History: The Mayflower Compact

When the pilgrims arrived on the east coast, they signed one of the first documents of American governance. On the heels of the birthday of our nation's independence, it's a good read.

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherence of the ends aforesaid; and by the virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

Consider the chosen words.

• "In the name of God..."


• King James as sovereign lord "...by the grace of God"


• "Having undertaken for the glory of God..."


• "...and advancement of the Christian faith...


• They formed their government "in the presence of God"


• They formed it in "submission" to Him and to the government they were forming


• In establishing their government, they understood the need to enact "just and equal laws..."

As our nation dismisses the one true sovereign of the universe from its governance, the one for whom justice is an inherent quality, it will become more difficult with each ensuing day to maintain justice for all much less justice for any.