Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/597

Rh and the aged Prince Ferdinand its Grand-Master. Into this Order he received all who had been knights of the bailiwick of Brandenburg.

The Royal Prussian Order of St. John existed in this form till the year 1852, when King Frederick William IV., by a mandate dated on the 15th October, restored the original bailiwick of Brandenburg as far as the cancelling of the edict of his predecessor could effect that purpose. Corporate rights were bestowed on the revived bailiwick, and its internal constitution was regulated by statutes. On the 13th February, 1853, the king, as patron and sovereign of the institution nominated as commanders the eight oldest knights surviving of those who had received the accolade at Sonnenberg. These commanders assembled for the election of a Herren Meister, two candidates having been named by the king, between whom the selection was to be made. The choice fell unanimously upon Prince Charles of Prussia, and his nomination was confirmed by the king on the 17th May, 18.33. The reception of the prince by the Order, and his installation as Herren Meister, took place in the presence of the sovereign in the royal chapel at Charlottenburg. The old custom of informing the grand-prior of Germany of the election of a new Herren Meister was observed so far as practicable. The priorate of Germany and its grand-prior no longer existed, consequently t.he new Herren Meister addressed a letter to the lieutenant of the Grand-Master, Count Colloredo, at Rome, informing him that the bailiwick of Brandenburg was restored, and that he, Prince Charles, had been elected Herren Meister. Since then correspondence has always been maintained between the bailiwick and the authorities of the Order at Rome. This revived branch has since become well known throughout Europe under the name of the “Johanniter.” It has performed noble service on the lines of the parent institution by rendering aid to the wounded in the German campaigns of 1866 and 1870, and it took an active part in carrying out the Geneva convention.