Thought for the week: Dates that are important and deserve to be marked
The date that King William crossed the Boyne and defeated King James was July 1, 1690. But the question is often asked, if the battle was won on July 1, why do we celebrate it on July 12?
There are two important historical facts that need to be noted in answering that important question.
The victory at the Boyne was a significant turning point in the late 17th century Williamite wars in Ireland, but it did not bring those wars to a complete end. The fighting continued for just over a year after the battle of the Boyne, until the Battle at Aughrim in Galway in west Ireland.
It was the crucial and decisive battle at which James’s forces were completely defeated, and the Williamite wars in Ireland were brought to a victorious end for King William.
The date that the Battle of Aughrim was fought is very interesting, because it was July 12, 1691. Therefore, it is important to understand that it was the battle of Aughrim that was won on July 12, and as a result for many years July 12 was called Aughrim Day, to commemorate the battle.
The other reason that we commemorate the battle of the Boyne on July 12 is because in 1752 Britain started to use the Gregorian calendar. That calendar was named after Pope Gregory 13th, who had drafted it, and many countries in Europe were already using the Gregorian calendar. But most of the Protestant nations had opposed its introduction.
However, in 1752 Britain also adopted it and to bring the nation into line with the rest of Europe, 11 days were skipped from that year. People went to bed on September 2 and when they got up the next morning it was September 14.
Strictly speaking because of the change Aughrim Day should now be July 23, but it was decided to amalgamate the two dates. So, we celebrate the two great victories on July 12. As you consider the deliverances remembered on this important date of July 12, let me ask - do you have a date when you were delivered, not from your enemy but from sin?
Can you testify to a day in your life when you were saved by God’s grace? Can you sing from the heart the words of the hymn: "Happy day, Happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away"?
Being saved from a lost eternity is the greatest deliverance any person can experience. As the Apostle Peter stressed "we must be saved’"(Acts 4:12). Let today be the date of your soul’s salvation.