The Boys' Brigade was founded on 4th of October, 1883, when the late Sir William A. Smith formed a Company of thirty Boys in Glasgow under the title of The Boys' Brigade. At the very beginning the object was laid down very much as it is today; 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 Boys' Brigade is the pioneer uniformed organisation for Boys. From one small Company the Brigade has grown into a worldwide organisation with companies in every part of the World. For thirty-one years Sir William A. Smith was Secretary of the Brigade, and Captain of the 1st Glasgow Company. He died suddenly in London on 10th May 1914, and will long be remembered for his work among Boys. Although individual Companies had been formed in New Zealand since 1899 (including one at St. Paul's in 1901), it was the 1st Dunedin Company founded in 1926 which led to the present National Organisation with Brigade (N.Z.) Headquarters in Wellington. In New Zealand at this time there are over 230 Life Boy Teams, and 230 Companies, and the Movement continues to grow. The Brigade now exists in some sixty territories throughout the World, and over one third its strength is outside the British Isles. Boys of many different races and languages are linked together in a worldwide Christian fellowship. In some countries the BB has developed to such an extent that it is self governing. New Zealand was one of the first countries to become self-governing. In 1963, at a meeting in Dundee, the World Conference of the Boys' Brigade came into existence. Its aim is to maintain the uniformity of purpose of the Brigade as set out in its Object, and to help in its strengthening and extension throughout the World. In 1935, Rev R. L. Challis, then a London Missionary Society Missionary in the Cook Islands, commenced the first BB Company in Raratonga. It was not long before Companies were formed in the outer islands of the Cook Group. From here Companies were formed on Niue Island. In 1950 a BB Company was formed on Samoa. 1960 saw the BB commence activities in the Solomon Islands, and in 1964 the Movement was extended to the New Hebrides. Since 1935 N.Z. Companies have taken an interest in this work, and have contributed funds towards extension in the Pacific. First offerings were small, but grew in amount. As the offerings have increased New Zealand BB has assumed more and more responsibility, until 1955, when full responsibility for the S.W. Pacific area was accepted. From 1955 to 1964 Rev Challis was the part-time Organiser. In 1964 Mr R. H. Dickey, of Gore became the first full time Pacific Organiser. In addition to Mr Dickey, the N.Z.B.B. also supports two island Organisers, Rev Tepa Faletoese in Samoa, and Mr Gordon Siama in the Solomon Islands. |
Founder Sir W. A. Smith |
The Founder standing in entrance of Bell Tent during a camp. William Smith started camping for boys. |
1 The Boys' Brigade Movement |
