A Brownie is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations for girls from their seventh birthday to their eleventh birthday. Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Cub Scouts.
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History
Brownies were first organized by Lord Baden-Powell in 1914, to complete the range of age groups both for girls and boys in Scouting. They were first run as the youngest group in the Guide Association by Agnes Baden-Powell, Lord Baden-Powell's younger sister. In 1918 his wife, Lady Olave Baden-Powell, took over the responsibility for the Girl Guides and thus for Brownies.
Originally the girls were called Rosebuds, but were renamed by Lord Baden-Powell after the girls had complained that they didn't like their name. Their name comes from the story "The Brownies" by Juliana Horatia Ewing, written in 1870. In the story two children, Tommy and Betty, learn that children can be helpful Brownies or lazy boggarts.
Today British Brownies receive a 'Becoming a Brownie' activity book upon joining. This has a version of the "Brownie Story" that is slightly different. Tommy and Betty are replaced by friends Katie and Sunita. This change is a very recent one.
Motto, Promise And Law
Australia
In Australia (which phased out the distinction between Brownies and "full" Guides in 1996) the Guiding Promise is:
- I promise that I will do my best:
- To do my duty to God,
- To serve the Queen and my country
- To help other people
- and keep the Brownie Guide law.
The Brownie Guide Law prior 1996
- A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn everyday.
The Brownie Guide Motto prior 1996
- Lend a hand
The Guide laws, promise and motto which are followed by all ages of the guiding movement after 1996 are the laws,promise and motto of the guide age group.
Canada
In Canada, the Brownie Promise is:
- I promise to do my best,
- To be true to myself, my God/Faith and Canada,
- I will help other people,
- And keep the Brownie Law.
Canadian Girl Guides are able to choose to either say the word God or Faith in the promise.
The Canadian Brownie Law is:
- As a Brownie I am honest and kind. I help take care of the world around me.
The Canadian Brownie Motto is:
- Lend a Hand
Singapore
The Singaporean Brownie Promise is:
- I promise to do my best,
- to do my duty to God,
- to serve my country,
- help other people and to
- keep the Brownie Law.
The Singaporean Brownie Law is:
- A brownie obeys and respect her elders.
- A brownie thinks of others before herself.
- A brownie tells the truth.
- A brownie is neat and tidy.
- A brownie is thrifty.
- A brownie plays and works cheerfully.
The Singaporean Brownie Motto is: Lend a hand
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the Brownie Promise is:
- I promise that I will do my best,
- To love my God,
- To serve the Queen and my country,
- to help other people,
- And to keep the Brownie Guide Law.
The promise was changed from 'To love God' to 'To love my God' to incorporated different faiths
The Brownie Guide Law is:
- A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day.
The Brownie motto used to be Lend a Hand (LAH). With the introduction of the new program in the United Kingdom, the motto was dropped for Brownies.
There is also a Brownie song that some packs sing at the beginning of the meeting:
- We're Brownie Guides, we're Brownie Guides
- We're here to lend a hand
- To love our God and serve our Queen
- And to help our homes and land
- We're Brownie friends, we're brownie friends
- In North, South, East and West
- We're joined together in our wish
- to try to do our best
There are also slight variations of the song. In some packs it is sung while skipping around a toadstool.
Some packs also sing one of the traditional songs to end a meeting, which goes like:
- Our lord, our god
- Thy kingdom calls
- Grant us our peace
- And bless us all
- Good-night (everyone then salutes each other)
United States of America
In the United States of America, the Girl Scout Promise is:
- On my honor, I will try:
- To serve God and my country,
- To help people at all times,
- And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scouts are given a choice of "whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate" in place of the word God.[1]
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the Brownie Promise is:
I will promise to do my best, To be true to myself, To my God, and my country. To help others can to keep the Brownie Guide Law.
Law: As a Brownie Guide, I will care for my home, my community and myself. I will do a good turn every day.
See also
- Girl Guide and Girl Scout
- Girlguiding UK
- Girl Scouts of the USA
- Verily Anderson who has written the Brownie Cook Book and may other Brownie Stories.
References
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External links
- Girlguiding UK
- Girl Guides of Canada
- The Brownies And Other Tales by Juliana Horatia Ewing, 1870, from Project Gutenberg
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