ONE HUNDRED SCOUTS
Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed
that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this
may be regarded as a failure, but in later life all of these
will remember that they had been Scouts and will speak well of
the program. Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever
appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred
will be from families that belong to no church. Through
Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be
brought into contact with a church and will continue to be
active all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become
pastors. Each of the one hundred will learn something from
Scouting. Almost all will develop hobbies that will add
interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately
one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees
profit from their scout training. At least one will use it
to save another person's life and many will credit it with
saving their own.
Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least
one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college
degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit
badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred
boys will later become Scout leaders and will give leadership
to thousands of additional boys. Only one in four boys in
America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that
of the leaders of this nation in business, religion and
politics, three out of four were scouts.
This story will never end. Like the "Golden Pebble" of
service dropped into the human sea it will continue to radiate
in ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men
down through unending time.
