THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19249, 13 August 1924, Page 5

THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

EOYAL INVESTITURE. CEREMONY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 3. Ini eresting and historic was the gathering of knighte and other members and aseodates of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem which was held at Buck in'-ham Palace a few days ago, for there we°rc assembled on this occasion—the hrst in some 800 recorded years on which the reio-ning Sovereign of these realms has so honoured the order-men and women of every rank and walk in life, at home and in the dominions. The ceremony itself was in Us nature, unusual and remarkable m a Ro>al Court, indicative of the fact that the Knights of St John take pride in their splendid nast as a religious and military order, and lays emphasis upon the difference there is between their confreres and the members of any other British order. In most cases, it is pointed out, the insignia of such honourable bodies is conferred m recognition of past service to the Crown. The Cross of St. John may imply some such reward, but it is chiefly a_ badge of an everpresent dutv and a reminder of work still to lie done. ' For these reasons it was proper that the actual ceremonial invostitute should have been preceded and followed by the prelate’s prayers, by the obligation of the Postulants and the exhortation of the Grand Prior, by versiclcs, and by a final bencdic‘’to the sound of solemn music the procession arrived, the Grand Prior (the Duke o* Connaught) being preceded by the processional crucifix of the order, on which the oGht-pohited Cross of St. John appears. The Grand Prior, his officers, and the Knights of Justice were habited in the long black mantles, insigned with the familiar white cross “of Malta.” The members of the Royal Family present on the dais on either side of the King and Queen were the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Viscount Laecclles, Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught, Princess Helena ' Victoria, and Princess Marie Louise. . . , , Those invested by his Majesty included; Knight of Justice; The Duke of York. Ladv of Justice: The. Duchess of York.

Knight of Grace: Viscount Lascelles. Jjady of Grace: The Hon. Mrs Murray of Klibanlt, the Lady Islington, Agnes Sinclair, Lady Brucc-Portcr. Honorary Serving Sisters: Jane Katherine, Mrs Preston, Mary Beaumont, Mrs Wateis (both of New Zealand.