BB Management Portal

Date Created: 25 Oct 2018
Last Modify: 15 May 2019

Status

Entry #

Creating for

Snapshot Cover Images
(Recommended Ratio: 16:9 or 3:4, File size max: 3mb per images)

Snapshot Other Images (up to 3 images max)
(Recommended Ratio: 16:9 or 3:4, File size max: 3mb per images)

Snapshot Title

History Date (MM/DD/YYYY)

Snapshot Short Content

Snapshot Content

It was in his twentieth year that Smith started active work in the Free College Church in Glasgow. He served as a Sabbath School (or Sunday School) teacher there. When he encountered rambunctious teenage Boys, he sought to discipline them through drill and espirit de corps. He then had the idea to band together Boys above the age of twelve into a "Brigade", in which they would be taught elementary drill, physical exercises, obedience to the word of command, punctuality and cleanliness. Organised games would also be part of the programme. He presented this concept before the Woodside Mission authorities. Permission was given for this experiment to be tried.  
 
He roped in a fellow member of the 1st Lanark, James R Hill, who was also a teacher in the Sunday School. A third Officer who had similar credentials, John B Hill, was also recruited. 
 
They decided upon the following: the name - The Boys' Brigade; the Crest - an anchor; the Motto - Sure & Stedfast (taken from King James Version Hebrews 6:19); Membership for all Boys aged twelve to seventeen; and the Object - The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect, and all that tends towards a Christian Manliness. 
 
Some ten years later, Obedience was added to the Object of the Boys' Brigade. Manliness has also in some countries been replaced by the gender neutral 'character' since there are now girls who may also join The Brigade.

Back

Edit Snapshot