LATE CHIEF SCOUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1941, Page 6

LATE CHIEF SCOUT

MEMORIAL service held YESTERDAY

GREAT FIGURE IN HISTORY.

ADDRESS BY THE VEN. ARCHDEACON E. J. RICH.

The national memorial service held at St. Matthew's Church yesterday for the late Chief Scout, Lord BadenPowell. was largely attended. Scouts. Cubs. Guides and Brownies, and members of the South African War Veterans’ Association were present. Local body and other representatives present included the Mayor. Mr. T. Jordan. The address was given by Ven. Archdeacon E. J. Rich, and the lesson was read by Mr. S. Fletcher, a member of the South African War Veterans' Association.

Observing that the service fell into two parts divided by his address—in the first part they had honoured the memory of the Chief Scout by prayer and worship, and by t|teir presence. Mr. Rich said he knew Guides and Scouts would wish him to express their appreciation of the fact that members and officials of local bodies were present to join in the service in honour of a great figure in history. By their presence they were honouring a groat man who. through the Scout and Guide movements had done so much for the community and were encouraging present girls and boys to pursue the ideal of service, which public-spirited citizens exemplified and for which Guides and Scouts sought to prepare themsel-

“I would welcome too, members of the South African War Veterans Association." said Mr. Rich, "a representative of which will presently read the lesson. Through them Masterton has a direct link with the man we honour today, for the Masterton contingent went there direct to the relief of Mafeking, a place ever connected with Lord Baden-Powell, for though the actual organisation did not emerge till some years later, it was there that the definite idea of the Scout movement first entered the mind of Lord BadenPowell. It was five years ago today almost since Cubs and Scouts welcomed the Chief Scout at a great service at the Basin Reserve. Wellington, at which Wairarapa, including Masterton was represented.

t "Remember." said Mr. Rich, “that the 1 great founder of your movement had a 1 full, active and heroic career as a sol- ; dier. His was a busy life and when his . military service was ended, he was justly entitled, many would think, to j take his ease and rest. But he was* . not that sort of man. The principles j which he put unto scouting were found first of all in his own life. He has , given to the boys and girls of the world a wonderful example of manliness. courage and generosity; his own life was in itself an example of those j virtues. There were 20 boys in the first Scout camp in 1907. now millions ; of girls and boys in many lands are j proud to wear their uniforms. They ! are ready for anything; from their ! ranks many a leader will come. That | is the memorial the Chief Scout would wish. He was a hero, but for him honour and manliness were the secret of his worthy life, and those things are the very heart of the Scout and Guide i movement. So it is right that the second part of this service should be de- | signed to lay the foundation of the mei morial Lord Baden-Powell would ; have wished. For the Scouts and j Guides who drew up this service have! i made the second part of it one of de-1 i dication, and all the millions of Guides,! ! Scouts, Brownies, and Cubs are joining! I in it and are reaffirming publicly their i i promise in the presence of God and of ■ the world, and as the grand words are! I heard 1 am sure that al! of us will; ; catch a vision of the glorious thing j j Scouting and Guiding is, and will pray! , that the true spirit of it may never dej part from our race. The best of youth) |can never be content with thinking; [ about the great life and heroic deeds)

jof their leader. They want to pas: from contemplation to action. Thc> ; want to be worthy of the great Chic: ; Scout, want to live lives useful an< splendid as was his." Mr. Rich wehi on to state that nothing great wa? ever accomplished without an effort and emphasised the fact that training was necessary. "Be faithful, be prepared. be loyal to God and the King,’ said Mr. Rich, who exhorted them ta help to make the better world that was going to come after the war. MO KATOA TROOP. Cubs and scouts with their parents and friend-; attcndc-i in good numbers a memorial service by the Mo Kama Troop to the late I,ord Baden-Powell. Mr P Ryan presided and Mr L, ‘l’. Daniell spoke on the life of the late Chief Scout.