turbed by fractious personal rivalries and institutional power struggles. Wisely
or unwisely, deliberately or accidentally, parsons got involved in politics. For
some, the pulpit offered an irresistible opportunity as well as a physically im-
posing position from which to comment.
During the Blair-Nicholson controversy early in the century, vestrymen of
St. John s Parish (King William) took umbrage at what they were hearing from
their parson, John Monroe, and gave voice to a refrain heard again and again
by clergy across the centuries:
[I]nstead of preaching the Gospel of Christ (the most happy means of
peace & reconcilmt) He for the most part spends himself in the Widen-
ing of Breeches, setting people more at oddes than they were before. . . .
We are often times mightily concerned that Mr. Monro should not only
in the Pulpit so frequently concern himself with railing agt his Parish-
ioners (things foreign to his office & to the great Scandall of Religion, as
giving great offence to those who frequent the House of God purely out
of Devotion & to be informed in the way of everlasting Bliss), but also
that he should be the greatest Publisher of false news of New Governmts
& alterations in the State . . . renders our Colony odious as if Faction
had its rise among us. . . . Besides he makes such a noise Of trouble &
perilous times & uses arguments to buoy up men s hearts as if the Tenn
Persecutions were acting over us in this Country.51
John Brunskill (II), the Hamilton Parish parson, in a sermon preached on
Whitsunday in1746, preceding the election of a new vestry, took his text from
Exodus 18 (exhortation of Jethro to Moses) and employed it to discuss the
qualities of worthy men.   He admonished in general to reject those, who de-
nied the Existence of a Deity and a local Hell.  While much of the import of
this for his hearers escapes the modern reader, there is no question that the
message struck home to at least several in the congregation. After the service:
Within half a Mile of the Church, Mr. Brunskill, Mr. Charles Noden,
and my Self fell into Company upon the Road, soon after which Mr.
Brunskill being some Little distance before us: Noden told me he d rattle
the old Son of a Bitch for his Sermon, and immediately rode up and ask d
Mr. Brunskill if he was not ashamed to Preach such a Sermon and that
some other had better suited the Day, to which Mr. Brunskill replyed, he
thought it suited very well, upon which Mr. Noden began to abuse him,
by Calling him Rogue, saying he would prove it . . . , by incensing People
.
The Sermon 209