ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9879, 9 November 1897, Page 6

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

The distribution of certificates in connection with the Christchurch branch of the St. John Ambulance Association took place yesterday afternoon at the Old Provincial Council Chambers in the presence of a fairly large number of ladies and gentlemen. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor of Chrietchurch, and on the platform were hie Excellency the Governor, who made the presentation, Captains Alexander and Ward, Colonel Pole Penton, the Hon. C. Hill Trevor, hisLordahip Bishop Julius, the Rev. Father Cum m ings, V.G., and the Rev. Dr. Elmslie.

Hi 3 Worship the Mayor opened the pro" ceedings by asking the Governor to present the certificates.

His Excellency said that before making the presentations he, as a member of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, would like to say a few words ou the origia of that Order. The present Ambulance Association of St. John in Kngfand, to which he underftj&od k* 2ie« ZaaJwri bjaoda wu tffiliattd.

wa9 under the Order of St. John, which was founded many hundreds of years ago. Under any circumstances it was in existence in the year 1500, and the present building at Clerkenwell, London, was on the site, and he believed many of the stones in it were the same as the Commandery of the Order used at that time. In those days the Order was a military one, prior to which it ■was monkish, with a view of showing hospitality to those who paid a visit to the Holy Sepulchre, which was more or less, as were other places of sanctity in the Holy Land, under the charge of the Order. When the Mussulmans drove out the Knights of the Order and took possession of the Holy Sepulobre, the monkish Order of the Knights of St. John was turned into a military Order, and from the years 1300 to 1500 they were considered the bulwarks of Christendom, the Crescent being kept back by the Cross, which was supported by this Order, an Order which belonged to no country. It had Knights from England and from Spain, two houses of Knights from Italy, Knights from France, Austria, and possibly other countries. Those of this Order always went through a regular course ot instruction, and before they received the accolade they had to pass through the hospitals, learn how to minister to the sick, to bind up wounds, and to do all that was necessary with medicine as it was understood in those days. The present Order was exactly on the same lines as the ancient Order of' St. John, aDd that was a reason why now ambulance work was undertaken and a hospital was also kept open in Jerusalem, in respect of which there is only one difference. In the old days it was for the crose only ; now the crescent was received as well as the cross. Anyone's religion was not asked; it was enough for the brothers of the Order to know that the people received were suffering. He had much pleasure in being able to give away the certificates, and could only say how glad he was to see that New Zealand had taken up the work so enthusiastically. He ventured to express the opinion that those who had passed through the course would always find their information useful, and would never regret it, because one never knew when an accident might happen, and that a little attention in time might, under certain circumstances, prevent an accident from becoming fatal. (Loud applause.) His Excellency then presented the certificates, the recipients being as under : — Women—First Aid—Misses M. Beresford, L. Comyns, E. Dawson, I. W. Greenwood, A. E. Hookham, E. Jones, E. Mather, A. D. Meares.

First Aid and Nursing—Mesdatnes Ryan, Ed. Thompson, Misses M. A. Bain, N. Bain, E. Beck, M. M. Cocks, E. G. Cooke, C. Dawber, K. F. Davis, G. Dunning, J. D. D. Edmondf.tone, F. Elliston, A. W. Field, H. Fulton, M. I. Grant, G. Hockley, M. Inglesby, E. C. Izard, E. Jacobs, K. Laing, M. Lilly, M. Maclean, E. Maxwell, E. F. Stanton, E. Thomas, N. L. Whitlow. Nursing—Misses L. E. Barber, L. Buckingham, M. A. Hookham. Medallion -Mesdames C. J. Aschman, H. Buttle, A. Fox, Jas. Gordon, Partridge, Spenser, A. E. Barker, A. M. Beath, C. A. Bower, M. Buchanan, Misses C. I. Caverhill, E. A. DeVeaux, A. E. Drew, M. A. Henry, S. Henry, J. Keating, E. D. Killner, F. Lee, A. J. Menzies, M. E. Morland, M. M. Morley, A. G. M. Newell, E. P. Simpson, E. May Simpson, I. H. Smith, A. W. Spence, E. A. Wiggins, A. M. Willis, F. M. Willis, L. Winny. Men—First Aid—Constables T. Barrett, J. Cummins, C. Dalton, G. Fitzgerald, A. H. Jones, S. Kidd, E. Murray, J. McLeod, D. Macdonald, G. Sinclair, Sergeant E. Wilson, Messrs W. J. Bailie, H. W. Phillips. Captain F. Cresswell (City Guards) re-exam, voucher.

First Aid and Nursing—Messrs. H. F. Bickeiton, J. A. Carlvle, F. Finlayson, L. S. Harrison, T. Parry," C. H. Smith, F. S. Wallace.

Nursing—Messrs T. S. G. Bishop, G. Hyde. Medallion—Messrs T. S. G. Bishop, A. Butcher, J. S. Hawkes, J. VV. Hillary, T. F. Old, W. H. R. Teape, A. W. Thompson, M. W. Woodfield.

The Secretary, Mr S. D. Barker, mentioned that besides the abive, certificates had been presented at the Kaiapoi branch as uitcler—Twenty-five women first aid, 20 women nursing. For Christchurch the total number of women was 93, and men 31, making a grand total of 169. His Excellency said he was very pleased to see that there were constables who had gained certificates, and he hoped in the future, if he were present at another distribution, to see even a larger number of the mejnbers of the police force, because he recognised that cases requiring first aid very often came before constables before they could be attended by anyone else. He was pleased also to see so many people receiving nursing certificates, for he was quite sure none would regret the trouble spent in obtaining them. He hoped they would do their best to support the Order to which they belonged, which was doing such marvellous work in England and many of the colonies. At the time of the Jubilee their work was great, and the benefits derived were more than people would think. For instance, a large number of the Corps did nothing but carry water bottles about, and many ladies were in the heat saved from fainting. That was first aid. (Laughter.) Their tents in Hyde Park were crowded with people brought in by the Ambulance Corps, and in no case were there any serious after effects. The treatment commenced at once, and people being all along the route, there was no delay when anything happened. In conclusion, he trusted many more would come in and learn how when the necessity arose to put in a stitch in time that would possibly save many an hour with the doctor. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr 0. LoircssoN, his Excellency by acclamation was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his kindness in presenting the .certificates and his interesting address on the origin of the Order. His Excellency bowed his acknowledgments, and the proceedings closed.