DREAM FULFILLED.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 14 July 1933, Page 7

DREAM FULFILLED.

THE MAYOR'S REMARKS

The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) contributes the following:—

The completion of the new headquarters for the St. John Ambulance Association in Christchurch means a dream come true for the devoted leaders of the association in this city. Inadequately housed in the past, the association's great humanitarian work has been carried on under difficulties; but even this never dampened the enthusiasm of either the brigade or the association. Many thousands of sufferers in this city and province have had the benefit of their skill and service, and both association and brigade have most worthily upheld the noble and ancient traditions of their order —which in the light of history is saying a great deal. I heartily congratulate the St. John Ambulance Association on the acquirement of its fine, new headquarters, with increased facilities for giving still greater service to the people of our community. I congratulate the city also on having in its midst and at its service this ancient and noble institution, now properly equipped to give effect to its high ideals of Christian service and brotherly love.

VOLUNTARY WORK.

AN ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER

Bishop Brodie contributes the following:—■

The opening ceremony of the St. John ambulance headquarters will bring into richly merited prominence a voluntary social service which, for equipment and efficiency, may take rank with the kindred organisations in the largest cities of the world. With patient effort and determined purpose the members of the St. John Brigade have been eager to acquaint themselves with the principles of first-aid and to become expert in the application of those principles. While the new headquarters, with extensive accommodation, may give rise to general admiration, while the provisions for invalid transport may inspire universal satisfaction, these are in reality only minor features compared with the skill and devotion of the hundreds of volunteer members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. A history of more than 800 years unfolds a record of enthusiasm in the members of the Order of St. John; but the annals of the work of the St. John Brigade in Christchurch contain the narrative of undaunted effort and achieved efficiency worthy of the brightest glory of this illustrious Order. There is one great explanation of the devotedness of the members of the St. John Association in the fact that their work is inspired by the teaching of the Divine Master Who proclaimed the duty of neighbourly charity in the great precept, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." I wish every success to the social service so efficiently given by the St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade.