The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving
On Thursday November 27, millions of Americans will have a hearty meal with family members and friends. Some, but not most, will begin the meal with a prayer. Some will dig right into the food hoping to finish the meal before kickoff. However, members of the American Left, especially those of the self-loathing Caucasian persuasion, not only won’t celebrate the day but will lecture us about how the Pilgrims were evil exploiters of the Indigenous Peoples. But our Leftists friends would be wrong
Back in October 2021, Dr. Paul Jehyle of the Plymouth Rock Foundation hosted a two day event in Plymouth, MA which culminated in a “If My People” Rally at the Forefathers Monument. (The name comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14.) Speakers at the rally including several Indians-that’s right Indians not Native American- chiefs. These Indians are devout Christians who have a keen appreciated of the Pilgrims because they brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the region. At the conclusion of the rally, Indians and Mayflower descendants held hands and prayed for our nation.
One historical misconception is that the Pilgrims came here for religious freedom. They already had it in Holland. We know that the main goal of the Pilgrams coming to what is now The United States was to promote the Gospel of Christ because they said so in the Mayflower Compact which read in part:
“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…”
Nearly half of the 102 passengers of the Mayflower died during the first winter-1620-1621. In April of 1621, the Mayflower returned to England. The ship’s captain, Christopher Jones, offered passage for anyone that wanted it. There were no takers.
The Pilgrims had a good relationship with the Indians. After an encounter with the Nauset Indians which attacked a party of Pilgrims without any casualties, an Indian, Samoset paid the Pilgrims a visit. Speaking broken English, Samoset told them of another Indian who been to England and spoke the language better than he. That Indian was Squanto who had been captured years earlier by Thomas Hunt. Hunt planned to sell him into slavery in Spain. Squanto escaped to England and eventually made his way back to his homeland only to discover that his tribe was wiped out by a plague.
Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn and fish. Governor Bradford believed that Squanto was “a special instrument send of God…” Squanto facilitated a treaty with the Wampanoag Indians and its great chief Massasoit that was signed in March of 1621. Massasoit was regarded as the “preserver and protector” of the Pilgrims. This treaty lasted fifty years and, gave legitimacy to the land the Pilgrims were living on. Squanto lived among the Pilgrims until his death.
The First Thanksgiving in Plymouth
Today, many children in government schools are taught that Thanksgiving was a day the Pilgrims set aside to thank the Indians for their help. That is untrue. While the Pilgrims were grateful for the help rendered to them by the Indians, Thanksgiving was a feast to thank God The actual date of the first Thanksgiving is unknown. It was most likely late September 1621. Edward Winslow gave an account of it in a letter to a friend:
“Our harvest being gotten our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much foul, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted: and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation, and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”
In March of 1622, the Pilgrims got word that Massasoit was seriously ill. Governor Bradford sent a party led by Winslow armed with medicinal herbs to help Massasoit. Along the way, an Indian told the group that the great chief was already dead. They went along anyway, finding an extremely sick Massasoit. The Pilgrims with their medicinal herbs, and prayers were successful. Massasoit made a quick recovery and remarked “I see the English are my friends and love me., and whilst I live, I will never forget tis kindness they have showed me.
On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation recommending a day of Thanksgiving. It began with:
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…”
On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation making November 26 a day of thanksgiving. In 1941, Congress-a Democrat controlled at that-passed a law making Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. I would like to offer a PDF of an article “The Pilgrims Weren’t Socialists” written by my late friend, and mentor Andy Lane. If interested, E-mail me at campconstitution1@gmail.com