BB History

Sir William Alexander Smith



MEMBERSHIP

There are many ways can show that you are a member of the Boys’ Brigade.The uniform you wear, the BB handshake and the buttonhole badge all do this.Even more important are the things that are harder to see.Things like Christian virtues,ie. Humility, kindness, courtesy.These qualities distinguish you are a member of the Boys’ Brigade.

Attendance

When you join the BB you promise to attend regulary and punctually of BB meetings and function.This  applies to every aspect of BB activity that you take part in.Make it a point of honour to let nothing stand in the way of regular attendance if you can possible help it.When compelled to be absent if possible let your captain know before hand.

Buttonhole Badge

The buttonhole badge is a badge of membership .When you wear it, you identify yourself as a BB member to other.Never be shy to put this badge on.It should,however be worn only when you are  out of uniform.

Handshake

Use your right hand withwith the little finger separate from the other fingers to interlock the other person’s finger.

NON-COMMISSION OFFICER

Promotion

The highest honour a member can gain in The Boys’ Brigade is a promotion to be a Non-commission officer (NCO)

There are four ranks as an NCO.

Lance Corporal              minimum BB age 14

Corporal                         minimum BB age 15

Sergaeant                        minimum BB age 16

Staff Sergeant                 minimum BB age 18

The captain and officers make the  appointments and they are looking out for members with:

~Excellent attendance record

~Good conduct and character

~Loyalty to the officers and company

~keenness and interest and enthusiasm

~A record of good example in every day

However don’t think that promotion is given as a reward , it is definitely not.That fact that a member who has gained a large  number of badge is not necessarily qualified for an NCO rank.

Though all number should hope to become NCOs . This will not always be possible. Member will not permit it to happen. It is recommended that  a ratio of one NCO to six member to be maintained. Members who are not promoted maybe disappoint but should display a positive attitude toward those who are , while continuing to play as active a part as they are able in the company.

              Sir William Alexander Smith founder the Boys’ Brigade on 4 October 1883 when he formed a company of 35 member at Free Church Mission Hall , North woodside , Glasgow .It was the first of all uniformed organizations for boys, which has since spread all over the world.

                William Smith was a businessman , part-time soldier and Sunday School Teacher. He devised a unique system of giving Boys an organization as part of the church based on religion and discipline. Initially , 59 Boys joined , many out of curiosity but 35 of them stayed.

Simple form of drill, gymnastics and games were introduced and these proved very popular. The uniform for the first year was a rosette; afterwards the forage cap , haversack and belt were introduced. Other activities were soon added and in 1886 the first BB camp was held in Tighnabruaich. It was , in fact, the start of camping for young people.

MOTTO

Sure & Stedfast taken from Hebrews 6:19. The biblical spelling of stedfast has been retained as found in the King James Version.

EMBLEM

The emblem was originally an anchor. Like the motto, it stems from the verse “which hope we have as an anchor of the soul …” (Hebrews 6:19). With the union of the Boy’s Brigade and the Boy’s Brigade in 1926, a red cross was added to the anchor.

OBJECT

The object of The Boys’ Brigade shall be the advancement of christ’s kingdom among member and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends toward a true Christian character. The next of this object has reminded the same since the beginning, with the addition of the word obedience in 1893. However ,the following aims are a useful translation of the BB company:

~To help Boys & Girls to develop and grow in Christian character.

~To promote physical fitness and develop their leadership potential.

THE FOUNDER

The guiding force behind The Boys’ Brigade at its beginning was the founder ,Sir William Alexander Smith. His ideas and principles are a continuing  inspiration of officers and member alike.

He was born on 27 October 1854 at Pennyland House, Thurso, Scotland. His father and grandfather before him had been officers in the Army. Young William began work as a clerk in his uncle’s business in Glasgow at the age of fifteen ,and while still in his teens enrolled in the 1^st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. He later attained the rank of major ,commanded its mounted detachment, and left the volunteers Lieutenant colonel.

When he was a young Sunday school teacher  in Glasgow , William Smith used  to worry that the Boys in his class were rowdy and he had difficulty keeping them quiet in order to teach them. But on Saturday, as an officer in the volunteers (part of the army of that time) he could get many men to do  exactly as he wanted when we drilled them .why couldn’t the Boys in his Sunday school be like the volunteers.

Suddenly the idea came to him that if the Boys met together to do drill during theweek, then perhaps they would be better behaved on Sundays. So Boys’ Brigade was started .Very quickly it was clear that this was just what Boys need and soon other companies were formed.

For thirty-one years Sir William Smith was secretary of the Brigade preferring the humbler appointment of Brigade Secretary to that of Brigade President and Captian of the 1^st Glasgow company. He fell ill and two days later on the morning of 10  May 1914, passed away.

The man

~started the Boys’ Brigade in Glasgow on Thursday , 4 October 1883.

~Become fill-time Brigade Secretary in 1888.

~Knighted ,July 1909 by King Edward Vll

Founder’s Day

The last Sunday of October each year is observed as Founder’s Day.