Arrowe Prince » Pine Tree Web Home Page

3rd World Jamboree, Arrowe Park, 1929

"STICK TO YOUR SCOUTING: PLAY THE GAME"

H.R.H. The Prince of Wales

Friday, August 2nd, 1929

"I am very glad to have been able to come to the Jamboree, to see such a great gathering of Scouts; and I am particularly pleased that there are so many contingents from abroad and from British countries overseas.

"I have travelled a good deal, and have seen Boy Scouts in practically every corner of the globe. It isn’t surprising that they should flourish in the British Empire—but it is rather striking that Scouting should have caught on, as it has done, in foreign countries as well. I remember, for instance, seeing a fine parade of Scouts in Chili—and this Jamboree proves that the idea which lies behind the Scout Movement is a really big thing, which appeals to all sorts of people, irrespective of their nationality.

"The British way of expressing the idea is to say that ‘Scouting breeds true sportsmanship.’ But sportsmanship isn’t an easy word to define. It means straight-dealing and playing the game. It means self-reliance, and. at the same time, teamwork—playing for your side, and not for yourself, winning without ‘swank,’ losing without bad temper. And it also means thoughtfulness and making allowances for others. It is an idea of loyalty, and of service. The one thing it hates like poison is selfishness.

"British people have always believed in playing games, because they hold that games foster true sportsmanship by bringing people together in a common and unselfish interest. But it isn’t an easy job to bring people of different nationalities together to play games; and when they do meet, as in the Olympic Games or at Wimbledon for tennis, it is a case of a very few people meeting at long intervals, and then only for a short time.

"Scouting is different. I shouldn’t like to say that it is only a game. It is more than that, for it is a wide training in all sorts of useful crafts. But it can be, and is practiced, in the spirit of a good game. And you can all play it together, whatever your country, class or creed. You meet together continually, at your Rallies and Jamborees; you pay visits to each other. Over 8,000 Scouts from Great Britain visited their brother Scouts in foreign countries during 1928, and the Scouts’ International Hostel in Switzerland received last year 1,400 Scouts of 10 different nationalities, who came together for climbing and hiking.

"Every day Scouting is growing and extending, and bringing into closer touch the youth of all nations. And as you work and play together at the many different forms of Scouting, you are sure to understand and to appreciate the other fellow’s point of view, even when it differs from your own.

"So I think the Scout Movement is a great thing for individual Scouts, for the manhood of individual countries, and more than all, for the development between different nations of understanding and goodwill in place of suspicion and selfish antagonism.

"To the Scouters I would say that the time and energy that they are devoting to their work is not thrown away. They are doing valuable service for their countries and for peace in the world.

"To you, Scouts, I say ‘Go ahead. stick to your Scouting, make yourselves as efficient as you can; be good friends with your Brother Scouts from other countries, and when you are older, don’t forget the comradeship of your Scouting days’."

OTHER LINKS TO THE 3RD WORLD JAMBOREE

		Canada’s Scouts at the World Jamboree 1929. The story of the Canadian Contingent’s experiences at Arrowe Park from the Report to the Governor-General and Chief Scout for Canada (Courtesy of Kevin Snair, Nova Scotia, Canada)
		Message of King George V delivered by the Prince of Wales, August 2nd, 1929 "THE KING’S MESSAGE"
		The Duke of Connaught’s address, Wednesday, July 31st, 1929 "THE HOPE AND PROMISE OF A BETTER WORLD"
		The Prince of Wales’ address, Friday, August 2nd, 1929 "STICK TO YOUR SCOUTING: PLAY THE GAME"
		The Archbishop of Canterbury’s address at the Service of Thanksgiving, Sunday, August 4th, 1929, "A SOLDIER’S DREAM"
		The Chief Scout’s Closing Address, August 12, 1929 "BURYING THE HATCHET"
		Baden-Powell Photo Gallery 3rd World Jamboree, Arrowe Park, England, 1929 Words and Pictures
		Baden-Powell Photo Gallery: The Frank Donahoe Collection Photos from the 3rd World Jamboree

		Baden-Powell Photo Gallery Baden-Powell at the World Jamborees Links to the World Jamborees, 1920-1937
		The Baden-Powell Home Page

Return to the Pine Tree Web Home Page

Your feedback, comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Please write to: Lewis P. Orans