ADDRESS TO THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT
On Saturday, June 6,1959, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I attended The Annual National Boy
Scout Jamboree in the vicinity of the Haile Selassie I Stadium in Addis Ababa.
On this occasion His Imperial Majesty made the following speech to 2,000 boy
scouts and girl guides:
When in 1934, We first inaugurated the Boy
Scout Movement in Ethiopia, Our purpose was that it might, with the aid of
modern knowledge, assist in the development of that compassion which is inborn
in Our youth and the heroism which they have inherited from their forefathers.
The Scout's training, besides developing his moral character, is also
productive in him of personal discipline, love of fellow beings and a spirit of
service directed towards all of created life, animals not excluded.
When twenty-five years ago, in realization
of the potential benefits of this movement for Our country, We first
established the Boy Scouts Association of Ethiopia, the number of Scouts was no
more than three hundred and seventy-five. The services rendered by them,
however, during the period of the enemy aggression on Our country far exceeded
the limit of their numbers.
We then appointed Our Son, the late Prince
Makonnen, Duke of Harar, to be the Chief Scout so that he may participate fully
in the Scouts' training as well as in their programme of service; and you are
witnesses as to how, till the moment of his being taken away from your midst,
he never spared himself in sharing your problems and extending his help in all
the Association's needs. All this charity and compassion, and this concern for
one’s fellow men, sprung from his loyal adherence to the Scout's pledge.
Even in future, the development of the physical and spiritual strength
of Our nation is dependent on her youth obtaining Scout and military training
along with their academic studies, thus combining in themselves the heroism and
spirit of determination of their fathers with military training and modem
scientific knowledge; and it is for this reason that We have commanded Our
Vice-Minister of Education to establish facilities for military training in all
Our educational institutions.
On this day, when Boy Scout and Girl Guide troops from all over the
country are assembled here for your Annual Jamboree, it gives Us great pleasure
to be present in your midst, and to present to you, in place of your erstwhile
fellow Scout, the late Prince Makonnen, Duke of Harar, his eldest son Prince
Wossen Seged Makonnen, whom We have appointed as your Chief Scout and Patron.
As We have commanded him to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father
and to assist you in all your difficulties, so also We entrust to you the
responsibility of caring for him and cooperating with him.
June 6,1959.
Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie
– page 355 – &
Speeches
delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on
various occasions - page 135 -
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| Young Ethiopian Scout 1934, when The Scout Movement was introduced into Ethiopia. |
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