Boys' Brigade
.svg) |
|
| Founded | 4 October 1883 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sir William Alexander Smith |
| Location |
|
| Origins | Glasgow |
|
Area served
|
International |
|
Members
|
50,000 (UK), 500,000 worldwide |
|
Revenue
|
£3,178,340 (UK) |
|
Employees
|
48 (UK) |
|
Volunteers
|
13,500 (UK) |
| Slogan | "Sure & Steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19) and "The Adventure Begins Here" |
| Website | www.boys-brigade.org.uk |
For the 80s New Wave band from Canada, see Boys Brigade (band). Not to be confused with the Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade.
The Boys' Brigade (BB) is an interdenominational Christian youth organisation, conceived by Sir William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values. Following its inception in Glasgow in 1883, the BB quickly spread across the United Kingdom and became a worldwide organisation by the early 1890s. As of 2003, there were 500,000 Boys' Brigade members in 60 countries.
The stated object of the Boys' Brigade is "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." Except for the addition of the word "obedience" in 1893, the contents of the object has remained unchanged from the beginning. However, some countries, particularly those which permit girls on their membership roll, have re-worded the object for gender neutrality. For example, in Malaysia, the word "manliness" has been changed to "character".
When designing the Brigade's motto and crest, William Smith referred directly to in the King James Version 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", retaining the old spelling of the latter word. Today, some parts of the movement (only the UK and the ROI) have adopted the modern spelling of "steadfast", whilst all others continue to use the older spelling.
The crest was originally a plain anchor, bearing the BB motto with a capital 'B' on either side. Upon the merger between the Boys' Brigade and the Boys' Life Brigade in 1926, the red Greek cross was placed behind the anchor to form the current emblem. The cross originally formed part of emblem of the Boys' Life Brigade.
The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow by Sir William Alexander Smith on 4 October 1883 to develop Christian manliness by the use of a semi-military discipline and order, gymnastics, summer camps and religious services and classes.
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