The Boy Scout Oath – Sunday, February 05, 1984
An oath is a promise or pledge, a declaration of intent, a sacred commitment to a worthy cause. The legendary Knights of the Round Table took an oath to protect the weak, defend honor, and establish civil order. Their word became their bond and held them fast to duty.
There is a modern parallel to these knights of old, a present-day brotherhood of boys—of men, who bind themselves to honor and to duty with the taking of an oath—the Boy Scout Oath.
“ON MY HONOR,” begins the pledge, a call to personal integrity and personal honesty which are only found in purity of heart.
“I WILL DO MY BEST,” my best, not what is convenient or acceptable under the circumstances, but one’s best, unequaled, the highest standard of performance.
“TO DO MY DUTY,” to be at my post regardless of sacrifice or cost, disregarding danger or ridicule.
To do my duty “TO GOD,” to truth, to conscience, to the divine spark which inhabits the human heart.
And to do my duty to “MY COUNTRY,” my country, bought and paid for with the blood of friends and ancestors; a duty for a debt which must be paid.
“AND TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW,” a law which is based on honesty, virtue, and strength of character.
“TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES,” to forget oneself in the service of others, to learn the lesson, which is the foundation of the Boy Scout philosophy, that he who loses his life for others shall find it;
“TO KEEP MYSELF PHYSICALLY STRONG,” because I know that the body and the spirit are one, and to diminish physical strength is to decrease spiritual strength.
“MENTALLY AWAKE,” mentally alive, mentally challenged, always seeking, ever wanting to know and understand.
“AND MORALLY STRAIGHT,” regardless of what others say or even what they do, I will value virtue, for virtue is power, an unseen force which moves men as well as mountains.
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February 05, 1984
Broadcast Number 2,842
This, then, is the Boy Scout Oath, a promise with manly principles of good intent. It is a universal pledge for all who are duty-bound—for all who would be men.