LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 October 1924, Page 6

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

(Contributed.) In many parts of New Zealand and - Australia, in fact, wherever the Union Jack waves overhead, men can be met wearing a small inconspicuous badge, which to the uninitiated means nothing, but, to the wearers, stands for much; aye, very much. When Jlie question is asked, “What is that badge?” the answer is, “The badge of the Legion of Frontiersmen.” The next question follows at once, “What is tlie Legion of Frontiersmen?” Many have asked that question, and the answer is, “A body of moil who are ready to serve the Flag and the Empire wherever needed, without any urging—the need of the Empire being tlie call that brings the true man of the frontier to tlie help of the great Mother in her time of need!” “How did it originate?” In this wise: A lonely trooper of tlie Canadian NorthWest Mounted Police, discharged from service because of a foot frozen on active service inside the Arctic Circle, looked back at the barracks of the famous regiment at Regina and then started oil his ’ journey ' to Montreal, while his thoughts were with tlie wellloved comrades lie was lcaying behind. It was bitter disappointment, this parting with the work he had loved and Avitli the splendid men avlio had been bis companions on many a. long trail; lie had gloried in tlie open spaces, and his soul had gone out to the hardbitten pioneers, men of A\ r liom it Avas Avell said “endurance is the eroAvning quality and patience the only passion of great hearts.” The regiment no longer had need .of him, anil afar off in England he Avould. miss that merry company; all those grand men Avould be Lis companions no -longer, and he Avould ride to Avork oil an omnibus and Avear respectable city clothes like any other Londoner. That comradeship, that freemasonry of the trail, that brotherhood of men, real men, AA r as to be lost for ever to him. Brotherhood! That Avas the Avord he Avanted. Why not* found a brotherhood of such men? It might eA 7 en be a brotherhood of frontiersmen of all the Em jure, a legion of the men worth while, banded together in one great and glorious freemasonry—the Legion of Frontiersmen. So Avas born the great idea, and with the thought throbbing in his mind like a joy-bell lie squared liis shoulders and took the long trail for Mother England. The lonely trooper Avas Roger Peacock, the famous author aud traveller, tlie founder of the splendid Legion that has spread all over the Avorld Avlierever men of British breed congregate. On that clay the Legion had one piember; to-day it has over 16,000, and has lost many hundreds on the fields of South Africa, Gallipoli, France "and Flanders. Back in London he combed the city for men .of kindred spirit, and with a round dozen or two gathered in a tavern he put forward his idea. Men from all parts of the earth Avere pressed into service ; to aid in framing the constitution. There must be no mistakes in that if the frontiersmen of the Empire were to he pleased with it. Famous hunters and travellers and explorers gave loyal help. Men in Africa, Canada, India, China, Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the South Seas' forwarded suggestions, mid many Avhose. deeds have Avon Empire fame collaborated. Tlie result Avas the definite launching of the Legion of the great Empire Lodge. Many trials and disappointments Avere experienced at first. There were no funds for Avorlcl A\ ; ide propaganda. An organisation of the Em- ; pire’s frontiersmen for the . defence of : the Empire was coldly disapproved by > officials because of the avoAved intention of the founders to keep it free i from. State control. But the Legion 1 had commenced, and its principles Avere too fine and its conception too splendid for all disapproving critics.'