ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 11

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

WORLD ACTIVITIES

AMBULANCE SERVICE

ADDRESS BY COL. SLEEMAN

An interesting address on the worldwide activities of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem was delivered today by Colonel J. L. Sleeman, C.8.E., C.M.G., Chief Commissioner of St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, and representative of the Grand Prior of the Order (H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.). His remarks were made at a special meeting of the Commandery Chapter, New Zealand. Delegates from other centres of the Dominion *ere present.

The Hon. ' Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Knight Commander of the brigade in New Zealand, on behalf of the members of the Commandery of the Dominion, extended a cordial welcome to Colonel Sleeman, who was already well known to the people of this country. He asked Colonel .Sleeman to take back to the Grand Prior the thanks of New Zealand members of the Order for having appointed Colonel Sleeman to make this visitation;

"It is a great pleasure to me to be once more in this fine Dominion, which at one time I was most familiar with," said Colonel Sleeman. After referring to the great honour he felt at having been staff officer during the Royal tour of New Zealand, Colonel Sleeman said that it had been his privilege to witness the greatest exhibition of patriotism and love for the Royal Family that lie had ever seen. He wouTd like to say how pleasant it was to. attend a/meeting of the Commandery Chapter of New Zealand with Sir Heaton Rhodes, formerly Minister of Defence, who showed such wonderful vision and strength' of character during the most difficult days following the Great War. He acknowledged also the great work done by other officers of the Order during the most strenuous days the Empire had ever passed through. MOST ANCIENT ORDER OF CHIVALRY. To the question, "What is the Order of St. John?" Colonel Sleeman said his answer was that it was the most ancient order of chivalry in the world. It was established in 1099. The speaker traced the history of the Order from the time of the Crusaders, and referred to its many, activates in the cause of humanity. It was a service for which its many members received no payment. The Order assisted the associations and brigades. As he had indicated, the members of the organisation gave their services free. A special contribution —called an oblation, paid by each member—was, moreover, instrumental in carrying on a hospital in Jerusalem where thousands of patients were treated. It was a magnificent commentary on their work that when the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 they established a small hospital there for pilgrims, and in 1936 they still had a hospital in Jerusalem and were caring for humanity. COLONEL SLEEMAN'S MISSION. In 1937 the jubilee of the St. John Ambulance Brigade would be held in London. His present mission, said Colonel Sleeman, was to inspect the various divisions in different parts of the Empire, and to'convey from the Duke of Connaught greetings and thanks to those who had helped in the Order, and also to ask all those who could to come to London for the jubilee week in June of next year. He hoped to see New Zealand well represented at that gathering. • The importance of ambulance work was stressed, and the high standard of efficiency maintained by New Zealand's Chief Commissioner, Colonel Barclay, was acknowledged.

A brief account of his experiences in South Africa was given by Colonel Sleeman, who said that policemen, firemen, and railway hands were all trained in ambulance work. He spoke in terms of high praise of the excellence of the ambulance system in Dunedin, mentioning specially the remarkable service of the fire brigade.

"I am happy to say that yesterday I had the honour of meeting the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Hon. M. J. Savage, and received from him expressions of gratification at the magnificent work being done throughout the Dominion by our association and brigade, and he asked me to convey to the Duke of Connaught his. thanks for that magnificent service." said Colonel Sleeman.

On the motion of the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Colonel Sleeman for his address.

The Commandery Chapter then went into committee and dealt with the business set down on the order paper.