Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/619

Rh “Sworn at Guildhall, in the City of London, this 24th day of February, 1834, before me “ "(Signed) .”

From that time the km gue has continued to advance in numbers and prosperity, and has endeavoured by works of usefulness and charity to follow in the footsteps of the parent Order of old.

Those labours have not been unimportant, as may be seen by the following list of the principal objects which have engaged its attention:—

Providing convalescent patients of hospitals (without distinction of creed) with such nourishing diets as are medically ordered, so as to aid their return, at the earliest possible time, to the business of life and the support of their families.

The (original) institution in England of what is now known as the “National Society for Aid to Sick and Wounded in War.”

The foundation and maintenance of cottage hospitals and convalescent homes.

Providing the means and opportunities for local training of nurses for the sick poor; and the foundation of what is now known as the metropolitan and national society for training and supplying such nurses.

The promotion of a more intimate acquaintance with the wants of the poor in time of sickness.

The establishment of ambulance litters, for the conveyance of sick and injured persons in the colliery and mining districts, and in all large railway and other public departments and towns, as a means of preventing much aggravation of human suffering.

The award of silver and bronze medals, and certificates of honour, for special services on land in the cause of humanity.

The initiation and organization during the Turco-Servian war of the “Eastern War Sick and Wounded Relief Fund.”

The institution of the “St. John Ambulance Association” for instruction in the preliminary treatment of the injured in peace and the wounded in war.

The object of this association is for the purpose of disseminating information as to the preliminary treatment of the sick