ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 July 1927, Page 4

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

MODERN PILGRIMAGE TO THE LEVANT XI (P.y W. I'.. Fisher, Member of the Order of St. John.) The location of tin; island of Rhodes in the Aegean is a few miles from (.'ape Alypo in Asia. Minor, and according to sonic records il was at one lime occupied by a Dorian population, who were descended fn«n an early Greek race, I hat traced their origin to Uorus, father of Aeolus. They were banded together for protection against, Asiatic barbarians, 'the climate of .Rhodes is somewhat fickle according to a New Zcalander who visited it' when it was under Moslem ride, for he considers that. Wcl lington is not the only place in flic world where soothing zephyrs are few and far between. Nevertheless in this respect it- might perhaps be likened to Whangarei for that district certainly has climatic and additional attractions,

although entirely dissimilar in other al lurcments.

Owing to political struggles in the dim past, Rhodes alternately became subject to Sparta and Alexander tho Great. According to tradition, a colossal statue 105- feet high once straddled the entrance to the harbour, but. this wonderful work of art was afterwards destroyed by non-Christians. Early in the fourteenth century the members of St. John voyaged to Rhodes in their galleys on a. hazardous expedition whicli in some ways animated our splendid -Maori adventurers when they sailed across the seas in 'canoes for A.oalea-roa. the long white cloud. Last year (1926) after an interval of over sixty-one decades the English members of St. John in a corporate capacity made a pilgrimage to Rhodes, where for over 200 years their Order had formerly reigned supreme. A visitor to the island before the Great War gives an impression of il. Ho says: "To fully appreciate the romance and charm of Rhodes if is necessary to enter the bay at the close of a summer day and as the vessel drops anchor to watch the reflected glory in the glassy sea, and for all too brief a period gaze upon the white, battlements of Ihe Knights of Rhodes, extending for a mile in almost a semi-circle flanked a'either end by a strongly built castellated tower. These fortifications remain almost in their original magnificence, mute witnesses to the power and splendour of the world famous Knights of St. .John. The Colossus formerly on the island was considered one of the seven wonders of tho world which was claimed to be a statue of Apollo. The strong walls and fortifications of the Knights, however, are in an excellent state ot preservation, having defied the ravages of war and the passing of time. But from these ancient battlements the crimson flag with the white crescent and star flutters in the evening breeze. The terrible scenes enacted during the struggle between Christian and Moslem and the terrific contention for idealistic supremacy which was once waged on this island is almost forgotten except by tho historian and antiquarian. Tho heroic struggle of the Christian Knights so impressed tho Sultan (Solyman the Magnificent) that ho permitted his vanquished foe to cvacuato tho island, taking with them their weapons and accorded to them all the honours of war as brave and honourable warriors. Further, it was because of the favourable impression these Knights made that the Sultan refrained from sacking and destroying the buildings, so that to-day in tho town of .Rhodes, the visitor can tread the streets, perambulate the outer walls and decipher the Latin mottoes and escutcheons of "many noblo houses iu Europe. From the slender minaret a voice cranes across the tranquil water. The flute like call of the .Moslem priest, and from the convent on tho hill the silver vesper bell. The little patch of moon vises over the horizon gradually growing bigger and throwing a silver sheen over the hoary old battlements making them appear strangely ghostlike and unreal. The air was cool and the orange gardens behind, the town wall of Rhodes did not send over the rustle of a leaf. Mirabile visu. It is gleaned from a record of events by Colonel King that three days after leaving Cyprus, the modern pilgrims of St. John disembarked at Rhodes and were received on the pier by His Excellency the Governor of the Aegean Islands, the Mayor of Rhodes and the senior officers of the garrison. Some time before the pilgrims left England the Order of St. John in the British Realm with the sanction of His Majesty King George the Fifth and the approval of His Majesty the King of Italy elected His Excellency the Governor of Rhodes and two members of his staff as an Honorary Knight, Honorary Esquire, and Honorary Associate respectively. Shortly after the pilgrims arrived at Rhodes, tho Sub-Prior in accordance with the authority conferred upon him, constituted a Special Chapter in the Hospital of the Knights for the ceremony of an investiture. The apse of the hospital was draped in the centre with the Standard of the Order; to its right hung the Standard of the Venerable. Langue of Italy, black, with the word "Italia" blazoned across it; and to its left, the ancient Standard of the V.enerabJo Langjue of England, jred, with its fhrec golden lions. The hospital where the investiture was held proved to be the very building in which English. Knights of a past- age performed that part of their vows which related to tho sick, the wounded, and the dying. Among other places visited by the pilgrims was the Military Station of England, so ably defended by the English Commander William Weston early in the .161 h ceuluiy. The- writer visited the Church' of St. James, Clerkenwell in 19.15 and saw the very beautiful altar tomb erected there to the memory of this famous warrior). In (heir tour through Rhodes the pilgrims of St. John surveyed the ruins where Qcero and Julius Caesar had studied the science of oratory. Just before they left for Malta the Sub-Prior of Britain despatched the following telegram to His .Majesty the King of Italy: "The members of the Grand Priory of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England visiting the scenes of the ancient activities of the Order humbly offer their salutations fo His Majesty and desire to express (heir high appreciation of the generous hospitality and welcome of the Governor and inhabitants of Rhodes."—(Signed) Scarborough, SubPrior.