DEAR DIARY
Here is how the Girls' Brigade first began ...
| Dear Victoria | |
| I just had to
write this note! You'll never guess! A new club has started for us older
girls at Sandymount Presbyterian Church.
It's called The Girls' Brigade - and I'm in it. A lady called Miss Lyttle started it. We do keep fit and listen to Bible stories. There's nothing like it! We've even got a badge. Isn't it pretty? And I know the motto already: 'ONWARD AND UPWARD'. Here's a picture of some of the company (that's what we're called) |
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| I must go. Please give Uncle John and Auntie Anne my love. | |
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Maeve
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| Dear Diary, |
Glasgow
1893
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| What do you think of Maeve's letter? Have you ever heard anything like it? She's so lucky! Why do older girls always have the fun? | |
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Victoria
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| Dear Victoria | |
| I passed my G.B. badges. Not only have I got my efficiency badges for bible class, attendance and conduct but I've passed first aid, needlework and housecraft. Mother and father are very proud of me. | |
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Maeve
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| Dear Diary |
Glasgow 1895 |
| Oh dear, what can I write to Maeve about? All she seems to write to me about these days is her precious Girls' Brigade. The annoying thing is that she actually seems nicer than before because of it, so I can't even say I don't like her. Oh well ... | |
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Victoria
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| Dear Diary | |
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It's happened! It has finally happened! Hurrah for Glasgow! Our Sunday School Superintendent, Dr William Francis Somerville started a girls' meeting at the Church. It is called the Girls' Guildry. I went along with some of my friends. When we got there we had a lovely surprise. There were 24 girls - we did drill and keep fit - just like The Boys' Brigade - It was wonderful! The ladies in charge are called Guardians and Assistant Guardians. We've even got a uniform - navy skirt, white blouse and a red sash worn across the heart. The Guardians wear funny straw hats! I am called a Maid and the older girls who help are called Maids of Merit.I have a badge - a little lamp - and I know the motto: WISE UNTO THAT WHICH IS GOOD. I can't wait until next Wednesday. |
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| Victoria | |
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| Dear Diary | |
 My
little cousins Jean and Mary (the ones who live in England) are so excited.
Their Church has started a girls' meeting but it's not called The Girls'
Guildry it's called The Girls' Life Brigade. Jean's a Cadet because she
is only 7 and Mary's a Junior because she is 11. Mary will be a Senior
next year and when she is 14 she'll be a Pioneer. The National Sunday
School Union started it and they've got a badge and motto: TO SAVE LIFE.
They have a uniform and work for badges too! We are at the start of a
new era. |
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Victoria
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| Dear Diary | |
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I'm very excited and
proud. Tonight my daughter Sadie accepted Also a first was the launch of "The Guildry Garden" in our company. The little ones from 5 to 7 years can be 'Robins' or 'Rosebuds' - they've decided to be 'Rosebuds'. Their uniform is a red overall and beret. Next session our Juniors (8-10 year olds) will be known as the 'Speedwells' and wear navy skirts, white blouses, speedwell blue berets with Greenwood badge and a speedwell blue sash. Sadie and the girls are so excited! I know they're going to have a lot of fun! Sadie and her assistants are also introducing them to camping. |
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| Victoria |
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| Dear Diary | |
What a year this
has been. Some of our girls took part in the Jubilee Display in St Andrew's
Halls, Glasgow I don't know who was more nervous, them or me, or more
proud! It was memorable, in fact the whole weekend was! Mother thoroughly
enjoyed it. 
I hadn't realised how much The Guildry had spread: 27,998 girls; 70 companies in Jamaica, 5 in Grand Cayman and companies in Nyasaland and Rhodesia. Guildry missionaries are doing a great job. |
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Sadie
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| Dear Diary | |
 Mrs
Ellen Murray has introduced The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme into
the programme, so our Service Company girls can now work for that as
well as the Queen Elizabeth Brooch. Talk about taking their skills to
the limit! High standards indeed. |
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| Sadie | |
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| Dear Diary | |
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Mother would have been so pleased. Today the new constitution of the amalgamation of the three organisations was signed. We are now THE GIRLS' BRIGADE.
We have a new uniform, badge and aim. A new Motto - SEEK, SERVE AND FOLLOW CHRIST - and Promise were introduced. Also a new award system. The sections are now called Explorers, Juniors, Seniors and Brigaders. It's time for the young ones to take over. |
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Sadie |
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| Dear Aunt Sadie | |
What a busy year
this has been. Scotland has been getting ready to host the Fonomarae,
that was a big international camp in St Andrews. It's a Maori word meaning
a large gathering of people and we had great fun trying to say it.
Now Brigade functions in over 53 countries all over the world and links are being forged daily and membership is growing. |
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Fiona |
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the
Kirk Session's invitation to be the new Guardian of our Guildry Company.
