St. George Patron Saint of Scouting Jason Kwok

Recently I read about St. George. To my amazement, I learned for the first time in my sixth year of scouting that St. George is our Patron Saint. I want to share this with those scouts and scouters who do not know yet, to refresh the memory of those who already knew and to revive the knightly conduct and chivalrous spirit in scouting.

In his book “Scouting for Boys” (1908), Baden-Powell wrote of chivalry and mentioned the Knights of the Round Table in the Arthurian Legend. He tried to show Scouts a new path to chivalry and honor. He also spoke about St. George, the Patron Saint of England and of the Knights of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Europe, as the Patron Saint of Scouts :

“They (the knights of the Round Table) had as their patron saint St. George, because he was the only one of all the saints who was a horseman. He is the Patron Saint of cavalry from which the word Chivalry is derived, and the special saint of England.

“He is also the Patron Saint of Boy Scouts everywhere. Therefore, all scouts should know his story. St. George was typical of what a Scout should be.”

St. George in History :

St. George was born in Cappadocia in Asia Minor and lived at the time of the Roman Emperor, Diocletian (AD 245 – 313). He enlisted as a cavalry soldier in the Army of Rome when he was seventeen, and soon became renowned for his bravery. He refused to carry out Diocletian’s orders for Christian persecution and, in consequence, suffered torture and death himself.

He was canonised in AD 494, Pope Gelasius proclaiming him one of those “whose names are justly revered among men but whose acts are known only to God.”

St. George in Legend :

The legend of St. George, which is an allegory illustrating the triumph of good over evil, tells of him riding into the city of Silene (known as Selem in another version of the same story) in what is now Libya. He found the people terrorized by a fire-breathing dragon which was fed daily with one of the citizens, drawn by lot. The next victim was to be Cleolinda, daughter of the King. St. George rode out, slew the dragon and freed the people from their oppressor.

St. George & England :

It is interesting to learn that St. George, the patron saint of England, never set foot on English soil. St. George’s cult in England began when the Crusaders returned from the Holy Land with tales of how King Richard “the Lionheart” had fought under his banner at the Siege of Antioch in 1098 and won a great victory. He became the “knight in shining armour” to which every young Englishman aspired. His tales of heroism became legendary and his exploits were gradually transferred to England.

St. George came to personify the most noble causes of chivalry and in 1348 King Edward III instituted the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the highest order of knighthood in Britain and built St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in his honor.

According to a later legend, Henry V rallied his troops at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 by crying out to God “For Harry, England and Saint George!” After this decisive English victory, the date of April 23 was set aside as St. George’s Feast Day and by 1450 St. George was declared the patron saint of England.

Over the centuries, St. George has been associated with six British kings. His cross, red on white, is flown as the flag of England. His emblem, the rose, which comes from Persia, is the symbol of the British Empire. King George VI, during the 2^nd World War, created the George Cross and George Medal as decorations for gallantry, second only to Victoria Cross.

St. George & Scouting :

Thus, whether in the context of history or legend, to Baden-Powell, St. George epitomized the qualities of selflessness and both moral and physical courage which he saw as being among the aims of Scouting.

“When he was faced by a difficulty or danger, however great it appeared, even in the shape of a dragon – he did not avoid it or fear it but went at it with all the power he could put into himself and his horse. Although inadequately armed for such an encounter, having merely a spear, he charged in, did his best, and finally succeeded in overcoming a difficulty which nobody had dared to tackle.

“This is exactly the way in which a Scout should face a difficulty or danger, no matter how great or terrifying it may appear to him or how ill-equipped he may be for the struggle.

“He should go at it boldly and confidently, using every power that he can to try to overcome it, and the probability is that he will succeed.”

Two drawings of Scouts in the role of St. George

From Baden-Powell, Scouting for Boys (1908)

St. George’s Day :

“St. George’s Day is April 23, and on that day, Scouts remind themselves of their Promise and Scout Law. Not that a Scout ever forgets either but, on St. George’s Day, he makes a special point of thinking about them. Remember this when April 23 comes around again.”

As April 23 approaches, we should think about incorporating into our program stories of St. George and the metaphorical meanings behind these stories and holding ceremonies for the scouts to reaffirm their Promise and acknowledge the Scout Law in an act of dedication.

References :

1. St. George, Patron Saint of Scouting : The Scout Association, Information Centre

2. St. George’s, St. Catharines, Our Patron Saint

St. George/Patron Saint of Scouting/02.11.08