After enduring religious persecutuion in their native England and for twelve years in Holland, the pilgrims sailed for America. They were modest men and women with a great hope and inward zeal. They rested in the providence of  GOD that HE was leading to the land of religious freedom to advance the gospel of the kingdom of CHRIST.

The voyage of Mayflower took twice as long as Christopher Columbus' voyage; enduring several wintery storms.  After arriving in their new land: they faced disease, famine, bitter cold and many dangers.  However, when the Mayflower made it's return voyage, none of the pilgrims returned with it.

Their first harvest occured in the autumn of 1621. Their own seed had barely grown, but the Indians had shown them how to plant corn which yielded a high harvest.  On the first Thanksgiving they celebrated GOD'S goodness to them with a party of 90 Indians. Their Thanksgiving feast lasted 3 days and included a festival of sports.

Thanksgiving Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln:

"Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day as I desire by all my fellow citizens, wherever they may be then, as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to ALMIGHTY GOD, BENFICENT, CREATOR and RULER OF THE UNIVERSE. And I do further recommended to my fellow citizens aforesaid, that on the occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust, and from hence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the great disposer of events for the return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our prosperity for all generations. "