This page deals with the order after its revival in the 19th century. For the original order of St John, see Knights Hospitaller. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Knights Hospitaller (also known by such names as Knights of Rhodes, Knights of Malta, Cavaliers of Malta, and Order of St John of Jerusalem) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in Jerusalem, following the First Crusade, ca. ...

The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, or Order of St John to use its short title, is a British-based royal order of chivalry, and is found throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as the United States of America. Whilst members are mainly of the Protestant faith, those of other Christian denominations may be honoured with appointment and be accepted into the Order. Honorary membership is also presented to some distinguished adherents of other religions. Membership of the Order is by invitation only, and individuals may not petition for admission. It is perhaps better known through its largest service organisation, St. John Ambulance, whose membership is not limited to any denomination or religion. A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. ... See also order of chivalry Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... A religious denomination, (also simply denomination) is a large, long-established subgroup within a religion that has been in existence for many years. ... St. ...

The History of the Order of St John

The Standard of the Order of St. John

In June 1826, the Council of the French Langues, which was an unofficial revival of the Order of Malta in France, sought to raise money by which to restore a homeland for the Order. The Council had decided upon a private venture, funded by subscription. Essentially they sought to create a mercenary army, attracting into its service some of the large numbers of unemployed English soldiers and utilise the cheap war surplus that was available. Philippe de Castelain, a French Knight, had been appointed to negotiate with suitable people in England. Donald Currie, a Scotsman living in England, was given the authority to raise £240,000. Both financial subscribers to the Scheme, and all Commissioned Officers of the mercenary army had the right to become Knights in the Order. Image File history File links Standard of the Order of St. ... Image File history File links Standard of the Order of St. ... 1826 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Knights Hospitaller (also known by such names as Knights of Rhodes, Knights of Malta, Cavaliers of Malta, and Order of St John of Jerusalem) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in Jerusalem, following the First Crusade, ca. ... A mercenary is a soldier who fights, or engages in warfare primarily for private gain, usually with little regard for ideological, national or political considerations. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 2,000,000,000,001. ... Scotsman may mean: a person from Scotland, in common parlance The Scotsman, a national newspaper based in Edinburgh, Scotland SCOTSMAN a well know mnemonic used by sales people to qualify project opportunities (Solution, Competition, Originality, Timescales, Size, Money, Authority, Need) The Scotsman, is the name of a character in the... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... In military organizations, an officer is a member of the service who holds a position of responsibility. ...

Although new Knights were created, little money was raised. The Greek war had been won without the help of the French Knights. Castelain and Currie were authorised by Chevalier de Sainte-Croix to form the Council of the English Langue. This was inaugurated on 12 January 1831. The executive power of the Council was given to a person who called himself 'Count' Alexander Mortara. The address for the Council was the "Auberge of St John, St John's Gate, St John's Square, Clerkenwell". This was none other than the public house "The Old Jerusalem Tavern", which occupied what had been the Gatehouse to the mediæval English Grand Priory. January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1831 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... St Johns Gate is one of the few tangible remains from Clerkenwells monastic past, it was built in 1504 by Prior Thomas Docwra as the south entrance to the inner precinct of the Priory of the Knights of Saint John - the Knights Hospitallers. ... Clerkenwell (pronounced clarkenwell) is a locality in the southermost part of the London Borough of Islington. ... An amusingly named pub: the Old New Inn at Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds (southwest Midlands of England) A pub in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh, Scotland A public house, usually known as a pub, is a drinking establishment found mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia...

The Reverend Robert Peat, Vicar of a Parish in Brentford, Middlesex, and a former Chaplain to King George IV was recruited as a member of the English Langue. Peat with other British members of the Langue expelled Mortara, accusing him of selling Knighthoods. The Council of the French Langues backed Mortara, and so from early 1832, there were two competing English Langues, the Langue led by Peat, being the unofficial English Langue. The rival organisations co-existed for five years, until the disappearance of Mortara early in 1837, when his organisation also disappeared. 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Following Peat's death in April 1837, Sir Henry Dymoke succeeded as Grand Prior, and under his leadership, contact was re-established with the Knights in France and Germany. The British Order sought official recognition from the Roman Catholic Headquarters of the Order of Malta but this was refused by Lieutenant Grand Master Commander Philippe de Colloredo-Mansfeld (1845-1864). Up to this point, the English organisation had only considered itself to be a Grand Priory and Langue of the Order. In response to the Roman Catholic Order's refusal of recognition, the English Priory declared itself to be the Sovereign Order in England, under the title "The Sovereign and Illustrious Order of St John of Jerusalem, Anglia". Dymoke, the name of an English family holding the office of kings champion. ... The Knights Hospitaller (also known by such names as Knights of Rhodes, Knights of Malta, Cavaliers of Malta, and Order of St John of Jerusalem) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in Jerusalem, following the First Crusade, ca. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

The English Order continued in its growth, and had been able to recruit the 7th Duke of Manchester, who became their Grand Prior in 1861. The beginnings of well-established national Hospitaller organisation began when the Order created a corps of Ambulances in the 1860s. In 1871 a new Constitution brought about a further change of name offering a more modest identity; "Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in England". In 1876, the Princess of Wales was recruited into membership, followed by the Prince of Wales. In 1877 the British Priory of the Order established St John Ambulance Associations in large railway centres and mining districts so that railway men and colliers might learn how to treat victims of accidents. This was followed up in 1887 with the creation of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. In 1882 the British Grand Priory founded a Hospice and Ophthalmic Dispensary in Jerusalem. The title Duke of Manchester was created for Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester, in 1719. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Prince of Wales Feathers. This Heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent is derived from the ostrich feathers borne by Edward, the Black Prince. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... St. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Already to their credit was the very practical and life saving work undertaken by both the Ambulance Brigade and Association. In terms of status, the biggest leap forward was the official recognition conveyed in 1888 by way of the granting of a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria, under the title "The Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England". The most recent Charter is dated 1955, with a supplemental charter in 1974. The 1974 Charter recognised the world-wide scope of the order by setting its current name and short title. The reigning monarch, at this time Queen Elizabeth II, serves as the Sovereign Head of the Order. 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

Whilst the British Order is ecumenical in membership, and from its early days counted Roman Catholics as members, it is identified with the Reformed tradition, through its Royal Head, who is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The British Order received collateral recognition from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) in 1963. The Christian ethos of the order is confirmed in the declaration which potential members must make, and which reads in part "and that I will endeavour always to uphold the aims of this Christian Order" The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ...

Alliance of Orders of St John of Jerusalem

The "Alliance of the Orders of St. John" consists of the British Order and three other primarily Protestant orders:

• Der Johanniterorden or Die Johanniter ("Die Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem") based in Germany and with associations in Austria, Finland, France, Hungary and Switzerland
• Johanniter Orde in Nederland based in the Netherlands
• Johanniterorden i Sverige based in Sweden.

The Alliance and the Catholic Sovereign Military Order of Malta form the "Mutually Recognised Orders of St. John" and none of these five recognise any of the other St John orders (which they describe as "self-styled"), their claims to be descended from the original order of St John or their right to use the name and symbols of the order. By contrast, the other orders often dispute the claims of the Alliance and Catholic orders, particularly those of the SMOM. Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem, english: Brandenburg Bailiwick of the Knights Order of the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem, also called Johannitter Order, German protestant branch of the Knights Hospitaller. ... The Knights Hospitaller (the or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in the 11th century based in the Holy Land, but soon became a militant Christian Chivalric Order under its own charter, and was charged with the care...

The Order in the United Kingdom

Composition

The British Sovereign is the Sovereign of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in the United Kingdom. The next most senior member of the Order is the Grand Prior which has been held by HRH The Duke of Gloucester since 1974. HRH The Duchess of Gloucester and HRH The Princess Royal are the two Dames Grand Cross of the Order, by date of appointment. The Sovereign makes all appointments to the Order as She in her absolute discretion shall think fit. Recommendations are made by the Grand Council. The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen_in_Parliament) legislative power. ... HRH The Duke of Gloucester Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Richard Alexander Walter George Windsor), styled HRH The Duke of Gloucester (born August 26, 1944), is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of King George V. He has held the title of Duke of Gloucester since his... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Image:Birgitte Van Deurs. ... The Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Laurence, formerly Phillips, née Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Princess Royal (born August 15, 1950), is a member of the British Royal Family. ...

The Order is divided into the following Classes:

• Grade I - Bailiffs or Dames Grand Cross (G.C.St.J)
• Grade II - Knights or Dames of Justice or Grace (K.St.J or D.St.J)
• Grade III - (a) Chaplains (Ch.St.J) and (b) Commanders (Brothers or Sisters) (C.St.J)
• Grade IV - Officers (Brothers or Sisters) (O.St.J)
• Grade V - Serving Brothers or Serving Sisters (S.B.St.J) or (S.S.St.J)
• Grade VI - Esquires (Esq.St.J)

Officers

The Order of St. John has, at least, 5 officers:

1. the Grand Prior
2. the Lord Prior of St. John
3. the Prelate
4. the Deputy Lord Prior(s), depending on Grand Prior’s need for one or two.
5. the Sub-Prelate

Other Principal Officers, such as that of the Secretary-General, and Honorary Officers, such as that of the Genealogist, can be appointed by the Grand Prior on the recommendation of the Grand Council. The Principal and Honorary Officers are appointed to hold office for such period not exceeding three years. The Grand Prior may also appoint a Secretary of the Order who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Prior or until resignation.

The Precedence within the Order is as follows:

1. The Sovereign Head
2. The Grand Prior
3. The Lord Prior of St. John
4. The Prior of a Priory or the Knight/Dame Commander of a Commandery when within the territory of the Establishment
5. The Prelate of the Order
6. The Deputy Lord Prior of the Deputy Lord Priors and if more than one in the order of seniority in their Grades
7. The Sub-Prior of the Order
8. Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross
9. The Prior of a Priory outside the territory of the Priory
10. The Members of the Grand Council not included above in the order of seniority in their Grades
11. The Principal Officers in the order of their offices
12. The Sub-Prelates
13. The Hospitaller of the Order
14. Knights and Dames
15. Chaplains
16. Commanders
17. Officers
18. Serving Brother and Serving Sisters
19. Esquires

Vestments And Accoutrements

Members of the Order wear elaborate costumes on important occasion for the Order, which vary by rank:

The Sovereign Head’s mantle has a train, and is of silk velvet, lined with white silk. The Badge, a 12” diameter, eight-pointed, or Maltese Cross, is on the left breast, and is embellished with gold, and surmounted with an Imperial Crown.

The Grand Prior’s mantle is similar, but has no train or crown.

Bailiffs Grand Cross (and Knights of Justice prior to 1926) formerly wore black silk robes, lined with black silk. Theses are now made, like those of Knights, of black merino. They are faced with black silk, bear a 12” white linen Badge of the Order on the left breast, embellished with gold coloured silk, and with the tongues in red.

Members of the Order of the Grades I and II wear black merino mantles, faced with black silk, and bearing a 12” white linen Badge of the Order on the left breast. The Badges of the Knights of Justice are embellished with gold coloured silk, those of Knights of Grace, or Associate Knight, with white silk embellishments.

Commanders, and Officers in the Chapter-General, also wear black merino mantles faced with black silk. Their Badges however are smaller, 9” and 6” respectively, of which linen, embellished in white silk.

A white enameled Star of eight points without embellishment, worn on the left.

The Badge of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

The Secretary of the Order, and of the priories and commanderies, wear mantles similar to those of Officers, with the Badge superimposed upon two goose quill pens embroidered saltire-wise in white silk. The Medical Officer of the St John Ophthalmic Hospital, Jerusalem, may wear a mantle of special pattern. Women have worn mantles since 1974. Esquires wear the mantle of an Officer. In New Zealand the mantle is worn by Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross, Knights and Dames, Commanders, and Officers in the Priory Chapter. Image File history File links CrossofVOSJ.jpg Summary The Badge of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem from the webpage of the American Priory of the Order. ... Image File history File links CrossofVOSJ.jpg Summary The Badge of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem from the webpage of the American Priory of the Order. ...

A riband of black watered silk, worn over the right shoulder, carries the Badge of Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross on the left hip. A similar, narrower riband carries the Badge of Knights and Dames of Justice and of Grace round the neck. Commanders wear the Badge round the neck, but women Commanders wear it from a bow on the left breast. Officers wear the Badge on the left breast, and Serving Brothers and Sisters wear a circular medal bearing the cross of the Order in white enamel on a black enamel background. The embellishment of the Badge for the third, fourth and fifth class members is silver.(12)

Beneath the mantle, in 1248 the knights were allowed a surcoat of black, with a white cross, and worn over armour. In 1259 this was changed to a red surcoat. By the fourteenth century surcoats had become shorter, more tight-fitting, and were called a jupon.

The modern sopra (or supra)-vest, formerly called a surcoat or under mantle, is a long coat of thin black cloth buttoning close down the neck and down one side, falling to the ankles. It is cut so as to entirely cover the tie, shirt, waistcoat and trousers. It is similar to a cassock, though it is a survival of the surcoat worn of the Order in ancient times (the supra vestis), rather than of the black fur-lined cassock or pellicea.

In the centre of the sopra-vest worn by Bailiffs Grand Cross is a plain eight-pointed cross of white cloth 12" in diameter.

Knights, Chaplains, or Commanders wear the sopra-vest plain, but the Badge is suspended from its riband so that it hangs about 6" below the Collar of the sopra-vest.

The sopra-vest is rarely worn in Australia or New Zealand.

The Prelate wears the Cope of the Order. Chaplains may wear a black silk full-sleeved robe bearing a 6" linen cross on the left breast, of gold embellished silk.

Clerical members of the Order may, when officiating, wear a tippet of black stuff(13) with red lining and edging and with red buttons. A 3" Badge is carried on the left breast. The tippet is worn over their cassock and surplice, or their non-conformist equivalent. Over the tippet a chaplain's Badge is worn around the neck. Meriwether Lewis wearing a tipped presented to him by Sacagaweas brother, Cameahwait. ...

A square black velvet cap with red edges and buttons may also be worn.

Precedence And Privileges

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem is not a State Order, but a Royal Order of Chivalry. Its decorations can be worn on military uniform, and announcements of appointments or promotions are made in the official government periodical, the London Gazette, as with any other Order. However, no grade confers any title or social precedence outside the order. Thus a "Knight of Grace" or a "Knight of Justice" is not entitled to use the title "Sir" which a knight of the State Orders of Chivalry uses. New knights of the Order receive the accolade from the Grand Prior when they are touched on the shoulder with a sword and receive their robes and insignia. Though the above Grades of the Order are given specific post-nominal letters, they only show that the recipient has been honoured unlike State Orders or Decorations which indicate precedence. Post-nominal letters also called Post-nominal initials or Post-nominal titles are letters placed after the name of an individual to indicate that that individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. ...

See also:

• List of the priors of St John of Jerusalem in England
• Museum of the Order of St John
• St. John Ambulance

The following were the Lord Priors of St John of Jerusalem in England, the Knights Hospitallers, until it was stripped of its properties and income by Henry VIII: Gabnabius, (or Gabnebius) of Naples, the first prior. ... The Museum of the Order of St. ... St. ...

External links

• Order of St. John
• St. John Ambulance in the UK
• Alliance of Orders of St. John
• Order of St. John in the United States
• Governor General's site for Canadian Order of St. John
• Order of St. John in Germany ("Johannitenorden"), in German
• St. John New Zealand