From This Church Scrooby 1606 Plymouth 1620 Were Founded the First Church in Duxbury 1632 „ „ „ Marshfield 1632 „ „ „ Eastham 1646 „ „ „ Plympton 1698 „ „ „ Kingston 1717 Second Church in Plymouth 1738 Third Church in Plymouth 1801 Now Church of the Pilgrimage COVENANT OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF PLYMOUTH “In ye name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in obedience to his holy will and devine ordinances, wee being by ye most wise and good providence of God brought together in this place, and desirous to unite ourselves with this congregation or church under the Lord Jesus Christ our head, that it may be in such sort as becometh all those whom he hath redeemed and sanctified to himself, wee doe hereby solemnly and religiously as in His most holy presence, avouch the Lord Jehovah ye only true God, to be our God and ye God of ours, and do promise and bind ourselves to walk in all our ways according to ye rules of ye gospel and in all sincere conformity to his holy ordinances, and in mutual love to and watchfulnesse over one another.” ELDERS OF THE FIRST CHURCH WILLIAM BREWSTER 1620–1644 THOMAS CUSHMAN 1649–1691 THOMAS FAUNCE 1699–1746 [Illustration] THE CONGREGATION The Pilgrim Fathers Were Separatists From the English Church They held that any convenient Number of believers Might form themselves Into a church And choose their own officers They entered into a Covenant of the Lord By which they joined themselves While in England Into a church society In the fellowship Of the Gospel To walk in all His ways Made known or To be made known unto them According to Their best endeavors Whatsoever it should cost them. Standish Monument Duxbury, Massachusetts 1918 (DR. CHARLES W. ELIOT) THE SUCCESSIVE MEETING HOUSES IN PLYMOUTH 1623–1899 [Sidenote: THE FORT MEETING-HOUSE 1623]