ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 9

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

GREAT SERVICE IN LONDON. LETTER FROM LADY GUNSON. The honorary secretary of the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association has received an interesting letter from Lady Gunson, who attended the annual service in London of the order of St. John of Jerusalem as representative of the Auckland centre of the association, of which she is a vice-presi-dent. As St. John's Day was a Sunday, the service was held on Monday, June 28, so that the annual business meeting might be held after the service. H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, the grand prior of the order, walked from the gate to the church, preceded by the choir boys and men, the former in red and the latter in black, and the knights and members of the order, wearing theit black mantles with the large eightpointed white cross embroidered on them. The cross of the order was carried by Captain Cahusac, the chief secretary of the association.

The Dean of Westminster preached from the text "Where there is no vision the people perish " a moet suitable message to those who love their country, whether in England or in far away New Zealand.

On the following day a meeting of members from overseas was addressed by Major-Gencral Sir Percival Wilkinson, Chief Commisioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, who outlined the work of the brigade. He told of the formation of a special division formed to deal with the increasing accidents caused bj motor cars. The County of London grants licenses to everyone who applies and pays the fee of 5/, without any test whatever, the result being that many are licensed who arc physically unfit to drive, and others who know nothing about the mechanism of a motor car.

The association has appealed again and again for some sort of test, but without avail, so it has been decided to form this special division to assist the sufferers.

Those present were much interested when Sir Percival told them of the large number of languages into which the first aid book had been translated and the need for further translations.

Another interesting item was the number of members of the brigade who have enrolled as mobile members, prepared to go to any part of the world where they may be needed, upon receiving 24 hours' notice. After the address those present saw the film showing the activities of the order and its departments, which was most excellent. A positive of this film has been received in Auckland, and Mr. Hayward has kindly promised to have it screened at his theatres throughout the Dominion.