The Landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth: 400th Anniversary of Forefathers Day
Forefathers Day, the day the Pilgrims stepped on Plymouth Rock,…
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together… – William Bradford
They were known by many names: Separatists, Brownists, Pilgrims.
For 400 years we have honored their sacrifice, praised their determination and hard work, and marveled at their miraculous story.
Who were they and why did they choose to face death by coming to the new world?
The Pilgrim’s beliefs on government and religion influenced the Puritans, all of New England and the new nation.
Their stories were studied by school children for over 300 years. Their principles set the standard of success for a colony, a nation and hemisphere. Eventually all Western civilization embraced concepts pioneered by the Pilgrims.
In December of 1620 a single ship dropped anchor in Plymouth harbor and a small group rowed to shore and stepped out of their skiff onto a large rock. The Pilgrim’s determination, rooted in their faith, saw them through countless trials and struggles. Their success in Plymouth inspired a mass migration that eventually resulted in the colonization of America. Plymouth’s history is memorialized in its many monuments.
In the United States, we are so comfortable with the Pilgrims' legacy of religious freedom that it is hard for us to imagine being forced to attend parish church or face dire consequences. We take for granted the fact that the state does not enforce...
Consider for a moment the year 1820, the two hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrims. Daniel Webster came to Plymouth, Massachusetts and on Forefathers Day declared:
"…let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were...
When discussing significant numbers in scripture, scholars often point to various instances of the number 400. For example, a 400-year period exists between God's fulfilling his pledge to Abraham that he would have a son, Isaac, and the children of Israel leaving Egyptian bondage. Additionally,...
Forefathers Day, the day the Pilgrims stepped on Plymouth Rock,…
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