Promise and Principles
What the exam tests
Word-perfect Promise, the meaning of each clause, the ceremony and symbols around it, and the Motto.
The Promise (Scouts)
'On my honour I promise that I will do my best - To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times, To obey the Scout Law.' Guides make the same Promise and obey the Guide Law. Cubs have a shorter promise: to do their best, to do their duty to God and country, to keep the Cub Law and to do a good turn every day.
What the clauses mean
- On my honour - the pledge rests on personal reputation, not on punishment.
- Duty to God - respect for your own faith and for the faith of others; spiritual, never sectarian.
- Duty to country - citizenship, service and respect for national symbols.
- Help other people at all times - the daily Good Turn, done without reward or publicity.
- Obey the Law - self-discipline accepted freely.
Symbols and ceremony
The three raised fingers of the sign stand for the three parts of the Promise; the thumb over the little finger shows the strong protecting the weak. The sign is given at the Promise ceremony and at the flag; the salute is the same hand brought to the right eyebrow. The left handshake follows the Ashanti warrior custom adopted by BP - the shield hand offered in trust. The Motto is Be Prepared, readiness of mind and body to serve; Cubs use Do Your Best.
Worked example
Why is the Promise made before the whole unit? Reasoning: a public pledge is witnessed, so it binds the new member and teaches the younger ones; marks come from the sequence - flag, sign, Promise, left handshake with the Scoutmaster, blessing.
Traps
- Quoting the Motto inside the Promise text.
- Writing 'Queen' or 'King' where BSG says 'my country'.
- Explaining the thumb-over-little-finger as a mark of rank.