AMD dinner

This year's Spring Dinner started with a guided tour of the Museum of the Order of St. John, with our party of over 25 members and partners being given a very informative talk about the history of the Order and its buildings in London. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem established its English headquarters in Clerkenwell in the 1140s, with a Priory and 11 acres of land. However, with the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, the Order was stripped of its assets and - in England - the Order ceased to exist. It continued to thrive in Europe, though - becoming the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhod

AMD gate

es and of Malta.

Meanwhile, fast forwarding to the 1800s, a number of wealthy Victorian gentlemen (many of whom were Masons) set up a dining club under the banner of the Order of St John and - in an age of industrial revolution with plenty of work-related accidents - combined their "Order" with philanthropy and started to teach first aid. The "Order" went on to also establish an eye hospital in Jerusalem, and of course, the ambulance service. The "Order" came to the attention of Queen Victoria who, in 1888, gave it a Royal Charter and so the modern Order of St John of England was born.

During the tour, we also learnt more about the original medieval Order. Known as the Hospitallers, the members cared for anyone, without distinction of race or faith. After the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, the Hospitallers also took on a military role and they became known as the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Our tour guide told us about the siege of Malta, and the acts of barbarism committed by both the besiegers (the Turks) and the beseiged (the Knights and people of Malta).

Having completed the tour, which included a visit to the nearby Templar church, the group walked to a very local restaurant for pre-dinner drinks and an excellent meal in a private dining room.

AMD hall

 

Next Meetings

02
Apr
Mark Masons' Hall
Grand Tilers of Solomon

09
Apr
Mark Masons' Hall
We will be holding our Spring Lunch on Tuesday 9th April. This year we will be having a lunch and a talk

12
Apr
Mark Masons' Hall

04
May
Mark Masons' Hall

08
May
Mark Masons' Hall

21
May
Mark Masons' Hall
Installation Meeting

24
May
Mark Masons' Hall
Installation Meeting

18
Jun
Mark Masons' Hall

19
Jun
Mark Masons' Hall

26
Jun
Mark Masons' Hall

10
Jul
Mark Masons' Hall
Installation Meeting

10
Jul
Mark Masons' Hall
Installation Meeting

17
Jul
TBD
New Members Dinner Details to follow

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