PRIORY OF ST. JOHN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26708, 1 March 1948, Page 9

PRIORY OF ST. JOHN

INVESTITURE SERVICE IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL First Church was filled to capacity last night when the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, in his capacity as Prior in New Zealand of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, performed the investiture of 10 members of the Grand Priory in a brief but impressive ceremony. Those selected as members of the Grand Priory were Mrs Laura Edith Barclay, who was invested in the grade of Commander (Sister), Dr Harold Ray Gibson, Mr Gerald Ferguson, and MiHenry Louis Paterson, all of whom were invested as Officers, the Rev. William Allen Stevely, invested as Assistant Chaplain, Mrs Olive Marion Fairbairn, Mrs Margaret Lambton Gibb, Miss Edith Catherine Steedman, and Dr Phyllis Haddow (China), all invested as Serving Sisters, and Mr James Godso Ross, who was invested as a Serving Brother. Miss Mary Janet Mitchell, who was unable through illness to attend, was invested as a Serving Sister in a ceremony yesterday afternoon by the Sub-Prior, Lieutenant-colonel Sir James Elliott. The ceremonial last night began while the congregation was singing the processional hymn. The Prior, pre:eded by the Secretary of Priory. Mr £. A Falconer, and followed by the sub-Prior, Sir James Elliott, the Librarian, the Rev. G. E. Moreton, who acted as chaplain for the occasion, ana two members of the Priory-Chapter. Dr A. R. Falconer and Mr C. S. Falconer, made his way down the left lisle of the church to take up a position in front of the pulpit. All were weai - ing the ceremonial robes of the order. The congregation stood. while Mr Moreton read the prayers, then the prior read the service oaths to the aostulants, who were gathered together to the left of the pulpit. The aroper replies being given, the prior Jien read the exhortation to the pos.ulants, after which the investiture proper was performed. The selected members made their way to the front if the pulpit and received their orders :rom the prior, each being announced ay name and office by the director of :eremonies, Mr K. A. Falconer. The including prayers were then read, the aenediction was pronounced, and the :ongregation sang the National An;hem. While the recessional hymn was ;ung the official party withdrew from he church by the right aisle. The pulpit was decorated with a Jnion Jack and the St. John flag, both !urled. Lady Freyberg, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and civic dignities were present, as well as a full •epresentation of the professions and nstitutions in the city. Members of ;he various orders of St. John were ilso gathered in the church.