Earlier today, I was pointed towards some links and information about the Boy Scouts, in particular about their ranks, grades and badges. The whole thing was rather arcane and reminded me of a lot of things I’ve heard about Freemasonry and other fraternal men’s organizations. Especially this Scout ceremony regarding the so-called “Arrow of Light.” Check out the sort of religious-ritual quality of it (which I don’t mean in a denigrating way). I would love to collect some first-hand information from any readers who have been members of both groups. What are the similarities between the organizations and the experiences of members - if any?

While we’re waiting for responses on that, let’s look at some of the existing information about this online. There are lots of conspiratorial anti-Masonic bits and pieces floating around, but let’s start first with some legitimate info from a real Boy Scouts troop site. This comes straight from the Detroit Area Council of the BSA, on a page about something available to scouts called the Daniel Carter Beard Award.

The Freemasons have long been a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America by supporting the development of Scouting units, serving as volunteers, and assisting their Masonic lodges in forming and sponsoring Scout units. The relationship between individual Masons and Scouting, which has existed since the founding of Scouting in America, has resulted in great benefits for both Freemasonry and Scouting.

Daniel Carter Beard Awarrd KnotIt was created as a national Masonic Scouter award in June of 2001 and is administered by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania as a service to all other regular Grand Lodges.

[…] Freemasonry’s relationship with the Boy Scouts started with a Freemason named Daniel Carter Beard. Beard was made a Mason in Mariner’s Lodge No. 67, New York City, NY, and later affiliated with Cornucopia Lodge 563, Flushing, NY. In the late 1800’s he founded a male youth program called the “Society of the Sons of Daniel Boone.” By 1905, the program had become “The Boy Pioneers.” The man who would create the first “Boy Scouts,” and be known as its founder, was Lord Robert Baden-Powell of Great Britain. Lord Baden-Powell, who was not a Mason, read of Beard’s program, and based on his own military experience, developed what is known as the “Boy Scouts.” In 1910, the Boy Scout program came to America when Beard merged his organization into the “Boy Scouts of America” and became its first National Commissioner.

Correction: it seems that this award is only granted to Master Masons who are active in the Scout community. CrystalLinks offers the following info regarding Masonic youth organizations:

There are also certain youth organizations (mainly North American) which are associated with Freemasonry, but are not necessarily Masonic in their content, such as the Order of DeMolay (for boys aged 12­21 who have Masonic sponsorship), Job’s Daughters (for girls aged 10-20 with proper Masonic relationship) and the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (for girls 11­20 who have Masonic sponsorship). The Boy Scouts of America is not a Masonic organization, but was first nationally commissioned by Freemason Daniel Carter Beard. Beard exemplified the Masonic ideals throughout the Scouting program.

Another website devoted to the Baden-Powell fellow mentioned above, and written by a lifelong Scout & Mason:

The organizational pattern of achievement in Scouting and the Scottish Rite are similar: Tenderfoot, First Degree; Second Class, Second Degree; First Class, Third Degree; followed by stages of merit, like Chapters or Degrees, the one culminating in the Eagle, while the other culminating in the Double Eagle.

That the pattern in Scouting achievement resembles advancement in Freemasonry is no surprise. A scholar has pointed out that “the founder of the Boy Scouts, Lord Baden-Powell, was very closely inspired by the Masonic model, a fact that allowed the French Boy Scout organization to preserve its unity while grouping together Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and lay associations.” Scouts “trail,” Masons “travel.” To one who has experienced the progressive movement of both, the similarities of “trailing” and “traveling” are self-evident.

Pretty interesting stuff. I’m sure those connections will get anti-Masonic conspiracy theorists seeing red, but myself, I’d still like to hear some first-hand thoughts from people who have lots of experience in both organizations. What other common elements do these groups share? What are the implications of these connections culturally?