ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 10

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

GREAT SERVICE IN LONDON. LETTER FROM LADY GUN SON". Tho honorary secretary of the Aucklaud centre of tho St. John Ambulance Association has received an interesting letter from Lady Guusoii, 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 sho is a vice-presi-dent.

As St. John's Day was a Sunday, the service was held on Monday, Juno 28, mo that the annual business meeting might bo held after the servicc.

H.R.H. tho Duke of Connaught, the grand prior of the order, walked from the gate to tho church, preceded by the choir boys and men, the former in red and the hitter in black, And the knights and members of the order, wearing their 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 tho association.

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

On the following day a meeting of members from overseas was addressed by Major-General Sir Percival Wilkinson, Chief C'ommisioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, who outlined the work of the brigade. Ho told of the formation of a special division formed to deal with the increasing accidents caused by 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 are physically unlit 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 Pcrcival told theni 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 he needed, upon receiving iif hours' notice.

.After tlu.> address those present ?;i«• the film showing the activities of the order a*ml its departments, which was in Or, t excellent. A positive of this film has been received in Auckland, and Mr. Ilayward has kindly promised to have it screened at his theatres throughout the Dominion.