Presentation of Warrants
The granting of a Warrant is a sign of confidence that is being placed in the recipient. A Warrant should, therefore, never be handed out in a casual manner, much less be sent by post. It should be presented with a short but appropriate ceremony.
For Unit Scouters and SGLs the presentation should normally take place in the presence of the Meerkats, Cubs, Scouts or Rovers with whom the Scouter will be dealing; who will thus be aware of their appointment as a Scouter and realise that they bind themselves by the same Promise that they have made. There may, however, be occasions when this is not possible or expedient. In this case the Warrant can be presented at a Scouters' meeting, or at a District Scouters’ Council meeting or other function.
All Scouters, including Den and Pack Scouters, make the Scout Promise.
The ceremony should be short and simple; but if properly conducted, it can be impressive. If the presentation takes place at a Troop Meeting the horseshoe formation should be adopted.
A Warrant is always presented by a person who holds a warrant, which means they are responsible for the new Scouter.
If possible, the District Commissioner (DC) should present the Warrant if it is to an SGL or a Scouter in a Group. However, the SGL may present a Warrant to a Unit Scouter.
The presenter of the Warrant will say a few appropriate words, pointing out that the granting of the Warrant is a sign of the confidence placed in the recipient by the Chief Scout. However, this is not the occasion for any lengthy speech. The new Scouter is then called forward. The presenter of the Warrant gives the order "SCOUT SIGN". The new Scouter, and all invested members present, then make the Scout Sign. The DC (or other presenter) asks the recipient of the Warrant to re-affirm the Scout Promise, which is an essential part of the ceremony, regardless whether they have made it on some previous occasion.
The DC should lead them in the words phrase by phrase (carefully separating "Duty to God" from "and my Country") and not expecting them, at what may be a moment of considerable nervous tension, to repeat the whole of the wording at once. The DC, unless frequently accustomed to leading the Promise, should have an easily read copy available at which they can, if necessary, glance unobtrusively at any moment of uncertainty.
After the making of the Promise, the DC welcomes the Scouter - if new to the Movement - "to the World-Wide Brotherhood of Scouts", hands them the Warrant in the name of the Chief Scout and wishes them success and happiness. They may then, very briefly take the opportunity, to remind those present of their own Promise, and their responsibilities towards all Scouters. Congratulations of an appropriate nature can conclude the ceremony.