Promise (scouting)

In the Scouting, the promise is the commitment which the young person undertakes in front of his pars to mark his adhesion with the law and the values of the movement. It belongs to the constants of all the branches of scouting. Only the form changes from one movement to another. It forms already part, with the law, the life in patrol and the activities of great outdoors of the principles enacted by Robert Baden-Powell in her book " Scouts " published since 1908.

“On my honor, I promise to make all my efforts for: To fill my duties towards God and the King, to help my next in all circumstances and to observe the Law Scoute. ”

The text written by Baden-Powell (article 2 of the constitution of the OMMS) is resulting from a context and one particular time. Today, each movement adapted this text according to its national and religious situation.

“Be always faithful to your Promise scoute even when you cease being a child - and that God helps you to reach that point! ” such are the last words of the letter of good-bye that Baden-Powell addressed to the whole of the scouts.

The step

When the child or the young person pronounces his promise, it also engages on the law scoute which forms integral part of this step. Indeed, the law is the statement of the principles which into practice put the words of the text of the promise. In general, the law is adapted to each age bracket in order to be in phase with the aspirations and capacity of the various age groups. The statement of the law is different according to the movements and can evolve/move regularly to be in phase with the time.

The promise by country

In France

Scouts and Guides of France

The promise concerns willow them and the wolf cubs (older children from 8 to 12 years) who promise to respect the law of the movement. At their age, that consists in being: merry, sporting, active, buddy with all, friend of the Lord.

I know that you will be with me, even when I will forget sometimes a little our law. Then with the assistance of the Lord and you all, I promise to make my to better follow the law of Louvettes and the Wolf cubs and to grow with Baloo, Louna, Inouk, Bagheera and Frère Wolf.

The sleeve-boards (girls from 8 to 12 years)

I promise to better do my for: To love God, know my country, to say yes to the law of the round, to make each day a pleasure with somebody, and to bring the joy to the maison.

The ceremonial is adapted to each age bracket. The chiefs (name given to the organizers) have the possibility of adapting it to the circumstances, their teaching objectives and the desires of the child.

After each passage of age bracket, the young person will renew his promise with words and a ceremonial which corresponds to him better. For certain age brackets, the promise is also called engagement . The adult persons in charge also can " engager".

A young person having made his promise receives a fabric badge to be sewn on his uniform: a Cross of Jerusalem in a circle, in the center of which figure a flower of lily. The Fleur of lily symbolizes according to Baden Powell north as on the Boussole S of the navigators: it means that the scout is a scout who can be directed and choose his direction in the life.

Scouts d' Europe and Scouts unit of France

They share same the values concerning the law and the promise. As well as a great number of associations " unitaires" smaller catholics, they included in their major part the texts that the Père Sevin had written for the scouts France in the years 1920.

The promise concerns also willow them and the wolf cubs (children from 8 to 12 years). It is preceded one period of preparation where the young person proves his direction of the effort and the solidity of his engagement. It meets also a chaplain. Promise of willow and the louvetaux one:

“ I promise to make my to better be faithful to God, my parents and the law of the pack and to return each service day to somebody . ”

Promise of oldest, this text was composed by the Sevin Father.:

“ On my honor, with the grace of God, I engage: to serve as my better, God, the Church, my Fatherland (and Europe); to help my next in all circumstances; to observe the Law Scoute. ”

The young person commits himself serving the Church and the ceremonial refers to the baptism. It is thus necessary to be catholic practitioner so that the made promise has a direction. At the scouts of Europe, engagement is also done towards Europe.

The badge of the promise is a cross scoute (of Jerusalem for the SUF, Malta for the scouts of Europe) that the young person hangs to his beret or on his shirt and his sweater. Once the made promise, the young person becomes a scout and the troop can trust him and give him responsibilities.

The Girl guides scouts of France

The Girl guides scouts of France practice neutrality from the religious point of view. The promise and the law are thus amended consequently.

Promise of willow and the louvetaux ones:

“ I promise (the believers add: in front of God) to make my better to be faithful to France, with my parents and the Law of the Wolf cubs, to return each service day to somebody. ”

Promise of oldest:

“ I promise on my honor (the believers add: and in front of God) to make all my efforts to serve my country and the friendship between the men, to be useful in all ocassions, food our law and our rule of gold ”

In Swiss

The promise such as it appears in the statutes of the MSdS, Article 3, but each group can have its own promise from which the contents differ little.

Avec the assistance of God, with your assistance and in the joy, or With your assistance and in the joy, I promise to make all my possible for:

to look further into the direction of our law scoute

to develop the spiritual values of my life

to engage me in each community where I live

…

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