ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 14

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

MODERN PILGRIMAGE TO PALESTINE. CHAPTER IX. ACRE. ByXVb 13. Fisher, Member of the Order of St John. The pilgrims departed from the Holy City early on the 17th March, as the itinerary included a visit to Acre, tlio Key ot Palestine and famous for its many sieges during and since the Crusades. Anciently called Ptolemais, it was later known as S. Jean d’Acre and became the headquarters of the Knights cf St John for about BJU years. During part ot tills period, it is reported that luxury and even license among some of the inhabitants became notoriously apparent and this had a pernicious influence in various directions. Envy, hatred, malice and all uneharitableness appears to have been conspicuous at Acre in the lJtli century and the Hospitallers and Templars did not hesitate on more than one occasion to unsheutli their swords against one another. Discipline was ignored by the inhabitants wiio represented various tribes and divisions. People of some Id different commies, spanning different languages, and governed by different laws occupying a. distinct quarter of the city were completely at variance with each other, and rendered allegiance to no definite authority. Yet in contradistinction to fliis we, have the testimony of eminent solders and ecclesiastics portraying tin* merits and charitable actions of members cf St Joint both individually and collectively besides a general consensus in the view that if reformation was essential, the promise of earlier years was still being maintained under most difficult circumstances. But to return to the modern pilgrims from England. Within the territory of Zebulon, over 50 miles- from Jerusalem, they arrived at the town of Nazareth. It occupies an elevated site, about midway between Mount Tabor and Cana. Mary’s well was visited, and probably tho title “Jesus of Nazareth” had its origin in this locality. It is- a town with a population of about 11,000. including 6,000 Christians, and the centre, cf missionary enterprise. Here the pilgrims halted and partook of refreshments. Further on, Mount Carmel came into view, a place 5 miles west of tho Dead Sea, where Nabal, a very wealthy individual in the dim past acted ungratefully when David lost his way in the hush at Paran.

Journeving towards Haifa, (a lar ,r e town with a population of over 12,000) Jaffia was passed, at which can be seen tho rock where the enemies of Christianity desired to hurl its Founder, and further on the spot "where Elijah “with his strong arm” scattered the priests of Baal. Next the ancient river Ivishon was crossed. It is a medium sized stream having its origin at the foot of Mount Tabor and winding south through the plain of Jezreel where the tidings of the death of. Saul and his 3 sons in the battle of Gilboa was announced. In the afternoon the modern pilgrims of St John reached their destination and were received by the Mayor of Acre and other prominent residents. The city, and also the road from Jerusalem, is very different now to what it was in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the route was guarded by Hospitallers and Templars occupying a chain of castles for the defence of pilgrims. Richard Coeur do Lion was much in evidence in those days, and with his followers played an important part in t-lie struggles between the Cross and the Crescent. Travellers in Palestine then and intermittently for hundreds of years were subjected to great perils from Turcomans, Bedouins and other semi-barbarous inhabitants,

while pestilence, robbery and other horrors were restricted through the watchful eyes of the .Hospitaller, Templar, and Holy Sepulchre guardians of tim law. The highest authority in the Order of the H6ly Sepulchre is the Patriarch of Jerusalem and all Palestine, the present occupant of this venerable office being His Beatitude Damianos, the highest ecclesiastical ruler in Palestine. Four hundred years ago one of his predecessors invented an Englishman named Willughby wvitli the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The Diploma is in the possession of Lord Middleton, I who is a descendent of Willughbv and j tbe writer of this article was privileged I to receive a photographic copy of the i patent, written in medieval Latin, from I Lady Middleton. The following is the | English translation:— I In the name of the Almighty God, I Amen. Be it known to all who our letters patent how that in this Year of our salvation 1521, Sir John "Willughby, a, man. of distinction and noble birth, ; under a powerful impulse cf devotion recently applied himself to visit- the most sacred mysteries of the Holy Land, and with the assistance of God underwent: many perils in lii.s search for the most holy places—especially with burning zeal he visited the Holy Sepulchre ( f the Lord, and the most sacred Mountains of Calvary, of Zion, and of Olives, and the tomb of the immaculate Virgin in the midst of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the scene of the Nativity also, and Manger of our Saviour in Bethlehem. Jucla. and the streams of Jordan and the hills of Quaraiitania, and all the other scenes which are usually visited with no slight toil by the modern faithful pilgrims of Christ, and through devious and difficult- wanderings yhe exposed himself to peril and hazard while dissaving to us the true profession of a Christian man and becoming acquainted with the secret meeting place of our distinguished Order on Mount Zion and other regions of the Holy Land. Now therefore, I —seeing in him the virtues with which the Knights of the Holv Sepulchre are deemed to be endowed; and recognising the conspicuous devotion of the said Sir John towards these mysteries and his pre-eminent- zeal in the promotion of the holy faith, and his loyalty towards tho Father cf our Order, cf blessed memory, by the authority and full powers vested in me, by the special privilege and grace of the Holy Sepulchre. have instituted, ordained, and blessed him as a Knight thereof, and thus instituted, ordained and blessed, I enrol him on (or in the" name of).the most- glorious Sepulchre of the Lord, and we endow linn with all tlio concessions, privileges and rights of this sacred service, to hold and enjoy, subject to no restriction or qualification, as the other Knights of the most-Holy Sepulchre are wont to hold and ta enjoy. And this we do by letters patent, decreeing moreover that the said Sir John is empowered to- bear the insignia of the Sacred Cross of the most Hblv Sepulchre or of St. George, to be guarded and borne as seemeth him good. And to the end that credit and indefeasible authority may be secured to this whole enactment. I have caused letters patent to issue, and have cjused them to he established and confirmed liv tlie- affixing of the Seal of the most Holv Senuiclire and have subscribed him wi+b mine own band. Given at Jerusalem in the citadjl of Zion in the rand Holv Supimr Chanbeo of the Lord in the year mentioned aiove on tlie twentv-first- day of August. Signed with mine own hand F. J. ZENOBIUS.

The original Latin of the foregone; patent was translated by Mr J. "W. Jovnt, formerly Resigtrar of tlie Vellington University College. Shortly after the Mayoral rccepton at Acre, tlie English pilgrims of St John embarked for Cyprus. Next, Chapter X. Cyprus.