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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-02-23, Page 31scou in Crossroads—Feb. 23, 1983—Page 17 On February 22, 1857 a baby was born in London, England. He was to become the founder of the Boy Scout Organization and to be a tremendous influence for good for mil- lions of boys throughout the world. His name was Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden- Powell. As a boy B.P., as he's affectionately known to Scouters, was fond of nature and the outdoors and spent many hours hunting, camping and boating with his brothers. At school he entered into many activities rang- ing from acting and the arts to sports and the cadet corps. After school B.P. joined the army and on successfully completing his army exams was commissioned as a Lieutenant of a regi- ment in Lucknow, India in 1876. B.P. was appalled to dicsover that the young men joining the army had 'book learning' but little else. About 1893 he began teaching Scouting to his young soldiers. He wanted them to be able to find their way by - -- ••- -- "r VW 1 • moo M • Listowel Transport Lines Ltd. 885 Main W., Listowel 291-1610 Mount Forest Flowers 190 Main S., Mount Forest 323-1290 ferry's Place Antiques & Quality Used Furniture, Wood Stoves RR 1, Mount Forest 323-1377 P&F Lawn & Sports Inc. RR 1, Listowel 291-2441. The Great Submarine Supercleanand Janitorial 221 Main S., Mount Forest 323-2573, 323-2142 Guardian Drugs A. 248 Main S., Mount Forest 323-1420 the stars or map, to notice tracks and signs and to read their meaning, to be able to fend for themselves away from regimental cooks and barracks. He wanted them to have cour- age from confidence in themselves and from a sense of duty — in short he wanted each man to be an efficient, all-round reliable in- dividual. In 1899 he wrote a book called "Aids to Scouting" for soldiers. In 1900, during his military posting in Africa, B.P. helped to quell the Zulu Rebel- lion. When they were besieged at Mafeking they found themselves with very few men to hold the town. The boys of the town were ral- lied together and formed into a cadet corps for carrying orders and messages and act- ing as orderlies and so on, thus releasing soldiers to strengthen -the firing line. They discovered that boys when trusted and relied on were just as capable and reliable as men. When B.P. returned to England after the rebellion he found that his book "Aids to Scouting" was being used at Miss Charlotte Mason's College for Teachers as a textbook in the art of educating children. In 1907 when inspecting the Boys' Brigade of Glasgow, B.P. learned that his book was being used for instruction. He was urged to rewrite the book to appeal to boys and so the book "Scouting for Boys" was written. In 1909 a meeting was arranged at the Crystal Palace for would -be -Scouts —11,000 entered the March Past. Among the boys were some groups of girls wearing Scout hats. Eventually a book was written for them giving them the name Girl Guides, and that is how Girl Guides started. Local History Boy Scouts of Canada was officially formed in 1918, however Scouting was grow- ing in Canada before that time. It is known that Mount Forest had a Scout troop as early as 1908. The first Cub Pack in Canada was formed in Goderich in 1914. It is interesting to note that the movement appeared to follow the waterways — Goderich being a world port and Mount For- est was on the route running between Owen Sound and Guelph. This route was first known as the Indian Trail. As Scouting grew the leaders began to form into groups for support and the sharing of ideas. The first urban council was formed in Guelph (date unknown). The late Mert Henderson, Listowel, Clar- ence Haddock, Palmerston and Dr. Roos of Mount Forest began getting together to share common concerns and for mutual aids and in 1935 requested Provincial Headquar- ters for permission to form a District Coun- cil. They were at first turned down, a rural council was impossible. However these three refused to take 'no' for an answer and finally permission was granted on a six month trial basis, but they must get more groups, six were suggested. Harriston and Atwood were brought in and the experiment was a success. Maitland District was officially formed in April 1936 becoming the first rural district council in Canada. The by-laws that were drawn up by the district became the basis for by-laws of districts for all of Canada. The first Maitland District Executive was as follows: District President, Dr. Roos; Secretary, Clarence Haddock; Treasurer, Mert Henderson; District Commissioner, Captain Winslow. In 1974 Beavers was officially approved as a regular section program of Boy Scouts of Canada, after a trial colony in Winnipeg had been tried and proved. This group is for the 5-7 year olds and is the fastest growing sec- tion in the organization. Lord Baden-Powe11,3rd, is now Chief Scout of the World. One has to wonder why a movement such as this grew so rapidly and has remained just as appealing to boys today. We believe the secret lies in B.P.'s belief and faith in God and his belief and faith in the ability of every boy to become the man God would have him be, a whole person developed to his full potential mentally, spiritually, physically and socially. SPONSORED BY THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES: L&M Food Market Ltd. Main N., Mount Forest 323-4323 L&M Superette 129 Birmingham, Mount Forest 323-9915 Tim Haines Chev/Olds Cadillac Inc. 890 Wallace N., Listowel 291-1730 .11 Hafermehl Jewellers Ltd. 105 Main S., Mount Forest 323-2435 Wahl Construction 290 John Rosa E., Listowel 291-2305 Hay's Lumber and Pro Hardware 140 Main E., Listowel 291-2610 Mac Tac Canada Ltd. 360 Perth, Mount Forest 323-2422 Molesworth Farm Supply and Listowel Farm Supply Purina Chows Barnard's Hardware 245 Main S., Mount Forest 323-2881 Listowel Feed Mill Ltd. Shur -Gain 250 Wallace S., Listowel 291-4660 Zilliax Furniture and Appliances Wallace N., Listowel 291-1461 H. Bye Construction 338 Fergus N., Mount Forest 323-1520 Mount Forest Auto Electric 181 Durham W., Mount Forest 323-1586 Present Leadership in Maitland Scout District 1st Atwood: Russell Danbrook, Beth Smith, Emmie Bowers, Bill Bowers, Charlie Kerr, John Semple, Case Schyff, Reg Bow- man, Doug Cockwell, Barry Hamilton. 1st Clifford;. Rina Jouwsma, Susan Stroe- der, Linda Pfeffer, Theresa Robertson, Robert Menzies, Allan Smith. 1st Drayton: Deborah Whale, Barbara Heeley, Pam Ellis, Doug Bridge, Brian Kos- tal. lst Fordwich: Jim Krotz, Kevin Ruttan, Dianne Winkel, Trix Denney, Lynn Timper- ley. lst Harriston: Mildred Newman, Joyce Scheeringa, Marie Murray, Dr. Ian Grafton, Jim Shannon. 1st Kenilworth: Isabelle Deres, Phyllis McGaughey, Pat Reynolds, Leonard McGaughey. Listowel 2nd: Dale Carnegie, Maurice Hudson, Allan Powell, Susan Kelly, Ken Wilson, Bob Pilon, Jo -Anne Currie, Connie Newell, Carroll Mallory, Ted Johnson, Don Schumacher, Jack Powell. Listowel 3rd: David Courtney, Ellen Doan, Beth Stahlaand, Lisa Feldman, Richard Harper, Kathy Clemens, Anne Tur- bitt, Jim Vint, Mike Johnston. Listowel 4th: Bill Gaus, Rupert Hewison, Don McMurren, Alvin Darroch. Midwestern Regional Centre: Bill Mills. 1st Moorefield: Kathy Cummings, Vaughan Doig, Doug Jennings. 1st Mount Forest: Glynn Leake, Steve Nelson. - 1st Palmerston: Donna Bromley, Betty Dixon, Ronald Poole, Faye Button, Robert Burrows, Susan Forbes, Roger Worboys, Gord Tierney,'Ken Button. Perth Machinery Ltd. RR 1, Listowel 291-2311 Canadian Tire Corp. Associate Store 525 Queen W., Mount Forest 323-1080 J&J Fuels Imperial Oil Ltd. Farm Trade Agent Main N., Mount Forest 323-2911 Lloyd Hurst Transport Ltd. RR 2, Atwood 356-2550 Clare's Electric 110 McDonald, Mount Forest 323-1515 Hanna & Hamilton Constntetion Co. Ltd® 295 Tremaine S., Listowel 291-3400 Turbitt Pharmacy 120 Main W., Listowel 291-1170 Fettes Tours and Travel 184 Main S., Mount Forest 323-1545 Wellington Wood Products (1972) Limited 590 Queen W., Mount Forest 323-1060 Moran Pharmacy 129 Main S., Mount Forest 323-1221 Freiburger's Food Market Ltd.,, 121 Main S., Mount .Forest 323-1390 Henderson Welding 985 Main W., Listowel 291-1371