ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17773, 8 October 1927, Page 10

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

MODERN PILGRIMAGE TO; THE LEVANT. (Chapter XI, Rlmdes.) (By AVI : B. Fisher, Member ,of jtha' Order of St. John.) The location of the island of Rhodes in the Aegean is a"few miles troth Cape Alypo in Asia Minor, and according-ko some records it was at one ? I>ime occupied, by a Dorian population, who were descended from an early Greek race, that traced their origin to Dorus, father of 'Aeolus. The .climate of Rhodes is'somewhat fickle aceordnig to a Now kfoalander who visited it when it was under Mos'eni rule, for he considers that Wellington is not the only place m the world where , soothing zephyrs are few and far M b&tjveen. isevertiiloss in this respect it might perhaps bo likened to WTiangarei ror that district certainly has climatic and additional attractions, although entirely dissimi’ar -'in other allurements.: Owing to political struggles'in the idina past, Rhodes alternately became subject to Sparta and Alexander tlie ; Great. According to tradition, . a colossal statue lUsrt high once straddled the entrance to the harbour, -but this wonderful work of art .was afterwards destroyed by non-Christians.-Ear y in the fourteenth century ths members of St. John voyaged -to iiuodes in their galleys on a hazardous expedition which in some ways ivni* mated our splendid Maori adventurerswhen they sailed across the seas in canoes for Aoatea-roa (the long white cloud.) Last year (1926) after* an interval oi over sixty- one -decades 'tiih English members of St. John in a: corporate capacity made a pilgrimage'- to Rhodes where-for over '2OO years their Order had formerly reigned supreme. A visitor to the island before the Great War gives an impression ot it:— tie says: ‘Mb luly appreciate' the renmneo and charm of Rhodes it necessary. to - outer the bay at the close or a summer day and sis the vessel, drops anchor to watch the reftebzea glory m the glassy sea, and for /all too brief a penud gaze upon the white battlements of the Knights of Rhodes, extending for a mite in almost- si'"semicircle hanked at either end bv a strongly built, castelated tower. These fortifications remain almost in 'their oiognial magnificence, mute witnesses to i lie power and splendour of' the world famous Knights of St. John. The Colossus formerly on the island has considered one of tlie seven'Wonders of the world and was claimed to be a statue of Apollo. The strong wa Is and fortifications of the.' Knights, however, are .in an excellent state of preservation, having defied tlie) ravages of war and the passing of tihie. titu from these ancient battlemefits cue crimson hag 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 tins island is.alifidst forgotten except- by the historian-arid antiquarian. , The heroic struggle, of the Christian - '-'Knights so impressed -/.the Sultant (Solyman the Magnilicent)_thab he permitted'' Ins vanquished- foe .to evacuate the island taking with .them their weapons and accorded to them all the honours of war as brave. alnd hon'biirablp warriors. Further, it,' vas because of the favourable impression these -Knights .'made that the Sultan refrained from' sacking and destroying thei buidiugs, so that to-day in ‘"the town of Rhodes, the visitor-can tread tin- streets, perambulate the outer walls and decipher the Latin mottoes and escutcheons of many, nobie-T.ouses in Europe. From the slender, ‘minaret a voice cpmcs across the tranquil water; the flute-like call of:the Moslem priest, and from the. convent on" the lull the silver vesper bell. The little patch of moon rises over the horizon, gradually growing bigger and throwing a silver sheen over the hoary old battlements, making thorn appear strangely gnustlikc and unreal. The air was,.cool and the orange gardens behind . the 'town wall of Rhodes-did not send oyer the rustle of a. leaf. Mirabile visn.

it is gleaned front a record of events by Colonel King that three days -setter leaving Cyprus, the modern pi gl ims of St. John dnemburkod at Juiouos and were received on the pier by .His Lxcell. ncy the Governor or- the Aegean Islands, the .Mayor of Rhodes uind the senior officers of the garrison. -• borne time before the pilgrims left England the Order of St. Joint m the British if calm with the sanction of His Majesty e.i:i ,v George the Fifth and the approval of His Majesty the King of nn.lr elected Bis Excel ency the-Gover-nor'of if holies and two members of bis stab' as an Honorary Knight, Honorarv Esquire,- and Honorary Associate respectively. Shortly after the . pilgrim s urived at .Rhodes, the -SubPrior, in accordance with the authority conferred upon him, constituted. ,a Special Chapter in the Hospital of. the Knights for the ceremony of an lnvesdraped in the Centre with the Stantituvo. The apse of the Hospital -.was daril of the. Venerable Lnngue of Italy, black, with the word “Lta.ia” blazoned across it: and to its left, the ancient Standard ot the Venerable Langue of England, red, with its three golden iions. The Hospital where the Investiture was lied proved to be the.-v.ery bui.d.ng in which English Knights of a past age pel-formed that part, of than- vows which related to the sick, i lie wounded, and the dying.

Among other places visited by the pi grims was the Military Station of i-.ngland. so ably delended- by the English .Commander M'ltliam Weston early •in tlmldth century. (The writer visit* ■txl-t-ho Church of St. James, Clerkenwell, in 1915, and saw the very beautiful altar tomb erected there to the niemprv of this famous, warrior). In tlieii tour through Rhodes the pilgrims ot St. John surveyed the ruins where 'Cicero and Ju’ius Caesar had studied the science of oratory. Just before they left for. Malta the SubPrior of Britain despatched the following telegram to His Majesty the King of Italy: .“The members of the Grand Priory rdf,-the Older of St. John of Jerusalem'" in England visiting the scenes •of the .ancient activities of the Order humbly offer their salutations to His Majesty and desire to express their hig:> appreciation of the generous hospitalitv .and welcome of the Governor and,.lnhabitants of Rhodes.“—(signed) Scarbrough, Sub-Prior.

(Next Chapter, XII. Malta.)