In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour 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 into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620
As our thoughts begin to turn to the the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday most of us are preoccupied with travel plans,thoughts of turkey and all the trimmings, and getting together with family and friends. Most of us will take little time to think about the Pilgrims-outside of some stereotypical images we have of them-who held the first thanksgiving-and- what bearing their lives and sacrifices mean to us.
The first Anglo Saxon colonists to this country were a hardy and intrepid bunch of deeply devoted Christians, seeking freedom to practice their faith unfettered and unadulterated by European culture. They also set the stage for American self determination. Their "May Flower Compact is the first of this county's founding document. It was a compact among them selves-a contract if you will with each other-to lay a framework for how they would deal in and amongst themselves, to create order,secure tranquility, and set up a mode of self governance that would eventually find it's culmination in our Constitution.
It is only fitting- at this time of giving thanks for all we have-that we reflect on the great gift of freedom and self determination that these men and women suffered and sacrificed for,and,handed down to us. So this Thanksgiving take time to give thanks for them,the Mayflower Compact, and the example of liberty and freedom that they set for us all.
