THOSE INTREPID PILGRIMS

Just a week away from Thanksgiving, my mind goes back over 400 years in time to remember those who started it all. This little band of believers suffered under the pressure of the State Church of England, who bullied them, forced them to pay church tax, and sometimes imprisoned them for no good reason. All they wanted was to be free to preach Christ and worship Him. They first fled to Holland, but that did not work out well. So they took courage in hand and made plans to set sail for America, hoping to carry the light of Christ to this unknown continent.

Their first ship, ironically named the Speedwell, soon developed leaks and forced them to turn back, at which time they procured the Mayflower. Stuffed below decks, all 102 of them, they lived on dried pork, peas, and fish for the seven week voyage. Storms tossed the little ship to and fro, adding seasickness to the general misery. Just try to imagine that. As if that were not enough, the sailors made fun of them, considering them to be religious freaks.

When they finally heard the cry, “Land Ho!” they disembarked and knelt on the cold ground of Cape Cod to thank God for His protection. There was no McDonald’s, no Marriott, not even a 7-11. Just the huge heaving Atlantic behind them and 3000 miles of unknown wilderness before them. How would we have felt? Would we have given thanks? But they dug in. They built a log house and moved in for the winter. Before March came, 47 of them would succumb to scurvy and pneumonia. But spring finally came, and with spring, came Squanto, who would become a hero and brother to them.

On a fair Friday in the middle of March, change was in the air. The men were gathered in the common house for military instruction when they heard the cry, “Indian coming!’ A tall Indian man strode down their main street, wearing nothing but a leather loincloth. He addressed the Pilgrims in perfect English. “Have you got any beer?”

As Samoset’s story unfolded, they learned that he was a chief of the Algonquins, and had explored the east coast for the English. He told them the story of the plague that had wiped out the barbarous Patuxets who had previously lived in this area. The land literally now belonged to no one. Later that week he returned with Squanto, one of those Patuxets, who had been sold into slavery. His story might remind us of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Squanto was taken captive to England, then managed to return to Massachusetts, but later was sold again into slavery in Spain. There a group of friars led him to Christ. When he once more worked his way back to Cape Cod, he discovered that his whole tribe had been annihilated by the plague. He seemed to have lost all reason for living.

Before Massasoit returned to his people, he and the Pilgrims made a treaty of mutual aid and assistance which would last for forty years, and would become a model for many more treaties. Massasoit was quite possibly one of only two chiefs on the northeast coast of America who would have welcomed the Pilgrims. The record of their subsequent relations with him and his people is a strong testimony to the love of Christ that was beginning to spread God’s light in this new world.

Back to Squanto. When Massasoit left, Squanto stayed. He had found his reason for living again. He was appalled at the ignorance of these people about survival in this wild new country. But he could do something about that, and he went right to work. He taught the Pilgrims to walk barefoot on the shore and squeeze the eels out of the sand with their feet, catching them in their hands. The Pilgrims were amazed at how good and sweet they were. He showed them how to plant corn, fertilizing a few kernels with a fishhead. That  summer, twenty full acres of corn were flourishing. He helped them build the weirs that would capture the spring run of alewives, turning their failed fishing trips into successes.

And on it went. Squanto taught them how to stalk deer, plant pumpkins, refine maple syrup, find the best wild berries, gather tasty and medicinal herbs. He got them started hunting beaver and trading their pelts, a lucrative trade at the time. This would prove to be their economic deliverance. Squanto was unlocking the riches of this new world to this little band of believers. God was pouring out His Grace and Blessing on them through this friend of the Pilgrims. This is the power of the Gospel to surmount cultural barriers and bring people together in love and community.

The summer of 1621 was a beautiful one. New dwellings were completed, and with Squanto’s help, successful trade with the Indians enriched their storehouses. The Pilgrims were filled with gratitude to God and their Indian friends. So Governor Bradford declared a day of Thanksgiving to be held in October. They invited Chief Massasoit, who brought with him ninety others. Could the Pilgrims feed that many extras?

Yes, they could. The braves did not arrive empty handed. They brought with them five dressed deer and a dozen fat wild turkeys. They taught the Pilgrims how to make hoecakes and pudding made of cornmeal and maple syrup. And they introduced the Pilgrims to the delight of popcorn. The Pilgrims in turn provided many vegetables from their gardens: carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, beets and cabbage. Dried summer fruits became blueberry, apple and cherry pies. There was plenty for everyone.

Between feasting, the Pilgrims and Indians competed in shooting contests. Wrestling matches and foot races added to the fun. Everyone had such a good time that the celebration lasted for three full days! Challenging times lay ahead for the Pilgrims, but the love of Christ had been deeply rooted in Cape Cod soil. It would ultimately spread across this new land.

This week, 401 years later, we give thanks to God for these brave and faithful people. We are still reaping a harvest of freedom and liberty from their courage and trust in our Lord.