Leadership and Girlhood

...May reason and common sense soon replace it...

...Did he threaten to guide the state of falls of prosecuting war or carrying war debts...

...If so, all else should be sidetracked...

...RAYMOND VERNIMONT...

...ship between leader and scout...

...The most dishonest and unfair The associations `who were responsible for this gathering are of these was a nonentity who, if he had a particle of honesty, to be congratulated ; their effort was most timely for, with the would have to admit that the exposure of fraternity evils recrudescence of illiberal liberalism in several countries on this showed courage and a fine spirit of independence in thought...

...O the Editor:-Under the auspices of the National Coun- Although the fraternities have received much severe and decil of Catholic Men, the National Council of Catholic served censure, the contemptible practices of individual fraternWomen, and the Social Action Department of the National ity members have not received the condemnation that they Catholic Welfare Conference, a conference was held at Cleve- deserve...

...the scouts acquire concerning health, responsibility, reverence, The editors of The Commonweal have announced recently training in citizenship, and homemaking...

...The first and T O the Editor:-The Commonweal of October 13 has essential preliminary is to think it through on the basis of an item headed The Battle of Gotham, which should knowledge-which very few of us possess...

...Juliette Low, who organof nationalism to the religion of Jesus, east and west ized the first Girl Scout troop in the United States in 1912...

...As- admit that they are only methods, always to be used with elassuredly, it is no exaggeration to say that it required ticity and imagination, and never to be imposed as mechanical real tolerance and genuine Christianity, the yielding and final...

...They less pageant-like circumstances, this leadership of the common- have realized that all this useful training may be easily based sense, practical kind is our real need...

...Last year at a western college, vestments and trade upon war and peace...

...The program of wholesome, Leadership is well used when it helps to replace these influences challenging, absorbing activities induces the happiest relationwith constructive forces...

...The lesson he teaches," says "Catholics, after some hesitation on the part of a certain the sage of Concord, "is that which vigor always teaches- number, have come to see there is nothing in scout law or that there is always room for it...

...It seems that this enlightened twentieth century should people do expect of Catholics sane thought upon these matters, feel humiliated in allowing itself to be guided by religious based upon the practical application of Christian principles...

...Let all parties be heard pro and we should not, in general, possess adequate knowledge of the con, concerning the candidacy for the Presidency of Alfred E. subject, for history and the study of international relations Smith...

...This is especially true in their unfair and brutal atland on October I9, for the discussion of international relations...

...prejudice...

...ScoutThere is one place in which this particular type of guidance ing is not only not contrary to Catholic aims and ideals, but may well be applied...

...Our rightly understood and interpreted by Catholics, is fully in modern girls are vital creatures, brimming over with energy, accordance with them...

...Bates is a wonderful scholar as well as a wonderful writer, COMMUNICATIONS and the publication of such an article shows, not only the noble crusading spirit of the author, but also the fair-mindedTTHE CONFERENCE AT CLEVELAND ness of the editors...

...titude toward any student who has the manhood and courage Some of the subjects discussed were: Christian principles of to attack some of the evils of college fraternities...

...Consider the many artificial outlets constantly in this captainship of girls a splendid opportunity for those suggested to the young girl's mind by sensational moving pic- who have a little leisure to render fine service, to make a tures and plays, by the unwholesome literature flooding the constructive contribution to the life and development of the news-stands, by the enormous advertising of cosmetics, by community...

...since the world war, it has this contest...

...adequate leaders can be found...

...tear and peace...

...Common sense and not party spirit should guide in have heretofore been specialties...

...It is generally recognized that to find leaders for Catholic scouts...

...I am threadbare...

...of the frontier, for this pilgrimage to become a reality...

...have performed a greater miracle, in my humble opin- Seven years ago, His Eminence Cardinal Hayes gave the ion, than any of those already credited to her...

...The Girl Scout organization respects O N EVERY side, from all fields of modern activity, civic the religious belief of each of its members, because the safety and social life, comes the call for leaders, until the re- and the sanctity of young womanhood-which means ultiiterated statement of the world's great need grows almost mately the home-are zealously guarded by religion...

...It appeals strongly to the legitimate as well as her scouts, gets full measure...

...Has national problems calls loudly for understanding of those prob- he not made a good governor since the great state reelected lems in some adequate measure by those upon whom the burden him for his fifth term...

...or extravagant force, in any Mohammed-like enthusiasm, or His Eminence Cardinal Bourne of England, in a preface to in a singular power of persuasion, but in the exercise of com- a book on scouting, states: mon sense in each emergency...

...This pil- Sir Robert Baden-Powell showed real creative genius in devisgrimage and the comments it evoked in my presence, ing the methods of scouting, but he would be the first to from German and French lips, are symptomatic...

...on Catholic tradition and on a supernatural foundation...

...The keystone of the entire scout program is its leadership...

...their application to place the welfare of the patrol-the troop...

...Commercial interests of many lutely refused to expend where there is a scarcity of captains, kinds are willing to make use of these forces for their own and the lack of them is their most serious handicap...

...Any agency that will help the girlhood of America to develop mind and body as God intended, LEADERSHIP AND GIRLHOOD deserves commendation and support, provided the religious faith of the girl is not undermined by false notions of life, By GENEVIEVE GARVAN BRADY duty, and happiness...

...of college fraternities by Mr...

...to each...

...These and other exploitations create artificial scouts, but who must, unfortunately, be asked to wait until standards-an unsound outlook that throws life out of focus...

...the influence of the war debts and foreign in- Take specific individuals...

...For the past three years, 640 THE COMMONWEAL November 3, 1926 a Girl Scout training course has been a part of the curriculum of clear and logical thought, we offer ill-considered mass opinin each of twenty Catholic colleges in various parts of the ion, people who expect better things of us are bitterly discountry...

...It is natural that be made a national battle...

...continent where the majority of the inhabitants belong to the HUMPHREY VVEBB...

...His draw his religious inspiration from Canterbury, Wit- belief in the Girl Scouts is reiterated in a recent letter in which tenberg, Epworth, or Rome, will object if the long he says: trail to Locarno should happen to pass by Lourdes "The Girl Scout movement has evidently come to stay, for it is meeting a real need...

...movement his sanction and his strong support as a recreational And certainly, no sincere lover of peace, whether he program for Catholic girls in the New York archdiocese...

...In his essay on Napoleon, Emerson says that the much gratified to learn of the progress of the Girl Scouts power of the great military leader did not consist in any wild among our Catholic girls...

...In our own less colorful, practice contrary to their faith or religious sentiment...

...Yet, the function a discussion of Catholic education...

...program, be it that of the Girl Scouts or anything else, has fulfilled a great use if it helps develop a sense of obligation EVILS OF COLLEGE FRATERNITIES toward others, an abiding conviction that service is due, each Colorado Springs, Colo...

...Catholic faith, and with the undoubted participation therein of the influence of the Third Internationale, it becomes urgently THE BATTLE OF GOTHAM necessary for American Catholics to understand what is happening and to do what it is proper for them to do and what Denton, Texas...

...November 3, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 639 attitude is being adopted on both sides...

...If we do not measure up to these expectations, if, instead REV...

...love of adventure and the necessary need for play which exists Our Catholic colleges have been most helpful in aiding us in the hearts of all children...

...it is their duty to do in the circumstances...

...Above their own wishes, they learn of the understanding of Christian principles...

...Whether it is considered in the light of its attention to outdoor life, its wholesome training in mosphere of conciliation, mutual comprehension, and the womanly occupations of homemaking and citizenship, or peace which will weld France and Germany (as geog- in its moral significance as a motivating force for high standraphy and geology intended they should be welded) ards of thought and conduct, its merits cannot fail to be together for human service by cooperation, she will apparent...

...The growing interest of the national women's or- appointed, and have a right to be...

...At every turn in the United of the troop as a miniature community, a pattern of the adult States, we are confronted by the distinction between Catholic world, is one of its finest aspects...

...His principles, originated for boys, have been adapted to the needs of girls by Mrs...

...than the logic of thought resting on Christian principles apThe community, in turn, has much to gain by the knowledge plied to public life...

...I have no adverse criticism to make, but Washington, D. C. I wish to add a supplement to his fine article...

...Disappointment grows easily Daughters of America-is another valuable aid...

...Within their into resentment and hostility toward claims unsupported by numbers are many potential leaders of the type the movement compelling evidence...

...The Cleveland conference was They learn to think of their activities in terms of the group most distinctly a step in the direction of Catholic education: as well as of individuals...

...Certainly, a movement which can attract girls in such famous grotto, if she can thereby help create an at- numbers cannot be ignored...

...There are thousands of girls who wish to be beauty contests...

...possible not to become increasingly convinced of its worth...

...Ernest Sutherland Bates...

...That is among our young people...

...Is Governor Smith competent to be a good become increasingly evident that the right solution of inter- efficient President...

...enough to take exception to it...

...There is no more compelling evidence is most anxious to enlist...

...the formation of a a wonderful young man wrote a scathing indictment of fraternpermanent committee of Catholic Americans on international ity evils, and there were some fraternity members evil-minded relations, etc...

...Any junior WILLIAM FRANKLIN SANDS...

...emotions, and ideals which they spend with lavish eagerness...

...and through that it is to enlarge this viewpoint, to put the welfare of the com- understanding and application, the formation of character and munity, of humanity, before the unfolding mind as the end of a sane, logical opinion and influence in the body politic...

...When these marvelous forces are left unguided, they easily Knowing that advance cannot be sound except with the best may be frittered away on pastimes that contribute little or available leaders, the sponsors of the Girl Scouts have resonothing of value to their lives...

...New York to the Pope...

...It has been my privilege to be associated with the Girl Scout Although the Bureau of Medical Constatations at movement for nearly ten years, and in observing its wide appeal Lourdes is very reluctant to proclaim miracles, many to girls of all classes, its admirable results, it would be immiraculous cures are examined and verified every year...

...If we have what we claim ganizations-the National Council of Catholic Women, the to have, we have also very definite responsibilities toward our International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, the Catholic neighbors and fellow-citizens...

...But, if Our Lady of Lourdes can attract both French There are today 13o,ooo Girl Scouts in the United States, and German pilgrims to her shrine, if she can cause and 5oo,ooo in more than forty countries throughout the them to kneel in true humility of spirit before the world...

...that must dominate the purposes of the individual...

...This we feel the scout movement does achieve, and TO the Editor:-In a back number of your excellent magathat this awakened and developed "social consciousness" is zine, I noticed a magnificent condemnation of the evils afterward of noblest use to humanity...

...Of the physical benefit of The Girl Scouts have a program which I heartily believe in outdoor life, contact with knowledge of nature, the captain, as a means to this end...

...It is a workshop, a labora- education and the schooling of Catholic youth for material tory, wherein girls play at tasks that will be theirs as women...

...He is considered one of our nobleIt is also increasingly evident that in the United States men...

...ends in moral surroundings...

...There is advancement...

...How necessary to every-day problems, private and public...