Order of World Scouts
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| The Order of World Scouts | |
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| Organizational data | |
| Country | Worldwide |
| Founded | November 11, 1911 |
| Founder | Francis Vane |
| Grand Scoutmaster | Michael John Foster |
| Website | The Order of World Scouts |
 Scouting portal |
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The Order of World Scouts (OWS) originally founded in 1911, and revitalized in 1983, was the first international Scouting organisation. Headquartered in England, today, the Order of World Scouts includes member associations in the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Poland, Peru, Argentina, Uruguai, Chile, and the Dominican Republic.
In 1909, a group of troops withdrew from Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts Association and formed the British Boy Scouts (BBS), out of a concern that Baden-Powell's association was too bureaucratic and militaristic. The Association in the UK also contained Girl Scout troops, and a longer title emerged; "The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association (BBS and BGS Association). The BBS and BGS program soon spread to several other British Commonwealth countries, and to non Commonwealth countries such as France, the United States (The American Boy Scout), and Italy where Sir Francis Vane founded the very first Italian Scouting movement, the Ragazzi Esploratori Italiani.
As a result of the expansions of the BBS and BGS abroad, in 1911, members of the BBS led by Sir Francis Vane (a former official of Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts Association) organised the Order of World Scouts. Early 1911, it was first described as the League of World Scouts, but on the 11th November 1911, "The Order of World Scouts" was officially launched. This day was influenced by the French, as it was the day that Baldwin was crowned King of Jerusalem, on the 11th November 1100 (St Martin's Day).
Representation covered 15 Countries (counting Ireland as being separate) being; the UK, Ireland, Italy, the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, India, South America, China, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand.
This alliance of World Scouting organisations nearly ended after its founder and primary financial benefactor was declared bankruptcy in 1912. The Order was left with member Troops in England, remaining to the present, and survived and Australia to the late 1930s, with only Troops in England remaining until the early 1980s, when contact was made by a Scouting orgnisation in Australia, followed by Scouting organisations in other countries.
Scout Historian the Rev'd Dr Michael Foster in England, later assisted by Scout Historian Robert Campbell in Australia, have been able to recover much of the previous history of the organisation, with the main archive being held by Dr Michael Foster.
The Order of World Scouts constitution today requires that all members "demonstrate by teaching and example of life, the Christian Faith".
[edit] External links
- homepage Order of World Scouts
- homepage The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association
- homepage Independent Australian Scouts
- homepage Ls-Drzewo Pokoju (Poland)
- homepage The Order of the Redeemer
- homepage Scout History Association
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