Pro Fide: An Honor of a Lifetime

The arms of the Venerable Order of the Hospital 
of St. John of Jerusalem as granted by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

"The KING has been graciously pleased to sanction the following Promotions in, and Admissions to, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem with effect from 4 April 2024 the date of His Majesty's sign-manual."  With those words published in the 19 April 2024 edition of The London Gazette, I found myself officially a member of the Order of St. John.  Even now, well over a week or more since the announcement, I still have moments of "that can't be true."  I consider this appointment to be an extraordinary "honour," one that defies my own belief in many ways. 

The coat of arms of Chad Krouse rendered by Quentin Peacock.
I added the OStJ member medal.

Of course, there is a heraldic element in this as well.  To help curb my excitement, I spent some time studying the arms of US Priory which were granted by the College of Arms in 1996 in recognition of its elevation to a priory.  The 1996 grant effectively replaced an earlier grant from 1988--made to the "American Society of the Order of St. John."  

Arms of the American Society of the Order of St. John
as granted by the College of Arms in 1988.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The blazon for the arms of the American Society of the Order of St. John, granted by the College of Arms in 1988: "Gules, a cross Argent in the first quarter the Royal Crest proper and on the cross a Bald Eagle displayed proper."

The arms of the US Priory of the Order of St. John
as granted by the College of Arms in 1996.

By 1996, the American Society was elevated in status to that of a priory and was granted new arms from the College of Arms.  The US Priory's coat of arms blazon:  “Gules a cross Argent in the first quarter the Royal Crest proper differenced by charging the cross with a roundel Azure thereon the head of a Bald Eagle erased Argent armed Or within a Circlet of thirteen Mullets Argent.”

The Order has two mottos:  Pro Fide and Pro Utilitate Hominum.  These two mottoes are translated from Latin, "for the faith," and "in the service to humanity."  Noble goals for us to work towards.  

Banner of arms, the Order of St. John
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The priory's investiture will be held at one of my favorite parishes, St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, in October this year.  

Crossed banners of arms:  St. Thomas Church and the US Priory of the Order of St. John
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Coincidentally, St. Thomas' received a devisal of arms from the herald's college in 1975, blazoned: "Or, on a cross formy throughout Azure between four closed books saltirewise Gules garnished and a each charged with a long cross a spear Or headed Argent."  

Arms of St. Thomas Parish on Fifth Avenue in New York City
received as a devisal from the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The parish's coat of arms is simple, clear, and quite striking--the work of its beloved rector, The Rev. Canon John Andrew, OBE (1931-2014) affectionately known as the Pursuivant of Manhattan.

I'll certainly post some photos from the service.  Pro Fide!