For almost forty
years Camp Hinds operated on a seven day a week program, thus “A Scout
is Reverent” was put into practice with religious observances for the campers
and staff.
From the early days Catholic scouts were transported to Mass at Camp Gregory in Gray (a rough trip over the Egypt Road which then was a rutted narrow dirt lane). Occasionally a visiting priest would say mass in the rec hall. Jewish Scouts set up a worship area in the woods behind the council ring for their Sabbath service. There’s a large concrete platform there to this day. The earliest in camp chapel we know about was the "St. George Chapel"* perhaps in the same location as what was later know as Chapel Rock. Baden Powell choose St. George to be the Patron Saint of Scouting because of the qualities of the legendary Roman soldier; qualities that reflect good Scouting: * Truthfulness * Devotion to duty * A brave heart * A noble spirit * Dedication to helping others For the greater number of Protestant Scouts the area called Chapel Rock was developed in a clearing behind MacArthur and Boone campsites. Wood benches were placed and a lectern set up for the leader of the service, which was led by a camp chaplain or volunteer leader. The trail to this location started between the MacArthur gateway and signal rock and was marked with a gateway with a hand carved sign that read "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills". The sign was made by a Scoutmaster from York District in the early 1960's. At least one christening was held at this site, when in 1952 Peter Estey, son of Program Director Bernie Estey and his wife Shirley, was christened there, with Frank Bailey as his godfather. When the camp week was reduced to six days in the 60's Chapel Rock was no longer needed. From 1990 thru 1992 the area was used for the Basic Scout Skills program area. At that same time a small meditation area was constructed along the camp road across from the Wilderness Road under the supervision of Dean Zaharis. A smaller chapel was been built
in 2005 by Madockwanda Lodge on the banks of the Tenny River between Pershing
and Wilderness campsites.
* I remember that there was a camper around 1948 who spent a lot of time with Uncle Frank at the craftshop and I think that Frank got the boy to make the St. George sign for the chapel entrance as a project to keep him busy! ~ Clyde Nason Jr. |
(Click any picture below to see it larger) |
Dean B. Zaharis Created: October 13, 2010 Last Update: March 12, 2011 Send comments to: FriendsOfHinds@gmail.com |