Page 23 - Heavenly Signs III by Mel Gable

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Forefathers Monument

On the monument’s main pedestal stands the heroic figure of “Faith” with her right hand pointing toward
heaven and her left hand clutching the Bible. Upon the four buttresses also are seated figures emblematic of the
principles upon which the Pilgrims founded this nation. Each figure having a symbol referring to the Bible that
“Faith” possesses - counter-clockwise from the east are Liberty, Morality, Law and Education. Each was carved
from a solid block of granite, with each figure posed in the sitting position upon chairs with a high relief on
either side. Under “Liberty” stand “Tyranny Overthrown” and “Peace;” under “Morality” stand “Prophet” and
“Evangelist;” under “Law” stand “Justice” and “Mercy;” and under “Education” are “Youth” and “Wisdom.”

On the face of the buttresses, beneath these figures are inscription in marble which represent scenes from the
Pilgrim history. Under “Freedom” is “Landing” and under “Morality” is “Embarkation” and under “Law” is “Treaty”
and under “Education” is “Compact.” Upon the four faces of the main pedestal are large panels for records. The
front panel is inscribed as follows: “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.” The right and left panels contain the names of
those who came over on the Mayflower. The rear panel, which was not engraved until recently, contains a quote
from Governor William Bradford's famous history, Of Plymouth Plantation:

“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.” 20

The rear panel declares “let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise” which recognizes Jehovah, God Almighty.

Name of God

Once you have established that the Bible is the Word from God, it is the first place to look for His true character
and attributes. As you explore the Bible, you will discover His unchanging nature. God is omnipotent, who is an
all-powerful God and omniscient, who is an all-knowing God. He is also omnipresent that represents all places at
all times. God is perfectly holy and perfectly just. God is wisdom, power, glory, righteousness, mercy,
faithfulness, goodness, beauty, and patience. God is love. God is truth. The names for God used in the Bible act
as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He has
chosen in scripture are meant to reveal His true attributes.

“ELOHIM” is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300
times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning “strength” or “power” and has the unusual characteristic of
being plural in form. In Genesis 1:1, we read, “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.” Right
from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the trinity of God, a mystery that is
uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible. Throughout scripture, Elohim is combined with other words to
describe certain characteristics of God. Some examples are the following: Elohay Kedem - God of the Beginning:
(Deuteronomy 33:27). Elohay Mishpat - God of Justice: (Isaiah 30:18). Elohay Selichot - God of Forgiveness:
(Nehemiah 9:17). Elohay Marom - God of Heights: (Micah 6:6). Elohay Mikarov - God Who Is Near: (Jeremiah
23:23). Elohay Mauzi - God Of My Strength: (Psalm 43:2). Elohay Tehilati - God Of My Praise: (Psalm 109:1).
Elohay Yishi - God Of My Salvation: (Psalm 18:46). Elohim Kedoshim - Holy God: (Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19).
Elohim Chaiyim - Living God: (Jeremiah 10:10). Elohay Elohim - God of Gods: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

20 O'Gorman, James F. (September, 1995). "The Colossus of Plymouth: Hammatt Billings's National Monument to the
Forefathers". Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians (University of California Press).