The Boys' Brigade was founded in October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith. It was the first of all voluntary uniformed organisations for boys and girls which have spread all over the world.

The organisation's badge is an anchor with the motto 'Sure and Steadfast'. This was taken from the Bible:

Hebrews chapter 6, verse 19:

'Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast'.

The Object of the Boys' Brigade was also quite clear from the beginning:

'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.'