himself for a few days for the thorough study of the material in this handbook before actively entering upon his new responsibilities he actually brought to the community he was to serve resources which otherwise might have involved six months or more of time in experimentation and development. Testimonials from executives, presidents of councils and other laymen from all parts of the field speak in the highest terms of this piece of scout literature. It is earnestly hoped that every member of the national council will own a copy and thoroughly master its contents for himself. A second edition is now being published under conditions which happily make it possible to reduce the price to $2.50 a volume.

MEMBERSHIP.

Notwithstanding the increased registration fee which became effective January 1, 1921, our records show at this date, March 25, 1922, 406,160 scouts as compared with 389,352 at the same date a year ago, and 124,043 scout officials as compared to 114,374, or a grand total of 530,203 scouts and scout officials as compared with the 503,726 of the previous year. This means a total increase of scouts and scout officials of 27,363.

During the year there were on our records a grand total of 736,430 scouts and scout officials. Of these, 576,830 were scouts of whom we lost 173,678, or 30.8 per cent of the total who were carried on our books as scouts during the year 1921. There were also 159,600 scout officials, of whom we lost 38,873, or 24.2 per cent.

At the same date the records show 17,589 troops, of which 11,028 were under local council supervision and 6,561 not under local councils. In 1919 there were 16,176 troops, of which 7,850 were under local councils and 8,326 not under councils. During this 2-year period there were organized approximately 200 local councils. Going still further back, it is interesting to note the record of growth of troops and scouts.

On December 31, 1916, there were 9,720 troops covering a total boy membership of 190,728 scouts, which means that in the five years there has been an increase of 7,869 troops and over 200,000 scouts.

It is interesting to note also the distribution of the 17,589 troops shown in good standing on December 31, 1921:

Troops in communities so small that the population is not stated in the Atlas.. 1, 388
In communities where the population is given as less than 1,000................
Where the population is between-

1,000 and 5,000..

5,000 and 10,000..

10,000 and 25,000.

25,000 and 40,000.

40,000 and 60,000.

60,000 and 100,000.

2,316

100,000 and 200,000.

200,000 and 1,000,000..

Where the population is 1,000,000 or more..

1, 106

This means that of the 17,589 troops, 7,121 were organized in communities of less than 5,000 population; referring to figures of December 31, 1916, there were 3,300 troops out of a total of 9,700 in communities of less than 5,000. In other words, the ratio of troops in communities of less than 5,000 at the present time is 40.5 per cent,

whereas five years ago it was 34 per cent, showing that the increase in rural communities has been greater than in the larger centers of population.

În many respects this membership record is most gratifying. Certainly it is a source of some encouragement that according to figures made available by the International Scout Bureau of London the membership of the Boy Scouts of America is larger than the combined membership of all other countries, of which there is a definite record with the international bureau. The vastness of this membership carried with it proportionately large obligations. Mere members alone is not a criterion of success. We must continue to insist in the future as we have in the past on quality first and quantity second. No bridge is stronger than its weakest point. It is essential that high standards in the scout program be jealously guarded and preserved, not alone in its activities but also in its moral and spiritual values. Mere technical skill in signaling or knot tying will not in itself make a scout out of a boy who is lawless, or unclean of mind, or surly of manner, or grudging in service, no matter how many badges he has won. Nor is the leader who does not himself live in harmony with, the scout oath and law worthy of his great trust, no matter how expert he may be in scout activities. Scouting carries with it supreme responsibilities if it is to continue to serve boys to its fullest power. For detailed statistics applicable to each region, and first class council see Appendix, pages 101-142.

THE PROBLEMS TO BE MET.

Encouraging as are the figures as to our increase in membership, yet we can not avoid the question as to why the scout movement does not go forward more rapidly. For the last three years the progress has not been as marked and substantial as formerly. Surely we have not reached our maximum strength. According to a conservative estimate there are in this country fully 6,000,000 boys from 12 to 18 years of age. Figuring the percentage of boys in scouting as compared to the number available where there are highly efficient scout organizations, it is not unreasonable to hope that we may reach a fourth or even a third of this possible 6,000,000 boy membership.

According to the statement furnished by the 12 regional executives, there are 11,416 communities with a population of 500 or over throughout the United States. At the present time we have troops in but 4,791 of these communities, leaving 6,625 communities without a single troop of scouts. It is the definite responsibility of all of us to seriously concern ourselves with this problem. There is abundant evidence that the Boy Scout movement is universally accepted not only as a very much worth-while but highly desirable movement. How, then, shall we make progress in reaching more boys? At the forthcoming conference of scout executives at Ashville, N. C., in September next plans may be developed, it is earnestly hoped, whereby local councils may be more effective in their efforts to recruit the necessary leadership in order that boys may have the benefit of the Boy Scout program. This great problem must be met courageously.

PROGRESS IN COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT.

While the records do not show that substantial increase in membership which might be expected in communities where they have the benefit of first-class council organizations, nevertheless the program to bring the whole country under some form of first-class council organization is in every way sound. It provides a most thorough and effective plan of decentralization. Where there is a high-grade, especially-trained effective man giving his whole time as a leader, the volunteer scoutmaster and his assistants, and those who serve on courts of honor undoubtedly do more thorough work than it can be hoped to accomplish through correspondence and printed matter. It seems to me that the evidence is abundant that we should continue with increased vigor to place emphasis upon the necessity of completing organizations for carrying out the program to place the whole country under some first-class organization which will utilize and give leadership to the volunteer in an effective, sympathetic, vital way.

REACHING RURAL COMMUNITIES.

At the same time it is our conviction that we should energize our efforts to reach the boys in the rural communities, by taking advantage of the opportunity to have the cooperation of existing organizations having points of contact with boy life, such as schools, churches, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Exchange Clubs, boards of trade, and similar organizations. These bodies have already demonstrated their faith in our program and their willingness to help us. It is our responsibility to take advantage of this resource. Happily the executive board has provided in our budget for 1922 for an assistant to Mr. Barclay in the department of education by which we hope to make some progress along this line.

As another method of possibly reaching the rural boy and substantially increasing of scout membership, I am happy to announce that Mr. Mortimer L. Schiff has made available a sum of money for an experiment for the organization of troops in small communities. This may help develop another type of field work which will not in any way reflect upon the effort to organize local councils but will rather stimulate interest for local organizations for the actual necessity of caring for troops. This experiment will be made in the States of New Jersey and New York.

Again we feel that we should energize our efforts to reach the rural communities through publicity. The improved financial resources of the national council now justify a more extensive publicity program, and we have been placing, and hope in the near future to place many more articles in national publications, such as trade, school, and church journals, in order to reach a wider public and stimulate the organization of more troops.

Another method by which it is hoped that we may substantially increase our membership is through the operation of all local councils in raising standards so that the scout movement as actually interpreted in the community will command greater respect among boys and show such practical results as to increase the willingness of men to serve as scoutmasters. This can be accomplished by:

(a) A more thorough organization of local courts of honor. (b) The development of more effective literature.

(c) Making available increased training facilities locally and nationally.

In this latter connection I am glad to call attention to the progress being made in the development of a correspondence course of scout leaders. When this is achieved it is believed that it will greatly increase the number of men of high character who will assume the responsibility of serving as scout masters. It is recommended that a very concerted effort be developed for according a greater degree of prestige to scout masters and others who give volunteer service. Our ability to train scout masters and to make scouting seem worth while to them is, after all, the key to our success in doing effective work in reaching more boys. Some local councils have developed plans whereby public recognition is given annually to the men who serve as scou tmasters. We are already planning in connection with the national publicity for our next anniversary celebration to make this feature a major part in the program.

FIELD DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS.

The report of the field department appearing elsewhere in this document speaks for itself. I would like, however, to call attention to the fact that in spite of limitations and resources of man power the accomplishments of the field department and the various regional committees have been very satisfactory. One hundred and twenty additional councils have been organized and chartered, making a total of 601 in operation, of which 422 are first-class and 179 second-class. This represents a total gain of 59 first-class and 61 second-class councils. Of the first-class councils 45 were in cities, 9 county, and 5 district councils. Fourteen second-class councils were advanced during the year to first class.

There are still 742 councils throughout the country to organize, an achievement which, divided among the 12 regions with an efficient regional committee of interested volunteers cooperating with the field men of the national council, is not impossible of realization within a reasonable period.

NATIONAL COURT OF HONOR.

As is shown in the report of the national court of honor, as made by the national scout commissioner, the national court of honor has awarded during the year 147 medals for life saving and 30 letters of commendation. Thirteen hundred and six boys were qualified as Eagle Scouts, as compared with 629 in 1920. One hundred and ten thousand eight hundred and thirty-six merit badges were issued, as compared with 63,728 in the previous year, with all that this involves in organization and meetings of the various courts of honor and the contact of the boys qualified for these badges with their scout master, expert examiners, and others present, gratifying evidence as to what is being accomplished through a large army of volunteer workers.

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

Substantial progress is shown in a report of the department of education. The evidence is clear that the importance of making available training opportunities for scout masters, scout executives, and others engaged in scout work has been more generally recognized than at any previous year.

As already stated, there is just about to be made available a correspondence course, which, while intended primarily for troops not under council, will undoubtedly be of service to other scout leaders. The devotion and intelligence with which the plans are being developed for the second biennial conference of scout executives at Blue Ridge, near Asheville, N. C., September 12-19 give promise of something very much worth while. It is strongly urged that every council provide resources so that its executive may take advantage of this opportunity for intensive training.

CAMPING DEPARTMENT.

The sad tragedy which has just come to our attention involving the death of an executive, two scoutmasters, four scouts, and the son of the executive of South Bend, Ind., serves to emphasize the need of vigilance in the leadership of the camping activities. The fact that the Boy Scouts of America has with its 12 years of history had so comparatively few sad accidents of this character is largely due to the leadership which has been given by our camping department. Thẹ minimum standard requirements have advanced the ideals and accomplishments throughout the country. There is much more to be done, especially in developing the consciousness that while the camping facilities of the Boy Scouts of America provide recreation and joy, they should also insure advancement in scouting activities. Yes, more than this, the leadership of all boys in the organization of the camp should be such as to result in a very beneficial way for character building and citizenship training. The mere providing of facilities so that camps may run as summer boarding houses does not meet the responsibility of the Boy Scouts of America in the conduct of its program. It is gratifying to invite attention to the great increase of number of boys that are given the opportunity of camp during the summer of 1921 and the subsequent increase for the investment of permanent facilities; also to the low average fee at which it has been possible to make the camps available throughout the country.

The reports of the editorial board, library department, and publication all show satisfactory progress.

Two editions of 100,000 each of the Handbook for Boys have been printed and distributed, bringing the total circulation of this book to date to 1,665,400. The twenty-fifth edition of this handbook will be made available at 40 cents instead of 50 cents.

The third imprint of the Handbook for Scoutmasters is now in process, and happily this manual also can be made available at a lower price, namely, $1 per volume instead of $1.50.