I’ve just returned from a 9-day-long trip to Massachusetts where I spent Thanksgiving with my family and 150 others from around the country on the annual Vision Forum Faith and Freedom Tour. We saw much in Plymouth and also in Boston in relation to the godly heritage of our nation, focusing largely, though not exclusively, on the Pilgrims and their landing at and colonization of the Plymouth area.
The U.S.S. Constitution
Marker of founding father Samuel Adams
A view form the Granary Burial Ground
The impressive Massachusetts State House
With the exception of a trip to Massachusetts when I was five or six (which doesn’t count in my mind) and one to Pennsylvania recently to man the booth at the CHAP conference, I hadn’t been north of the Mason Dixon line. I tend to like it down here after all. In fact, it only took a few hours with the New England bus driver and I found myself whistling… “Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton…” It’s a long story. One not worth telling. Anyway, what a whirlwind the tour was. We saw Plymouth Rock, the replica of the Mayflower (Mayflower II) the church of the Pilgrimage, Burial Hill, the Forefathers Monument, and many other things in Plymouth. The order of the pictures posted here is not at all representative of the order of events of the trip, but I was doing well to post anything at all this week!
Mayflower II
The Forefathers Monument in Plymouth
Burial Hill and an ocean view
The first church in Plymouth which split in two in 1801
Several times during the week, we also went to Boston, as well as Salem where we learned more about the causes of the Salem Witch Trials and the lessons that can be drawn from that incident. There are few things more sad than to behold the ruin of a once godly place. That is Massachusetts, beset with liberalism and socialism, often the leader of the nation on our ever-quickening journey down the slippery slope of immorality… but once a place filled with saints the likes of which I’m confident we’ve never met in our lifetime. The thought of a life lived in such a way that it would inspire others towards godliness four-hundred years after passing away is a beautiful one. To be able to inspire even from the grave?! God grant us such fervor!
Among my favourite moments of the tour were those spent at Plimoth Plantaion where we dined 17th-century style and on another occasion had the opportunity to interact with the plantation residents. Aside from some exceedingly salty pumpkin dish, the dinner there was fantastic. Not really all that strange or different from modern meals (assuming it was accurate). Talking with people from both the Separatist and Anglican groups was pretty fascinating as well. We ended up talking primarily to Myles Standish, captain of the Mayflower hired by the pilgrims for their voyage across the Atlantic. Quite a character. He, as were the others who did role-playing at the plantation, was outstanding. Not only did he demonstrate total command over the history of his own character, but also that of the times and the lives and history and opinions of the Mayflower passengers. He was simply unable to be stumped with any question, whether historical or theological. Simply stunning! We also spent some time talking to a young man who was repairing the roof of Governor Bradford’ house. As there was not yet any currency, duties were often traded with respect to those skills that one may have possessed, in his case, repairing roofs.
Pilgrim Henry Samson repairs Governor Bradford’s roof
Three little pilgrims: Grace, Mary and Hannah
A beautifully overcast day at Plimoth Plantation
Why… it’s none other than Captain Myles Standish!
Several times during the week, we also went to Boston, as well as Salem where we learned more about the causes of the Salem Witch Trials and the lessons that can be drawn from that incident. There are few things more sad than to behold the ruin of a once godly place. That is Massachusetts, beset with liberalism and socialism, often the leader of the nation on our ever-quickening journey down the slippery slope of immorality… but once a place filled with saints the likes of which I’m confident we’ve never met in our lifetime. The thought of a life lived in such a way that it would inspire others towards godliness four-hundred years after passing away is a beautiful one. To be able to inspire even from the grave?! God grant us such fervor!
I cannot even begin to record every detail of the tour. You wouldn’t bother reading the whole thing anyway. Suffice it to say that it was refreshing, invigorating, inspiring, convicting, and yes, even fun. Seeing friends from all over the country is of course a big part of the fun. I could go on, but you really just want to see the pictures anyway, right?!
