Preserving America's Historical Significance

The Anniversary of the Signing of the Mayflower Compact

November 21, 1620

“In the Name of God, Amen.”  Thus begins the Mayflower Compact, which was signed by weary, hungry colonists who understood that they must agree together for the common good in order to survive.  Governor William Bradford observed that factions were already setting in, and the preservation of the first colony would require that members submit to just laws and ordinances “for the general good of the colony unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”

The concept of the rule of law and its benefit for the social order was thus born, not in a Constitutional convention which came more than 150 years later, but in the school of hardship, hunger, and cold through that first winter where half of the Pilgrims did not survive.  The Mayflower Compact is an application of Biblical truth to civil affairs, and expressed the understanding of America’s first permanent settlement that they were working together for “the glory of God, the advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country.”

The Mayflower Compact was signed on November 11, 1620 based on the Julian calendar (old style), during the time when Europe was transitioning to our current Gregorian calendar, referred to in historic documents as “new style” which begins the year on January 1st.  Based on the Gregorian calendar, the Mayflower Compact was signed on November 21st.

On this day we celebrate the life of the pilgrims whose application of Biblical truth to civil order through the Mayflower Compact has served as an example to every colony that followed and to the states who wrote their constitutions expressing dependence upon Almighty God for our civil order giving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.   We will enjoy liberty if we can learn from our founding fathers who survived the perils of sea and wilderness to establish this One Nation under God by all due submission and obedience to the justice of God and government.