25th Anniversary Celebration

Plymouth, Massachusetts

September 14^th- 16^th, 2005

 Approximately 60 members and friends gathered in Plymouth to celebrate this milestone in our society, with three days of events. We began the morning of Wednesday, September 14^th with the tree dedication on the grounds of the Mayflower Society House. With our Governor, Joyce Cutler, presiding, we unveiled our memorial stone, which reads, "In Memory of Father James S. McGivern who in 1980 founded the Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants. Tree dedication 2005." We were pleased to welcome special guests Robert Davis, Eugene Fortine and Robert Greene (all former Governor Generals) and their wives, and former Assistant Governor General, Donald West. The list of donors to our memorial fund was read and gratefully acknowledged.  Members Gordon Wood read the invocation and Arnold Nethercott gave the benediction. That evening, the hors d'oeuvres were a big hit at our cocktail party as we got together for a social evening. 

 Thursday, September 15^th began with a three hour tour of Plimoth Plantation, and we were a grateful group when the anticipated rain from Hurricane Ophelia held off until we sat down for our indoors barbecue luncheon. Neil Lund offered the grace - which happened to be from the "Pilgrims at Prayer" book which our own member Judith McKay-Kowalski submitted. That evening, with the rain continuing, our lantern tour of Plymouth turned into a trolley tour, combined with our Memorial Service at the sarcophagus on Cole's Hill. Susan Roser presided over the service which again included participation of our members. George Nye read the invocation, Nancy McAlary, Fay Carlson and Alan Wright read passages by William Bradford and Eleanor Smith read the benediction.

 On Friday, September 16^th we enjoyed an all day bus tour up Cape Cod. We stopped at historic spots along the way, including Sandwich, the Cove Burying Ground in Eastham and First Encounter Beach. We had two hours in Provincetown for lunch and shopping before heading back to Plymouth. Friday evening was our closing banquet with special guests Alice Teal, Editor of the Mayflower Quarterly and Harry Folger 3rd, Assistant Editor, and Sharon Maytas, Historian of the Vermont Society. Alice made a presentation to Susan Roser, which read, "Thank You for your many kindnesses and your contributions to the Mayflower Society. We are pleased to present to Canada's glistening gem, Susan Roser, a shining "Cape May Diamond". Sharon brought us news of Dr. Pat Stanford's health and introduced Pat's replacement speaker, Susan Roser. Susan gave a talk on "Knowledge...How do we know so much about our Pilgrim Ancestors?" Lynne Webb thanked the speaker and presented her with a gift. Our members again participated with Judy Swan giving the invocation, Peter Fillmore giving the toast, Keith Goodrich who said grace and Ruth Nablo who gave the benediction. 

 Details of these events were printed in the fall issue of our newsletter, Canadian Pilgrim as well as the winter 2005 issue of the Mayflower Quarterly.