A mother does not really know a boy in the least. She has never been a boy. (Drummond quoted in Eagar 1953:326). The memories of many Boys' Brigade companies are of groups of people who grew into friendship and were proud to see their young men become adults. Outwardly the style is systemic, focusing on group organisation, making team players. At the heart is the relationship between the officer and young man. Looking at the purpose of Boys' Brigade content we see: true Christian manliness: the Bible and the Christian life. This seems more disciplined than many a youth programme but look at it from the right perspective. Eager was right 'A Boys' Brigade Company is always connected with a church. A vigorous church, which always has young men of good type in its congregation has a good company if it has one at all. A feeble church which makes no appeal to young men is almost bound to fail.' (Eagar 1953:323). In this sense the role of the Boys' Brigade is not to abuse its power (the concern of Maxine Green (1999: 110ff) but to build and develop a Christianity that is part of young people's lives. Not the only way to do it In the end the Boys' Brigade was not the only way to work with young men. In Smith's own lifetime the Boys' Brigade was criticised and imitated by the Scouts and the development of the Boys Clubs. The former saw too slavish a devotion to