“Reader! History records no nobler venture for faith and freedom than that of this Pilgrim band.
“In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and cold they laid the foundations of a state wherein every man, through countless ages should have liberty to worship God in his own way.
“May their example inspire thee to do thy part in perpetuating and spreading the lofty ideals of our republic throughout the world!”
At one end of the memorial is inscribed:
“The Bones of the Pilgrims found at various times in or near this enclosure and preserved for many years in the canopy over the Rock were returned at the time of the Tercentenary celebration and are deposited within this monument.”
“Erected by the General Society of
Mayflower Descendants A.D. 1920.”
On the opposite end of the monument is:
“About a hundred sowls came over in this first ship, and began this work which God in his Goodness hath hithertoe Blessed. Let his Holy Name have ye praise.”
Bradford 1650.