>> Back to Christian Heritage Page

Plymouth Rock is not mentioned in any history books until 100 years after the landing of the Mayflower. The beliefs and intentions of those who landed on Plymouth Rock are made clear by written documents such as the "Mayflower Compact" quoted below; and the inscriptions on the "The First Burying Ground Monument" See items in bold:

The First Burying Ground Monument

ABOUT A HUNDRED SOWLS
CAME OVER IN THIS FIRST
SHIP AND BEGAN THIS WORK
WHICH GOD OF HIS GOODNES
HATH HITHERTOO BLESED LET
HIS HOLY NAME HAVE YE PRAISE

HERE UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS THE FAST DWINDLING COMPANY
LAID THEIR DEAD LEVELING THE EARTH ABOVE THEM LEST THE
INDIANS SHOULD LEARN HOW MANY WERE THE GRAVES
READER HISTORY RECORDS NO NOBLER VENTURE FOR FAITH AND
FREEDOM THAN THAT OF THIS PILGRIM BAND. IN WEARINESS
AND PAINFULNESS IN WATCHINGS OFTEN IN HUNGER AND COLD
THEY LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF A STATE WHEREIN EVERY MAN
THROUGH COUNTLESS AGES SHOULD HAVE LIBERTY TO WORSHIP
GOD IN HIS OWN WAY.
MAY THEIR EXAMPLE INSPIRE THEE TO DO
THY PART IN PERPETUATING AND SPREADING THE LOFTY IDEALS
OF OUR REPUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

"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 England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&.Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the 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 Politick, 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 hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."