Faithful Observations: The Mayflower — 400th anniversary
But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. — Deuteronomy 8:18
2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ Mayflower voyage. This exciting story reveals how God worked through a relatively small but dedicated group of believers to gain freedom of religion. The founding of America, the story of freedom and our godly heritage began long before 1776 and what a story it is!
On Sept. 16, 1620, 102 pilgrims, 54 of whom were religious separatists seeking religious freedom, set out. Imagine if you will, crammed on that ship for the last two weeks and the voyage is not even halfway over.
This overcrowded, undersupplied Mayflower left Plymouth, England, for the New World. The harrowing time at sea was more than anyone had bargained for. But on Nov. 19, land (the tip of Cape Cod) was finally sighted. Assuming that it would be wise to find a place to settle near the Hudson River, the ship headed south but found the waters treacherous and thus returned that evening to the inner Cape.
The Mayflower anchored off Provincetown, and on Nov. 21, nearly nine weeks after departing England, some of the men left the ship to stand on dry land.
According to their leader, William Bradford, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean …” (Of Plymouth Plantation, 58-61).
Their arrival in the New World was a happy sight; but it came with more problems than they would realize. Some of the “strangers” on board the Mayflower were already getting restless and realized that since they were not in the Virginia Territory they were answerable to nobody. On account of the slowly growing faction, Bradford thought it wise to establish a document that would act as their governing guide.
This document, today called the Mayflower Compact, was agreed to and signed by 41 men. From its crude beginning in Plymouth, self-government evolved into the town meetings of New England and larger local governments in colonial America. Born out of necessity on the Mayflower, the Compact made a significant contribution to the creation of a new democratic nation.
When they sailed from England, the Pilgrims knew well they could die from the New World's harsh winters or Native Americans' arrows. But they still came. Then half their number — 51 out of 102 — died the first winter. They literally put everything on the line for what they believed, and were willing to lose their life — half of them — for future generations, they believed it so much.
Food was so scarce when the Pilgrims arrived in a harsh winter, they were each rationed just five kernels of corn a day. And 14 of the 18 Pilgrim mothers died because they kept giving their meager rations to their children.
They are famous for Thanksgiving Day, but the Pilgrims thanked God for everything. But little is taught today of what made them so thankful: of the miracles and moments where God's hand guided and saved them. The Pilgrims treated the Native Americans as equals, and thus made peace with them that lasted 55 years, unlike any other treaty whites made with Indians.
The story of Squanto and how he taught the Pilgrims about planting and harvesting is a miracle in itself.
The story of America has instances of good and bad, beautiful and ugly, tragic and joyful. Unfortunately we have many teaching that America is a racist country and that racism has tainted every aspect of America’s founding and development.
The 1619 project is one example that makes the case that our founding ideals were false when they were written and that a fundamental restructuring of society needs to take place. It is about more than racism in that it manifests itself in the brutality of U.S, capitalism to the spread of sugar in diets around the world.
I believe the hand of providence has been on our country and our view of government and people reflect our relationship to our creator. In an age of absolute monarchs who ruled like God, the Pilgrims believed the radical idea that the real God made all humans equal, so no one of them should rule over all the others.
Any leaders should be elected by the community and should be servants of the people, not lords over them.
For more information about this topic here are some excellent sources: The Jenney museum in Plymouth (thejenney.org) has materials that are excellent.
Many are unaware of the National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, dedicated in 1889 it is a story in itself about our core values — faith, morality, trust in law, education and liberty. Kirk Cameron made an excellent video of this and it is available also from the Jenney Museum.
As we celebrate this 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing let us reconnect to our values and heritage and reliance on God.
“Remember the former things long past, For I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like Me.” — Isaiah 46:9
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Bob Shillingstad’s columns appear Saturdays in The Press. Email Bob: bjshill@mac.com