ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 3

ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS.

IN ENGLAND THIS YEAR.

The centenary celebrations of the revival of the Order of St. John ip England will be held in London during the week commencing June 22 of this year. The provisional arrangements have received the approval of His Majesty the King, the sovereign head of the Order. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, Grand Prior of the Order, has consented to preside at a banquet, followed by a reception, to be held, with His Majesty's permission, at St. James' Palace. It is proposed to hold an investiture by His Majesty at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, June 23.

The commemoration service of the Order will be held at Westminster Abbey on St. John the Baptist Day, Wednesday, June 24, in tM afternoon. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, commandant-in-chief of the nursing divisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, has consented, if possible, to lead the procession of nursing divisions into the abbey. The address will be delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, prelate of the Order.

The Empire first aid competitions for teams from overseas will take place at the Great Central .Hotel on Friday, June 26. Her Majesty the Queen has been asked to present the awards. On Saturday, June 27, the review of members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Home and overseas, will take place in Hyde Park. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has consented to hold this review.

New Zealand will be represented at this unique gathering, but it is too early to announce names. It is interesting to record that the first hospital in New Zealand was established by Bishop Selwyn in 1845, and patients were attended by the brethren and sisters of the hospital of St. John. Thus the Dominion can claim the earliest branches of the Order outside England.