The Rover Vigil
The Rover Squire will quietly think out what is going on in their lives
Note: The Vigil should only be read by Knighted Rovers and those Squires who have completed all other requirements for Knighthood. The Vigil is more effective and special if it is kept mostly secret.
The Vigil comes at the end of the period of Squireship. Potential Rovers should not be invested until they are quite sure that they are honestly ready. They should think carefully before taking this important step and should not commit themselves to serious promises or principles until they are resolved to do their best to keep them.
As one grows older, time passes more and more quickly. Comparatively speaking, human life only last for a short time and is soon gone. Squires should ask themselves these questions:
- Am I making the best use of the life that God has given me?
- Am I frittering it away, in doing nothing that counts, that is, wasting it?
- Am I working at things that are not doing any good to anybody?
- Am I seeking too much for my own enjoyment, moneymaking, or promotion without trying to help other people?
- Whom have I injured or hurt in my life? Can I make amends?
- Whom have I helped in my life? Is there anyone else I can help?
We don't get paid or rewarded for doing Service. It is the fact that we receive no recompense for this Service that makes us free in doing it. We are not working for an employer, but for God and our own conscience.
The Rover section of Scouting is described as a brotherhood of Service. If we join Rovering, we will get the opportunity of training for, and of doing Service in many ways that would not have been open to is otherwise. Service is not only for spare time, We must be on the lookout for opportunities of serving constantly. Squires should ask themselves the following questions:
- Am I joining Rovering only for the fun that I can get out of it?
- Am I determined to put real self-sacrificing Service into it?
- What do I mean by Service?
- Do I really think of others, rather than myself, in my plans or undertaking?
- What kind of Service am I best suited to do? At home? At work? In my spare time?
As the success of our Service will depend to a great extent on our personal character, we must discipline ourselves in order that we may be a good influence on others. Squires should ask themselves the following questions:
- Am I determined to give up bad habits acquired in the past?
- What are the weak points in my character?
- Am I absolutely honourable and trustworthy?
- Am I loyal to God, the King, my country, my employers, those under me, the Scout Movement, my friends, and myself?
- Am I good tempered, cheery, and kind to others?
- Am I sober, clean living, and clean speaking?
- Have I courage and patience to stick it out when things are going against me?
- Have I a mind of my own, or do I allow myself to be carried away by the persuasion of others?
- Am I strong minded enough to ward off the temptations to drink, abuse drugs, or to harm other people?
- Am I weak in some of these things? Do I resolve here and now, with God's help, to do my best to correct them and give them up?
May God give me strength to go forward hence forth a complete person, a true citizen, and a credit to my country and to Scouting.
