Victoria Day
In Canada, the celebration of Victoria Day occurs every year on Monday, prior to May 25th. It is the official celebration in Canada of the birthdays of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. Victoria Day was established as a holiday in Canada West (Now Ontario) in 1845, and became a national holiday in 1901. Before Victoria Day became a national Holiday, people had celebrated Empire Day , beginning in the 1890s as Victoria approached her Diamond jubilee in 1897.
Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India was born on 24 May 1819. She ascended the throne after the death of her uncle George IV in 1837 when she was only 18. She ruled until her death in 1901 when her son Edward the VII became king of England.
Post script...
Can We Be Sure?
Can we be sure we’ll spend eternity in heaven? Many people say you can’t be sure. Are they right? Does spending eternity in Heaven or Hell have to remain uncertain until it’s too late? Queen Victoria wanted to be sure. After attending a service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, she asked her Chaplain, “Can one be absolutely sure in this life of eternal safety?” Be he didn’t know any way to be certain.
The Court News published the remarks and John Townsend, an unassuming evangelist, saw them. After reading Queen Victoria’s question and the answer she had received, Townsend began to think and pray about answering her himself. Then he sent the following note to the Queen:
To her gracious Majesty, our beloved Queen Victoria, from one of her most humble subjects:
With trembling hands, but heartfelt love, and because I know that we can be absolutely sure now of our eternal life in the Home that Jesus went to prepare, may I ask your Most Gracious Majesty to read the following passages of Scripture: John 3:16; Romans 10:9,10?
These passages prove that there is full assurance of salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe and accept His finished work.
I sign myself, your servant for Jesus’ sake, John Townsend.
John Townsend told others about his letter to the Queen. Many prayers from many hearts went up to God. In about two weeks he received a modest-looking envelope containing the following letter:
To John Townsend: Your letter of recent date I received and in reply would state that I have carefully and prayerfully read the portions of Scripture referred to. I believe in the finished work of Christ for me, and trust by God’s grace to meet you in that Home of which He said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
(Signed) Victoria Guelph
The way of salvation is the same for a queen or a common citizen. The Bible verses John Townsend recommended to the Queen were:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9,10)
Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, on 22 January 1901 after a reign which lasted almost 64 years, the longest in British history.
She was buried at Windsor beside Prince Albert, in the Frogmore Royal Mausoleum, which she had built for their final resting place. Above the Mausoleum door are inscribed Victoria's words: 'farewell best beloved, here at last I shall rest with thee, with thee in Christ I shall rise again'
