A GREAT WORK.

Wairarapa Age, 20 April 1933, Page 5

A GREAT WORK.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE. ADDRESS BY DISTRICT OFFICER. The origin, work and scope of the St. John Ambulance Brigade were traced in an interesting and informative manner by Mrs M. Stace, lady officer for the Wellington District, in an address delivered at a meeting, held last night under the auspices of the Masterson Division. In the course of her address Mrs Stace made a strong plea for increased membership, partieVfnrly for the women’s division, in order that the good work might be carried on with zeal and efficiency. Mr. J. C. Cooper, presided over a moderate attendance. y In introducing Mrs Stace, Mr. J. C. Cooper said the Masterton Division had done useful work, but he felt that they might have done even better had they been able to get an official from headquarters to come to Masterton and bring the work of the brigade before the public. There had been some trouble in that connection in the past, but he was happy that they had been able to get Mrs Stace to visit the town and give an address. Mrs Stace said she was very sorry that interest in the work of the St. John Brigade in Masterton had waned somewhat and trusted her lecure would result in increased membership, especially in the women’s division. After urging that as many as possible should learn first aid and pointing to the low cost of the course?, she went on to refer to the formation of the Knights of St. John in Jerusalem in the eleventh century. Very valuable work was done by this brotherhood in attending to the footsore and weary pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. A military order was later formed and this was to a great extent instrumental in ridding the Mediterranean of pirates. The badge of the order was the sign of Man’s Redemption. Its four arms symbolised the Christian virtues of Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude and its points represented the eight beatitudes which sprang from the practice of those virtues, while its 'whiteness was a reminder of the purity and integrity of life required by Christ’s soldiers and servants. The motto of the order was “pro utilitate hominum” (for the service of mankind). Throughout the intervening ’ centuries the order had had its ups and downs, but men and women had always been found to carry the torch onwards and it had finally come out on top. The order had been revived one hundred years ago last year and from that time association classes had been formed at which persons could learn first aid work. Mrs Stace then referred at' length to the work and scope of the brigade in its various branches and stressed the excellent work being done by the Nursing Guild. She did not see why a place like Masterton should not have *a fully qualified district nurse and suggested that appeals should be made to the Borough Council and the ' Trust Lands Trust for assistance towards the upkeep of a nurse. In view of the distress caused by unemployment, there was a great need at the present time for such nurses, who did wonderful work. She congratulated the men’s division on the good work it was doing and said that it was very satisfactory to note that it had a membership of 31. Mrs Stace concluded her address with a plea for increased membership for the women’s division. She was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of the chairman.