clearer vision of all that lies open before us and of our opportunity. Thus we may then go forth with strengthened faith to carry on our mission of heightening the ideals and powers of manhood, and of helping through closer understanding to bring about Thy happier Rule of Peace and Goodwill upon Earth."
Written by Baden-Powell for use in international events.
ST. GEORGE - PATRON SAINT OF SCOUTING
In different places and times, much of the world has chosen Saint George as a Patron Saint. His slaying of the dragon as a symbol of the victory of goodness over evil endeared him to many. Lord Robert Baden-Powell had made Saint George the patron Saint of the Scouting Movement. Baden-Powell had a favorite rhyme about our patron Saint:
My warmest good wishes I am sending to you
And hoping that the winter is through
You will start out afresh to follow the lead
Of our Patron Saint George and his spirited steed;
Not only to tackle what ever my befall,
But also successfully to win through it all
And then may you have an enjoyable spell
Of hiking, and jolly good camping as well.
Information On ACTS & Scouting Links
ACTS Main Site: Association Of Christians Through ScoutingBaden-Powell - Chief Scout Of The World: Founder Of Scouting