Origins and History
Origins of The Boys' Brigade
The Boys’ Brigade was originated in Scotland of United Kingdom, which was the world’s first uniformed organization for youth. It has a history of 130 years. Sir William Alexander Smith, our Founder, who was a Sunday school teacher of a church. He felt that traditional Sunday school approach was hard to satisfy the curiosity and energetic disposition of youths. Thus, he made good use of his background as a Volunteer of Military Force, integrated the elements of team spirit as well as military discipline into the existing religious activities. On 4 Oct 1883, he gathered about 60 youths at the College Free Church in Glasgow and started the first parade. Nowadays, The Boys’ Brigade has already become an international mission movement, with Companies established in over 60 countries worldwide.
Brief History of The Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong
The Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong (BBHK) was first started in 1959 when three British Christians, Mr. James Milner Fraser, Rev. Vernon. N. J. Lowis and Dr. Alfred Deans Peggs established the 1st Company in Union Church Hong Kong and the 2nd Company in YMCA. It was five years later that the 3rd Company was first introduced to local Chinese children. Since then, The Boys' Brigade (BB) began spreading to the local Chinese churches. The Hong Kong Council of the Boys' Brigade was formed in 1962 and it was renamed as The Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong in 1985.
In 1984, we started our Non-uniformed Group Services and received subvention from the government for the formation of a Children and Youth Centre. The development of BBHK took a revolutionary turn when it invited girls to become members in 1986 and the first company(The 39th company) of mixed mode was set up in our Children and Youth Centre. In order to cater the special needs of some youth targets, we endorsed the establishment of a company in a sheltered workshop cum hostel for the mentally handicapped, and set up a new section, namely Integrated Section.
Entering the 21st Century, BBHK has been in its golden years in terms of expansion and social recognition, the number of companies and membership grew almost triple, in which 40% of companies were established in schools.
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