Posey and Brownlow
Tlioy were both great preachers, ami tlieir
work in the western part off the State was off
an outstanding nature during the early part
of the nineteenth century.
OF the early “sky-pilots" who
scaled the highlands of Western
North Carolina to offer a meas¬
ure of spiritual comfort and aid to
these isolated people, the Rev. Hum¬
phrey Posey, better known as "The
Great Posey,” aud the Rev. Win. (i.
Brownlow, affably known as "Parson
Brownlow,” curved their names deep¬
est in the memory of the
]мч>р1о.
“The
great Posey” accomplished much in
firmly establishing the Baptist church
in the mountain region, while "Parson
Brownlow” extended Methodism.
So spirited grew competition be¬
tween the two church stalwarts that
they became involved in a theological
controversy that rocked the mountain
country. From this beginning the dis¬
pute degenerated into matters per¬
sonal and irrelevant. After several
sharp exchanges, Parson Brownlow.
a master of invectives, dipped his pen
in vitriol on July 23. 1832, and wrote
“the great Posey" a 24-page letter
which is still on file among the rec¬
ords of Macon County court.
Sued for Libel
As an effective answer. Posey
charged Parson Brownlow with libel.
While the first bill was quashed, a true
bill was found on the pressed charge in
1*33 and the parson was convicted by
a jury. He was promptly sentenced
to pay a fine and costs, the former of
which was paid by .1. R. Siler, an
original settler and a pillar in the
Methodist church. Co.t' remained un¬
paid for a time, however, and so the
sheriff set out in search of Brown¬
low.
The parson was just closing a pro¬
tracted meeting at Mt. Zion Church,
according to the generally accredited
story, when the sheriff appeared up
the road. Knowing the obvious mis¬
sion of the minion of the law. Brown¬
low i* said to have quickly presenter!
his Bible to a woman member of his
church, who was standing near at
hand, and his hymn-book to another.
These hooks are said to he 'till in the
families of the women receiving them,
although information as to the pres¬
ent owners is lacking.
The sheriff forthwith levied on the
Ri; J. It. II
К К МЛ
parson’s mare, bridle, saddle and sad¬
dle hag.*, and «old them at public auc¬
tion for the sum of $65.'»0. $53.83 of
which went towards court costs. Mr.
Siler is said to have come to hi* aid
again, however, and furnished him
another mount and equipment.
Despite this unfortunate occur¬
rence, both ministers did admirable
work among these underprivileged
people, and won the esteem of the
entire mountain country.
Was Born in Virginia
Posey was horn in Henry County.
Virginia, in 1780. and moved to Burke
County with his parents when only
five years of age. Ordained at the age
of 20. he played a leading role in
establishing Cane Creek Baptist
Church in Bnneoml* County, and
Locust Obi Field in Haywood County,
where descendants of the original con¬
gregation have worshiped ever since.
He also established many mission
posts. About 1*20 he organized three
mission schools, one of which was
locate*! at what is now known as the
Mission Place on Hiwa‘se River, seven
miles above Murpliy. Ho died in New¬
man. Ga., in 1840.
A man richly endowed by nature to
be a leader, he was of great physical
strength and striking profile. With
a mu*ieal voice, he became eloquent
in exhorting the feeble churches to
Maud fast to the faith.
Parson Brownlow. who later be¬
came governor of Tennessee, received
appointment to the Macon County-
Franklin circuit of the Methodist
HOTEL SALISBURY
S. Coleman Crabtree, Mgr.
SALISBURY, N. C.
Church at the annual conference at
Athens. Tenn.. in 1831. and did effec¬
tive work over the entire region for
his denomination.
From bis letter to “the great Posey"
that brought about the litigation, he
appears to have objected most strenu¬
ously to the interpretation tin* Baptist
divine placed upon the organization of
the Methodist church — comparing it
to the Catholic church structure. How¬
ever imprudent may have been hi*
remarks, a present -day leader can¬
not hut sympathize with hi* impa¬
tience over ill-advised statements cal¬
culated to confuse the simple minds
of the highlanders. Probably the most
damaging statement Brownlow made
about Posey from a legal point of
view, however, was contained in bis
accusation that the Baptist preacher
was selling Bibles that had been
furnished him for free distribution
among the poor.
A Serious Charge
“The principal ground of objec¬
tion to you as an agent." wrote Par¬
son Brownlow. "is that instead of
giving Bibles to the poor, you have
sold them; and where they were not
able to pay you cash, you have taken
collars, rails and spinning.”
“Von ex|M*et after death to go to
heaven." lie wrote in conclusion,
after having thoroughly thrashed
the theological ground* over which
the dispute raged. "It i* devoutly
hoped that you may. But it is to be
feared that the heaven to which you
arc at present journeying i* a dreadful
place, the geographical location of
which i* nowhere, and whose tenants
are the haggard phantoms of an over¬
heated imagination."
Western North Carolina, in the
days when Posey and Brownlow were
preaching, was n sparsely-settled
country and one can readily imagine
the hardships which existed in con¬
nection with living conditions there
at that time. However, the two
preachers apparently were zenlon-
and tireless workers and did not spare
themselves in their efforts to bring
religious light to the rough folk* who
resided in the mountain area.
7
