MAYFLOWER: Story of John Phinney

American historians call him "The Pilgrim" - the face of the roots of America, my grandpa.

I tend to be loyal in most things – particularly if I am directly connected to its roots.

Many moons ago, my grandfather, Jeffery Phinney, who came over on the Mayflower, established the roots of the Phinney family in America. Jeffery was known for his devout beliefs in the Quaker version of Christianity. Quakers belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members of these movements ("the Friends") are generally united by a belief that each believer in Christ is to experience the light & life of the Holy Spirit from within to reform & educate the church through each other.

The Quaker/Friends traditions and beliefs remained intact throughout my forefathers - up to my immediate grandfather, Pastor Lauren Phinney, who was a church reformer, mentored by Charles Finney. However, their immovable beliefs of “Christ in you” remain prominent in all that I teach to this day.

While the Phinney family roots extended into England, due to the constraints the Church of England placed on their religious freedom, they moved to Leyden, Holland, hoping to settle into a community that accepted their “separatist” practices and allowed them to worship as they believed Christ required of them. The good news was that they did find religious freedom in Holland. However, they found the secular practices more difficult than anticipated, which agitated their “separatist” ways. Since their spiritual leader, William Bradford, found Holland’s practices extravagant and dangerous for his people, he began searching for a new world—a place where government interference or worldly distractions would be minimal.

With that in mind, they returned to England and began laying out a plan to find a way to this newly discovered world, which happened to be on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. After arriving in England, a wealthy merchant agreed to fund their journey to the new world. The “Virginia Company” granted the “separatist” permission to establish a settlement/plantation. Miraculously, the king of England blessed the group to part with the Church of England.

While they were scheduled to travel to the new world on the Speedwell ship, it began to leak. Being determined, they packed all their belongings on the second ship, the Plymouth Mayflower, which was a cargo ship, and set sail to the newly found land.

History states that the voyage was unbearable – roughly two months of sickness. Their passage was during the high-seas season. While many were losing faith, Bradford consistently encouraged his members with, “God will make a way.” As historical documents reveal, his words provided hope, endurance & comfort.

Once arriving in the New World, in the wrong location, nowhere close to the Virginia Company’s territory, they discovered an abandoned Indian village. Since the “Saints” respected the law, they lived the first year on the Mayflower. Even though they were in territory unclaimed by the colonists, they began establishing their community. Understanding the basics of claiming land (a colony), 41 Mayflower passengers drafted the Plymouth Mayflower Compact during their first year. This Compact became the beginning of the United States Constitution. The Compact promised to incorporate just and equal laws, which were to be installed by the people through elected officials. In addition, the document depicts the establishment of self-government – forming the New World’s earliest form of democracy.

Their beginnings were difficult. During the first winter, only fifty-three passengers and half the crew survived. Out of the nineteen women who boarded, five survived. After the Mayflower returned to England, half of the new colonists died from malnutrition, disease, and exposure to the harsh elements. History notes that if the local natives had not stepped up to help, we most likely would not have the kind of America we have today. It was through these natives that the colonists learned to hunt, fish, and grow crops. Shortly after their first harvest, the colonists celebrated with a three-day festival they referenced as “The Days of Thanksgiving.” Thus, the Plymouth founders became known as America’s first farmers, as well as setting the foundation for our holiday, “Thanksgiving Day.”

One of the attendees, Edward Winslow, noted: “Many of the Indians coming amongst us and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men.”

Since both “Saints” and “Secularist” came over on the Mayflower, the two ultimately separated.

The “Saints” maintained and grew the Plymouth Colony, while the others were absorbed in the Free Mason’s Massachusetts Bay Colony. Through the years, the “Saints” were pinned with the name “Pilgrims.” For many years, the Pilgrims believed they were God’s beacon to the new world - they were immovable in believing God chose them to establish a “Christian Nation.” As their leader proclaimed until his death, “As one small candle may light a thousand,” Bradford wrote, “so the light here kindled hath shone to many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.”

Side Note: The original “Statue of Liberty” was the Liberty Monument to our Forefathers - The Pilgrims Monument. The Monument was erected & dedicated in 1889 in honor of the original founding fathers. However, the Free Masons reacted by quickly erecting the Statue of Liberty, honoring the freedoms of the Masonic lodges of America. Their dedication was in 1886. The Quakers were appalled, but not surprised, by the audacity of the Free Masons. The Pilgrim’s “Lady Morality” was under construction before the Masons commissioned French Mason sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi to gift the American Masons the Statue of Liberty. Since the Pilgrim’s Foundation was slower to construct their monument, the Masons won the battle for dedication day. However, the Liberty Monument to our Forefathers remains erected in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

As we fast-forward to 1889, a monument was dedicated, the National Monument to the Forefathers. The monument honors the strength, endurance, and religious beliefs that founded our country. If you walk around this monument, you will discover their core beliefs – with the woman of freedom/morality pointing toward Heaven while clutching a Bible in her other hand, the Pilgrims called her “Faith.” As you walk around the buttresses, you will behold the four principles they lived by: Morality (Prophet & Evangelist), Law (Justice & Mercy), Education (Youth & Wisdom), and Liberty (Tyranny Overthrown with Peace). These are the four elements our founding forefathers based their writings for the United States Constitution.

It is always a mystery as to why Christianity is the first to be erased from our founding historical roots, especially when it was the initial motivation for establishing a people.

On the front panel of this monument, it states, "National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices, and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty." Today, as we glance into the political world, we will see a glaring offense: our modern-day politicians tirelessly work to remove our civil and religious liberties. I don’t know about you, but I will maintain the admonition of Governor William Bradford, which is written on the back panel.

"Thus, out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise."

The “Pilgrim,” John Phinney Jr., became America’s representation of the United States “poster child” of their heritage of the Pilgrims. John Phinney Jr. was the son of John Sr. and Christina Phinney. John, Sr, with his brother Robert, sister Catherine, mother, and father, Jeffery, arrived from England via the Mayflower.

Through Mary (Rogers) Phinney, wife of John Jr., all the descendants of this marriage are also descended from Thomas Rogers, who came to this country on the Mayflower, who signed the Mayflower Compact.

Through all attempts of removing or reconstructing history, history is history. We cannot change what is true. We cannot change what is right. We cannot change the reality of those who sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom. Freedom is not free. It always requires someone to lay down their lives to offer such freedom to future generations. Truth is immovable.

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Many of my readers are well aware of my relentless efforts & loyalty to the original America. As a grandson of one of the original Pilgrims, I will maintain my authentic roots of America. Grandpa’s investment will not fade - not on my watch.

While I would agree that we are no longer a “Christian nation,” we are still under God. The same God and Jesus Christ that my grandfather & friends worshipped. Loyalty produces endurance, and Jesus said those who endure to the end will be saved. This not only applies to the real-deal believer, but it also applies to a country and its people who make use of the freedom of faith in a lost and deplorable world.

Blessed Thanksgiving to all.