2. To help other people at all times.

3. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

When taking this oath the Scout will stand, holding up his right hand, palm to the front, thumb resting on the nail of the little finger, and the other three fingers upright and together.

LAWS OF HONOR

There have always been certain written and unwritten laws regulating the conduct and directing the activities of men. The following law relates to the Boy Scouts of America.

THE SCOUT LAW

1. A Scout is trustworthy.-A Scout's honor is to be trusted. If he were to violate his honor by telling a lie, or by cheating, or by not doing exactly a given task, when trusted on his honor, he may be directed to hand over his Scout badge.

2. A Scout is loyal. He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is duehis Scout leader, his home and parents, and country.

3. A Scout is helpful.- He must be prepared at any time to save life, help injured persons, and share the home duties. He must do at least one good turn to somebody every day.

4. A Scout is friendly.-He is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout.

5. A Scout is courteous. He is polite to all, especially to women, children, old people, and the weak and helpless. He must not take pay for being helpful or courteous.

6. A Scout is kind.-He is a friend to animals. He will not kill nor hurt any living creature needlessly, but will strive to save and protect all harmless life.

7. A Scout is obedient. He obeys his parents, Scoutmaster, patrol leader, and all other duly constituted authorities.

8. A Scout is cheerful. He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt and cheery. He never shirks nor grumbles at hardships.

9. A Scout is thrifty.-He does not wantonly destroy property. He works faithfully, wastes nothing, and makes the best use of his opportunities. He saves his money so that he may pay his own way, be generous to those in need, and helpful to worthy objects. He may work for pay, but must not receive tips for courtesies or good turns. 10. A Scout is brave. He has the courage to face danger in spite of fear and to stand up for the right against the coaxings of friends or the jeers or threats of enemies, and defeat does not down him.

11. A Scout is clean.-He keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean speech, clean sport, clean habits, and travels with a clean crowd.

12. A Scout is reverent.-He is reverent to God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF SCOUT EXECUTIVE

Gentlemen:

Scouting still marches on! It is with great satisfaction that I present a record outstanding in all the years of Scouting progress. Each year, as the executive officer of the Boy Scouts of America, it is my responsibility to submit to the Congress of the United States a report of the activities of the movement. Last year I presented a record which I believed to be outstanding in our history. It is with great satisfaction that I can report that all along the line I believe that the record for 1938 surpasses that of the previous year.

Not only have we made a splendid increase in membership-12.6 percent over the previous year but in the quality of our Scouting and in many specific matters, which I shall bring to your attention, the Boy Scouts of America has surpassed anything that we have previously accomplished.

OUR LEADERS MADE THIS RECORD POSSIBLE

We have abundant evidence of the wisdom of planning and then following through in order to secure achievement through organization. How richly blessed we are in Scouting, not only because of the great number of men who serve the cause as volunteers but because of the technique and skill that have been developed in organizing and training these men for effective service in the tasks assigned to them.

MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

I believe that any disinterested outsider examining the records of the Boy Scouts of America over 29 years, on the basis of services rendered by its executive board and various volunteer committees, will find, as did Mark M. Jones in making a survey some years ago, that it presents an outstanding record. Not only do many of the men have records of continuous service but our attendance record is unusually high in the field of social, philanthropic, and educational work. It must be remembered that with but few exceptions over the 29 years practically every member of the executive board has always insisted upon paying his own expenses, not only in railroad fare, travel, and hotel bills in connection with attending board meetings, but even meals that are served incident to official business of the Boy Scouts of America. Furthermore, I believe that without exception the members of our board take advantage of every opportunity to keep themselves informed, not only about our general operations, but about the details related to their own particular responsibility.

It is because I sometimes feel that we have not been as effective as the facts would warrant in having people generally understand the important service that has been rendered by the national executive board over the years, that I am making it a part of my formal report at this time. Čertainly, as your executive officer, it has been a joy

and delight for me to work with the board, and it is rather remarkable that there have been so few occasions when the Boy Scout movement suffered from lack of interest and appreciation from any member of the board. The extent and effectiveness of the service that these men have rendered, not only as board members but in connection with their various committee assignments, should be a source of real satisfaction to everyone connected with Scouting no matter in what capacity, because what has been made possible through their service is reflected very directly through the service of the local council to the different troops and in the lives of the individual boys which this organization serves.

TRIBUTE TO OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

All of these men have rendered devoted service. Among them the leadership given by our President Walter W. Head has been outstanding. Scouting is a major interest in his busy life as a man of affairs. I am constantly in touch with him by telephone and correspondence regarding all factors involving the many national responsibilities of this organization. Our vice presidents are equally active in matters connected with their various responsibilities. Mr. Lewis Gawtry, our treasurer, gives hours of time and attention to the many affairs arising in connection with his important office.

Four national leaders were charter members of the Boy Scouts of America-Daniel Carter Beard, our beloved national Scout Commissioner, honorary vice president and chairman of the national court of honor; Colin H. Livingstone now a member of the Advisory Council, for 15 years president of this great organization, whose leadership and wisdom guided it during the difficult early days, when it was a struggling organization, and who personally recruited me to the cause of Scouting and the office which I now hold; William D. Murray, chairman of our editorial board, who has given unstintingly of his efforts in the cause of Scouting; John Sherman Hoyt, chairman of the subcommittee of the executive board, for many years chairman of the finance committee and vice president of the National Council. He has always been affiliated with causes advancing good citizenship. How fortunate we are to have had the services of men like these.

LOCAL COUNCIL LEADERSHIP

Back of their efforts we have the devoted service of our local council and troop leadership, an army of over 281,000 giving of themselves as never before, availing themselves of opportunity for training, trying sincerely and earnestly to do a thorough job. It is comforting to know that the people of America, supplementing the efforts of these men who through local councils and troops are giving service to boys, are providing the resources so that more than ever boys of Cub age and Scout age have opportunities to be members of packs, patrols, and troops.

SCOUTMASTERS AND CUBMASTERS

Especially should we record our deep sense of obligation to Scoutmasters and Cubmasters and their assistants who have the high privilege of making the Scout and Cub program effective in the lives of boys. Without them nothing could be accomplished. All of our

organization procedure has been set up simply to help boys have the joys and benefits of the Scout program, and yet were it not for the effectiveness of the services rendered by these men the accomplishments which I shall set forth in this report would not be real accomplishments at all, for they would fail of their purpose. It is the Scoutmasters who by training are improving their techniques and who in the last analysis render effective what we are trying to accomplish. Then we have our commissioners, council commissioners, neighborhood and district commissioners, supplementing their work. We have our presidents of local councils, members of the executive boards, members of council committees, all of them working together so that Scouting may still march on, all of them taking training for their specific responsibilities, all of them developing and following a program of objectives, so that what we plan to have happen may actually take place.

MEMBERSHIP RECORD

Our membership record reached a new high peak. There is every evidence that now as never before the American people are standing back of Scouting in a very definite way. I refer you to the report of Mr. Ehler, as presented on page 266 for details of this achievement and especially of its relationship to your own council conditions.

During the year 1938 there were 1,737,072 (including the Philippines) men and boys connected with the Boy Scouts of America. The total membership at the end of the year numbered 1,271,900, a gain of 12.6 percent, or 142,059 boys and men.

The membership analysis shows the following significant facts. The increase in Cubs and Cubbers was 40,413, making the total Cubbing membership on December 31, 1938, 146,452 (38.1 percent gain). There was an increase in new Scouts of 37,031 or 11.3 percent and in new troops of 730 or 14.6 percent. Since the Boy Scouts of America was first organized on February 8, 1910, 8,411,949 persons have had the joy and benefit of the Scout program in its various branches. On December 31, 1938, there was a grand total of 40,971 troops and packs, a gain of 3,766 or 10.1 percent (see Statistical Report).

Much progress has been made in the number of Scouts and Scouters actually having camping experience. The record shows that about one-third of all our troops actually had a long-term camping experience during the 1938 camping season on a patrol and troop basis, under their own leadership. Furthermore, the record of all types of camp shows an increase over the previous year. This I shall discuss in greater detail at another point. Also encouraging, as the report of the educational service shows, is that in participation by volunteer workers and in opportunities for training there has been a substantial increase. Reports from all sections of the country show an eagerness on the part of those related to Scouting to do a bigger and more efficient job. Yes, it would seem that each of us in our own respective field have taken advantage of every opportunity to show people abroad who are critical of democracies that we in Scouting are doing a very worthwhile job and are doing it now more than ever.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

We

During the past year, as the report of the treasurer and finance committee shows, the Boy Scouts of America operated well within its budget and in a thoroughly sound and businesslike manner. must never lose sight of the fact that, although we are a great social agency, it is necessary as a business organization that our financial record be thoroughly sound and indicate economical procedure. Mr. Gawtry's report shows that the year 1938 was very satisfactory, financially, and one which reflects credit upon all involved.

RESULTS OF A PLANNED PROGRAM

The happy outcome of the year may be attributed to several factors. The first of these that I would emphasize is the better understanding on the part of the general public and consequently the more universal support of the educational features of the Scout Program; especially in view of the recent occurrences in Europe, the American people are aroused to the necessity of supporting those institutions in American life that help to build democratic principles. I believe furthermore, that the tremendous impetus given to the Boy Scouts of America by our National Jamboree in 1937 has carried over into 1938, so that people are more definitely aware of what the Boy Scout program is accomplishing for American youth.

But the increase in public good will would not in itself be sufficient had it not been for the planned programs developed by the councils themselves. In each case the local council, after making a survey to ascertain the facts concerning boyhood in their area, set up a series of objectives stimulating, and yet within possibility of attainment. A high percentage of our councils do meet and even exceed their objectives each year.

As the report of the division of operations points out, another important factor is the district plan of organization, which makes it possible to reduce to definitely specific terms just what must be accomplished in each community in order to meet the objectives of the council. As the report shows at the end of 1938, 84.9 percent of the potential number of districts in our 536 councils were organized and actively functioning. This made it possible for local councils to secure larger budgets and to employ more men as field executives to guide and direct the extension of Scouting within the individual districts and to develop organized man-power to extend Scouting and make effective the council program of advancement, training, etc.

Frank Phillips, through the Frank Phillips Foundation, Inc., made available the sum of $100,000 for work in the local councils in Oklahoma and the Panhandle Area of Texas in region IX. Mr. Phillips made this gift in the hope that it would influence others to realize our obligation to youth and the importance of training future citizens while they were still boys for their future obligations. This fund was made available only in July, and yet the sharp increase in membership in region IX that was shown at the end of the year indicates the direct relationship between increased budgets and the increased effectiveness of Scouting.

QUALITY NOT JUST QUANTITY

And yet if we were to spend our time in contemplating with satisfaction our past achievements we would not be facing the situation