ANCIENT ORDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 3

ANCIENT ORDER

KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN.

CARRYING ON OLD TRADITIONS.

Nearly everyone has some knowledge of the work of the St. John Ambulance Association, both in its practical and educational aspects, but fewer know its connection with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the most ancient of the Royal Orders of chivalry. The early activities of this Order, and its more modern activities in connection with ambulance and first aid work, make a fascinating page of history, which it is interesting to record in view of the visit to Ashburton to-morrow of Colonel J. L. Sleeman (Chief Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas).

The Order was founded at Jerusalem in the eleventh century for the purpose of ministering to the needs of the many sick and weary pilgrims who had undertaken the meritorious act, as they supposed it to be, of visiting the Holy Sepulchre. Later on, when the Crusaders entered upon their struggle with the Mohammedans to endeavour to wrest Jerusalem from their' grasp the Hospitallers, as they were called, carried away by the enthusiasm of the age, joined the soldiers of the Cross in their conflict with the Turks. From that time on they became a military as well as a charitable and religious Order, pledged to defend the Holy Sepulchre to the last drop of their bloodv and to make war upon, their Mohammedan foes whenever they met with them. In carrying out this determination their many acts of valour became so renowned that it was considered .a most meritorious deed to join the ranks of the Order, even in the meanest capacity, and it was thus recruited from the noblest and wealthiest families in Christendom, as well as from those in a lower social position in life.

The hitherto peaceful Hospitaller did not become entirely absorbed in the soldier, for the long-continued struggle between Christian and Turk gave the Hospitallers many opportunities to carry out the principles of their motto —Fro Utilitate Hominoum ("for the benefit of mankind"). The sick and wounded of both friends and foes were tenderly nursed, and the many acts of kindness shown to their enemies earned for them the gratitude of the renowned Saladin, who, when he retook Jerusalem in 1187 and drove out the Christians, permitted the Knights of St. John to retain possession of their hospital for one year.

Harassed Knights. From Jerusalem the Knights subsequently removed to Acre, only to be driven out again in 1291 by their old enemies. For about 20 years they made their home in Cyprus, and then removed to Rhodes. Here they remained for 200 years when they again had to retire before their foes, and, after they had wandered homeless for seven years, Malta was ceded to them in 1530. Even there they were not free from the attacks of the Turks, who followed them up by sea and unsuccessfully attempted to take the island. The brave resistance of the .Knights is one of the epio stories of history, but from 1565 the Knights of St. John were permitted to remain in peace for nearly 250 years. As a military power they gradually declined, and toward the close of the eighteenth century, Napoleon, in the height of his glory, set out for Egypt and on the way took possession of the island of Malta. The Knights were dispersed, most of them retiring to their own countries, where they had to perpetuate independently the existence of the Order, under yery different circumstances from the position it formerly held as a sovereign, military, religious, and knightly Order, recognised as such by all Christian countries in Europe. The Order in England. In England a branch of the Order was founded about 1100, and nourished until the time of Henry VIII. In spite of suppression and persecution it persisted, and the problem finally arose how to adapt the ancient and religious Order of the Hospital of St. John at Jerusalem to the requirements of the nineteenth century. It was solved, however, and in 1888 the Prince of Wales, on behalf of the Prior and Brethren of the Order, petitioned Queen Victoria that she would be graciously pleased to grant them her royal charter of- incorporation. This she did, ami from that date it has received the support and countenance of almost every member of the Royal Family, a number of whom have been formally received into its ranks, the present King being sovereign Head and Patron of the Order. There are two grades of Knighthood in the Order, Knights of Justice, amongst whom are Royalty, and Knights of Grace, of whom there are several in New Zealand. Esquires follow next in order of rank, and then Hon. Servers of both sexes, and Hon. Associates. Non-Christian members arc designated Donats, and are both numerous and influential. Back to Jerusalem. From the days when the Order of St. John was first re-established in England tho eyes of the brethren were constantly directed toward Jerusalem in the hope that they might find some practical means of definitely associating the revived Grand Priory with the Holy City, the original home of their Venerable Order. Over -10 years ago their hopes were realised and a hospital devoted to Opthalmia was erected on land granted by the Turks. When the Great War broke out. the hospital was not left unmolested; for long, for it was stripped by the Turkish authorities and turned into an ammunition depot. The hospital was finally blown up by the Turks before evacuating the city in December, 1917, in the face of Lord Allenby's advance. But rebuilding was put in hand, and on February 26, 1919, Lord Allenby performed the opening ceremony before representa-

tives of every nationality, creed, and institution. Thus, once again the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem are carrying on the work for which they we're founded and in the place where the Order originated. St. John's Ambulance. In 1877 the ISt. John Ambulance Association came into existence as a definite part of the work of the Order, its object being the dissemination of knowledge of the preliminary treatment of sick and injured persons, and thus to lessen the needless suffering so frequently caused by ignorance. This movement spread rapidly throughout the Dominions and Colonies, but it was not only in the British Empire that the influence of the English Knights of St. John was felt, and even Germany, with her great organising ability, was glad to take their work as a model. Similar associations were formed in Russia, the United States, and in many other countries. On the outbreak of the Great War, as during lesser wars like the South African War, the services of the St. John's Ambulance Association were utilised by the military authorities, and many a sick or wounded men remembers with gratitude the eightpointed star—like a Maltese Crossthat distinguishes the Association. Working hand in hand with Red Cross organisation those who enlisted under the ancient banner of St. John in the service of the suffering proved themselves worthy successors of those who in* a past age enlisted under the same banner to fight for the Christian faith in the East. The Knights of St. John are proud of these modern soldiers of their venerable Order who fight in the sacred cause of . humanity with the same zeal and patience as their ancestors fought of old. Conditions of service may be different, as indeed they are, hut the most ancient Order of chivalry in Europe has always existed for one purpose, and for one purpose \ only, the relief of human suffering.