The scout sign and salute

The scout sign is made by raising your right hand to shoulder height, palm to the front, thumb resting on the nail of the little finger, and the other fingers pointing upwards. The three fingers remind a scout of the three parts of the Scout Promise. The Scout sign is given at the making of the Promise or as a greeting. When the hand held in this way is raised to the forehead, it is the Scout Salute. A salute is a sign between men of standing. It is a privilege to be able to salute anyone.

The “Left Handed” Hand Shake

In the old days freemen were allowed to carry weapons, and when one met another each would hold up his right hand to show that he had no weapon in it, and that they met as friends. So also when an armed man met a defenseless person or a lady.

Slaves or serfs were not allowed to carry weapons, and so had to slink past the freemen without making any sign.

Nowadays people do not carry weapons. But those who would have been entitled to do so, such as knights, esquires, and men-at-arms, that is, those living on their own property or earning their own living, still go through the form of saluting each other by holding up their hand to their hat, or even taking it off. “Wasters” are not entitled to salute, and so should slink by, as they generally do, without taking notice of the freemen or wage earners.

To salute merely shows that you are a right sort of fellow and mean well to the others. There is nothing slavish about it.

If a stranger makes the scout Sign to you, you should acknowledge it at once by making the Sign back to him, then shake hands with the LEFT HAND –THE SCOUT HANDSHAKE. If he then shows his scout badge, or proves that he is a scout, you must treat him as a Brother Scout, and or help him.