“In a camp where through the thoughtlessness of a boy a misdemeanor had been committed, the leader explained at the camp fire how mean the action was and said that he did not believe there was a boy in camp who, if he had realized its contemptible nature, would for one moment have thought of doing such a thing.  He concluded his remarks by saying, ’If there is any boy here who knows who did this thing, I earnestly request that he will keep it to himself and not breathe the name of the offender to anyone in camp.’  Especially did he request that on no account should the offender’s name be told to him.  There were a few rather red faces about the camp fire, but the name of the offender was never known and no similar misdemeanor occurred while the camp was open.

Self-Imposed Discipline

“In another camp two boys had thoughtlessly violated the understanding regarding swimming and they spent an hour on the hillside with the leader discussing the situation.  After the leader had explained to them his responsibility to the parents of each boy in camp and how insecure parents would feel if they thought their boys were not being properly taken care of, he asked them:  ’Now, if you were in my place, what would you do with two such fellows?’ And they both replied that they thought the two boys should be sent home as an example to the rest of the camp.  The leader agreed with them and the two boys, who had pronounced their own sentence, left the next morning for home.  That leader has today no better friends among boys than those two particular fellows.” [1]

[Footnote 1:  E. M. Robinson, Association Boys, June, 1902. ]

Seven Things Which God Hates

Solomon in his book of Proverbs says, “These six things does the Lord hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto him.  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs; 16:19.)

Liars and Sneaks

Punish the liar heavily.  Help the boy to see that to make a mistake and own up to it, is regarded in a much more favorable light than to sneak and lie out of it.  Have him understand that the lie is the worst part of the offence.  It is awful to have the reputation of being a liar, for even when a boy does tell the truth nobody believes him because of his past reputation.  Never indulge suspicion.  Above all discountenance sneaking; nothing is more harmful than to maintain a feeble discipline through the medium of tale-bearing.

Never keep a boy in camp who is out of tune with the camp life or its standards, and whose presence only serves to militate against the real purpose of the camp.  “Grouchitis” is a catching disease.

Meditation Log