Boonslick Clio

Submitted - February 22, 2011

Boonslick Clio

A Vast Citizenship Factory

by Joe Barnes

“Our business is not merely to keep up smart ‘show’ troops, but to pass as many boys through our character factory as we possibly can: at the same time, the longer the grind that we can give [the boys] the better men they will be in the end.” — Lt. Gen. R.S.S. Baden-Powell, First Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell, O.M., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B. (Nov. 1911)

“I know another factory — one which in normal times makes citizens for the state. It is now in addition to this work helping some of its members to become capable men for the defence of their homes against aggression, of their nation against militarism, and of their principles of Honour and Justice against destruction.” — Baden-Powell (Feb. 1915)

This column diverts from Randolph County history. Last week marked boy scouting’s 101st anniversary in the United States — sort of. Though celebrated as the official date, boy scouting has been in the U.S. since early 1908, in Missouri since 1909. Scouting for boys began in 1907 in England. The famous tale of William D. Boyce and the scout in the London fog did not occur until the fall of 1909, a year and a half after the first American troop was formed.

To mark the anniversary, cub scout packs hold Blue and Gold Banquets. Packs, troops, teams and crews worship together on Scout Sunday (or Sabbath). District awards of merit are bestowed.

Last year a book was published on boy scouting in Cole County. A book on Randolph County boy scouting needs to be researched. Even a history of Camp Thunderbird would help.

On occasion I am asked to speak on the significant incidents in my life. Of course among these must be birth and baptism. Beyond these I speak about the afternoon I carved a bar of Ivory Soap into a boat. This occurred at a cub scout den meeting in late 1956 at 206 Epperson St. in Moberly, Mo. Mrs. Gene (Bea) Fray and Mrs. Al (Alma) Tebow were den mothers. The den was a part of Pack 14 chartered to the Trinity Methodist Men (now Trinity United Methodist Men). It met in the undercroft of Trinity Methodist Church.

In late 1959 I moved on to Troop 14, also chartered to the Trinity Methodist Men. Next year I was at the newly opened Camp Thunderbird in northeast Randolph County. (There had been camping and other activities there in prior years, but the official date the facility opened is 1960.)

I advanced from carving boats from soap. Through this and other projects, through hiking, camping and swimming, other scouts and I became “physically fit, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Our character was strengthened. Our leadership skills developed. Through scouting we became prepared citizens.

Much of who I am now comes from my participation in boy scouting. Though no longer active in the movement, I still rely upon knowledge acquired and skills developed through participation as a child, youth and adult in boy scouting. My understanding of brotherhood and respect for others comes from scouting principles and ideals, from an organization now in its second century.

The Boy Scouts of America was chartered as a not-for-profit corporation on Feb. 8, 1910. This is the anniversary we now commemorate. Two existing youth organizations merged with the nascent B.S.A. so two more dates prior to that official are possible. The Woodcraft Indians was founded by Ernest Thompson Seton (1860–1946) in 1902. The Sons of Daniel Boone was founded by Daniel Carter Beard (1850–1941) in 1905.

Both preceded the summer of 1907 when Robert Stephen Smyth Baden-Powell (1857–1941), the hero of the 217-day Siege of Mafeking during the Anglo-Boer War, brought several boys together at Brownsea, an island off southern Britain, to test the methods of scouting for boys. His military manual “Aids to Scouting” had proven popular with an unintended audience — boys — so B-P was drafting another book appropriate for them, “Scouting for Boys.” The articles and books of Seton and Beard were used by B-P as resources though he was lax in crediting either.

Within a few months not only had boy scouting been firmly established in the United Kingdom, it had arrived in the U.S. By the spring of 1908 what is now believed to be the first American troop was organized in Burnside, Ken. That same year found units in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Paterson and Montclair, both in New Jersey. By 1909 there was a troop in Sedalia, Mo.

It was not until the fall of 1909 that the famous-but-not-exactly-true tale of William D. Boyce (1858–1929) and the unknown scout occurs. Contrary to the official version, Boyce was not lost in a fog. He only needed to cross the street. Boyce returned to the States to found the Boy Scouts of America.

The B.S.A. was not alone. There were other scouting organizations such as American Boy Scouts and Salvation Army Life-Saving Scouts so many believed it better to have only one scouting organization. The B.S.A. received its Federal Charter on June 15, 1916, another anniversary. This charter allowed the B.S.A. to be the national scouting organization. The B.S.A. is among approximately 100 organizations chartered by Congress under authority of Title 36 of the United States Code. (Congress ceased issuing charters in 1992.)

In 1917 B-P offered advice to the B.S.A.: “… I feel convinced that between us, by a combine of energy, it is possible to bring into being a vast citizenship factory.…”

Scouting’s beginning in the U.S. was rough. Some saw the movement as too military. Some saw it as promoting peace — something not seen as manly. Scouting was opposed by Catholic bishops. They believed it was a Protestant plot by the YMCA. Many in the labor movement opposed it. Scouts were seen as potential scabs. St. Louis union musicians refused to march in a 1911 parade if scouts also participated. Some opposed scouting because it could allow whites and blacks to meet and camp together. One of the early members of the B.S.A., Lt. Gen. Leonard Wood, quit because he believed the B.S.A. was treasonable. Most of these issues were soon resolved and support forthcoming.

Another general will have the last word. In his final letter to the scouts of the world, B-P writes: “I believe that God has put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn’t come from being rich, nor from merely being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step toward happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.

“Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.

“But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live happy and to die happy — stick to your Scout promise always — even after you have ceased to be a boy — and God help you to do it.”

Boonslick Clio
A Vast Citizenship Factory
by Joe Barnes
“Our business is not merely to keep up smart ‘show’ troops, but to pass as many boys through our character factory as we possibly can: at the same time, the longer the grind that we can give [the boys] the better men they will be in the end.” — Lt. Gen. R.S.S. Baden-Powell, First Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell, O.M., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B. (Nov. 1911)“I know another factory — one which in normal times makes citizens for the state. It is now in addition to this work helping some of its members to become capable men for the defence of their homes against aggression, of their nation against militarism, and of their principles of Honour and Justice against destruction.” — Baden-Powell (Feb. 1915)This column diverts from Randolph County history. Last week marked boy scouting’s 101st anniversary in the United States — sort of. Though celebrated as the official date, boy scouting has been in the U.S. since early 1908, in Missouri since 1909. Scouting for boys began in 1907 in England. The famous tale of William D. Boyce and the scout in the London fog did not occur until the fall of 1909, a year and a half after the first American troop was formed.To mark the anniversary, cub scout packs hold Blue and Gold Banquets. Packs, troops, teams and crews worship together on Scout Sunday (or Sabbath). District awards of merit are bestowed.Last year a book was published on boy scouting in Cole County. A book on Randolph County boy scouting needs to be researched. Even a history of Camp Thunderbird would help.On occasion I am asked to speak on the significant incidents in my life. Of course among these must be birth and baptism. Beyond these I speak about the afternoon I carved a bar of Ivory Soap into a boat. This occurred at a cub scout den meeting in late 1956 at 206 Epperson St. in Moberly, Mo. Mrs. Gene (Bea) Fray and Mrs. Al (Alma) Tebow were den mothers. The den was a part of Pack 14 chartered to the Trinity Methodist Men (now Trinity United Methodist Men). It met in the undercroft of Trinity Methodist Church.In late 1959 I moved on to Troop 14, also chartered to the Trinity Methodist Men. Next year I was at the newly opened Camp Thunderbird in northeast Randolph County. (There had been camping and other activities there in prior years, but the official date the facility opened is 1960.)I advanced from carving boats from soap. Through this and other projects, through hiking, camping and swimming, other scouts and I became “physically fit, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Our character was strengthened. Our leadership skills developed. Through scouting we became prepared citizens.Much of who I am now comes from my participation in boy scouting. Though no longer active in the movement, I still rely upon knowledge acquired and skills developed through participation as a child, youth and adult in boy scouting. My understanding of brotherhood and respect for others comes from scouting principles and ideals, from an organization now in its second century.The Boy Scouts of America was chartered as a not-for-profit corporation on Feb. 8, 1910. This is the anniversary we now commemorate. Two existing youth organizations merged with the nascent B.S.A. so two more dates prior to that official are possible. The Woodcraft Indians was founded by Ernest Thompson Seton (1860–1946) in 1902. The Sons of Daniel Boone was founded by Daniel Carter Beard (1850–1941) in 1905.Both preceded the summer of 1907 when Robert Stephen Smyth Baden-Powell (1857–1941), the hero of the 217-day Siege of Mafeking during the Anglo-Boer War, brought several boys together at Brownsea, an island off southern Britain, to test the methods of scouting for boys. His military manual “Aids to Scouting” had proven popular with an unintended audience — boys — so B-P was drafting another book appropriate for them, “Scouting for Boys.” The articles and books of Seton and Beard were used by B-P as resources though he was lax in crediting either.Within a few months not only had boy scouting been firmly established in the United Kingdom, it had arrived in the U.S. By the spring of 1908 what is now believed to be the first American troop was organized in Burnside, Ken. That same year found units in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Paterson and Montclair, both in New Jersey. By 1909 there was a troop in Sedalia, Mo.It was not until the fall of 1909 that the famous-but-not-exactly-true tale of William D. Boyce (1858–1929) and the unknown scout occurs. Contrary to the official version, Boyce was not lost in a fog. He only needed to cross the street. Boyce returned to the States to found the Boy Scouts of America.The B.S.A. was not alone. There were other scouting organizations such as American Boy Scouts and Salvation Army Life-Saving Scouts so many believed it better to have only one scouting organization. The B.S.A. received its Federal Charter on June 15, 1916, another anniversary. This charter allowed the B.S.A. to be the national scouting organization. The B.S.A. is among approximately 100 organizations chartered by Congress under authority of Title 36 of the United States Code. (Congress ceased issuing charters in 1992.)In 1917 B-P offered advice to the B.S.A.: “… I feel convinced that between us, by a combine of energy, it is possible to bring into being a vast citizenship factory.…”Scouting’s beginning in the U.S. was rough. Some saw the movement as too military. Some saw it as promoting peace — something not seen as manly. Scouting was opposed by Catholic bishops. They believed it was a Protestant plot by the YMCA. Many in the labor movement opposed it. Scouts were seen as potential scabs. St. Louis union musicians refused to march in a 1911 parade if scouts also participated. Some opposed scouting because it could allow whites and blacks to meet and camp together. One of the early members of the B.S.A., Lt. Gen. Leonard Wood, quit because he believed the B.S.A. was treasonable. Most of these issues were soon resolved and support forthcoming.Another general will have the last word. In his final letter to the scouts of the world, B-P writes: “I believe that God has put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn’t come from being rich, nor from merely being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step toward happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.“Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.“But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live happy and to die happy — stick to your Scout promise always — even after you have ceased to be a boy — and God help you to do it.”