Purple Mountain Majesties

Signature of Death

“One if by land, two if by sea” hinted at the beginnings of something great. Something about this land, about coming to this land that was great – worthy to die to protect. In fact, so desirable that England fought (across ‘the pond’) with all its might against it – figuring it just “as worth it” to die to keep it from happening!

What is this that is so worth the convictions of these 56 men? Surely they did not think that the ownership of ‘land’ was worth signing up to be drawn and quartered. I dare think that they would die for the thrill of the journey or the wonder of a new land to conquer. No, it could not be so trivial, so fleeting.

I ask the question again: “What would drive 56 wealthy men to put it all on the line and sign up for Britain’s Most Wanted – with their own handwriting and signature?” Remember, the Declaration was treacherous and signing it meant you stood at odds with your “homeland”….with the power and army of the King of England and his alliances.

Friends the answer is simple: Freedom. The pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock (http://www.pilgrimhall.org/Rock.htm) and began the march. It was not easy. But they sought and desired freedom so badly that they pressed through the winters and rejoiced in the spring and summer. They learned from the native people and coexisted with them. Truly, they survived the first winters because of the help from the Indian people.

What freedom is so defining that people will go at such lengths as the Pilgrims to make it happen? It was freedom from religious exclusivity and tyranny. (There are many writings to consider here, but you can quickly go to William Bradford’s http://members.aol.com/calebj/bradford_journal.html). The Catholic hierarchy had such a control in Europe that the Protestant sect stole away to the New World and set up camp in 1620. They new that the distance from the homeland would protect them and get them started. Through this initiative and determination the Pilgrims continued where others failed and gave up – but with higher motives. Jamestown did not make it through the winters and virtually died away (http://www.apva.org/history/).

From this frail group that landed in the Mayflower, a nation was born. It did not happen over night, but it happened. Again, what was the foundation? Consider the first eloquent words of The Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” England stood against this for fear of loosing subjects. They tried in vain to oppress the religiosity of the Pilgrims and squelch their desire to thrive by imposing tariffs and forcing their hand in many ways. Ships were destroyed, cargo lost, towns destroyed and ultimately a Revolutionary War.

Why did the Pilgrims press on?

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness . . . But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. " (Declaration of Independence).

Did they do this just because they were thousands of watery miles away? No. In fact, they proceeded with fear and trembling. In the words they wrote: “Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.”

The pursuit of freedom and the practices it encourages drives convinced and highly convicted persons to act forthrightly and with passion. The desire to worship freely in a manner they felt right, was priority one. Fact is, today, it is being whittled away because of erroneous interpretations and liberal litigation. Today we yell “separation” thinking, falsely, that we are acting as the Designers of this nation would have acted and thought. But this, my friends, is a whole different subject. One we will gladly pursue at a later date.

So I end you with the short answer to the question of this country’s foundation: America is founded on the premise that all are “created” (not evolved) to be free and therefore worship freely (and I would argue Biblically), live freely, and prosper as they put forth their own effort. In the early 1600’s this is not how one could live in Europe.

The 56 great men signed the Declaration of Independence knowing “a legacy” was worth dieing to create! God has blessed America for these 229 years because of their actions!

posted by Captain America @ 22:52