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TMC Penang 125th Quasquicentennial Anniversary Celebration Commemorative Book
TMC PENANG : BOYS BRIGADE
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST

I bring greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am honored to be given the privilege to chronicle the history of the formation of the Boys
Brigade 4 Penang Company Tamil Methodist Church Penang (BB 4 Penang), it being the first
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Tamil- speaking Company in Penang, Malaysia.

The idea of Boys’ Brigade was conveyed by Sir William Alexander Smith in 1883, with the
intention to take boys away from the streets, bad habits and give them purpose in life by helping
them to develop and grow in moral character, to train them to become loyal and responsible citizens
and to promote physical fitness and develop leadership potentials.

The BB 4 Penang was founded in 1958 by Lieutenant Joseph Devasagayam during Rev

S.V.A Subramaniam’s tenure as the pastor of the church (1956-1960). Lieutenant Joseph
Devasagayam was a Sunday school teacher and the first Captain. He was also a school teacher.
The second captain was the late Albert Ramayah. He was attached to Hospital Pulau Pinang as
an operator. I took over the captainship in 1971, as the 3rd Captain

There were about 30 boys in BB 4 Penang during its formation, all being Tamil-speaking. The
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BB 4 Penang provided programmes and activities that developed the boys physically, mentally and
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socially. Those activities trained them to be more disciplined, self-confident and created great
bonding with other BB boys and officers.

I joined the company in 1957 as a boy and was a member until 2009. Now I am an alumnus
of the BB Steadfast Association Penang since 2010 as boys and officers who are 50 years and
above can join the Steadfast Association at Wesley Church Penang. I have received rewards for 10
years (brown), 15 years (silver), 20 years (gold) for my service in BB.

I came to know the Lord through the Boys Brigade in 1960 and I am always grateful for the
support which TMC Penang gave me in serving the Northern District BB in Malaysia and the
Northern Counsel BB in Asia.

I also would like to thank the BB 4 Penang which had played an important role in my life
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during my teenage years. I am grateful to God for the BB 4 Penang. It was because of the BB 4
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Penang that I grew as a Christian with positive characteristics. Moments spent with members of the
TMC Penang’s BB 4 Penang has always been a blessing in my life. I thank and praise God for
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everything.

‘God is good all the time and His love endures forever’
May God bless you abundantly.

Submitted by S.C. Mani, Former Captain Tamil Methodist Church Penang
Edited by Mrs. Uma Raju

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