About Sir William Alexander Smith

Finally after 8 weeks of Basic Officer Training Course, i am done with it, but the thing is that we have to do this book review in order to pass the course

PERSONAL BOOK READING AND REFLECTIONS

As the first few pages of the book, we can find that Sir W.A.S was born in a military family, and I think that FAMILY really shaped him, and provided the ENVIRONMENT to cultivate him so that he was being instilled the leadership and made him the leader among the boys, perhaps part of it is from his father, genetic genes, maybe also his father influence in his family, and the up bringing by his father that made him a leader among the boys.

A PERSON that provides the environment plays an important part too. W.A.S at the age 11 formed a company and discipline, and drilled by an Artillery Volunteers instructor. His uncle, Alexander Fraser a business man, also brought the adventure and sports instinct out of W.A.S, bringing him oversea, and teaching him how to do business, so all these skills gave W.A.S the qualities to do international relationship at the later part of his life. The most important thing that leads Sir W.A.S was the message by D.L. Moody that struck him to devote his life for God. W.A.S also joins the military to understand the structure and the culture in it. He attended churches and kept hearing Mr. Moody speaking. So the military family, culture he has gone through combine with the inspiration of Mr. Moody, he has the twin pillar of Discipline and Religion in him.

So what lead W.A.S to have the idea of the BB?

It was at that time there was this situation that portrait the idea about Boys as nuisance to be suppressed, and they tends to create trouble, which annoyed people. With his good culture and inspiration, combining with he great skills in identifying the problems in the society image on boys and the nature of boys, this led W.A.S to have the idea of the BB so that that can advance the Kingdom of Christ.

What was he seeking to achieve?

The purpose of him creating Boys’ Brigade is to divert the high energy of the boys from doing something bad into something good, at the same time advancement of the Christ Kingdom. In the era of gangsterism, he gives boys the identity and cultivate them to be man so that these man can contribute to the society better and do God’s work, instead of them becoming hooligans and loafers to the society.

How did he seek to achieve it?

First “drama out your vision”, that is on my own words, else that will be palagrism, as for what W.A.S meant is “let’s pretend”, this shows that he is not dreaming, he is acting his vision out. Second “Submit to the authorities”, he laid his idea before the Mission authorities. Third “burn the boy’s energy”, by introducing the esprit de cops and also organizing games, and from there it actually attracts the boys. Fourth “Sacrifice and perseverance”, he gave up being successful business man, and also stand firm to his believe despite of the discouragement from his friends. Fifth “Gather all people with common ideas”, we must remember that he did not gather those who oppose, he gather those who has the same idea to it, James R Hill, John B .Hill who are his friends that shared the common ideas, from here we can see that In order to kick start something it is better to gather those in common, rather those doesn’t share the idea, because it slows down the process of settle up and at the same time put water into the fire of passion and not oil.

What were the qualities that he exemplified as an officer? Why did he consider it of utmost important?

W.A.S considers man who is humble, responsibility, and the strength of overcoming challenges. He should never covet the position that gave prominence in the eyes of men, but always that which brought most opportunity for useful work. He is preferred to be kept in the background and to be direct unobtrusively from that position and be ready to go to the front when a lead is needed.

How do you measure up in term of these qualities? What are some personal challenges you think that you would face? How should you handle these challenges?

As a boy growing up from rank and file, I am cultivated with these qualities by my officers, but to be in the background is rather difficult, because you know that you are trained and brought up as a leader, but recently I have learned how to let other people a chance to lead. Other than the qualities, what I found that the most difficult part or challenges I am facing now is to balance between your work and your services, because one is your passion and the other is your "rice bowl" in chinese. Because most of the officer are wage-earners and in the modern society you have to pay for lots of stuff, like hand phone bills, internet bills, transport and other stuff, so work comes into a very important part of the life, and having your spare time just on Saturday and Sundays only, you bound to know that these 2 days will be used up by the BB, so it comes to no rest for you. So how can young officers nowadays be really committed? I know that this can leads to more questions such like “Faith!” and “Conviction” which will leads to more words. Ultimately I think young officers, who is building their careers should also need to gain the understanding from those around him, but he also needs to know his priority in his stages of life, even things changes let us pray that the burning passion for the boys in the officers in this world will not sway.