William Alexander Smith founded the Boys' Brigade in 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland to provide Christian education and discipline for boys. It began with 50 boys and grew to include activities like drills, games, and camping. The success of the Boys' Brigade led to the formation of other uniformed youth organizations. Smith remained actively involved until his death in 1914 and was knighted in 1909 for his work with the Boys' Brigade.

1. Sir William Alexander Smith
(1854 – 1914)
The Founder of the Boys’ Brigade

2. INTRODUCTION
The Boys’ Brigade was founded on 4th October 1883 by William
Alexander Smith at the Free Church College Mission Hall at North
Woodside Road, Glasgow, Scotland. It was the first of all uniformed
organizations for Boys and girls, which has since spread all over the world.
William Smith, the founder, 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 the twin pillars of religion and
discipline. Initially, 50 Boys joined, many out of curiosity but 35 of them
eventually stayed. The company was called the First Glasgow Company.
Simple forms of drill, gymnastics and games were introduced and
these proved very popular. The uniform of 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. It was
in fact, the start of camping for young people.
The impact of the Boys’ Brigade, led to the formation of other
uniformed organizations. Church Lads’ Brigade (1890), Boys’ Life Brigade
(1899), The Jewish Lads’ Brigade (1900) Girls’ Life Brigade (1902), Boys
Scouts (1908), and Girls Guides (1910). All trace their genesis to 1883 and
William Smith.

3. The Founder of the Boys’ Brigade, was born on 27
October 1854 at Pennyland House, Thurso Scotland. His father and his
grandfather before him and had been officers in the Army. Young William began
work as a clerk in his uncle’s business in Glasgow at the age of 15, and while still
in his teens enrolled in the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. He later attained the
rank of Major, commanded its Mounted detachment, and left the Volunteers as a
Lieutenant Colonel.
William Smith started the Boys’ Brigade in 1883, and in 1888 became its full-
time Brigade Secretary, preferring the humbler appointment of Brigade Secretary,
to that of Brigade President.
The Founder was knighted on July 1909 by King Edward VII for his work in
the Boys’ Brigade. During the BB Executive meeting in London, Sir William A.
Smith fell ill and two days later on the morning of 10 May 1914, passed away.
Today Founder’s Day is observed on the last Sunday of October each year.
WHAT THE FOUNDER LIVE FOR ‘’If I am to be remembered by posterity I
should like it to be as the man who taught people to spell Boy with a capital B’.

4. OBJECT - The object of Boys Brigade shall be the
advancement of Christ’s kingdom among Boys and the
promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline,
Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian
Manliness. The text of this object has remained the same
since the beginning with the addition of the word obedience
in 1893.
BB METHOD - The method of achieving the object of
the Boys’ Brigade is providing a meaningful and enjoyable
programmed of educational, physical and spiritual interests,
based on the twin pillars of Christian Education and
Discipline and guided by adult leaders as officers. Through
The framework of uniform, badges and drill, the habits of
discipline, self-respect, grooming and teamwork are
developed in each boy according to his needs and his
capacity.

5. GIRLS BRIGADE
The Girls’ Brigade was started by the union of the following organizations for
girls and this union was confirmed on June 10, 1968.
THE GIRLS’ BRIGADE
Formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1893
Founded on the twin pillars of Bible Class and Physical Training
THE GIRLS’ GUILDRY
Founded in 1990 in Scotland
Interdenominational and international movement with strong emphasis on
service to others
Aim: Helping girls to become mature Christian women.

6. THE GIRLS’ LIFE BRIGADE
Founded in 1902 in England
Aim: To help and encourage girls to become responsible, self-
reliant and useful Christian women.
THE GIRLS’ BRIGADE
Union of three (3) Girls Organization, 1968
Aim: to help girls to become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and trough self-control, reverence and a sense of responsibility, to find
true enrichment of life.

7. •PRINCIPLES
1.The Brigade acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord according to
the Scripture and seeks to fulfill its Aim to the glory of One God, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
2.The Brigade witnesses to the standard set by Jesus Christ and gives
positive teaching on Christian attitude to life.
3.The Brigade promotes a just society where all people are equally valued.
THE MOTTO ‘’SEEK, SERVE AND FOLLOW CHRIST”
FOUNDER
Mrs. Elsie Lyne nee Duncan was born in 1892. At the age of fifteen
she joined the 1st Gateshead Company of the Girls’ Life Brigade in
Durham, England. She came to teach in the Methodist Girls’ school in
1927. There she started the 1st Singapore Company, Pioneered the
Girls Brigade movement in Singapore.

8. By December 1941, just before Singapore fell to
Japan, she was evacuated Melbourne, Australia.
While there she served the Girls’ Brigade. After the
Japanese occupation, she returned to re-establish and
expand the Brigade in Singapore also to pioneer
Brigade work in Malaysia and Hongkong.
Over a period of about fifteen years, numerous
meeting with visiting Brigade national leaders took
place at her home. Her dreams were realized with the
inauguration of the Pacific Fellowship of the Girls’
Brigade in Suva, Fiji, in 1964, and of the Brigade
International Council in London in 1968. She was
present at the inauguration of the former but not of the
latter due to ill-health. With her hope fulfilled she went
rejoicing to be with the Lord in November 1968.

9. William Smith was
born on 27th
October 1854 to
Major David Smith
and Harriet at
Pennylane House
near Thurso,
Scotland

10. At the age of 13, his
father died on a
business trip to China.
Young William was
shipped to Glasgow to
work with his uncle and
eventually became a
businessman

11. William’s grandfather, whom he is
named after, fought in the 78th
Highlander Regiment in the
Napoleonic wars with Wellington up
to 1815
William’s father served in the 7th
Dragoon Guards in the Kaffir War in
South Africa from 1849-50
William joined 1st Lanarkshire Rifle
Volunteers in “C” Co. in 1873.
He moved through the ranks from
private, to Lance Corporal, to
Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant and
finally as the Lieutenant-Colonel by
1905

12. At the age of 19 he
started attending
church and taught
in a Sunday School
at Free College
Church Mission in
Glasgow

13. William Smith controlled a
hundred men … but not a handful
of Boys at Sunday School

14. “Can’t you make some use of your Volunteer
methods in the Sunday School?
- James G. Findlay, Smith’s partner
Why not turn Sunday School
into a brigade, with the same
military order, obedience,
discipline and self respect?
This is going to be a great thing; Let’s us
put it into God’s hand – Smith said to John
& James Hill
They knelt and committed the future of the
scheme (BB) to God, asking His blessing on
it

15. William and 2 other friends wrote the Boys’ Brigade OBJECT
The advancement of Christ’s
Kingdom among members
and the promotion of habits
of Reverence, Discipline, Self-
Respect, and all that tends
towards a true Christian
Character
When designing the Brigade's motto and crest, William Smith referred
directly to Hebrews 6:19 in the KJV of the Bible, "Which hope we have as
an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast...” From this verse came the BB
motto, "Sure and Stedfast."

16. 1883
Free College Church
Mission Hall
Glasgow on
4th October 1883
The Boys Brigade was born on

18. To train and raise a God fearing
Generation for the Nations

19. EMBLEM -
The emblem was originally an anchor. It stems from the verse in
Hebrews 6:19 “which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both Sure
and Stedfast” With the union of the Boys Brigade (BB) and the Boys Life
Brigade (BLB) in 1926, the cross from the BLB’s emblem was added to the
anchor.
THE BOYS’ BRIGRADE
MOTTO
The motto Sure and Stedfast was also taken from the
latter part of the verse in Hebrews 6:19. The biblical
spelling from the Authorized Version of the Bible has
been retained.