PROMISE & LAW

Promise - Considering the Scout Promise

Ÿ On My Honour Ÿ Your honour is a special thing to you, a thing that will rule your conduct for life. It will mean that you will trust and be trusted implicitly to do what you know to be right or what ever you agree to undertake

Ÿ I promise Ÿ This promise is a solemn undertaking, not to be taken lightly even by a young scout, still less so by an adult. Therefore, think it over, think it over carefully before embarking on this path of becoming a Rover Scout

Ÿ That I will do my best Ÿ This means even though things and circumstance may hinder me. I will at any rate try my best and my utmost to complete or fulfill the task set

Ÿ To do my duty to God Ÿ This is left to the individual scout - squire to choose for themselves, as one's belief is important, although one can ask questions and discuss any issues or ideas they may wish with whomever they would like or trust

Ÿ And the Queen Country Ÿ This means to your country more than a person but this should always be under the constituted will of the majority

Ÿ To help other people at all times Ÿ Thus putting into practice constantly and actively, the law of love your neighbour as your self

Ÿ To obey the Scout Law Ÿ To obey the Scout Law is not about being pedantic or precise, it is more about you as a person being able to share the practice of doing a good turn every day and about improving your character and growing in understanding, maturity and strength as a Rover

Law  - Considering the Scout law -  can I say that I am:

Trustworthy, honest and truthful As a Rover Scout, ‘Your Word is Your Bond,' however strong the temptation, or over powering the pressure or how secret it may be, you can not be persuaded to do a dishonest or shady thing or action. You won’t go back on a promise once made ‘The truth and nothing but the truth for the Rover Scout’

Loyal to my God, and Country, my employers and friends You can be loyal to God your Country and your fellow man this means not letting people down. It is about loyalty to your Scout friends, the people who you work for and those who work for you. It is about giving space to those who are not always up to scratch and often need a hand, even an employer who is not the best. Being honest and truthful is always the best way

Friendly and considerate to others This means not stabbing people in the back, talking about them or indeed spreading untruths, neither contributing to nor providing unwarranted criticism of their characters. Give time and encouragement to those who need and if so inclined, if you really want people to change - work and pray for them

A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout Prepared to treat everybody equally and willing to work towards this principle in your personal actions and personal example. no matter what class, colour, creed, country or association the other may belong or come from we are all brothers and sisters and should be treated as such

A Scout is courteous To be courteous is indeed a gift that few seem to have in this world today. You as a Rover will need to harness this gift. It cost nothing to be kind and understanding and less to be available in times of need. Treat all persons with respect and think of others when you are doing things that may be offensive or disturbing to others. You may not always agree, but to discuss with skill and consideration is a better way. Be willing and able to tackle difficulties and dangers with care and determination. As a Rover your ideal is to be of Service

A Scout is a friend to animals Here we are talking about respect and care animals are not there for us to abuse they are there to enjoy. Take a look at nature and see the variety and beauty of the animals we see, treat all animals with care and respect

A Scout obeys orders As a Rover Scout you put yourself willingly in a place of service. Discipline comes in here as obey and discipline have much in common. One should not obey without question, as this is not what is meant by this. What it means is that you willingly offer your service to those who you trust to serve others. Service is part of the Rover Scout code. It is imposed by yourself as a discipline and by your example of the service you give to others. As a Rover your ideal is Service. You may be relied upon to give time and effort to many things. All that is asked is that you do your very best, as would be expected from the youngest member of the movement

A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties Have you ever tried to smile and whistle at the same time you just have to laugh as it is almost impossible. This phrase is really about keeping your head in a crisis, even when things are at rock bottom. You get it sorted, without losing it

‘If you can keep your head, whilst all around are loosing theirs and blaming it on you’ ... ’R Kipling ‘IF’

A Scout is thrifty This is a personal act about accepting responsibility. Always give your best effort and make the best use of your time and resources. Helping out with others, not frittering away all you have earned giving where it is needed and when you can

A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed Morally sound have a clear conscience and self-respect for all actions both in public and private. This also means being clean in your actions and your words in private and in public this is not just about sexual things but about all issues in life. We should also be aware of our own shortfalls, and be eager to come to terms with ourselves in an effort towards self-improvement. Our deeds should reflect patience and courtesy to others who may not always appear to cultivate the same

Prepared to do my best and to live by the Scout Law, having considered the all that has been said above