The Truth About the Pilgrims and Colonists

Eric Francke

 

Why did the first colonists come to America? Was it a commercial venture? An escape from persecution? Although both of these factors did influence some, there was a far more noble cause that was expressed by the colonists themselves. Following is the original First Charter of Virginia from the year 1606. It states:

We, greatly commending and graciously accepting of their Desires for the furtherance of so noble a work, which may, by the Providence of God Almighty, hereafter tend to the glory of His divine Majesty, in the propagating of the Christian religion to such people, as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge of the worship of God, and may in time bring the infidels and savages, living in those parts, to human civility, and to a settled and quiet government; Do, by these our letters patents, graciously accept of, agree to, and their humble and well-intended desires. (Dated April 1, 1606)

The charter declares that the colony was planted as a missionary endeavor. We frequently forget that the typical European was all too familiar with the struggles and wars that had been fought between the various Christian sects over what amounts to comparatively small matters of Christian doctrine. Now, an entire continent lay before them, where the Gospel of God had never been heard at all. There was an evangelical zeal, which for centuries had been self-absorbed in matters of polity, that now found an outward expression. Although many sociologists today condemn the paternalistic attitude reflected by phrases such as "miserable ignorance" and "savages", we can at least understand why the colonists would perceive the European culture as superior, and why they felt driven to Christianize the New World.

The Pilgrims

Farther to the North, in Massachusetts Bay, the Separatist Pilgrims established their own colony. In the process, the first governmental contract in the New World was drawn up. Known as the Mayflower Compact, it expresses the same intention as the Virginian Colony

In ye name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britain, France & Ireland, king, Defender of faith, etc. 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 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 & 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 (Signed November 11^th, 1620).

Again, the stated purpose is the advancement of Christianity. It must be noted that the nature and essence of this missionary enterprise was not as is commonly represented today. In Plymouth, on Thanksgiving Day, the citizens of Plymouth endure a native -American staged "Day of Mourning", where native Americans protest and bewail the arrival of the Pilgrims. In actuality, however, the arrival of Pilgrims in Plymouth was not the "white man’s invasion" as it is being portrayed. Several years before, there where numerous skirmishes between the Europeans and the Nauset and Patuxet tribes, but when the Pilgrims got to Plymouth, they found that the Patuxet tribe had previously been wiped out by a strange plague. No other tribe would inhabit those parts in fear of the plague. The Pilgrims settled in an area forsaken by the native population. It is ironic that historically, the Pilgrims were welcomed by Samoset, and enjoyed excellent relations with chief Massasoit and his tribe to the south.

Still farther North, the Quakers were soon colonizing what is now the Boston area. A significant document known as The Charter of Massachusetts (March 4^th, 1629) expresses the unified purpose of the Massachusetts Bay area. It reads in part that the signers:

..." may be so religiously, peaceable, and civilly governed as their good life and orderly conversation, may win and incite the natives of country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Savior of mankind, and the Christian faith, which is our royal intention, and the adventurer’s free profession, is the principal end of this plantation.

 

If one wanted to understand how seriously the original colonists took this missions mandate, one merely has to look at the original State seal of the Massachusetts colony, adopted in 1629. It has an Indian saying "Come over and help us". That is an allusion to Acts 16:19 where the apostle Paul has a vision of a man saying those words, which served as an impetus for him to cross over to Europe for the first missionary journry onto that continent. The Pilgrims felt they had the same God-given vision. Today, the State Seal still has the Indian, but they have removed those words from his mouth.

This can be found HERE on the Mass. State site.

Massachusetts was not alone in this quest. Ten years later, the design of the future state of Connecticut was drawn. Preserved for us in The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (Jan 14^th, 1639), we read

Again, it basic to their understanding that Providentially, the settlers had come to those parts to establish a community based upon the Word of God. Their relationships with each other, as well as with other colonies, hinged upon the perception that they had a higher calling then merely being commercial or political entities. Just a few years later, the established colonies in New England made a pact citing their common goal and mission. We read in The New England Confederation (May 19^th, 1643)

These early witnesses make the conclusion inescapable. The early colonists to the Massachusetts and New England areas came here as missionaries to the native population, and to establish a government based upon the Bible. No amount of historical revisionism can erase that fact.

Back to ChristianAmerica.us Index