Heroes from our Heritage

7/29/2019 Heroes from our Heritage

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HEROES FROM OUR HERITAGE

STORIES

by Grace & Jack Tuls


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A companion book for Home-Schoolers can be used i!h !his Heroes

book" namel# $

HEROES FROM OUR HERITAGE - %URRI%U&UM

The curriculum has Scriptures, a theme, an object lesson, character and puppet skits and aThanksgiving play with costume and hat patterns. It was used in hildren!s hurch. "#uestion and answer sheet is also available to accompany the story books $or use byteachers and students.

opyright %'

"ll Scriptures used are $rom the (ew "merican Standard )ersion unless otherwiseindicated.


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TA'&E OF %O(TE(TS

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A%3(O4&E5GEME(TS

%HRISTO)HER %O&UM'USThe hrist-earer

THE S)A(ISH FRIARShosen to -ear ruit

FR, 6A%7UES MAR7UETTEJesus! /isciplined 0arrior12plorer

THE )I&GRIMSGod!s 3iving Stones

4I&&IAM 'RA5FOR5 A(5 S7UA(TO" 0hite 4an and an Indian 5rovided by God

GEORGE 4ASHI(GTO(" )ART I8oung 4an o$ 1ndurance

GEORGE 4ASHI(GTO(" )ART II"nswering Ills ountry!s all

GEORGE 4ASHI(GTO(" )ART III" (ation ormed $or 6ighteousness

A'RAHAM &I(%O&(" )ART IThe -eginning o$ 0isdom

A'RAHAM &I(%O&(" )ART IIServing 7is ountry

5OUG&AS MA%ARTHUR" )ART I/iscovering the 5rinciples o$ Greatness

5OUG&AS MA%ARTHUR" )ART II

)ictorious ommander and Statesman

'I'&IOGRA)HIES

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)REFA%E

This researchandwriting began as an inspiration to write a children!s church curriculum. "sI studied olumbus and the 5ilgrims, I became more and more $ascinated with the

story o$ their lives. I began to live through those periods in history, $eeling their$rustrations, seeing their visions, and sensing their dependence on God. 1ven my dreamsin the night were a$$ected. The cares o$ this world, time schedules and old hobbies tookon a di$$erent perspective. The e2ample o$ their lives and the overwhelmingawesomeness o$ God began to change me.

7istory had never been a great love o$ mine in school, in $act, I avoided it wheneverpossible, choosing the sciences instead. -ut God was working and I needed to beawakened to our precious heritage in "merica. I needed to learn $rom godly e2amples.9$ten when reading a book I would be ama:ed to the point o$ tears about 0illiam-rad$ord!s or 4ary -rewster!s bravery. Their e2ample is beyond human e2perience in

"merica now, $or they su$$ered hardship and starvation without complaint because theyhad a desire $or religious $reedom. Tears came to my eyes as I read the story o$ thebravery o$ the people o$ 3eyden, 7olland, who were hosts to the 5ilgrims, and how theywithstood the Spanish in their $ight $or religious $reedom. I was awed by their throngingto church to give praise to God a$ter the victory.

Then in a later period o$ history, George 0ashington!s perseverance, courage, humilityand sacri$ice ama:ed me. Time and again I saw God!s control over the $orces o$ nature insending ha:e, $og, storms, or rain to direct or aid his chosen leaders. The courage,dedication and sel$ sacri$ice o$ 4artha 0ashington when she visited her beloved Generalat the winter camps was an inspiration. "dults as well as children can bene$it $rom godly

e2amples like these. 9ur cherished -iblical heroes will never lose their !glory ordistinction but God works through many dedicated lives down through history to per$orm7is wonders.

It is my prayer that adults as well as children will be inspired by these stories and that thebody o$ hrist will be stirred to some $orm o$ action. Godly leaders are desperatelyneeded in "merica because we have digressed appallingly $ar $rom our original covenantwith God. Sometimes I can $eel God weeping over what 7e sees in "merica. 9ur land iscrying out $or redemption. 7e is calling $orth a mighty army that will arrest the moraldecay, speak, out on political issues and lead our nation back to righteousness. God helpus. 0e love you "merica. ;These dead shall not have died in vain.;.

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olumbus!Book of PropheciesTranslated by "ugust J.@ling as it appeared in;The 5resbyterian 3ayman;, 9ct. %A%.

4orison, Samuel 1liot,Christopher Columbus,4ariner, p. =.

6hodes, -ennie,Christopher Columbus,pp. %'++.

4arshall, 5eter, and 4anuel, /avid,The Light and The Glory,pp. >>,>8.

6hodes, p.*8.

olumbus!Book of Prophecies,as in ;The 5resbyterian 3ayman;.

4orison, p. 8=.

Ibid,p. +.

Ibid.pp. 888A.

4arshall, 4anuel, p. 8E.

11. Morison,p. 8'.

12. Ibid,p.48.

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4arshall, 4anuel, p. 8+.

6hodes, p. A=

4orison, p. =>.

4arshall, 4anuel, p.8*.

Selected lctters o$ hristopher olumbus, 6.. 4ajor, ed, 3ondon, %'8A, pp. %%Aas reprinted in 1ncyclopedia -ritannica, Inc.,The Annals of America,)olume I, p.*.

4orison, p. A.

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2THE S)A(ISH FRIARS79S1( T9 -1"6 6IT

'A%3GROU(5

"ppro2imately *E years a$ter olumbus discovered the (ew 0orld, the rule o$ Spain hadbeen $irmly established in 4e2ico, entral "merica, and South "merica west o$ *Edegrees longitude. The on#uistadors had con#uered almost everywhere they had settheir $eet, and the $ine discipline and une2celled courage and skill o$ the Spanish soldierhad won an empire in the "mericas while searching $or golden treasure. "s a result,much treasure $lowed into the co$$ers o$ Spain, and the greed o$ Spanish nobles andcommoners alike was so great that searching $or gold in the "mericas became a nationalobsession.

4e2ico, or (ew Spain as it was called, was the seat o$ Spanish, government nearest theland which would become the nited States. In %*8E rancisco oronado led a small

army o$ adventurers together with some ranciscan $riars on a search $or the seven itieso$ ibola, supposedly made o$ gold. They traveled into what is now (ew 4e2ico and"ri:ona, and discovering that stories o$ these $abled cities were mostly grosse2aggerations, they turned eastward, lured by lies that gold awaited them in the east.They crossed the Staked 5lains, the Te2as and 9klahoma panhandles, and entered eastern@ansas, where they discovered there was no gold. Sadly they returned to 4e2ico.

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In oronado!s e2pedition there had been a large retinue o$ soldiers, camp $ollowers,baggage handlers, Indian scouts, and $riars. These were ranciscan $riars whoaccompanied the army to give the leaders ;the mind o$ God; concerning crucial decisionsand to convert the heathen natives they might encounter. These $riars were not superspiritual men. They had the $ailings ommon to atholic monks o$ that timeB namely,

rigid doctrine, a tendency to make slaves o$ their Indian converts, and a policy o$recommending capital punishment $or any minor acts o$ rebellion against the crown o$Spain or the God o$ heaven. Since these were the days o$ the Spanish In#uisition in1urope, the ranciscan $riars in the (ew 0orld were empowered by the In#uisition to beits instruments o$ en$orcement in this area. 7owever, all these negative $actsnotwithstanding, many $riars were sincerely desirous o$ winning souls to Jesus, andseveral showed their deep love and care $or the Indians over a period o$ years.

'&OO5 OF THE MART8RS

-ecause o$ the $oregoing behavior o$ the Spanish padres, many o$ these brave souls were

martyred by the Indians they attempted to convert. /espite the martyr!s deaths o$ thesemen, by %=+% it was estimated by ather "%onso -enavides in a memo to the @ing o$Spain that there were more than =E,EEE hristian Indians in (ew 4e2ico. Truly theirblood resulted in a rich harvest o$ souls $or the 3ord Jesus. This story is about three suchmen, athers "ugustin 6odrigue:, rancisco 3ope:, and Juan de Santa 4aria.

In %*'% these bold ranciscan $riars made the $irst attempt to e2plore the great basin o$the 6io Grande. "ccompanied by nine soldiers and %= Indian servants they traversed%+EE miles o$ wilderness, going through the desert country to Tigue2, at the appro2imatelocation o$ -ernarlillo, (ew 4e2ico today. rom there, ather Juan de Santa 4aria setout alone to report their discoveries to the viceroy CgovernorD o$ (ew Spain. 7e wasmartyred on the way by Indians along the 6io Grande. The rest o$ the party went west to"coma and uni. These two pueblos e2ist today, the $ormer about 8E miles west o$"lbu#uer#ue.

The pueblo o$ "coma sits atop a large mesa, rising>*E$eet above the desert $loor. It wascalled the ;ity in the Sky; because o$ its inaccessibility, and could be de$ended #uiteeasily. The two remaining $riars returned to Tigue2 on the 6io Grande where they stayedto teach the Indians about Jesus, as the soldiers returned to report to the governor o$4e2ico. The Indian tribes in this area o$ the upper 6io Grande were #uite savage, and atsome unknown time a$ter the soldiers le$t, the Indians killed athers 6odrigue: and3ope:. Kears later, a partly destroyed painting was discovered in one o$ these pueblosdepicting the martyrdom o$ these brave men. It was in the ne2t year, %*'+, that theSpanish governor, 1spejo, accompanied an e2pedition to determine what had happenedto the $aith$ul $riars, and evidence was $ound o$ their deaths.

TREA%HER8 AT A%OMA

Seventeen years later in %*', Juan de 9nate, being given the responsibility to coloni:e

(ew 4e2icoandbecome its $irst governor, led an e2pedition into the same territory in

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which the ranciscan $athers had been killed. 7e gave the territory the o$$icial name o$(ew 4e2ico, and declared it paci$ied. Two o$ 9nate!s best o$$icers were the aldivarbrothers, Juan and )icente, who were also his nephews. They were both brave andtrustworthy.

"rriving at the towering pueblo o$ "coma, 9nate demanded its obedience to the Spanishcrown as represented by himsel$. It was reluctantly given, the Indians $inally $ollowingthe advice o$ peace$ul chie$ humpo instead o$ the warlike chie$ utucapan. Then 9natele$t $or the uni pueblo to con$irm the location o$ some silver mines. The ne2t month,Juan de aldivar, returned $rom his bu$$alo hunt and $ollowed 9nate as ordered, in hiswestward march.

naware o$ the hostility o$ the "coma pueblo, he stopped $or re$reshment and anovernight stay. The Indians brought gi$ts to the Spaniards, put them up $or the night, andthe ne2t morning as the unsuspecting Spaniards were wandering about the pueblo insmall groups, the war chie$ utucapan gave a yell and the Indians charged the Spaniards

with clubs. Juan aldivar and his men $ought like tigers $or three hours, but $ell in battle,one by one until all were dead e2cept $ive men. These last $ive leaped over the edge o$the >*E $oot high cli$$, and miraculously all but one survived, bruised and bloody as theyrolled and bounded to the desert below. These $our along with three others who hadmanaged to climb down the usual way $rom the mesa top mounted their horses and rodeaway to tell Governor 9nate what had happened and to warn the ranciscan padres atother pueblos o$ the possibility o$ a general Indian uprising.

S)A(ISH RETRI'UTIO(

Governor 9nate tried the rebellious Indians o$ "coma in absentia, declared them guilty o$rebellion and murder, and sentenced them to death. 7e then told the murdered man!sbrother, )icente aldivar, to take AE men and punish "coma as sentenced.

The intrepid aldivar reached the mesa in record time, called on the Indians to surrender,which they re$used, and gave the command to assault the rock, There were >EEE Indiansatop the mesa o$ which at least %EEE were warriors. Their position seemed impregnablesince there was only one narrow path to the top o$ the >*E $oot high rock, and in oneplace the path gave way to a rickety ladder. The Indians rolled rocks down on theSpaniards and shot clouds o$ arrows at them as they attempted to climb up the path.

aldivar sent most o$ his $orce against the side o$ the mesa where the ladder and$ootholds led up, but he chose %+ especially brave and skill$ul soldiers who were athletic,and told them to climb the cli$$ at another place, clinging to handholds and $ootholds inthe rock until at last they reached the top and scrambled onto the level mesa. The "comawarriors discovered them at once and rushed to throw them o$$ the cli$$. -ut theSpaniards $ought so well that they were able to hold the warriors back until the twelvemen were joined one by one by their comrades who swi$tly climbed up a$ter them.

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(obody could match the $erocity and skill o$ the Spanish soldiers, and little by little theIndians gave ground be$ore their $urious onslaught. The $ight lasted $or three days, but$inally utucapan himsel$ was killed. The Spaniards went on killing the Indians until only=EE o$ the original >EEE were permitted to surrender under their peace$ul chie$, humpo.4any Indians, when they saw they were de$eated, leaped over the edge o$ the cli$$ to the

desert below. (one survived that terrible leap. Then the Spaniards burned the houses o$the pueblo and the punishment was complete.

%O(%&USIO(

The $oregoing stories show the di$$iculties and uncertainties o$ li$e in early (ew 4e2ico.9ne might be tempted to think that the early Spanish $riars such as 6odrigue:, 3ope: andSanta 4aria, with their inconsistent hristian lives, got what they deserved, or that theIndians should have been le$t to carry on their a$$airs in peace without the missionaryin$luence o$ the $riars. -oth courses o$ reasoning are wrong. These and many other $riarshad the ultimate wel$are o$ the Indians in their hearts when they su$$ered mightily to

bring them to the light o$ the gospel o$ hrist as they traveled laboriously $rom pueblo topueblo. I$ it were not so, there would have been no converts a$ter the Spanish soldiers le$t.7istory shows that the opposite occurred. "t any rate, the Indians were not living inpeace be$ore the coming o$ the $riars, but were engaged in intertribal wars which werecruel and bloody, resulting in the e2termination o$ many tribes which had been reportedby the $irst e2plorers but had vanished by the time o$ the great missionary push by theSpanish $riars.

onsidering the e2traordinary accomplishments o$ such $allible men as the Spanish $riars,we can take heart that God can use us $ar beyond our natural capacities, because i$ we areobedient to God!s call, our $ruit shall remain as 7e promises in J97( %*B%=.

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3FR, 6A%7UES MAR7UETTE

J1SS! /ISI53I(1/ 0"66I961L539616

A FIRM 5E5I%ATIO(

Jac#ues 4ar#uette was born in %=>A in 3ason, rance. "s a lad o$ %A, he made a decisionto enter the rigorous %+ year training to be a Jesuit priest. 7e had been reading the Jesuitnewsletter called ;6elations;, which was taken $rom journals o$ Jesuit missionariesaround the world. These narratives had captured the adventurous spirit o$ 4ar#uette as heread about mission progress in ;(ew rance;, the rench possessions in (orth "merica.7e had a strong desire to bring the light o$ the gospel to the remote savages o$ thewilderness. "lthough 4ar#uette was $rom a wealthy $amily, he was willing to sacri$icewealth and com$ort $or the harsh li$e o$ the $rontier in order to save souls. 7is ownjournal records that i$ his travels resulted in the salvation o$ just one Indian, he would

consider them to have been worth all their trouble, and he had reason to presume thatsuch was the case.1

"$ter 4ar#uette!s training in rance, he was assigned to a post in Three 6ivers, ?uebec,anada to learn the "lgon#uin language. 7e learned si2 di$$erent "lgon#uin dialectsthere because o$ his $acility $or languages. 7e also was given instructions by his superiorsin ?uebec which di$$ered greatly $rom those given to the Spanish $riars a century earlier.

7e was told toB2

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%. 3ove the Indians as brothers.+. (ever make them wait $or you in embarking on a journey.>. /o nothing to annoy them on their journeys.

This was a nonantagonistic approach, letting the Indians keep their culture while

becoming hristians, whereas the Spanish $riars had $orced the Indians o$ the Southwestto adopt Spanish ways. In addition, 4ar#uette was the kind o$ man who resolved to livelike an Indian, to learn their skills and to earn their respect so they would listen to hismessage. 0ith an altar stone he could conduct worship services without having a churchbuilding $or a meeting place.

AT THE SAU&T A(5 &A )OI(TE

ather 4ar#uette!s $irst nontraining post was at Sault Ste 4arie in what is now4ichigan, where he labored among the 9ttawa tribe, "$ter a $ew years, he was sent to 3a5ointe on he#uamegon -ay on the S0 shore o$ 3ake Superior to continue his work

with both 9ttawas and 7urons. 7e always traveled by birchbark canoe, sometimes withIndians and sometimes with rench ;)oyageurs;, but he became such a skill$ul paddlerthat he was able to hold his own with the best o$ them. 7e also learned well how to liveo$$ the land and in addition knew well God!s provision. 7e carried the light o$ the gospeldeeper and deeper into the wilderness, just as he had dreamed o$ doing what he had readin the ;6elations.; ather 4ar#uette had an in#uisitive mind, and was eager to learn $romhis many travels o$ the e2tent and topography o$ (orth "merica.

In %=A% the 9ttawas and 7urons at 3a 5ointe were threatened by a revenge raid $rom theSiou2 $or murdering some o$ their braves, so they headed 1ast with r. 4ar#uette. The9ttawas settled at their old hunting ground o$ 4anitoulin Island in 3ake 7uron, and the7urons with r. 4ar#uette settled at the Straits o$ 4ackinac where 4ar#uette tookcharge o$ the mission at St. Ignace. 4ar#uette had spent only two years at 3a 5ointe, buthis $ame had gone $ar and wide as ;-lack 6obe; among the Indians o$ several tribes.0hile at 3a 5ointe, he had also heard $rom an Indian slave o$ the Illinois tribe about agreat river to the west which $lowed south and was called the ;4ississippi.; 7e had beeneager to e2plore this river and he had written his superiors in ?uebec about it, but hisduties had kept him busy at 3a 5ointe.

%OMMISSIO(E5 TO E>)&ORE

"t St. Ignace, 4ar#uette lived about two years, preaching and teaching the 7urons thegospel o$ hrist. 9ne day he was threatened by the tomahawk o$ an evil man called !6ed

ish.!3This man threatened to kill 4ar#nette and swung his tomahawk within au inch o$the ather!s $ace. 4ar#uette didn!t $linch because he knew i$ 6ed ish were to kill him,he would be ostraci:ed $rom the tribe because ;-lack 6obe; had become well liked. 6edish took a second swing, and as he whipped his tomahawk back, the handle broke with aloud crack. The Indian!s spirit seemed to break with it, and $or the $irst time 4ar#uettecould talk to him about the greatness o$ his God.

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The very same day, 3ouis Joliet, an intrepid rench e2plorer, $ound 4ar#uette and toldhim they had been commissioned by the rench governor o$ ?uebec and the head Jesuitin (ew rance to e2plore the great river to the west. CIt!s interesting to note that the4ississippi 6iver, discovered long ago by the on#uistador /e Soto, had been called byhim the ;6iver o$ the 7oly! Spirit;HD ather 4ar#uette!s journal recordsB

;-y the grace o$ GodInow had been granted the opportunity to visit the nationsand tribes who dwell along the 4ississippi...I $ound mysel$ in the blessednecessity o$ endangering my li$e $or salvation o$ all these people, and especiallyo$ the Illinois, who had urgently entreated me to carry the word o$ God to their

country.;4

9n 4ay %A, %=A>, Joliet and 4ar#uette and $ive other rench voyagers le$t St. Ignace toe2plore the great river. "long the way they were warned o$ savage tribes, demons andmonsters along and in the river. They had made a map $rom 4ar#uette!s in$ormationgained while he was at 3a 5ointe, and set out westward and southward with con$idence.

They $ollowed the northern shore o$ 3ake 4ichigan with their two canoes, traversingGreen -ay until they entered the o2 6iver at its southern end. "t /e5ere on the o26iver they halted $or a $ew days because 4ar#uette had o$$icially been trans$erred here,and he had to tend to business. rom there their route lay up the o2 to the village o$ the4askouten Indians, then a short portage to the 0isconsin 6iver, down which they wentuntil they encountered the mighty 4ississippi.

5O4( THE MISSISSI))I

Joliet and 4ar#uette described the birds and animals along the 4ississippi in theirjournals. 4ar#uette saw bu$$alo and called them ;wild cattle;. "t one point on the river,

4ar#uette!s canoe hit a large cat$ish C$ive $eet longD and had to be patched up.5

9ne day4ar#uette and Joliet $ollowed some $ootprints into an Illinois Indian village where theywere greeted by $our old men who smoked the peace pipe or ;calumet; with them. Thecalumet was the symbol o$ the sun god that the river tribes worshipped, and it was greatlyrevered. "nyone possessing a calumet would be sa$e $rom attack by most 4ississippitribes. The Illinois welcomed 4ar#uette $or whom they had waited many years sincehearing o$ him in 3a 5ointe, and they asked him to stay and $ound a mission there.4ar#uette promised to work among the Illinois a$ter his 4ississippi e2ploration. Thechie$ said to the pairB ;I thank you both, you in the black robe and you the renchman, $orhaving taken so much trouble to visit us.. I beg you to have pity on me and my nation. It

is you who knows the Great Spirit who made us all. It is you who speaks to him and

hears his word. -eg him to give me li$e and health, and come and dwell with us so thatwe may know him.;6Then the chie$ gave 4ar#uette a valuable calumet to serve as asa$eguard $or the party.

arther down the river beyond the con$luence o$ the 4issouri and later, o$ the 9hio, a$ierce tribe called the 4itchigamea shot arrows and threw clubs at the two canoes untilthey saw 4ar#uette standing up holding the calumet in his hands. 4ar#uette wroteB;They were getting ready to shoot arrows at us $rom all sides, when suddenly God

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touched the hearts o$ the old men who were standing by the shore. 5robably they had just

been able to distinguish the calumet $rom so $ar o$$...;7

The 4itchigamea tribe then be$riended them, and the ne2t day took the party downriverto the "rkansas tribe at the con$luence o$ the "rkansas 6iver with the 4ississippi. These

Indians said that the Spaniards were only two days downriver, and also that the greatriver emptied into the Southern Sea CGul$ o$ 4e2icoD. -ecause the Spanish were hostileto the rench, Joliet and 4ar#uette decided that since their objectives o$ discovery hadbeen, achieved, they were $ree to return northwards. "ctually, they had been slightlymisin$ormed by the Indians and were still AEE miles $rom the Gul$ o$ 4e2ico.

RETUR( TO THE GREAT &A3ES

/uring the return trip 4ar#uette got sick and he laid in the canoe under a spread out sailto, shield him $rom the sun. /uring his $everish ravings he talked about wanting toe2plore the 4issouri 6iver westward.

6eturning through the territory o$ the Illinois Indians, 4ar#uette discovered that he was,in their eyes, a great man who brought peace and prosperity wherever he went and thathis 4anitou CGreat SpiritD kept them in good hunting in this li$e and in happiness in the

ne2t.8The weary party returned up the Illinois 6iver to @askaskia Cnear tica, Ill.D,

portaged or carried their canoes to the hicago 6iver, and $rom there paddled into 3ake4ichigan. They spent the winter at /e5ere on the o2 6iver in 0isconsin, and4ar#uette!s sickness worsened.

FU&FI&&I(G HIS )ROMISE

In 9ctober %=A8, 4ar#uette attempted to return to the Illinois Indians at @askaskia to$ound a mission and $ul$ill his promise. "t hicago he grew very sick and couldn!t go$urther, so he wintered there. In the spring he spent %% days among the Indians at@askaskia, then, knowing he was dying, asked to be returned to St. Ignace. "scending theeastern shore o$ 3ake 4ichigan, the overworked and weakened ather 4ar#uette died at3udington on 4ay %A, %=A* at age o$ >'. 7e had spent only nine years in the "merican0ilderness pursuing his chosen work. 7is body was carried north to St. Ignace with anescort o$ >E canoes, and he was buried there.

The joint accomplishments o$ Joliet and 4ar#uette were that they had opened up the4ississippi )alley and Great 3akes -asin, and had proved that (orth "merica was a

mighty continent in its own right.

9ne $inal note to contemplateB The devil had tried everything he knew to stop ather4ar#uette $rom bringing the gospel to the Indians, but none o$ his weapons worked onthis sel$less man. So the devil pushed him to do his work more swi$tly than he shouldhave, thus burning himsel$ out and causing an early death. 0ho knows what tremendousthings God might have accomplished through 4ar#uette i$ he had lived AE or 'E years

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4eredith, 6. and Smith, 1.-.,Exploring The Great i!er,p. A*.

@jelgaard, >,The Explorations of Pere "ar#uette,p. *.

Ibid. pp. A%E%.

4eredith, Smith, pp. 888*.

@jelgaard, pp. %+%>E.

4eredith, Smith, p. *A.

Ibid, p. AE.

@jelgaard, p. %=A.

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4THE )I&GRIMSG9/!S 3I)I(G ST9(1S

THE )RE)ARATIO(

The 5ilgrim!s hunger $or more o$ God and a pure church began years be$ore their voyageaboard the 4ay$lower. These living stones CI 5eter +B*D had separated themselves $romthe backslidden hurch o$ 1ngland, where they had been called ;5uritans;, and had $ledto the (etherlands. 3i$e there was very di$$icult also, so they began praying about settlingin the (ew 0orld where they could establish the @ingdom o$ God on earth. 0illiam-rad$ord, in his ;7istory o$ 5lymouth 5lantation; wroteB

;They cherished a great hope and inward :eal $or laying some good $oundation..,$or ye propagating and advancing ye gospel o$ ye kingdom o$ hrist in those

remote parts o$ ye world.., even as stepping stones unto others.;1

"$ter much prayer and discussion, it was decided to investigate getting a charter $rom the)irginia ompany. This didn!t work, so an independent adventurer named Thomas0eston agreed to help them. 7e talked the ;God words; and possibly was sincere at $irst,but as the years went by he demanded more and more goods $rom the impoverishedcolonists.

The 5uritans signed a contract with him, sold their houses and $urniture and gave 0estonas much money as they could to buy the needed ships and supplies. 7e bought an old

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$reighter the Speedwell, and a larger ship, the 4ay$lower. Since neither o$ these shipswould hold very many passengers, the 5ilgrim!s beloved 5astor 6obinson decided to staybehind. Their elder, 0illiam -rewster, would be their teacher and acting pastor.

The 5ilgrims had a day o$ $asting and prayer be$ore their journey. Some thirty $ive

5uritans $rom the (etherlands were joined by eighty ;strangers; $rom 1ngland at the1nglish city o$ Southampton. 4ost o$ these ;strangers; shared the 5uritans $eelings about

religious $reedom, but some were simply adventurers.2The captains and crew o$ the shipswere not 5uritans but were hired $or this trip.

The 5uritan!s destination was just south o$ the 7udson 6iver in the (ew 0orld. This wasthe northernmost border o$ the )irginia ompany, and its settlers would be subject to theompany!s laws, however, God had another plan.

Satan was still at work and wanted to keep the gospel light out o$ the (ew 0orld.Thomas 0eston, apparently used by Satan, changed the contract with the 5ilgrims at the

last minute. 7owever, the 5ilgrims did not knuckle under to his demands but decided ona compromise. They consented to sell their needed provisions, ;to clear the haven andwithal to put ourselves upon great e2tremities, scarce having any butter, no oil, not a soleto mend a shoe, nor every man!s sword to his side, wanting many muskets, much armor,etc. "nd yet we are willing to e2pose ourselves to such eminent dangers as are like toensue and trust to the good providence o$ God rather than 7is (ame and truth should be

evil spoken o$ $or sin.;3They also willingly e2tended the time o$ their partnership to pay

all debts incurred. Truly they were becoming living stones by which a beauti$ul templewould be built.

9n "ugust *, %=+E they set sail $or the (ew 0orld but three days out to sea, the

Speedwell developed a leak. They recaulked her and set sail again only to discover moreleaking a week later. -ecause o$ this problem the Speedwell did not voyage to the (ew

0orld. 0illiam -rad$ord records in his historyB ;the mastero$the ship and hiscompany... plotted their stratagem to $ree themselves, $earing want o$ victuals, as

a$terwards was known and by some o$ them con$essed.;4

The plot was to $it too much mast on the ship, which caused the seams to work openwhen under $ull sail. The Speedwell was later $itted with smaller masts and saw muchservice bringing her captain much gain. -ecause o$ this problem with the Speedwellmany o$ the original number chose to stay home. "s much as history records, those thatchose to stay home were $rom the ;strangers; group.

THE ;O8AGE

9n September %=, a$ter a si2 week delay, they were ready to sail on the open sea. Theywere becoming the hard living stones prepared by Jesus hrist because they werelearning to die to sel$ moment by moment. " total o$ one hundred and two 5ilgrims, theircargo and a small landing boat were crammed into the hold o$ the 4ay$lower which wasabout the si:e o$ a volleyball court. 9nly the seamen were allowed above board because

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o$ the rolling seas and all the port holes were shut tightly to prevent entry o$ water.hildren cried, sick stomachs relieved themselves, and the atmosphere was a potentialplayground $or Satan, e2cept $or the $act that these dedicated, cruci$iedwithhrist5ilgrims triumphed with prayer and singing psalms.

"bove deck it was a di$$erent story, $or the seamen enjoyed giving vent to sco$$ing. 9neparticular strong young man, proud and very pro$ane, took diabolical pleasure in dailytaunting the 5ilgrims below deck, saying he ;hoped to help cast hal$ o$ them overboardbe$ore they came to journey!s end and to make merry with what they had... -ut it pleasedGod be$ore they came hal$ the seas over to smite this young man with a grievous disease,o$ which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himsel$ the $irst that was thrownoverboard. It was astonishment to all his $ellows $or they noted it to be the just hand o$

God upon him.;57e had died within a single day, and no one else caught this mysterious

diseaseH

9ne day during a storm, not long a$ter the 4ay$lower had crossed the hal$ way mark, the

air was split with a resounding crackH The huge crossbeam which supported the mainmast had split and was sagging precariously. The mariners now were $ear$ul o$ the ship!ssea worthiness and began a heated discussion. The 5ilgrims prayed and God reminded0illiam -rewster o$ a great iron screw in his printing press. " desperate search wasmade and $inally the screw was located and implanted into the sagging cross beam. "

hideous creaking, and groaning o$ wood raised the cross beam to its original position.6

The sailors joined the 5ilgrims in praise to God nowH

ierce storms continued to assail the worthy 5ilgrims. The lanterns swayed and the stenchbelow deck grew almost unbearable. Their daily rations were salt pork, peas, bread,

cheese and lemon juice to prevent scurvy,7yet their praises rang heavenward.

inally, on (ovember , %=+E, a$ter nine weeks at sea, they spied land in the distance and ajoyous chorus arose $rom the ship. The land was identi$ied as ape od, which hadlong sandy beaches. "$ter consultation with aptain Jones, they decided to sailsouthward to $ind the 7udson 6iver, their destination. -ut a$ter they had sailed that way$or hal$ a day, a $ierce wind arose and threatened to cast them unto the dangerous shoals."$ter much prayer and discussion, they resolved to turn around and head north again.

The 5ilgrims encountered yet another challenge just be$ore they landed in what is nowape od. The 4ay$lower sailed into the area o$ a violent storm just o$$ the coast o$ape od. The 4ay$lower at this point, could not get near shore to land anywhere. The

5ilgrims moved to the $ore deck o$ the ship and proceeded to pray. The storm completelydissipated and the 5ilgrims then were able to land.

God had a plan in this destination. I$ they were to be truly $ree to worship 7im, it wouldhave to be beyond the northern border o$ the )irginia ompany. They had been blownless than one hundred miles o$$ their course $or the 7udson 6iver. Their contract $or the)irginia ompany did not cover this territory, so they were truly $ree to make their ownlaws in this new land.

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0hile this idea o$ total $reedom was going around in their minds, the seamen werean2ious to $ind a sa$e harbor. "t last, on the ne2t day they got into sa$e anchorage at ape7arbor, now called 5rovincetown, at the leeward tip o$ ape od. 5raise again rose $rom

their lips as ;they $ell upon their knees and blessed the God o$ heaven.;8"s they looked

out upon the land, their thoughts were mi2ed. 0ho inhabited the woods 0ere the

inhabitants as savage as the Spaniards had been in 7olland 0ere there many wild beaststhere

0illiam -rad$ord writesB ;I$ they looked behind them, there was a mighty ocean, a gul$ to

separate them $rom all civil parts o$ the world.;9"head o$ them was a desolatewilderness. It was muttered by some that the captain himsel$ was eager to discharge themand head back home taking what $ood he and his crew needed. ;0hat could now sustainthem but the Spirit o$ God and 7is grace.; Ket 0illiam -rad$ord rejoiced in the 3ord ashe #uoted 5salm %EAB%*.

THE MA8F&O4ER %OM)A%T

In the thoughts o$ some o$ the strangers $rom Southampton was stirring the idea o$rebellion and the 5ilgrim leadership knew that something had to be done #uickly.Thank$ully, most o$ the passengers were 5uritans and knew about man!s basic sin$ulnature which needed to be guided by the Spirit. There$ore, they dra$ted the 4ay$lowerompact, which was to become a stepping stone to our present constitution. In thiscontract, they used some o$ the very phrases their beloved 5astor 6obinson had said. ItreadB

;or the glory o$ God and advancement o$ the hristian $aith... do by thesepresent solemnly and mutually in the presence o$ God and o$ one another,

covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic $or our betterordering and preservation... constitute and $rame such just and e#ual laws,ordinances, acts... $or the general good o$ the colony, unto which we promise all

due submission and obedience...;10

The compact was signed and John arver was chosen as their Governor.

Since their lips were uttering God!s praises, their eyes were on 7im, and their bodieswere totally committed to 7im, doing everything Scripturally that 7e had showed themto do, God was about to show 7is provision.

E>)&ORI(G E>)E5ITIO(S

The carpenters set about to repair the landing shallop Csmall boatD since it had been badlydamaged in transit, but since this looked like a time consuming job, some o$ the mendecided to investigate the land on $oot. "$ter obtaining permission $rom the leadership, agroup o$ si2teen well armed men set out. 0ithin a mile $rom the landing they saw aboutsi2 Indians who were $rightened o$$ into the woods. Soon the Indians came out o$ thewoods and ran as $ast as they could down the beach. The 5ilgrims $ollowed their

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$ootprints until dark and camped out overnight. Thank$ully, they $ound $resh water to#uench their thirst.

The ne2t day they $ound more $resh water and a good #uantity o$ cleared ground, graves, ahouse $oundation and a large iron pot. There were interesting heaps o$ sand which when

uncovered yielded baskets $illed with corn o$ various colorsH The 5ilgrims were delightedwith this new, strange $ood and decided to return to the ship with their $ind. Imagine therejoicing on the shipH

0hen the shallop was ready, they set out and discovered more corn, beans, cookingimplements and deserted houses covered with mats. The 5ilgrims returned the borrowed$ood to the Indians si2 months later $or that was their $ull intent be$ore taking the $ood $ortheir survival. 0illiam -rad$ord again gave praise to God. ;3et 7is holy name have all

the praise.;11

"s they continued $urther e2plorations o$ the land, more Indians were encountered who

were cutting up a large $ish. They $led also. That night the e2ploring party took re$uge ina barricade o$ boughs as protection $rom the wind and Indian attack. /uring the night theIndians thought they could scare o$$ the 5ilgrims when they interrupted their sleep withbloodchilling howls. The 5ilgrims arose early $or prayer and break$ast and were soonsurprised by arrows $lying in amongst them. Two muskets were discharged. inally,several 5ilgrims wearing their armor rushed $rom the barricade and discharged theirmuskets together. 9nly one brave Indian lingered momentarily behind a tree, and he soonran away shrieking when a musket splintered the tree he was hiding behind. God had

protected the 5ilgrims since none o$ the arrows had hit their mark.12"$ter a $ew more

ha:ardous e2periences with wind, broken masts and rudders, with God!s guidance, theyrowed across to the mainland and more encouraging discoveries. They soon $ound land

sloping upward and drained by $our springlike creeks. 9n the hill, a good twenty acreso$ ground had already been cleared, and was ready $or planting, but with evidence that

nothing had been done $or several years,13The harbor was sounded and $ound deepenough $or shipping. ;So they returned to their ship again with this news to the rest o$

their people, which did much to com$ort their hearts.;14

9n /ecember +*,they began to erect the $irst house $or common use.

THE STAR;I(G TIME

It was a very di$$icult winter. 4any o$ the 5ilgrims caught colds $rom sleeping on the

$ro:en ground. Their bodies were already weakened by the long voyage and lack o$ abalanced diet, and the hard work o$ $elling trees and building houses. The $ew ablebodied men had to care $or the sick. 9ne by one they began to die o$ scurvy and otherdiseases, sometimes two or three a day. 1specially in January and ebruary they were ingreat distress.

;The si2 or seven sound persons spared no pain, night or day, but with abundanceo$ toil and ha:ard to their own health, $etched wood, made $ires, dressed their

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meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes.., and all this willingly andcheer$ully without grudging in the heart, showing their true love... "nd yet the3ord so upheld their persons... they were not at all in$ected.., their reward is with

the 3ord.;15

They became living stepping stones to the praise o$ 7is (ame. 7ad God $ailed inproviding $or them Some o$ the 5ilgrims were strangers and not 5uritans. Ket some o$the 5uritans died too. Their beloved Governor John arver died that $irst winter alongwith about $i$ty others. Their ranks were reduced to $i$ty lightbearing stepping stones $ora new land $or hrist. This is our precious heritage. They gave their lives to establish anation that is $ree to worship God. They were the $irst covenant makers in "merica, andtheir dedication inspires us with a sense o$ awe.

T71 5I3G6I4S

G9/!S 3I)I(G ST9(1SD

%.

+.

>.

8.

*.

=.

A.

'.

.

%E.

%%.

%+.

%>.

%8.

%*.

0illiam -rad$ord,$f Plymouth Plantation,p. +=.

5eter 4arshall and /avid 4anuel,The Light and the Glorypp. %%>, %%8.

0illiam -rad$ord,p. *>.

Ibid, pp. =E, =%.

Ibid, p ==.

Ibid, p. =A.

6ev. James 3eynse,Preceding the "ayflo%er,p. +8=.

0illiam -rad$ord, p. =.

Ibid, p. AE, A%.

Ibid, pp. '>, '8.

Ibid, pp. A+A=.

5eter 4arshall and /avid 4anuel, pp. %++, %+>.

Ibid, p. %+*.

0illiam -rad$ord, pp. A, 'E.

Ibid, pp. '*, '=.

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54I&&IAM 'RA5FOR5 A(5 S7UA(TO

A 4HITE MA( A(5 A( I(5IA( USE5 '8 GO5

4I&&IAM 'RA5FOR5 he began to attend 0illiam -rewster!s church which met in-rewster!s house. This 5uritan group held separate church services $rom the hurch o$1ngland because they disagreed with the State church on how they should worship God.or this they were much persecuted in their town o$ Scrooby.

,

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The present @ing, James I, vowed that 5uritans would ;con$orm themselves; or he would;harry them out o$ the land.; 0illiam -rad$ord came to live with 5astor -rewster whotreated the young lad as a son and brother in hrist. The -rewster $amily was so

persecuted in 1ngland that they made plans to $lee 1ngland and go to the (etherlandswhere they would have more $reedom to worship God.

The 5uritans $rom 0illiam -rewster!s church had a very di$$icult time leaving 1ngland. "tone point they were robbed and imprisoned by the very people they had paid to give

them sa$e passage out o$ the country.2"t age %A 0illiam -rad$ord was imprisoned $orseveral months. "t this point one can be assured that he absorbed much o$ God!s 0ord,which abundantly $lavored his books written later in his li$e. God!s power sustained himas he was growing to be that hard rock $or use in the $oundation o$ our nation.

-rad$ord was released $rom prison and $inally made his way with the -rewster $amily to

"msterdam in the (etherlands where they lived $or a year. The ne2t year, the $amilymoved to 3eyden and started a church in their home there. 3eyden was a niversity townso 0illiam took $ull advantage o$ night classes at the niversity and a$ter working days

at weaving, he studied /utch, 3atin, 7ebrew, rench, history, and literature. 3

"t age +% -rad$ord came into a com$ortable inheritance $rom his parents! estate. 7econtributed a large portion to the 3eyden church and also bought a house which he later

sold to $inance his trip to "merica.40hen he was +> he married /orothy 4ay, who was

%=. Soon she bore a son whom they named John.

0illiam -rad$ord lived in 3eyden $or %% years until conditions became so di$$icult that

their 5astor and his congregation began praying about emigrating to "merica. "$ter muchprayer and discussion it became clear that this is where they should go to worship God

more $reely and become ;stepping stones; $or others.5

-ecause o$ this decision, 0illiam and his wi$e /orothy had another very di$$icultdecision to make. Their only son John was $ive years old at the time and #uite attached tohis mother. 7owever, they $elt it was God!s will $or him to be le$t with 5astor 6obinsonand his $amily, and he could come at a later date. 3ittle John had a very hard time takingleave o$ his mother not knowing i$ he would ever see her again. "t age %+ he $inally did

go to "merica, but his mother had already died a tragic death.6

0hen the 4ay$lower reached 5rovincetown and scouting parties went out to survey theland, /orothy -rad$ord was le$t alone without her husband $or a time. She saw the bleaksurroundings and the hard li$e ahead o$ her. or some reason she $ell $rom the ship intothe icy waters and died. 7istorians seem to agree that she was despondent about thesurroundings, lack o$ $ood, and missing her son and husband and may have will$ully

jumped overboard.7

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7er husband 0illiam could have become despondent himsel$ and returned to 1nglandwhen the 4ay$lower returned, but he chose to go deeper into hrist and into his own

vision $or the colony.8

A MOST 5IFFI%U&T 4I(TER

The pilgrims had a very hard winter because their bodies were e2hausted $rom the tripand it was e2hausting work $elling trees that were as hard as stone in the winter, 0illiam-rad$ord and most o$ the others caught colds, developed $evers, and many died. "t onepoint there were only about seven ablebodied men to work and care $or the sick. 0illiam-rad$ord $ell sick and gave much credit to 5astor 0illiam -rewster and 4yles Standish

who nursed him and many others back to health.9

THE STAR;I(G TIME

This $irst winter was the most di$$icult. Governor arver, a godly man, held the colony

together by ;wisdom, patience, and just and e#ual carriage o$ things but that which wasmost sad and lamentable was that in two or three months! time hal$ o$ their companydied... being ye depth o$ winter and wanting houses and other com$orts, being in$ectedwith scurvy and other diseases... so as there died some times two or three a day... scarce

*E remained.;10God was still at work. The candle was $lickering and God was about toreveal 7imsel$ in the most unlikely way in the person o$ an 1nglishspeaking Indian.

S7UA(TO

It was 4arch %=, the time o$ new birth and hope, and the Indians! hearts were stirring incompassion. The settlers! hearts were still tender toward God and the high point o$ their

week remained Sunday worship. 9n this balmy day o$ 4arch %= the 5ilgrims weregathered in the common house and a lone Indian approached them, entered their house,and in per$ect 1nglish said ;0elcomeH; This Indian!s name was Samoset, a chie$ o$ the"lgon#uins, and he had learned his 1nglish $rom the 1nglish $ishing captains who hadplied the 4aine coast $or years. -rad$ord wrote in his journalB

;7e told them also o$ another Indian whose name was S#uanto.., who had been in1ngland and could speak better 1nglish than himsel$. -eing, a$ter some time o$entertainment and gi$ts dismissed, a while a$ter he came again and $ive more withhim and they brought all the tools that were stolen away C$rom the 5ilgrimsD and

made way $or the coming o$ their great Sachem 4assasoyt and S#uanto.;11

0hen S#uanto arrived he e2plained to them how their land ;happened; to be cleared andready to plant.

S#uanto!s story is as $ascinating as that o$ -iblical Joseph. 7e was taken captive in %=E*along with $our other Indians by apt. 0eymouth and transported to 1ngland. 7ere helearned 1nglish but cherished the dream to return to his 5atu2et tribe which inhabited thevery land discovered by the 5ilgrims to have been tilled. inally, nine years later, he was

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able to sail back home with apt. John Smith, who had recently returned $rom the (ew0orld. S#uanto was home momentarily in %=%8 but was lured back into the ship o$ apt.Thomas 7unt apparently $or trading goods. S#uanto was clapped in irons, along with +Eother 5atu2et Indians, and taken to a slave trading post in Spain. God was still preparing7is vessel though, and S#uanto was bought by a $riar who introduced him to the

hristian $aith.12

S#uanto was used to the wilderness and monastery li$e was too #uiet $or him. 7e $oundpassage back to 1ngland and attached himsel$ to apt. /ermer who would embark $or(ew 1ngland in%=%. 0hen the ship reached (ew 1ngland, Samoset was picked up in4aine and both he and S#uanto were dropped o$$ at what is now 5lymouth,4assachusetts.

4uch to S#uanto!s surprise and dismay, his tribe was no longcr on the grounds where hegrew up. (othing but skulls, bones, and dilapidated buildings remained. "pparently aplague o$ smallpo2 had wiped them all out. Surely now S#uanto struggled with $eelings

o$ bitterness, anger, despair and loneliness but he $inally $ound his way into theneighboring tribe o$ the 0ampanoags, headed by hie$ 4assasoit. This chie$ took him

into his heart and o$$ered him solace $or months.13

Soon, however, Samoset dropped by and told S#uanto o$ a tiny settlement o$ 1nglishmenwho were now barely surviving on his old tribal land. 9ne wonders what went throughS#uanto!s mind at this time. 7e could have chosen to be vindictive to the 1nglishmen."$ter all, Satan might have saidB ;They took you captive twice and used you $orin$ormation about $ishing, etc.; 7is second choice was to leave them alone and let themstarve. -ut then again, probably some 1nglishmen in 1ngland were kind to S#uanto.

God was moving now and S#uanto!s heart so$tenedF a$ter all, the $riar had been kind tohim and saved him $rom slavery. S#uanto made the decision to be used by God andaccompany Samoset when visiting the colony. T h e meeting was arranged and all threeleaders, S#uanto, Samoset, and 4assasoit, accompanied by =E painted warriors, paid acall on the tiny 1nglish settlement. They were greeted by a $an$are o$ trumpet and drumwhich greatly pleased the Indians. S#uanto acted as their interpreter, and a peace treatywas signed which promised mutual aid and assistance, which treaty was honored $or 8Eyears.

S7UA(TO TEA%HES HUS'A(5R8

S#uanto immediately set out to $ind eels $or the starving colony. The 5ilgrims rejoiced atthe ;$at and sweet; little critters. Then S#uanto showed the young men how to s#uasheels out o$ the mud with their bare $eet, and. catch them with their hands, (e2t, heshowed them how to plant corn the Indian way $ertili:ing the mound with $ish. -ut wherewere they to get enough $ish S#uanto knew it would be very soon when the alewives Caspecies o$ $ishD would begin to migrate upstream. 7e taught the young men bow to build

weirs to catch the $ish also.;14Imagine their delight and praise to God when their netsnearly broke $or the burden o$ $ish.

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The corn was now ready to be planted with three $ish pointing spoke like to the center o$each mound o$ seed. The 5ilgrims were instructed to set watchmen to guard the littlemounds $rom marauding wolves $or three weeks until the $ish decayed and the cornsprouted. That summer +E $ull acres o$ corn began to grow.

God moved S#uanto to instruct them in stalking deer, planting pumpkins, re$ining maplesyrup, discerning herbs, and $inding the strawberry patches.15Truly the wilderness camealive with wild turkeys, beavers, mink, muskrat, otters, rabbits, and raccoons. God hadtruly directed them to a beauti$ul, abundant land. 9ne 1nglish man later e2claimed ;The

land to me seemed like paradise, twas God!s masterpiece.;16The sharp $resh air was

invigorating compared to the smog o$ 1ngland with its overcrowded cities. S#uanto was

that, ;very special instrument used by God;17to bring li$e and light to the (ew 0orld.

Ket S#uanto did one more thing o$ prime importance $or the 5ilgrims, which was toensure their $inancial survival. 7e taught them how to trap the plenti$ul beaver, whosepelts were in great demand in 1ngland. S#uanto also guided them in trading so they could

get top price $or their pelts.18

0illiam -rad$ord wrote that ;it pleased God the mortality began to cease amongst them,and ye sick and lame recovered.; Ket there was one sadness during planting season. Theirgodly Governor arver, age *A, was planting corn and apparently su$$ered a cerebral

hemorrhage or sun stroke and died within three days.190illiam -rad$ord was elected thenew governor by unanimous vote and. was reelected annually $or the ne2t >= years o$ hisli$e, e2cept $or the $ive years when he re#uested that they choose someone else.

/uring the summer o$%=+%, the colony began to thrive. So many diaries recorded a sweet

smell emanating $rom the ground.20Strawberries as delicious as any in the world sprouted

almost everywhere in the woods and $ields. In the coastal marshes just south o$ (ew5lymouth, bayberries, plums and blueberries were $ound. ish were $ound in everystream and pond.

THE FIRST THA(3SGI;I(G

The settlers e2plored their neighborhood and ;thus they $ound ye 3ord to be with them inall their ways to bless their outgoings and incomings $or which let his holy name have ...

praise $orever.;21So wrote Gov. -rad$ord. God had honored their trust and lives given to

7im. Gov. -rad$ord was so thank$ul $or their abundance o$ $ood that he proclaimed our$irst annual /ay o$ Thanksgiving.

4assasoit arrived with E Indian braves, $ive dressed deer, and a do:en $at wild turkeys.The Indian women taught the 5ilgrims how to make hoecakes and pudding out o$ corn

meal and maple syrup. They also taught them how to pop corn.22)egetables and $ruits

were in abundance and their hearts were over$lowing with gratitude toward God, their5rovider and 5rotector.

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0illiam -rad$ord continued to be their governor $or >= years making godly decisionsbased on God!s 0ord, because it was $irmly planted in his heart. The 5ilgrims continuedto share their provisions with all newcomers, God being their source. The hardest winterhad passed, all those who died were as precious as those who lived because they wereliving stones on which "merica was built, hrist being the hie$ cornerstone.

S#uanto continued to live with the 5ilgrims until his dying day. The other tribes were

displeased with him so actually he was most sa$e living with the 5ilgrims.23God had used

S#uanto in a marvelous way so that Gov, -rad$ord called him ;a special instrument sentby God.; Gov. -rad$ord himsel$ was an instrument used by God to protect S#uanto in hislater li$e. God truly does provide $or our needs according to 7is riches in glory.

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+,

,

.,

/,

*.

*,

0,

:,

1,

%E

0I33I"4 -6"/96/ "(/ S?"(T9

C" 07IT1 4"( "(/ "( I(/I"( S1/ -K G9/D

-rad$ord, 0illiam,$f Plymouth Plantation,Introduction by rancis 4urphy, p. viii.

3eynse, James,Preceding The "ayflo%er,pp. A*, A=.

-rown, 6ichard,"assachusetts, A &istory,p. %.

3eynse, p. %=.

-rad$ord, p. +=.

3eynse, p. +>'.

Ibid. p. +*'.

4arshall, 5eter and 4anuel, /avid,The Light And The Glory,p. %+*.

-rad$ord, p. '*.

Ibid. pp 68. 6

++,Ibid. pp. 'A, ''.

+,4arshall, 4anuel, p. %+.

+.,Ibid. pp. %>E%>+.

+/,-rad$ord, pp. 8, *.

+9,4arshall, 4anuel, p. %>>.

+*,-rown, pp. %%,%+.

+0,-rad$ord, p. '.

+:,4arshall, 4anuel, p. %>>.

+1,-rad$ord, p. *.

2,7awke, /avid,The Colonial Experience,p. AA.

+,-rad$ord, pp. ,%EE.

,4arshall, 4anuel, p. %>=.

.,-rad$ord, pp. %E',%E.

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6GEORGE 4ASHI(GTO( )ART I

K9(G 4"( 9 1(/6"(1

EAR&8 %HI&5HOO5

George 0ashington was born ebruary ++, %A>+ in the town o$ 0ake$ield, )irginia o$hard working parents, Gus and 4ary 0ashington. 7is $ather managed an iron miningoperation and was o$ten away in 1ngland accompanying a load o$ his iron ore. Since1ngland would not let his $ather make kettles or $arm tools $rom the iron, he always hadto ship the raw iron back to 1ngland. There it was $ashioned into $arm implements andsold to the colonists. 7is mother and $ather were thank$ul to God $or their lands, healthychildren and the iron mines. Their servant helped them per$orm many o$ the chores inrunning a $arm. ather Gus was a $aith$ul deacon in the 5ohick "nglican hurch. 7is $irstwi$e had died and had le$t him with two boys, 3awrence and "ustin. 0hen $ather

Gus married 4ary he had $our more children, -etty, George, John and $inally harles.

0hen George was seven, the $amily moved to a new location called erry arm on the6appahannock 6iver about >E miles away. 7ereGeor?e as schooled b# a pri@a!e!u!or and his mo!her ho read from !he 'ible !o him,She also read to him $rom a

book called ;ontemplationsB 4oral and /ivine; to guide him in his hristian li$e.1

ather Gus insisted that the children learn their catechism lessons $or recitation on

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Sunday. 1ach Sunday they would travel by carriage to the small brick church whereyoung George would o$ten light the candles.

George!s hobby was riding his pony 0hite$oot and practicing jumping with her. It wasnot very easy though, because at $irst 0hite$oot didn!t want to jump and when she $inally

did jump, both she and George tumbled into the dirt. 7is mother was $ull o$ compassion$or young George but $ather Gus insisted that George shouldn!t give up but must try

again.2These #ualities o$ courage and perseverance were to stand George in good steadover the years.

0hen George was eight he rode his horse daily to the $erry and crossed to the town o$redericksburg to study at the church!s parsonage. 7is mother wanted him to stay homerather than move away $or his schooling.

George!s two older hal$brothers attended school in 1ngland and would come home only$or visits. George became especially $ond o$ his older hal$brother 3awrence, who was

over si2 $eet tall, cheer$ul and seemed to know everything. 0hen 3awrence $inished hisschooling he managed a home at 7unting reek and George delighted in visiting himthere. Soon though, 3awrence received a commission as an o$$icer in the "mericanregiment o$ the -ritish navy and was assigned to duty in the aribbean. 0hen 3awrence$inally returned looking very handsome in his uni$orm, he had a persistent hacking cough./espite this a$$liction, he told the 0ashington $amily many sea stories and spokeglowingly o$ his commander, "dmiral )ernon.

0hen George was only %% years old his $ather Gus died une2pectedly. In his will, Georgewas le$t the house and grounds o$ erry arm.

" $ew months later though, another member was added to the $amily, when 3awrencemarried (ancy air$a2. 7e and (ancy decided to redecorate the 7unting reek home andrename it 4ount )ernon a$ter the -ritish admiral whom 3awrence so admired. It wassituated on a high bank o$ the 5otomac 6iver with a serene, panoramic view o$ a largebend in the river. George loved visiting here and at his brother "ustin!s house where hecould ride horseback.

"s a young boy, George enjoyed handwriting and copied many poems. In %A8* he copied%%E rules o$ conduct into his $olio book. 7e appreciated neatness, organi:ation and goodmanners.

SUR;E8I(G

9ne day George $ound his $ather!s surveying tools and started dreaming about becominga surveyor. 0hen he asked his teacher to teach him surveying, the teacher was #uick topoint out that George didn!t know nearly enough mathematics. George was so intriguedand determined that he decided he would use his own money, buy the logarithm andtrigonometry books, and study on his own. -y age %8, he had mastered the books and

wanted to try surveying.3George wanted to go to 1ngland $or additional study like his

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older brothers had done, but his mother wouldn!t allow it. She probably needed him athome since her husband had died.

George went looking $or a surveying job locally and landed a desk job with a surveyor$or whom he per$ormed his job $lawlessly. 7e also went on many $ield trips with his new

boss and practiced surveying with him.4

"t age %= he learned that a wealthy member o$the air$a2 $amily needed help surveying his land in western )irginia, so George o$$eredhis services and was given the assignment. 7e rode o$$ into the wilderness on horsebackwith two $riends and their e#uipment. -eing an e2pert horseman by now, Georgethoroughly enjoyed the trip e2cept when the woods grew dense and riding becamedi$$icult.

9ne night they stopped at a wilderness cabin and prepared to sleep in the beddingprovided. George gladly accepted the bedding but his $riends chose to sleep on the $loor.9$ the bedding George wrote, ;I $ound it to be nothing but a little straw matted together,without sheets, one threadbare blanket, with double its weight in vermin such as lice, ..

$leas, etc. and I was glad to get up as soon as the light was carried $rom us I lay as my...

companions.;5

This trip proved to be #uite e2citing because the surveyors soon encountered Indians whohad a white man!s scalp. Thank$ully, George $ound out that Indians disliked settlers butpermitted woodsmen to pass through. The Indians even per$ormed a dance $or George!sparty. 9ne night, the straw they slept on caught $ire and one man awoke and gave thealarm. George soon learned the way o$ the woodsB how to move soundlessly and how topaddle a canoe, among other things. George wrote detailed descriptions o$ the woods andthe paths o$ rivers and streams. 7is report was so good that a$ter passing a #uali$ying test,he was o$$ered the job o$ o$$icial surveyor o$ ulpeper ounty, )irginia at age %A. 0ith

his pay he bought some acreage in the )irginia wilderness.

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;/irect my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood o$ the3amb, and purge my heart by Thy 7oly Spirit.., daily $rame me more and more into thelikeness o$ Thy Son Jesus hrist.;

Then on 4onday evening he entered these wordsB

;Thou gayest Thy Son to die $or me, and hast given me assurance o$ salvation,upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to con$orm my li$e to 7is holy

precepts and e2ample.;7

It was also $ound in his diary that 0ashington wanted to have the same kind o$ peace$uldeath that 3awrence had e2perienced. 7e saidB ;4ake me willing and $it to die whenever

Thou shalt call me hence;.8

3awrence le$t George stock in the 9hio 3and o. which was $ar to the northwest. "t age+% he now had a military title and more than 8,EEE acres o$ land which he had bought or

inherited.

GO;ER(OR 5I(4I55IE. The trip would be about8*Emiles in wilderness with winter approaching,but George $elt con$ident that with God!s help he could make it. "t the Indian village o$3ogstown, near present day 5ittsburgh, they met a wilderness man who could speak theIndian language. This man, /avison, arranged a meeting with the Seneca hie$, 7al$@ing. They all met in the great longhouse, and 7al$ @ing in$ormed them that he had toldthe rench that he would trade with them but did not want any white man to build houseson Indian land. 7e had said to the renchB ;So, $athers, I ask you to withdraw.;

"$terwards the Indians agreed to guide George to the rench commander at )enango, =Emiles north. -ut the rench commander was not there. So George and his party traveled%EE miles more to a $ort called 3e -oeu$, near 3ake 1rie. "t 3e -oeu$ the rench toldGeorge to go to anada to talk to their governor since they had orders to maintain their$ort. George saidB ;I have no orders to go to anada.; The rench commander, St. 5ierre,then gave him a letter reply $or Governor /inwiddie.

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THE %O&5 TRI) 'A%3

George began his*=Emile trip back with only Gist and )an -raam. 7e accepted a canoe$rom St. 5ierre and sent his horses on ahead. "t )enango 0ashington was shocked to seehis starving horses not $it $or travel and since the river was $ro:en $rom there onward,

they would have to continue their journey on $oot in the snow. 0ashington and Gist setout alone leaving )an -raam with the horses.

"t 4urthering Town they met an 1nglish speaking Indian who o$$ered to be their guide,whose services they accepted. hris Gist had some reservations about the man and whenthey stepped into a meadow, a shot split the stillness. Their guide had shot at them. -othmen had escaped the bullet and dived immediately at the Indian culprit. Gist wanted tokill him but 0ashington re$used. They tied him at $irst and later sent him home,promising to $ollow. They $ollowed him a $ew yards and then darted away, walking allnight being suspicious o$ not only renchmen but Indians, also. God was protecting them$or the Indian was only $our $eet away when he shot. 3ater in an Indian camp a wise chie$

saidB ;The young man C0ashingtonD is a daring warrior. " mighty power shields him$rom harm.;9

Their remaining trip was still event$ul though, because the river was $ro:en on its edgesand proved a real challenge. 0ashington and Gist built a ra$t but during the process o$poling, 0ashington lost his grip and $ell into the icy waters, Gist pulled him $rom thewaters and they leaped onto an island. They talked to each other all night to keep $rom$ree:ing to death. "t dawn the river was $ro:en solid and they could walk acrossH Godhad spared their lives again. In a $ew hours they reached a trading post but hurried ona$ter a short rest at a warm $ire.

0hen he reached Governor /inwiddie at 0illiamsburg, 0ashington had one clearmessageB The colonists must $ight $or the land they had just visitedH It was January %*,%A*8.

-ecause he had learned that the rench had planned to attack the colonists in the spring,0ashington had gained respect and was given %EE soldiers to train. 7e began to trainthese troops in "le2andria, )irginia. 7e knew that hundreds o$ rench and Indians wouldbe coming to claim )irginia territory in a $ew months. George reali:ed his incompetence

and con$essed to a $riendB ;It is a charge too great $or my youth and e2perience.; 10

FIRST 'ATT&E$ ;I%TOR8

In 4arch 0ashington began to march his troops to the 9hio 6iver to meet theapproaching rench. Soon they heard there were >EE canoes and %,EEE renchmenapproaching. In the battle that ensued with the advance party o$ >+ rench scouts, %Erenchmen lay dead and 0ashington lost one man. 0ashington took ++ rench captivesback to camp leaving the Indians disappointed in not ac#uiring scalps, $or 7al$ @ing!sbraves had been on the )irginia side in this battle.

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"t the camp they began erecting a $ort and 0ashington wrote Governor /inwiddiere#uesting more supplies and rein$orcements. (o help or supplies arrived at $irst but

0ashington trusted God and gave credit to ;5rovidence; when help $inally did come.;11

-ritish soldiers in bright red uni$orms marched rigidly into ;ort (ecessity.; 7owever,they were not as use$ul as was necessary because their ne2t task was to carve a road in

the wilderness and the -ritish soldiers re$used to do this. They remained in the $ort withthe Indians, while 0ashington and his )irginians set out to build a road.

SE%O(5 'ATT&E$ 5EFEAT

Soon a message came that the rench were sending 'EE soldiers and 8EE braves againsthis army. "t this news 7al$ @ing and his braves who had been with 0ashington meltedinto the $orest, unwilling to $ight any more as 0ashington!s allies. 1arly the ne2tmorning the battle began. 0ashington was de$eated and a surrender paper was signed.0ashington sorrow$ully retreated with his dead and wounded conceding that the 9hiowilderness was lost to the rench $or the time being.

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%.

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G196G1 0"S7I(GT9(, 5"6T I

K9(G 4"( 9 1(/6"(1

amp, (orma ournow,George 'ashington, "an of Prayer and Courage, p. A.

Ibid, p. A.

Ibid, p, %'.

Judson, lara Ingram,George 'ashington, Leader of the People,8', 8.

4elt:er, 4ilton, George 0ashington, and -irth o$ 9ur (ation p. +=.

4arshall, 5eter and 4anuel, /avid,The Light and the Glory,p. +'8.

Ibid, p. +'*.

amp, p. +'.

Ibid, p. +'.

Ibid, p. 8>.

Ibid, pp. 8A, 8'.

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7GEORGE 4ASHI(GTO(" )ART II

"(S016I(G 7IS 9(T6K! S "33

A TIME FOR REF&E%TIO(

/uring the summer o$ %A**, 0ashington spent time in re$lection and recuperating $romthe dysentery that plagued his body. It was very di$$icult and pain$ul when he re$lected onthe last de$eat. "lthough $riends tried to console him it was still a time o$ sadness. 7esaidB ;Too many men died.; Ket 0ashington knew God had spared his li$e once again.6ev. Samuel /avis o$ )irginia spoke about 0ashington in his sermon, calling him ;aremarkable instance; o$ patriotic spirit and military ardor, and hoped that this ;heroic

youth; had been preserved by 5rovidence ;$or some important service to his country.;1

7owever, his rest period, was short. 6eports came $iltering into the towns that the Indiansand rench were determined to drive the 1nglish colonists o$$ the land. The renchmeanwhile were paying the Indians o$$ by giving them trinkets, guns and other things theIndians pri:ed. Then whole caravans o$ terri$ied settlers began streaming back throughthe gaps in the -lue 6idge 4ts. with horror stories o$ scalpings and burned houses. Thecries o$ his countrymen motivated 0ashington to action. Something had to be done.

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A( IM)OSSI'&E ASSIG(ME(T

6esponding to public clamor, at age +> 0ashington accepted command o$ an ;enlarged

regiment; $orwhichthe 7ouse o$ -urgesses had voted $unds. Gathering a $ew troopsaround him he went out to inspect the wilderness because Governor /inwiddie had

suggested they build a line o$ $orts to protect the settlers. 0ashington knew it would beimpossible to guard a $rontier covering >=E miles o$ mountainous woodlands with only%,+EE troops, but he was willing to take a look. 7e couldn!t just sit still and let hiscountrymen be scalped. 1ven though the Indians and rench were congratulating eachother, 0ashington knew that he could trust God with his li$e.

Then the word came that the Indians were attacking in the Shenandoah )alley only %EEmiles $rom 4t. )ernon. ;/esolation and murder increase;, he wrote /inwiddie, ;and noprospects o$ relie$.; 7e added that he would gladly die i$ it would save the people in the)alley. Soon recruits began arriving in homespun clothing. 0ashington!s prayers hadbeen answered. 0ashington then set about training a bunch o$ undisciplined individuals.

This in itsel$ was a monumental task because he had%,%A*men to control. 7e set upstrict rules $or conduct, some o$ which wereB no swearing or drinking.

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FIGHT 4ITH 5ISE(TER8

-y "ugust o$ %A*A 0ashington!s health began to deteriorate possibly due to tension andworry. The dysentery and $ever $lared up but he continued his work as long as possible.Slowly he lost weight and his doctor per$ormed the usual cure $or those daysB drawing

blood to release the impurities. C(ow we know that method is just about the worst thingto do.D 0ashington was ordered to recuperate at 4t. )ernon, the place he loved.

%OURTSHI) A(5 (E4 ASSIG(ME(T

In the spring o$ %A*', still recovering $rom dysentery, 0ashington met a lovely widow,4artha ustis, who had two children. They $ell in love and planned to marry but militaryduties beckoned him again. There were new plans to retake t. /u#uesne, the place nearwhere General -raddock had been de$eated. 0as George ready 7e knew something hadto be done and his priorities were God $irst and his countrymen ne2t, This marriagewould have to wait. 0ashington was to command a regiment o$ %,EEE men. 7e $elt

stronger as the days went by. 1specially encouraging were the reports that northernmilitary campaigns at the other $orts had begun.

In July, 0ashington moved his troops to t. umberland to await the attack on t./u#uesne. Thinking o$ his $uture bride, he wrote to her a sweet letter ending with ;thatan allpower$ul 5rovidence may keep us both in sa$ety is the prayer o$ your ever $aith$uland ever a$$ectionate $riend.;

;I%TOR8 AT FORT 5UOUES(E

0ashington!s new commander, orbes, decided to cut a new road through 5ennsylvania to

reach t. /u#uesne, and 0ashington re$lected on the $olly o$ -raddock!s mistakes.0hy spend time, e$$ort and money on a new road when -raddock!s road came within si2miles o$ the $ort It!s a wonder 0ashington didn!t resign and go back home but God wasplanning something wonder$ul just ahead and something must have stirred in 0ashingtonto go on, obey his commander and believe $or victory. Thank$ully, orbes was open tosuggestions that their troops dress in Indian shirts and leggings and move lightly throughthe woods. (o more red uni$ormed soldiers as easy targets.

" change o$ events was happening up north. The -ritish ships were blocking the rench$rom reaching their ports and conse#uently the rench could not obtain any more gi$ts $orthe Indians. ;(o gi$ts, no $ight;, seemed to be the Indian motto.

/ysentery again racked 0ashington!s body but he drew strength $rom that spiritualreservoir that he replenished with the 0ord day a$ter day. -y 9ctober they reached

3aurel6idgenear t. /us#uesne. 6ain came pelting down $or eight days andommander orbes grew gravely ill. 0ashington knew that within % days the term $orhis enlisted soldiers would e2pire and they could legally turn and go home. The press wason.

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orbes sent three regiments on ahead, 0ashington leading one o$ these. iring was soonheard. 4uch to their embarrassment and dismay his troops were shooting at each other.;7alt your $ire, men;, 0ashington ordered. -ullets had again whistled past and missed.The scouts who had gone on ahead brought back three prisoners with the good news thatthe rench garrison was small and that the Indians had gone.

"s they approached the $ort slowly hacking their way through the snow laded trees,0ashington grew tense. It was now only si2 days till disbanding time and his troops wereeager to leave. "n Indian scout approached 0ashington with a report o$ smoke up ahead.0ithin a $ew hours another report came and was relayed by 0ashington to his troopsB;They!ve burned the $ort and run away.; (ot a drop o$ their blood would need to be shednowH 0hat a sweet victoryB God had worked a miracle in their behal$B 0hen 0ashingtonand his troops reached the $ort there were only smoldering cabins and a heap o$ scalpingknives. 0ashington now $elt a great sense o$ relie$ and gave thanks to God. 0ithin daysbe resigned his commission, in spite o$ his troop!s entreaties, and made plans to return to4t. )ernon and pursue his marriage to 4artha.

HOME &IFE 4ITH MARTHA

In %A*, at the age o$ +A, 0ashington married 4artha ustis and happily made plans toremodel 4t. )ernon, which had been willed to George $rom his brother 3awrence!sestate. In the meantime they lived in 0illiamsburg, at her house, and 0ashington servedas a delegate to the 7ouse o$ -urgesses, the State 3egislature o$ )irginia.

0ashington was not an easy talker and one day during a session o$ the 3egislature he waspraised $or his $aith$ulness and bravery during the Indian wars and when he was calledupon to stand, he $lushed red and stood speechless. The speaker then saidB ;Sit down,0ashington. Kour modesty is e#ual to your valor and that surpasses the power o$ any

language.;3

George and 4artha oversaw the -iblical and academic instruction o$ 4artha!s two smallchildren, 5atsy and Jacky. They regularly attended church and soon 0ashington wasasked to be a vestryman CdeaconD as his $ather had been. 3ater he became church wardensupervising church discipline, overseeing relie$ to the poor, and repairs on the churchbuilding. Good news came $rom 1ngland that they had signed a peace treaty with therenchH (o more warH 0ashington could now enjoy his well earned peace.

0ashington enjoyed laying on the grounds o$ the plantation at 4t )ernon. 7is love o$symmetry was and remains a delight. The trees he planted now reach hundreds o$ $eetinto the sky. 5lants imported and tenderly cultivated are a current testimony to his love o$husbandry. The diverse variety speaks o$ an imaginative, creative God.

Since roads were o$ten muddy, making travel a challenge, when guests arrived, they mosto$ten stayed $or days. 4artha enjoyed this and became a charming, gracious hostess. Thelittle brick church at 5ohick, nestled in the tees, saw their carriage arrive regularly.

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0hen the legislature was in session they temporarily moved to 4artha!s house in0illiamsburg, the capital. There they attended -ruton church. It still stands today rebuiltover its original $oundation with many saints laid to rest beneath the nave and in thecourtyard, a striking testimony o$ a God$earing people. Just down the street is 4r.0ythe!s house, owned by a brilliant, godly man where 0ashington held his head#uarters

during part o$ the 6evolutionary 0ar. The gardens are serene and one can almost see0ashington on his knees praying there.

GRO4I(G U(REST

"s the years passed, 1ngland become more and more domineering in her attitude towardthe colonists. irst 1ngland demanded ta2es on certain items, then she added more items,and put more and more restrictions on the colonists. The colonial leaders wrote letters tothe king, sent representatives to the 1nglish 5arliament, and tried in many ways to avoidan open con$rontation. 1ngland was also in the habit o$ appointing 1nglish instead o$colonial governors in )irginia. The -ritish even demanded the right to $ill the pulpits

with 1nglish bishops or preachers. In the northern colonies, religious $reedom was thevery reason that the 5ilgrim $ore$athers had given their lives to establish a colony in"merica. The )irginia 7ouse o$ -urgesses in 0illiamsburg ordered a day o$ $asting and

prayer on June %, %AA8 and -ruton church was packed.4" great spiritual battle raged.

0hat was God!s will $or the colonists They didn!t want to shed blood, yet their $reedom wasbeing restricted more and more. "s event a$ter event passed, it became abundantlyclear that they must de$end the $reedom $or which the 5ilgrims and 5uritans had giventheir all.

A 7UA&IT8 5E%ISIO(

0ashington had a very hard decision to make that summer o$ %AA8. 0ould he continuemanaging his plantation "$ter all, he was wealthy, happy and he had $ought enough topreserve )irginia!s $reedom. 9ther men could now rise up to $ight $or the other states, hemight have reasoned. 7owever, God was putting on him the burden $or unity o$ all thestates. They were his countrymen just as )irginians were. 9ne Sunday a$ter service at the"le2andria church, George declared his decision. 7e announced to $riends that he would$ight to uphold colonist!s rights. 3ater, he even o$$ered ;to raise %,EEE men, subsist themat my own e2pense and march... $or the relie$ o$ -oston.; 7is o$$er was not accepted.

4ASHI(GTO( %OMMISSIO(E5 AS GE(ERA&

5olitical tension was at a high pitch. The town o$ -oston had been shelled by the -ritishand a ontinental ongress was called together in 5hiladelphia at which 0ashington wasa delegate. 7e wore his %= year old military uni$orm, which $it him per$ectly, to showthat he was ready to $ight. 7e saidB ;(o man relies more $ully on the power$ul dealing o$

the Supreme -eing than I.;54artha too was trusting God. She saidB ;God has promised

to protect the righteous, and I will trust 7im.;6In June%AA*0ashington was o$$iciallyasked to be the commanding general o$ the entire ontinental "rmy. 7e wrote a $arewellletter to 4artha about his decision to accept the position.

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THE SIEGE OF 'OSTO(

0ashington then gathered his illclad and ille#uipped army and marched toward -oston.This city had been occupied by -ritish troops and its harbor had been closed. "s heapproached the city he climbed a nearby hill to assess the situation. In the distance he

spotted hundreds o$ -ritish $lags $lying $rom masts o$ anchored ships. It had been a yearand a hal$ since the harbor had reeked o$ tea $rom the $amous -oston Tea 5arty.0ashington!s supplies were critically low, so he sent messages out in all directionsasking $or gunpowder, knowing that i$ the -ritish attacked, he would be immediatelyde$eated. -y God!s mercy the -ritish did not attack. In the meantime 0ashington!schaplain drilled his troops and had them gathered daily on a grassy plot $or prayer.Slowly gunpowder and supplies trickled in. The -ritish aboard the ships slowly used uptheir $ood supplies and could not land to obtain more $ood. 5rivate "merican ships sankmany o$ the -ritish ships, and slowly the -ritish army which was housed in -oston ranout o$ wood $or $uel. Still they did not attack 0ashington!s army.

A (E4 F&AG ARRI;ES

The colonists in the meantime were deciding upon a new $lag $or their army. 0anting tostill maintain some o$ their 1nglish heritage they decided upon %> red and white stripeswith the nion Jack in the le$t hand corner. This was called the ;Grand nion lag.;

)RE)ARATIO(S FOR 'ATT&E

Since the -ritish commander did nothing to attack 0ashington!s army, the king replacedhim with a more aggressive commander, 4ajor General 7owe. 0ashington, sensing animpending o$$ensive, sent an enterprising young o$$icer, 7enry @no2, who had

volunteered, on an assignment >EE miles away to obtain *E cannons and other e#uipmentwhich lay idle. 0ith God!s help the heavy cannons and other artillery and gunpowderwere dragged by sled and o2en over $ro:en lakes and snow covered hills to the camp at-oston. 0ashington!s troops were eager now to $ight but 0ashington ordered a day o$$asting, prayer, and humiliation ;to implore the 3ord, giver o$ all victory, that it would

please 7im to bless the ontinental arms with 7is divine $avor and protection;.7

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troops #uartered in -oston in stolen homes which he now promised to evacuate withoutburning them. They all le$t in haste, con$usion, and disgrace sailing north out o$ -oston.God had intervened. 0ashington wrote the "ssembly in 4assachusettsB ;and it beinge$$ected without the blood o$ our soldiers must be ascribed to the interposition o$5rovidence.; " thanksgiving service was conducted using a message $rom Isaiah >>B+E.

;3ook upon ion, the city o$ our solemnities, thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a #uiethabitation, a tabernacle, not one o$ the stakes thereo$ shall ever be removed neither shallany o$ the cords thereo$ be broken.; The people o$ -oston rejoiced that lives were sparedand their homes were returned $or they had been held captive $or one year.

0ere the wind and ha:e coincidences 9r was God working to birth a new nation wherepeople would be $ree to worship 7im 0ashington and the colonists saw this victory asthe hand o$ God.

%.

+.

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8,

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G196G1 0"S7I(GT9(, 5"6T II

"(S016I(G 7IS 9(T6K!S "33

Judson, lara Ingram,George 'ashington, Leader of the People,p. %E>.

amp, (orma,George 'ashington, "an of Prayer and Courage, (), (*+

(orth, Sterling,George 'ashington, rontier Colonel, pp. %*A, %*'.

Judson, pp. %8+, %8>.

amp, p. %%>.

Ibid, p. %%8.

Ibid. p. %+.

4arshall, 5eter, and 4anuel, /avid,The Light and the Glory,pp. +, >EE.

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8GEORGE 4ASHI(GTO( )ART Ill

" ("TI9( 9641/ 96 6IG7T19S(1SS

5E%&ARATIO( OF I(5E)E(5E(%E 4RITTE(

-y spring o$ the year %AA=, the -ritish ships returned to (ew Kork and began to occupyStaten Island. General 0ashington knew that the -ritish were preparing to take (ewKork. 7undreds o$ colonists were now talking independence. The ontinental ongresstook heed and appointed a committee to write down these newly $ormed ideas whichcould then in turn be circulated among the people. Thomas Je$$erson, a well known writer,was asked to serve with -enjamin ranklin, John "dams, and about $i$ty other delegates.

The words came outB ;all men are created e#ual, that they are endowed by their reatorwith certain unalienable rights.., that among these are li$e, liberty and the pursuit o$

happiness.., with a $irm reliance on the protection o$ /ivine 5rovidence, we mutuallypledge to each other our lives, our $ortunes and our sacred honor.; " $ormal acceptanceo$ the document by ongress was made on July 8, %AA=. 0ashington had the documentread to his troops when they were gathered on 3ong Island.

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GO5 I(TER;E(ES I( (E4 8OR3

General 0ashington knew that the -ritish desperately wanted the port o$ (ew Kork so hestationed thousands o$ troops in $orti$ications on 4anhattan Island, 3ong Island, t. 3eeand t. 0ashington. The -ritish General 7owe began to set up camp on Staten Island

and be$ore long he attacked 0ashington on 3ong Island. or three days the "mericans$ought bravely although they were outnumbered two to one besides having very $ewboats compared to the -ritish *EE. 0ashington began to see that he should retreat. 0ithpain he received the news that +,EEE o$ his men had died. 7e #uietly decided on a nighttime retreat across the river to 4anhattan Island, his only way outF otherwise they wouldbe trapped on 3ong Island.

In a desperate, bold move 0ashington collected every vessel in sight and began toevacuate his troops by night. 7e knew that i$ the -ritish saw them by moonlight allwould be lost.Slol# bu! surel#" a mis! arose in !he darkness and co@ered each boa!as i! loaded and unloaded i!s precious car?o from shore !o shore, E@en !he cannons"

horses" and pro@isions ere ferried across safel#=-y morning when the mist hadvanished, so had the "mericans completely evacuated much to the astonishment andchagrin o$ the -ritish troops. I$ God hadn!t sent that mist, the whole army would havebeen seen and capturedH God was preserving our nation because our leaders had based

their lives on -iblical principles and trusted 7im $or protection.1

-ritish troops then entered 4anhattan Island $orcing 0ashington to go north.0ashington $elt reasonably com$ortable about this because there was a $orest ahead o$him. 7e had spent many months in the woods and knew he could hide out among thetrees. The -ritish on the other hand did not like the $orest. They pre$erred $ighting in theopen $ields because they $ought poorly in the $orest.

"$ter the news spread that 0ashington had retreated, many colonists became discouraged,even though God had intervened. They gave up too #uickly and when General 7oweasked them to swear allegiance to 1ngland, promising them sa$ety, they #uickly

complied.2ongress also panicked and in $ear moved their head#uarters $rom5hiladelphia to -altimore.

4ASHI(GTO(


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attack.; 4orale was up now, and a new group o$ recruits joined 0ashington. The rest o$the winter was spent in bitter cold at 4orristown, (ew Jersey, where they shivered $orlack o$ warm clothing. 4artha 0ashington came $or a visit which encouraged the troopsbecause she was compassionate and mended their clothes and knitted stockings.

&AFA8ETTE ARRI;ES

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Heroes from our Heritage

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