ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 4

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM

COLONEL SLEEMAN FOR NEW ZEALAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (By Air Mail.) LONDON, June 29. There was a very large gathering at St. John's Gate for the annual service of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in the Priory Church. This was also the occasion of the Duke of Connaught's silver jubilee as grand prior. In the ecclesiastical procession the Archbishop of Canterbury, wearing

the magnificent processional cope of the Order, and a mitre, was preceded by the splendid primatial cross of his province. Colonel J. L. Sleeman, Chief Commissioner, St. John Ambulance Brigade Oversea, was also present. Later, at the general assembly, the grand prior expressed great satisfaction at the marked increase in the work and activities of the Order, and in the numbers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, which had done such good service throughout the King's dominions during the jubilee ceremonies in all parts of the Empire on the one hand and at Quctta after the earthquake on the other.

The grand prior also commented with pleasure on the arrangements made for Colonel Sleeman to leave England in October for the purpose of holding visitations in the recently formed commanderies in Southern Africa and in New Zealand, and referred to the progress made in preparing the new Charter of the Order for submission to the Privy Council and the Sovereign Head. Lord and Lady Bledisloe attended.