History of How Princess Victoria Came to Know the Truth

Bill (William) Carroll (1876-1953) and Maggie Carroll were a married couple workers and they had their baby daughter May Carroll with them in the ministry. They entered the itinerant ministry in Ireland and brought the gospel to England in 1899. They took the gospel to Australia later on.

 

Margaret Carroll last was on the Victoria list in 1940. Their daughter, May, was born in 1899. Later, May Carroll married Dolph Schulz (an ex-worker). May Carroll Schulz wrote Hymn numbers 195, 279, 258, and 315. In January, 1948, Bill (William) Carroll spoke at convention about John Pattison, an 83 years old worker (minister) on his way from Ireland back to Bolivia. He has laboured about 50 years in South America. He told us some very interesting things about a Royal family in England. He had 15 letters of Princess Victoria’s handwriting to sister workers, Maggie Patton and Emily Ruddle.

 

John Pattison was with Eddie Cooney as companions at the time when they held open-air gospel meetings, in Hyde Park, London (England) in 1917. According to Mary E. Coles’ testimony, she was born 5/5/1878 in Cornwall, England. One bleak, wet day, four strangers knocked at John Coles’ (Mary’s father) rectory door, asking permission to use the mission hall for several weeks, in order to have some gospel meetings. These workers were George Walker, William Irvine, Willie Weir, and Eddie Cooney. Most of them were fresh from Ireland. John Coles explained that he couldn’t pay them any salary, and they said, “Jesus didn’t get a salary,” and they didn’t expect one either. John Coles told them the congregation was poor, and not much in the collection plate, so they told him they didn’t take up a collection. He said they were welcome to use the hall. Mary Coles (John’s daughter) offered to play the organ for their gospel meetings and they accepted. She never heard such preaching and she was spellbound! Her father, of course, was becoming more and more irate as their message was slowly brought home. The difference between his paid ministry was made so clear.

 

We don’t know how long it was before John Coles asked them to leave, but they asked to have one more meeting, so they could inform those who were coming, and he granted that wish. They tested the meeting and Mary Coles was the “only one” who saw the differences, and had the courage to make her choice. Naturally, her father was furious and his pride was hurt before his congregation. In a moment of anger, he ordered her to leave and not ever come back. This date was May 1,1899. She had turned 21 years old.

 

Heartsick, but knowing her choice was the right one, she fled across London to where Bill and Maggie Carroll (married couple workers) were having gospel meetings in a used store building. They had heard the gospel in Ireland and were enthusiastically carrying it to England, in spite the fact they had were married, and had a baby, when they heard and accepted the gospel. They received Mary and suggested that she should stay with them. They all lived in the upstairs building and had meetings downstairs. It was during this time, the baby became very ill. The drafty storeroom, and not enough nourishing food aggravated the situation. Mary Coles watched Bill and Maggie arrive at the terrible decision to part with their little baby, in order to continue in the ministry. They took the baby home to Ireland to be raised by Mrs. Shultz. One can imagine the impression this made on Mary Coles! If these people could put the work of the gospel even before their own little girl, how could she withhold her life from the work?

 

It was arranged for Mary to join Bill Carroll’s sister, May Carroll, to be her companion in the work. The two girls preached in the villages of Ireland. They visited folks on bicycles. Sometimes they were received, but at other time potatoes or clumps of dirt thrown at them pelted them! They attended a convention at Crocknacrieve, Ireland. At this convention, an appeal was made for workers (ministers) to go to America, and Mary Coles volunteered. According to an old letter, she and two other girls, plus five brothers who were: Willie Wier (left England) Dave Lyness, Jim Jardine, Frank Scott, Bella Cook sailed for New York, in December 1904.

 

Eddie Cooney (stayed in England preaching the gospel). George Walker (left England) William Irvine (left England), Jack Carroll (May Carroll’s brother) left Ireland and they came to the USA in 1903. Among the first to bring the 2×2 itinerant ministry of Jesus were Irvine Weir, James Nicole, Walter Jardine, Samuel Charleston, Anna Groves, and May Underwood (most of them were unmarried).

 

John Pattison was with Eddie Cooney as companions at the time when they held open-air meetings, in Hyde Park, London 1917. How did Prince Victoria hear the gospel of Jesus Christ? It was through Daisy Bassett, a professing maid who was working at the Royal Palace in London. Daisy Bassett first came in contact with a professing (believer) lady on a train as she was returning from a visit with her soldier brother in the war, and asked for a contact in London. The name given to her was Ruth Jordan, a professing young lady from New Zealand, working in London, Royal Palace. Ruth got Daisy in touch with the Eddie Cooney and John Pattison and she attended their open-air gospel meetings in Hyde Park, and London in 1917. Soon after this, Daisy made her choice to serve God and accept Jesus as her Saviour in 1917.

 

One morning as Daisy Basett was dressing Lady Keppel’s hair, Lady Keppell was a lady in waiting to Princess Victoria and Sir Derek Keppell was the Master of the Household, i.e., taking oversight of all comings, goings and doings at the Palace. Lady Keppell asked Daisy if she would like to use a spare permit to attend the chapel service with the Royal Family? This was supposed to be a high honor. Daisy graciously declined and she told her testimony to Lady Keppell. She was so taken back with all Daisy had said.

 

Lady Keppell was so impressed; she wanted Princess Victoria to hear it, also. Then one day, Prince Victoria approached Daisy and said, “They tell me you worship in a stable?” The Princess got so interested by what Daisy told her that she got in touch with the workers through letters. One night, Daisy brought a letter addressed, “To the man of God” and had others pass it to Eddie Cooney and John Pattison. Daisy asked the Princess if she would like to correspond with two sister workers, Maggie Patton and Emily Ruddle. Their letters were a great help to her and she was a needy soul. This was going on for 3 years before they found out the sister worker’s letters were getting through to Princess Victoria, and they made it difficult for Daisy. She was constantly being brought to the Stateroom before the Council, and she was given strength and wisdom to face the challenge. Princess Victoria, (1868-1935) was a granddaughter to Queen Victoria, sister to King George V and King Edward that left the throne to be married to a commoner widow. The daughter of Edward VII and Alexander, sister to Queen Maud of Norway, Princess Victoria was 49 years old and unmarried when she met the truth in Jesus through hearing the testimony of Daisy Bassett. Princess Victoria was raised when England was at the height of its glory, and the Royal Family was the most elevated family on earth. Thus, she was used to moving among the great ones of this world.

 

It is touching to think of such a person having so great a desire to attend our meetings, in spite of the scorn of our meeting place being called “a stable,” and having such joy in belonging to the family of God, even counting the days when she could get to meetings, and to notice the Princess was prepared to pay in holding to her faith. In the book Memoirs of King Edward VII, it tells of the last time Victoria danced at the Palace. Once, I remember when she was expecting to attend the gospel meeting. She had decided to come with Daisy, but Lord Stamfordham stopped her and Daisy had to go alone. Lord Stamfordham brought the archbishop of London to try to persuade Daisy not to go to the meetings. He asked, “Do you go to meetings in the stable?” She said, “No, but if so that would be no dishonour! Jesus was born in a stable.” Daisy and Princess Victoria raised a storm in the Palace. Lord Stamfordham, who ruled the Palace and another high up made it very hard for Daisy. They suspected Daisy and Ruth Jordan were German spies, and had the Scotland Yard to shadow them. This was a serious charge, while England was engaged in a deadly war. Lord Stamfordham threatened Daisy and said when War World I was over, he would “stamp out” this “Stable Religion” out of the country. He had also arranged that Victoria was being watched.

 

Victoria’s mother, Alexandra, who was known for her kindness, gave Victoria permission to get to the meetings, and she was expected to be at a convention in Ireland in 1919, which the Lord Stamfordham put a stop to. That aroused him so much that he managed to have Princess Victoria banished to castle on the Isle of Wight, where she was cut off from all connection with God’s people and servants. That must have been not much later than 1920. When Princess Victoria wrote the last of these letters, she was leaving the Royal Palace to live at Coppin, Iver Buckinghamshire, which seemed to be her personal property. Daisy and Jordan left the Royal Palace at the same time for health reasons: nerves. There can be no doubt they could have avoided this fate, had they have been willing to give up their faith. Little known of Daisy after she left the Palace. There seemed to be no sure information, only she died soon after.

 

Daisy certainly had a great heart for the things of God, and was used by Him to make the truth of Jesus known at the Royal Palace, to where very few had access. We know very little about Princess Victoria during the 15 years from when she was cut off from us, until she died Dec 3, 1935. Books tell us about King George V’s latter years. Victoria was the only person who could speak to him in tones of equality, and that it was a fearful blow to him when she died. “None,” he said, “had a sister like her.” The book said she was deeply mourned by King George V, and that she lived a religious life. It had also stated that she renounced all social engagements, and lived a very quiet life in her latter years.

 

Bill (William) Carroll died November 12, 1953. Margaret Carroll was last on the Victoria worker’s list in 1940.

 

Testimony by Ruth Jordan: “The gospel of Jesus Christ is no respecter of persons, regardless of what a person’s background, and life nationality, or what national circumstances the gospel finds them in, and provision is made for them to become new creatures in Christ, and He the God of their strength, can keep them until their time of departure. Hannah’s prayer came to my mind, in her confidence of what God can do with submission of heart ‘raised it up and set them among princes,’ a truly wonderful work done by the gospel, as you said, not many earthly Royal become Royalty in the greatest kingdoms.

 

It was during 1917-1920 that Princess Victoria made the choice in her heart to serve Jesus, and when Sir Derek found out what was taking place, by the Princess not attending any social activities, then he called together the Royal Council, which was made up of 12 Lords and the Archbishop of York, who was Comos Lang. Daisy had to appear in the State Room and gave her testimony, and real anger arose from then on; we were shadowed by two Palace detectives wherever we went. Daisy’s nerves broke down by the constant evil things said and done; she finished by a severe break down. I love to think that Daisy and Princess Victoria are now enjoying the supreme fellowship in His restful everlasting kingdom. At the time this event took place, both Daisy and I felt, “This thing is of the Lord,” and it was a privilege to watch His working on the clay. I could not forget what Princess Victoria, said that she was “tired of being somebody and welcomed the chance of being a nobody.” As time passed, we saw this really taking place slowly and quietly, the yielded clay was taking shape of what was in the mind of the Potter (God). The Queen and her daughter, Princess Victoria, were deeply drawn to the warmth of His Spirit, and like Moses, being filled with the meekness of His son.”

 

Paul, the Apostle, had a similar experience in Caesar’s Palace (Rome) in 68 A.D. when he explained to the Philippian Christians of his imprisonment (Philippians 1:12-17), “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what had happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole Palace guard, and to everyone else, that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (New International Version)

 

It has become apparent to all who know of Paul’s situation that he is imprisoned, not because he is guilty of some crime, but on account of his stand for the gospel. The Palace guard in Rome a contingent of soldiers, numbering several thousand, many of whom would have personal contact with Paul, or would have been assigned individually to guard him during the course of his imprisonment in Rome, was according to the will of God which was foretold to him 30 years earlier by Christ Himself! (Acts 9: 1-15) The Lord Jesus said unto Ananias, “Go thy way for he (Saul/Paul) is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, ‘For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.'” (Acts 24: 24-25) When Felix the governor and his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, and I will call for thee.” (Acts 23: 11) The Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” (Acts 25: 11) Paul told Festus the new governor, “I appeal to Caesar.” (Acts 26: 27-29) Paul appeared before King Aprippa, before he went to Rome said, King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then king Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Paul said, “I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Paul was beheaded, and Peter crucified in Rome 68 A.D.

 

The present Queen Elizabeth also had been in touch with the truth. One year she visited Germany, and all English subjects were invited to have a meal with the Queen. One of the sister workers, Jean Mansfield from England, was in the number. She went to the dinner, and the Queen asked her about her work. Jean told her a little, and the Queen seemed to listen, but never seemed to go further than that with her. Wonder what she would have said if Jean had told her, “This is the same belief your great aunt Princess Victoria believed in.”

 

(Acts 10:34-36) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation, he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. The Word, which God sent unto the Children of Israel, was preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (He is the Lord of all). That Word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John the Baptist preached. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power….” (33 A.D) Before His resurrection Jesus told His disciples (Matthew 24:14) and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL nations; and then shall the end come. After His resurrection, Jesus commanded the disciples, “All power is given Me in heaven and in the earth. Go, ye therefore, and teach ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”