Cecil Rhodes said at the end of his
life (and I, in my turn, feel the truth of it), "So much to do
and so little time to do it." No one can hope to see the consummation,
as well as the start, of a big venture within the short span
of one life-time. I have had an extraordinary experience in seeing
the development of Scouting from its beginning up to its present
stage. But there is a vast job before it.
The Movement is only now getting
into its stride. (When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding
also.) The one part which I can claim as mine towards promoting
the Movement is that I have been lucky enough to find you men
and women to form a group of the right stamp who can be relied
upon to carry it on to its goal. You will do well to keep your
eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to who you can,
with confidence, hand on the torch. Don't let it become a salaried
organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service.
The Movement has already, in the comparatively short period of
its existence, established itself onto a wide and so strong a
footing as to show most encouraging promise of what may be possible
to it in the coming years.
Its aim is to produce healthy, happy,
helpful citizens, of both sexes, to eradicate the prevailing
narrow self-interest; personal, political, sectarian and national,
and to substitute for it a broader spirit of self- sacrifice
and service in the cause of humanity; and thus to develop mutual
goodwill and cooperation not only within our own country but
abroad, between all countries. Experience shows that this consummation
is no idle or fantastic dream, but is a practicable possibility
- if we work for it; and it means, when attained, peace, prosperity
and happiness for all. The "encouraging promise" lies in the
fact that the hundreds of thou sands of boys and girls who are
learning our ideals today will be the fathers and mothers of
millions in the near future, in whom they will in turn inculcate
the same ideals - provided that these are really and unmistakably
impressed upon them by the leaders of today. Therefore you, who
are Scouters and Guiders, are not only doing a great work for
your neighbor's children, but are also helping in practical fashion
to bring to pass God's Kingdom of peace and goodwill upon earth.
So, from my heart, I wish you God-speed
in your effort.
