Page 7 - Scouting Life

Religion of Baden Powell.
Baden Powell was a Christian who believed that spirituality and a belief in God were an intrinsic aspect of the
scouting movement. He felt that religion was not just about studying scriptures but a practical manifestation of
loving one’s neighbour and living an honest and compassionate life. In Scouting for Boys, Powell writes
“We aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life and dealings, and not merely the profession
of theology on Sundays…”

Powell wished to allow room for all religions, but concentrating only on a belief in God. He wrote
“Though we hold no brief for any one form of belief over another, we see a way to helping all by carrying
the same principle into practice as is now being employed in other branches of education…”

Legacy of Baden-Powell

In 2007, during the centenary of Scouting, it was estimated that there were 54 million members of the
Scouts and Guides in over 216 countries.

“Try and leave this world a little better than you found
it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy
in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your
time but have done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this
way, to live happy and to die happy — stick to your

Scout Promise always — even after you have ceased to
be a boy — and God help you to do it.”

Baden Powell.

After retirement, in 1938, he
returned to Africa where he lived at
Nyeri, Kenya. He died on January
8th, 1941, at 83 years old. He was
buried in Nyeri in sight of Mount
Kenya. On his headstone are the
words “Robert Baden-Powell, Chief
Scout of the World” surmounted by
the Boy Scout and Girl Guide
Badges.
th
Lady Baden-Powell died on 25
June, 1977 and her ashes were
scattered over B.Ps. grave. The
headstone carries both the Scout
and the Guide emblems. Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan.
“Biography of Lord Baden Powell”,
Oxford, UK., 2nd Jun. 2009.
Updated 2nd March 2019.