Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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CLASS OF JANUARY, 1952 21 Send us aught, this night we pray thee. May we know that Thou art with us; That Thy warriors true we may be. Send us light to light our campfire, That we may for this be thankful. Oh, Great Spirit, this we ask Thee; Send us light and we shall praise Thee.” A great ball of flame falls from above and ignites the altar of wood in the center of the ring. The older scout continues: Look ! Oh warriors, braves, and squaw-men, See the light as light of morning Which descends from heaven above us. From our Father, the great loving spirit, From our Father, who good will give us, If we only wait and seek it.” The scouts repeat the oath and take their seats in the circle. After stunts and songs by the members of each hut, the camp director rises to tell the story of the evening; tonight, however, is the last council fire of the season, an event which is always sad and yet beautiful to the veteran camper. Tonight, even the director is more stately than usual, and he glances around the circle, carefully scrutinizing the faces of his boys. Then he begins his story: Many years ago, in a land far across the sea, there lived a boy who seemed much like any other boy of that time. He grew and played among the other boys of the village. As was the custom in those days, the youth shared quite a few of the home duties and helped his father in many ways. During his leisure hours, he played with the other boys or listened to his father and the older men of the village talking over events of the day. He often went swimming and in every way seemed a typical boy, enjoying all the sports of the time. The lad’s spiritual training was not neglected. His parents took him to religious services on Sunday. The young man was very observant of human occupations and human nature. He was the leader among his chums. He spent much time with his companions preparing and planning for his future work. He had seen where many men erred, and he longed to remedy these errors. To accomplish the work successfully, the group of reformers would have to be organized. Each member of the group was anxious to have his part in the boy’s plan. One day, he called his companions together and explained his system of organization to them.” At this point, the camp director pauses. He glances around at the faces of his followers. All of the boys are silent; some are gazing into the fire; others are looking up at the stars in the blue dome above the ash trees. The director smiles as if he is satisfied, and then he resumes his story. The boy said that the success of his plan depended on his companions’ cooperation with him, just as the charioteer’s success depended upon the re-

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20 THE SENIOR MAGNET he Cast Council William C. Graham (Poem, courtesy of Boy Scouts of America) The last rays of the August sun are streaming across the sylvan horizon; the stars are beginning to shine overhead. Suddenly, assembly is sounded by the bugler and all scouts come to attention in front of their huts. The entire camp forms a long line and advances up the winding, wooded path to the Council ring. As soon as the circular clearing is reached, each scout becomes silent and goes to his respective place. One of the older leaders makes invocation for the fire: On the slopes of Old Pikes’ Peak, By the shining heaven lake waters, Stands the camp of the warriors. Dark behind it stands the forest, Stands the aspen, spruce, and pine. Stands the fir, with cones upon them. Bright below it runs the water, Runs the clear and shining water. Many things they learn and do there; How the Great Spirit up above Cares for all his faithful children, Cares for everything he fashions. Learn they of the stars in heaven, Of the birds that fly and nest there. Learn their names and all their secrets; How they build their nests in summer; Where they hide themselves in winter. Of all the beasts they learn their language Call them friends whene’er they meet them. How the moths and other insects Change their forms and learn to fly; How the flowers and trees and bushes Get their names and all their odors; All of this and more is taught them. Oh, Great Spirit, then from heaven Send us light and heat and warmth. Give us courage, strength, and daring; Give us wisdom, manhood, patience, That from all Thy nature’s secrets, We may learn their every lesson. Learn to love, protect, and cherish Everything Thy hand hath fashioned. Oh, Great Spirit, as a token

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22 THE SENIOR MAGNET sponse and teamwork of his steeds. Each must do his part and all must work alike. As time passed on, the boy, who had now grown to manhood, and his closest companions, who numbered twelve by this time, endeavored to show men where they were making their mistakes and how to overcome their faults Many men listened eagerly and attentively to this great leader and his follow ers; however, there were other men, men who did not reason carefully, who jeered and ridiculed the great founder and his organization. This latter class was composed of men who did not reason for themselves, but who were satisfied to follow others, whether right or wrong. Unfortunately, this class approved and followed men who were penurious, cruel, and selfish. These unscrupulous men, whose influence lessened as the reformer and his band became better known, conspired together and formed a plan whereby this one, who hindered their schemes, could be put out of the way. They bribed one of the great man’s followers to betray him. In the meantime, they influenced the drifting mob against him. One night, the leader sat at supper with his twelve companions. He told them that they must soon go on with the work without him. Shortly after this, he was betrayed by one of his twelve closest friends, captured by the mob, and, upon its demand, sentenced to die. The good leader was led out to be executed. As he was dying, he looked upon the mob and, thinking of them and his companion who had betrayed him, said, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ Turning to his followers, the organization for which he was dying, he said, 'Lo, I am with you always.’ It was then that the mob realized what it had done, but they realized it too late. The Teacher’s work was done, but the members of His organization saw that theirs was not. They went on with the great purpose of their Master. They worked to build better manhood. Each member did his share, and the organization grew, always pressing on toward the ideal of its Founder.” Here again, the narrator pauses. Still the boys remain silent, gazing up at the heavens or into the dying embers of the fire. Once more he smiles and resumes his narrative. Recently, in England, an old man, who followed the ideal of the Leader of long ago, conceived the idea of a similar organization. This man wished to carry out the purpose of the Master by building better boyhood in order that we might have better manhood. His plan materialized and spread throughout the entire world. Today, in every civilized land, the organization exists. It is sometimes ridiculed by shallow thinkers and those who are content to follow others, but it is admired by those who reason for themselves. Now, scouts, I am wondering whether the members of this present-day organization will be as true to the ideal of its founder as those members were to the Founder of that organization of long ago.” Often had the spirits of Washington and Lincoln hovered over the campfire; but to-night it seems as if the spirit of Christ, the greatest of all leaders, is present. The director reverently extends his hands; the members of the