Christmas Books
The late Victorian period saw a rapidly increasing literacy rate and, by 1900, almost all men and women were literate. The Boys’ Brigade played its part in this, publishing in 1889 a Christmas Gift Book for Boys with the primary aim of encouraging Boys to read.
Professor Henry Drummond, a supporter of The Boys’ Brigade and friend of William Alexander Smith, made an address to 1,400 Boys at the City Hall of Glasgow, and it was this address that was used for this first Christmas Gift Book, aptly named ‘First’.
Professor Henry Drummond was a Scottish evangelical writer and lecturer, becoming an ordained minister in the Free Church College and a Professor of Theology. He was particularly influenced by and involved with the evangelising missions of Moody and Sankey, once described by Moody as the most Christ-like man he had ever known. He was well travelled, including overseas visits to Australia, Africa and the USA. Later he became an Honorary Vice-President of The Boys’ Brigade, was a significant advocate for The Boys’ Brigade, and a great communicator to the youth and students both at home and abroad. His friendships extended widely, including the likes of Lord Aberdeen (Honorary President) and William Gladstone.
This initial Christmas Gift Book was written around the text ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6 v 33). There was a subscription of 10,000 people for this inspiring message and finally nearly 12,000 books were published. The book – only 16 pages long – proved to be very popular, setting the pattern for future books, which continued until 1899.
There was a steady increase in publication numbers after this success, and by 1896 20,000 books were being distributed. In 1891 Professor Drummond allowed his story of ‘Baxter’s Second Innings’ to be published as a Gift Book. This is probably the most recognisable of the Christmas Books, as reprints appeared in 1899, and later in the 1950s. This publication in 1891 also introduced a significant change as Professor Drummond put forward a competition whereby Boys would write back answers to questions on the story. Fifty-three prizes were offered and in this first year 359 replies were received. The number of replies increased in later years, so this initiative not only got Boys reading, but also writing!
The much loved books proved very successful and reached a good proportion of Boys in the Brigade, with the covers being attractive and stories thought provoking, written in a way that connected with the Boys at the time.
Few of these books have survived, and it is extremely fortunate that some copies remain to be experienced here in an accessible format. They offer a fascinating insight, not only into the history of The Boys’ Brigade, but also into the culture of Victorian Britain, the art of writing, and a window into personal memories from the past..
It is unclear why the last book ceased in 1899, but it may have been influenced by the start of the 2nd Boer War and a possible lack of finances or new writers available.
The cherished copies that still exist, however, are available for browsing in astonishingly close detail through the links below.
Christmas Books
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Whilst it is a challenge to capture the spirit of the Boys’ Brigade virtually, we hope to have succeeded in creating an interactive experience which will help in preserving the stories for future generations of BB members. This museum will continue to be developed through the efforts of volunteers dedicated to preserving the heritage of The Boys’ Brigade. If you would like to know more, please contact us.
