Boy Scout Troop 325

Scoutmaster Minute

August 29, 2000

August 14, 2001

"One Good Turn Made A Difference"

Some of you may have heard this story before, but it is one worth re-telling.

In 1909, a Chicago publisher, William D. Boyce, was in London for an important meeting when he became lost in the famous London fog.

Boyce stopped a young man and asked for directions. Not only did the boy give Boyce directions, he actually led him to the address to make sure the American found his way without becoming lost again.

When they arrived at their destination, Boyce offered a tip to the boy to show his gratitude, but much to his surprise, the boy would not accept it. When asked why, the young man told Boyce he was a Boy Scout and he could not take payment for doing a good deed.

Boyce was so impressed, when he finished his business, he looked up the Boy Scouts and visited with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, himself. Boyce was so taken with the program, that he returned to America and with the help of several other men, founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 8^th, 1910.

From that one English Scout’s good deed, Boy Scouting was brought to America. Since then, over 30 million American’s have become Scouts, and over 100 million worldwide.

No one knows who that Scout was who performed his Good Turn for Boyce, but he has not been forgotten. In Gilwell Park in London, American Scouts had a statue erected in his honor. A large-scale representation of the Silver Buffalo Award, the statue bears the inscription, "To the Unknown Scout Whose Faithfulness in the Performance of the Daily Good Turn Brought the Scout Movement to the United States of America."

Seemingly small deeds can accomplish so much more than we ever imagined. Remember to do a Good Turn Daily. (Maybe two!)

Thank you. And may God be with you.