A Special Thanksgiving Message
It is easy to forget the story of the first Thanksgiving with all of the distractions the holiday season brings; cooking, baking, shopping, the Christmas music playing on the radio etc., so we at Kimber Academy have put together from our resources a little reminder of this celebration and hope you can share this message with your friends and family. First, let us get acquainted with the Pilgrims.
Who Were the Pilgrims?
The Pilgrims are often confused with the Puritans. Although both faced religious persecution in England, their religious views were quite different. In his book The Majesty of God’s Law, Dr. W. Cleon Skousen gives an explanation of how to distinguish the two:
“From a religious standpoint the Pilgrims were called ‘Separatists’ which meant they wanted to set up a church completely independent of the Church of England where King James was the spiritual father. The Pilgrims thought the Church of England was too much like the Catholic Church in its theology as well as its ordinances. So they wanted to set up a new church more like the one they felt existed in New Testament times.
“King James could not believe anyone would want to leave his church. He objected strenuously to the Pilgrims or Separatists as though they were committing treason against the Crown. Heresy was already considered a capital crime and King James thought the setting up of a separate church was almost worse than treason. Wherever Separatists could be found he ordered a heavy dose of punishment. It might be imprisonment in rat-infested prisons, the slitting of noses, the cutting off of ears and the confiscation of property. In some cases he ordered outright execution.
“In contrast to the Separatists (which included the Pilgrims), the situation with the so-called Puritans was quite different—at least, in the beginning. The Puritans wanted to reform the Church of England but do so by purifying it from within. They therefore boldly rejected the idea of separation from the Church—which at first was pleasing to the king—but when he learned they were also laying plans to radically change the doctrines and ceremonies of the Church from the inside, he was furious. By 1620 the king got around to persecuting the Puritans as fiercely as he had the Pilgrims or Separatists.
“In fact, by the time the Puritans got to America they had suffered sufficiently to turn them into ‘separatists.’”
Because of the difficult circumstances they faced in England, it was decided among many of the Pilgrims to move to Holland (now called Netherlands), so that they could worship God as they pleased. Among this group was a young man named William Bradford who was eighteen years old at the time and would later play a major role in the lives of these people. It was around this time when the colony in Jamestown, Virginia was established in 1607.
Refuge in Holland
The Separatists lived in Holland for over ten years and although they had religious freedom, other problems began to arise. Not only was it hard for them to make a good living, but their children were learning the Dutch language and customs which made it difficult for their parents to understand them. The Pilgrims’ journal, compiled and published in 1849, gives us an idea of the conditions they faced in Holland and what motivated their decision to flee to America:
“God awoke within them the great purpose of crossing the ocean, and incited them to it by many inducements, providences, and trials, inward and external. God made them unwilling to bear the thought of so being exiles as to cut themselves forever off from the language, the laws, the name, and the home of Englishmen.They saw that in Holland they were in danger of this; that to this, indeed, they were fast coming. God made them to see also that by the dissolution of foreign examples, the licentiousness of the youth around them, and the great temptations of the city, their children were becoming a prey to the great adversary of their souls, were tempted to join the army, to embark on dangerous voyages, and engage in vicious courses, so that they had reason to fear a degenerate posterity, and religion dying among them. God made them to note with grief the great and constant profanation of the Sabbath around them, and that all their efforts to stop the tide of immorality were unavailing. They desired a Christian Sabbath, they desired English laws, the English language, English manners, and an English home and education for their children . These thoughts and anxieties God caused to burn within them. Above all, God suggested and excited in their hearts, what was at that day a peculiarity and a marvel of Christian experience, and a prophecy of the missionary spirit that should come, ‘an inward zeal and great hope;’ in the language of Governor Bradford, ‘of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be as stepping stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.’”
It becomes more and more obvious that Pilgrims were following of God’s counsel, which was to “take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons” (Deuteronomy 4:9).
Voyage and Arrival
In the Summer of 1620, they had everything ready to leave Holland and two ships to take them on their journey: the Mayflower and the Speedwell. However, the Speedwell had to come back to shore after they noticed the ship had many leaks. The Captain knew the ship wouldn’t make it, so only the Mayflower continued onward. Of the 101 people on the ship, only 35 were Separatists. The journey was harsh as the Pilgrims suffered below the dark and smelly deck for two long months and many of them became very sick. Two passengers died and two babies were born on the trip, but despite their hardships they made it through and reached the New World in what is now known as Massachusetts.
When they finally reached land in November, a meeting was called inside the ship and attended by all adult males in the vessel, which included Bradford. The purpose was for them to establish a form of self-government, which they deemed important for their freedom and unity. Thus, the Mayflower Compact was written and signed by all the leaders, stranger and separatist.
A Miraculous Event
As soon as they were getting settled in this new land, the Pilgrims had a frightening encounter with the Native People which convinced them to find a safer place for their settlement. After exploring the neighboring area, a handful of men discovered an abandoned Indian settlement that met their needs which is called Plymouth. There, the Pilgrims began to build their homes, but the trials only increased.
Almost all the members of the colony became ill including the elected governor, John Carver. Within five months half of the entire settlement were dead including Carver, and all but four of the women. Bradford succeeded Carver as the people’s new Governor. In April 1621, the Mayflower sailed back to England and not one member of the colony chose to leave with it.
Soon after, something miraculous happened. One morning, the Pilgrims were in shock when an Indian walked into their settlement to meet them and spoke with them in English! He told them his name was Samoset. He was invited to eat with them and he told them about where he lived and about his tribe. Before he left, they gave Samoset some gifts. He was very happy and said he would return. Samoset visited the settlement again, this time with five other indians. On the third visit, he brought with him another Indian named Squanto.
Squanto spoke better English than Samoset. When he was a boy, Squanto was kidnapped and taken to England where he learned the language. When he returned, all of his tribe had died and he was left alone. Squanto helped the Pilgrims in many ways. He showed them that by burying a fish with the corn seeds would make the soil richer. He taught them how to catch fish in the nearby brooks and how to tread eels out of the soft mud.
When Chief Massosoit came to visit the Pilgrims, it was Squanto who helped arrange a peace treaty between them which lasted for many years. When September came, the Indians showed the Pilgrims how to harvest the crop and Governor Bradford with the other leaders decided to hold a three day feast in October to celebrate. Ninety Indian braves attended the feast with their chiefs and brought much of the food. It is without a doubt that without Squanto, the Pilgrims would have never survived. It is possible that they would have all died of starvation or killed by the neighboring tribes. That Squanto had a kind heart and willing to help others, it is clear that he was prepared for the very purpose of saving the Pilgrims. He was the miracle they prayed for.
Conclusion
The true story of the Pilgrims shows us a lot about the spirit of freedom and friendship. When they sought out freedom to be righteous, they were led to a place prepared for them, and that despite all their trials they were blessed with unexpected friendships to carry out their righteous desires. George B. Cheever, author and compiler of the Pilgrims’ journals, summarizes the meaning of this holiday:
“The festival of an Annual Thanksgiving, original among the Jews, and of God’s own appointment, was never in like manner observed among any Gentile nation, that we are aware of, till our Pilgrim Fathers renewed it in New England. Days of feasting and merriment there have been many; Saints’ days copied from the Romish Calendar, almost numberless; festivals of Christmas, and Spring carnivals, and holidays; but nothing like the Thanksgiving feast of harvest for the annual bounties of God’s providence, of which the grateful, joyful feast of Tabernacles among the Hebrews was so perfect and delightful an example. Yet not as an imitation did it grow up into a habit with our fathers; it was the suggestion and the dictate of their own habitual and grateful piety; and it is so accordant with every impulse of religion, and every feeling of a thankful heart, that from its home and birthplace in New England, the custom has at length found its way over the whole United States, a custom, we trust in God, which never will be broken”
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.