| The Totem Board | |
|---|---|
| March — Vol. 1, No. 4. | |
| A News Bulletin published occasionally by the Council of Guidance of The Woodcraft League of America, Inc. 13 West 29th Street, New York City. | |
| Ernest Thompson Seton | President and Chief |
| Grace Gallatin Seton | Vice-President |
| Elon Huntington Hooker | Treasurer |
| Mark Sullivan | Secretary |
| Philip D. Fagans | Executive Secretary |
Answering a Few Questions.
Recently a Secretary of a Y.M.C.A. asked a number of questions regarding the Woodcraft League and its attitude to such organizations. We are quoting our reply (without the gentleman’s name), believing that our members and friends will be interested.
“We are glad of the chance to answer the questions in your letter of Feby. 6th. We are more than ready to cooperate with the Churches, Y.M.C.A.’s, etc., as the Woodcraft League of America is a ‘Character-building movement’ preaching the ‘Blue Sky’ method, and cares little about the form of organization so long as the activities and ideals are adopted. We are anxious to spread the Woodcraft gospel for its effect on American life. and have formulated our program so that it may be used by existing organizations without disrupting their own institutions. If our gospel could be best spread without an organization, we would much prefer it, and could then be simply a movement, but this was not found practical. If you are already organized in some form, you will have to change but little in adopting the ideas that we offer.
“The Woodcraft League lays particular and continual emphasis on the things of the Spirit, as well as those of the body.
“Obviously we must do nothing with creeds or sects, touching only the great fundamentals, but in our scheme supply the opportunity for the affiliated or fathering group to add such religious color as thes deem best. Everyone who observes our work must note that we assume a constant recognition of the one Great Spirit. The initiations, the laws, the symbolism of the formal Council, the activities and atmosphere engendered throughout, while referring to no particular church or sect, are in the best, strictest sense, religious, because they are carefully planned to construct a strong, reverent, law-abiding, clean-minded man or woman. “Your remarks on the needs of rural communities are of the highest interest. We should be only too glad to cooperate with the churches of such communities and with your Y.M.C.A. work. We would welcome any suggestions you may have to offer as to measures or methods to bring about such co-operation.
“We are enclosing for your information a copy of a folder on War Work, also copy of a letter which may be of interest.”
We are also quoting from a letter written to a Y.W.C.A. Secretary, which outlines what we consider the minimum requirement for a group to be a Woodcraft Tribe.
“We are keen on seeing the Woodcraft program become a vital power in the lives of American girls. If this could be done without organization, it would please us, but of course, organization is necessary if standards are to be maintained and a high-grade type of work done.
“The minimum requirement for a Woodcraft girl is that she be a member of a chartered Woodcraft Tribe, the Guide of which agrees that all members will qualify in the rank of Wayseeker, that is, be over 12 years of age, know the four watchwords and the 12 laws, take an initiation test and be voted in. The leaders of the group would agree to award no Woodcraft honors or badges except according to the standards as set forth in the Woodcraft Manual. The group would sit in circle, use the Order of Doings in Council at all the meetings (in some cases it might be necessary to say that ‘such and such’ an item or all the Order of Doings would be dispensed with as this is a ‘Grand Council’ or a special event), and the leader would also emphasize the Decorum of the Council. Naturally a group would go beyond this, particularly if the leader studies the Manual and gets any conception of the Spirit of the Woodcraft work. We would think that a Woodcraft group which has been in existence three months or more would want to provide its members with Woodcraft Honor Bands, on which they would wear their rank badges and their honor badges. This, however, is not absolutely essential though exceedingly important, We believe that it would be likely to hold the girls together. The expense, of course, is not at all prohibitive (fifty cents).
“We charter a group when it has a Head Guide over 21 years of age, and a Committee of three who agree to back up the work and see that it is continued. The Tribe can have from 10 to 50 girls. We will furnish free membership tickets for the first ten members and will supply the balance at ten cents apiece. We also send a charter, a Guide’s Scroll, the ‘Totem Board, and are glad to give assistance by correspondence.”
The Woodcraft Honor Band.
With the cost of material constantly going up, many Guides have hesitated about urging their members to purchase Woodcraft Suits, and yet they wanted some way for the Boys and Girls to wear the honors they have won.
In order to meet the need for something which is inexpensive and thus within the reach of all Boys and Girls, The Council of Guidance, at the recommendation of the Committee on Costumes, has adopted for both Boys and Girls, a band of Forest Gray, five inches wide, hanging from the right shoulder and buttoning at the left hip with the Woodcraft Button. In the center of the hand, and in the center of the chest, there is placed a Wayseeker’s Rank Badge.
When a Boy or Girl joins, they are received into membership by having this band placed on their shoulder.
As the Coups for the Pathfinder’s Rank are won, the first four are placed at the four corners: 1st, Athletics; 2nd, Campercraft; 3rd, Nature Study, and 4th, Crafts; after which two coups are added between each of the vacant places. Coups won in other departments and additional coup badges are placed below the circle space, as in the drawing. Degree Badges are worn above the Pathfinder’s Circle. On the right shoulder there may be placed the totem of the Tribe to which the member belongs, and if the member has been awarded an Indian name, the totem may go in the center of the back.
These bands sell at 50 cents. Every Tribe will find it a great stimulus to have its members equipped with them.
