“PROUD AND ANCIENT”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 228, 26 September 1931, Page 7

“PROUD AND ANCIENT”

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

INVESTITURE YESTERDAY A KNIGHT OF JUSTICE • WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. An investiture of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem took place at Government House at 10.45 a.m. to-day, when His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Blcdisloc) decorated the following:— Promoted to Knight of Justice: Colonel the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, K.C.V.0., K.8.E., chairman of Dominion Executive, Director of Ambulance for New Zealand, president Canterbury St. John Ambulance Association. During the war went overseas as Red Cross Commissioner for New Zea land. In an address delivered by the Grand Prior, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, at the centenary celebrations, a reference was made to Sir Heaton as the Knight Commander of the proposed Commandcry in New’ Zealand. Officer: Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. Elliott, M.D., chairman, Wellington Association. Lecturer for many years. Served in South Africa during South African War. In charge of hospital ship during late war. Has served on many public bodies, and is especially interested in cancer research. Past president New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. Serving Brother: Dr. L. A. Line, M. 8., Corps Surgeon Brigade. Has served on Wellington Association Committee. Very long service in brigade. Serving Sister. Mrs. Annie Helycr. Received Medallion 1895. Service Medal 1925. Connected with Nursing Division since 1908 4ind member Association Committee since 1920. His Excellency’s Address. Addressing the recipients, His Excellency said:— ‘ ‘ His Royal Highness tho Duke of Connaught, Grand Prior, and the Chapter-General of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, of which His Majesty the King is Sovereign head and patron, have asked me -to present to those 'entitled to receive them the insignia belonging to the respective ranks in this the most ancient Order of Chivalry in Europe to which they have recently been elevated. It is for this purpose that I have asked you to come here to-day. “As all of you are aware, the Order of St. John has a proud and ancient history, and may be said to have originated with the great ideal of that noble band of pilgrims who, in the year 1096, abandoned all that most men hold dear, in order, for the sake of the Christian t'aith, to join the first Crusade to the Holy Land. Three years later these pilgrims, at first a vast host, but gradually reduced by privation, hardship, and suffering, on their long and perilous journey across Europe and Asia Minor, to barely 20,000 men, lay camped around tho historic walls of the Holy City of Jerusalem, to which they laid siege and which after 40 days fell in face of their successful attack. From the very outset the Battle of the Cross was associated with the relief of human suffering and want.

Spirit of the Crusaders.

“The same spirit and zeal which animated those early Crusaders has inspired throughout the ages those who have been, and those who still are, members of this noble Order. Their devoted service to mankind in times of peace and war alike covers a period of more than eight* centuries. They have proved themselves worthy successors to those who in the time of Crusaders enlisted under tho banner of St. John in the service of the poor and afflicted. They continue to fight in the cause of humanity with tho same zeal and patience as their ancestors fought under the knights of old in defence of the Christian faith. iSTo cause can be more sacred or more ennobling than the relief of human suffering. Like the quality of mercy ‘ it blesses him who gives and him who takes/ It is for that great purpose that the Order exists. “This year is one of exceptional importance in the history of the Order, for it has witnessed the celebration throughout the British Empire of the centenary of the Order in England, an historic occasion which was marked in London by a special Investiture at Buckingham Palace on June 23, when His. Majesty the King decorated 160 members of the Order with their respective insignia. In connection with this centenary it should be mentioned that since the Reformation in Queen Elizabeth ’s reign this venerable Order had I ceased to exist in our Motherland, where it Had previously flourished for several centuries. But in 1831 the commission of French knights of the Order decided upon tho restoration of the Grand Priory of England. As this decision was not endorsed by the Sovereign Order, the English, Knights of St. John turned to their reigning Sovereign as their natural head, and since then the Order became, first a national Order, and subsequently (five years ago) a great Imperial Order of Chivalry, having as its objects those works of charity and humanity for which it has ever been famous. New Zealand Commandery. “Under the powers conferred by a Royal Charter of 1926 the Priory in Wales and the Commanderies in New Zealand and South Africa have now been authorised, and it is consequent upon the authorisation of the New Zealand Commandery that I undertake today my chief task at the request of thb Grand Prior and the ChapterGeneral. This I can best explain by quoting the words of His Royal High ness the Duke of Connaught in addressing the General Assembly of the Order at the centenary celebrations in England.

The actual establishment of a Commandery for New Zealand, to the formation of which His Majesty the King gave his approval last year, would have been in all probability accomplished by now, but has been temporarily delayed owing to the fact that Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Knight Commander, at the last moment was obliged to abandon his intention of

coming to this country for these celebrations and for tho purpose of settling the final details. “His Royal Highness added these further words in reference to this country: — Mention of New Zealand leads me to refer to the splendid work performed by the brigade in that Dominion during tho recent terrible earthquake at Napier and Hastings. Reports which we have of their services are beyond all praise. “A Commandery of the Order is therefore now about to bo established in New Zealand, with the appointment of Sir Heaton Rhodes as its Knight Commander. His appointment to-day as a “Knight of Justice” gives him precedence of rank in New’ Zealand, that being the highest of the honours which can be conferred in connection w’ith the Order, and he is at present the only person who will enjoy that distinction in this country.”