Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction

expenses to house 10.00

St. Croix 5.00

Collection atFreeport 5.60

lodging 0.75

of Br. Dwinell 32.00

toll gate 0.20

of Br. Atherton 116.00

new Hills,other exp. 3.00

of Geo. Campbell 40.00

exp at tavern 0.75

Annual list 22.00

exp at Union Grove .025

Tract So. money 27.25

other 2.35

D. Pinney, Kane Co. 1.00

17.55

Rockford Coll. 52.00

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Platteville, Wi., March 13, 1849

Dear Br.,

I have had some misgivings this morning about what I did last night, and if it was wrong please tell me so explicitly and then I shall hope not to do so again. I gave a draft on you to Br. Atherton contrary to your instructions, but I excused myself on the score of obliging a good Brother and of giving you unlimited time to pay it. Still, on reflection, I have thought it might embarrass you in some way that I do not understand and if you shall have already relied to my letter by a draft for that amount I will not use it.

Yesterday just as I was stepping into the stage to come an help Br. Lewis, I received a line from Br. Dwinnell which looks very much as though we should lose him from the center of moral influence, and that he was in danger of being drawn away into a little corner called Salem. (Prospectively this is so for the star of Empire is moving W.)

I do not wish to turn that dear Br. aside from duty but to aid him in discovering it. And if duty calls him to Salem I will do all I can to help him off and if duty requires it I will pay the expenses of his journey there. My only object in writing to you is that you may not be under misapprehension (and give wrong counsel) from his despondent representations. I say to you what I would not to him, that I regard him as one of the best men you have ever sent over the Allegheny Mountains and most happily adapted while he thinks he is not adapted at all to this new field of ministerial labour.

And in regard to Rock Island I presume he has totally misapprehended his prospects. It is my misfortune that I am not particularly informed except from himself for though I was near there 3 weeks since I denied myself the pleasure of visiting them to avoid the “remarks of certain Old School Gossip” who have ventured to charge me with being officious. But I hear from there what lead me to predict that the present rival in that place will not continue long and that if Br. D. will persevere 5 or 10 years he will mould that community and make his influence felt from Burlington to Galena : a district certainly more considerable in its moral bearings that a single congregation in Salem, Mass.

It is a mysterious providence that he did not reach Galena a few weeks sooner.

I do not know that this communication will be of any use, but I thought I ought to show mine opinion. And if I was acquainted with the church in Salem I should be tempted to write and point out their sin and the mischief to which they are accessory in having their own large flock and carrying off our lone lamb. Will it not prove to the Eastern churches that we cannot appreciate ministerial talent and show that no effort is wanted to raise up ministers for there is no call for them at the West.

Please to burn this letter and then it will do no harm.

Yours affectionately,

A. Kent

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Dear Brother,

I have received a letter from Rev. Mr. Pendleton informing me that he has arranged with the people at Henry to preach for them one half his time as formerly, and as I thought I ought to be done when I was with him last fall. And he states also that what is raised for his support at Henry will be deducted from the amount subscribed at Providence. This arrangement seems to me to be quite desirable and I presume will meet your approbation. And I notify you of it as he requested.

April 16

Your attention may have been directed to it by a communication I sent to the Evangelist recently.

That which I have received from Batavia I think you can decide upon as well as if I went there. If, however, you wish me to visit Batavia before you act on the case, drop me a line and I will go there on my way to Gen. Asso. of Ill at Ottawa May 17.

I ask if Br. Walkers allusion to Benolds case and others does not call for explanation. I should be sorry to have him refuse to aid in this service. It suggests itself to me that the Batavia application might be granted for 6 months, c.c. from the date of their application. Does not such disregard of your instructions deserve that rebuke? The case of Momence and Rev. E.G. Birge. I have written to Br. Porter who has gone to Wilmington to inform me in regard to the efficiency of that Br., but have received no answer and I have concluded to forward the documents, presuming you already are acquainted with him. I have tried repeatedly to go to Will Co., but “have been ley hitherto.” I intend to go there within 2 months.

I have still another application in hand from Big Rock Creek Church asking aid for Rev. Spencer Baker, “of whom I have no certain thing to write,” except I have received an impression that he managed to get himself into the field over Br. Burgess’ head. But as you may know nothing of the man I withhold it until I know more of the case. Br. Porter’s reply has just reached me and I enclose it.

I hope you will get through the approaching anniversary with comfort to yourselves. I do not want the position when there 100 or 200 great letters every month to dispose of. But it is said that the back is fitted to the burden.

Yours, Etc.,

A. Kent

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[Chapin Papers- Beloit College]

May 9, 1849

This circular is no child of mine but in its present shape I could not withhold my name.

A Theological Sem. will be begun ere long. I am not in favor of connecting it with a college.

Perhaps Galena is as good a point all things considered as any other.

Yours affectionately,

A. Kent

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REVEREND & DEAR Sir: .

The subject upon which we address you, is that of a Theological Seminary proposed to be located in this city, under the auspices of the Constitutional Presbyterian Church. The subject is not altogether a new one. It has for some time past been under serious and prayerful consideration by some of the friends of Christ's kingdom, both at the West and at the East. Fully persuaded as we are in our own minds, of the expediency, necessity, and feasibility, of establishing such an Institution we are unwilling to put forth any positive efforts for the accomplishment of the object, until we shall have asked counsel of those at a distance, in whose wisdom and judgment we can confide, and whose paramount regard for the Church of Christ we cannot question.

With a map of our country before you; you will at once observe that this vast region of the Northwest is, to some extent, an isolated district, separated from the East by distance and our inland seas, and from the more central Southern portions of our country, by distance also, and non-commercial intercourse. This region embraces Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and what is soon to be the Territory of Nebraska. Scattered over this vast territory, is already a population amounting to about two millions of souls. This number is rapidly increasing. Especially is there an increasing tide of population pouring into the fertile and healthy region of the Upper Mississippi. Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa will soon number their Millions of people. Illinois has already a million. -

Now, that this wide-spread territory of the Northwest, and its teeming population, should be supplied with an adequate ministry from the East, is, in our opinion, out of the question. Indeed, Such a supply cannot even now be had. Many of our most thriving villages and most populous agricultural districts, are without a Presbyterian or Congregational ministry, nor can our young men go to the East for theological instruction. The distance and the expense are alike too great. Had we a Theological Seminary here at the present time, it is believed that young men would be found in it, many of whom must relinquish the hope of entering the sacred office, by reason of the want of such an Institution. We are furthermore persuaded, that other things being equal, it is far better that the men who are to labor in this Western field, should be trained upon Western ground. The reasons for this are obvious.

As has been intimated already, it is proposed that this Seminary shall be founded and conducted under the auspices of the Constitutional Presbyterian Church. We are fully persuaded that while this branch of the Church is unimpeachable in the soundness of its faith, its polity is most happily adapted to the prevailing qualities of Western mind and Western society, and that under its energetic and plastic influence, the most salutary and desirable type will be given the the ecclesiastical character of this region. By the foregoing observations, we do not mean that the Seminary shall be purely and exclusively of a denominational character. We mean simply this, that while in matters of Church polity, the largest freedom of opinion shall be allowed, the Institution shall be under the immediate supervision of the Presbyteries of the Northwest, its Board of Trustees being chosen from those Presbyteries, and that its Professors shall be connected with the Constitutional General Assembly.

The location proposed for this Institution is the city of Galena. The advantages of this location are numerous and obvious. Galena, including its suburbs, already numbers more than six thousand inhabitants. It is destined unquestionably to be the largest city of the Northwest, Chicago excepted. It is to be the great depot of the Upper Mississippi. It is a healthy city. It is central to the region proposed to be supplied with a ministry by the Seminary in question. It is central also to a vast and fertile agricultural region, to whose sons we are to look for the future ministers of the Northwest, and for missionaries to the territories lying still farther West. It is very soon to be connected by rail-road with Chicago, and eventually with the head-waters of the Missouri. It is the principal port of the Upper Mississippi, and at every point of the compass is connected with thousands of miles of water communication. The expense of living here, is as cheap as in any other city of the Union. This city is already possessed of great wealth, and that wealth is on the increase. It is central to the mining region, where thousands arc to be employed in the production of lead, and among whom the students of the Seminary might be usefully employed as transient missionaries. Indeed, with a map of the Northwest before you, you cannot fail to see at once the advantages of this location for such an Institution as that proposed.

The plan contemplated for the establishment of the Seminary is this: To raise ten thousand dollars on the field designed more immediately to be benefited by it, for the purchase of the necessary grounds, and for the erection of suitable buildings. We have encouragement to believe this can be done. The grounds and buildings being thus provided for, it is proposed to raise twenty thousand dollars elsewhere, for the endowment of two professorships. It is further proposed that the Seminary shall not go into operation until the thirty thousand dollars shall have been actually realized and appropriated as above. In this way, all embarrassment from debt will be forestalled.

Such is a brief outline of the plan proposed for the establishment of a School of the Prophets for the North. west. To us it appears not only exceedingly desirable, but a matter of inevitable necessity, that such an Institution should be founded either at this city or at some other point, for the region of the Upper Mississippi, and for the regions beyond. Our Seminary at Cincinnati, from its remoteness, and its geographic location, cannot meet the wants of this field. It is less accessible to us than New York or Andover. Moreover, the students going from that Seminary, are wanted for Ohio, Indiana, and the Southern States. The Northwest alone is not provided for. Aside from Lane Seminary, we have no theological school West of the Alleghenies.

Now, sir, with the map of this country before you, we ask you to give the subject of this communication your prayerful and candid consideration. In proposing it, we assure you we are not actuated by motives of mere local benefit. We look simply to the future welfare of this vast region, so soon to be the dwelling place of millions of men. Do you, all things considered, think it advisable to make an effort for the establishment of such an Institution as that above contemplated, and at this city? Do you think the plan a feasible one ? And shall it have your hearty co-operation? An answer at your earliest convenience is solicited.

Yours in the bonds of the Gospel,

S. G. SPEES,

A. KENT,

E. D. NEILL,

W. C. BOSTWICK,

C. S. HEMPSTEAD,

H. NEWHALL,

GEO. W. CAMPBELL,

JAMES SPARE,

WM. H. BRADLEY.

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Ottawa, May 17, 1849

I have come here to attend the Gen. Association of Ill. and to see the Brethren and to be somewhat filled with their company. And also to after certain cases that the Com. of Fox R. U[nion]. have referred to me.

And I will report journal-wise.

Having started on Thursday I returned with my lame horse and started with another on Friday morning for Belvidere, 93 miles & in despite of mud and rain and swollen streams I reached there Sat. Evening and preached & administered Com. to Br. Wright’s church. It was a good day to me and I see what the Lord has done for them since I was there last winter, paid me well for the effort.

Monday I called on Br. Reynolds and though his Brethren think there is no evidence to convict him of licentiousness, yet he is in bad repute, i.e., he commands no respect and possesses no qualifications for usefulness and does many things that evince an utter want of common sense. I agree with the Br. who said to meÊyesterday he had better go on to one of his farms.

I went next to Virginia Settlement and spent some hours with Rev. J.H. Baldwin. I received a very favorable impression. Hence to Crystal Lake at the request of Br. H. Brown to form a judgement concerning the application of behalf of Br. Beech. Br. Brown wrote that he was not a member of Fox R. U. and that his course last year was not satisfactory. He has explained satisfactorily why he did not get his letter before and he is now ready to join the Union. He was employed last year in building at Dundee: has now let out his place and moved his family to Crystal Lake and I hope he will now give himself wholly to his work. The enclosed letter to you was forwarded to the Com. and they sent it to me and requested me and requested me to open it and as your agent I did so, thinking perhaps it might throw light in my path. I see no cause to object to any thing it contains except the reflection upon others. I could not attend to that without knowing that I had opened your letter (which I should have told him if there had been any sufficient occasion). But I heard the same thing from many of my people, and I asked who they were that were receiving aid who could do without it and he mentioned Elgin & Belvidere, neither of which are now aided by you.

I suppose the church there is very poor and I inquired diligently if he could not get aid from other neighborhoods. There are 2 or 3 openings for preaching but no one of them that affords any prospect of contributing to his support at present.

Hoping therefore that he will give himself wholly to his work I recommend that they receive 150 or 200 dollars.

The application for aid to sustain Rev. Spencer Baker I cannot recommend until some things are explained which now lie against him. Such as neglecting to account for money of the Bible Soc. in his hands after being repeatedly solicited. Engaging to preach at McHenry without consulting the church, saying at one time that the Presbyterians had nothing to support their views and 3 days after applying for admission to Presbytery and affirming that he was Presbyterian from principle & such like.

18th Conferred last evening with Br. Brown & Clark. They agree to recommend that the Church at Crystal Lake receive 150. We did not feel at liberty to so less, and so not like to name a greater sum than the people themselves raise.

I conversed some time with them in relation to Br. Farnum’s case. We think he is truly a godly man but somewhat “set in his way” and in as much as Esq. Farn. talks of removing from Batavia, we think it would be better that Br. F. should be commissioned for his removal will probably put an end to the existing opposition. Br. Farnham wishes to have the Home Missionary sent him & says it has ceased to come for some months.

The Gen. Association of Ill. has just closed its annual meeting. There are in this ecclesiastical body many excellent Brethren and this narrative of the state of Religion furnished us with abundance evidence of the prosperity of their churches. A number of which have been favored with times of special refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The meeting was very pleasant throughout and I trust we shall all look back to it as a season of Christian fellowship long to be remembered. They kindly requested the 2 agents of A.H.M.S. to occupy the Sabbath Evening and the occasion was improved to urge the motives for increasing our Home Miss. efforts.

Yours in the bonds of the Gospel,

A. Kent

Application will be made by Br. Basset, I understand. I have no judgement formed in the case. Father Cook is associated with him. He says the Old Church is prospering and this they divined in public meeting. He says it was that which created the difficulty.

____________

May 28, 1849

Facts and Incidents in the experience of Individuals will best illustrate the trials of faith to which Home Missionaries are subjected.

There is a large settlement about 14 miles from me where I have spent some 15 or 20 Sabbaths within 2 years striving to resuscitate a declining church. They have never offered to make me any compensation. And I cannot ask a passing clergyman to visit there because there are but 3 families and these on the outskirts of the settlement who ever think of inviting me to lodge with them and the best of those has now mover away. At the close of an evening meeting I might have spent the night out in the rain except as an old country man had invited me home to his cabin of logs about 12 feet square. At another time I slept very sweetly among heaps of swine slaughtered for market, not without some annoyance however from the cast going out and in at the broken windows.

There was a precious revival years ago in which many were hopefully converted & towards which my labours had with God’s blessing materially contributed, but other sects, by intermarriages and various other maneuvers drew these off while I could be with them but a part of my time and but one convert united with our church.

Still I have believed that God would yet turn their captivity if I persevered. Accordingly I set out on Thursday last to ride from a meeting of the Association (100 miles) to meet my appointment there. My route lay over an infrequented road, familiarly known as “The Old Sucker Trail,” and on Friday I found myself in a slough, my waggon buried almost over the fore wheels and my horse, poor fellow, struggling till having broken a shaft and thrown himself broadside into the mud. He was utterly unable to move further. But by the good Providence of God, in answer to prayer, and putting my own shoulder to the wheel Hercules came to my assistance by proxy (i.e., 3 men and a yoke of oxen) and helped the poor waggoner out, for I had sunk in the mire until my own clothes abhorred me, and I emerged from the place in a plight that would furnish a sketch for a painter. Having gathered up my “beggar plunder” and tied up the shaft I went on my way like Bunyon, singing and admiring the incident for it rendered me more thankful to God than before.

On Saturday I rode through the rain and the mud towards my appointments until I reached the nearest family in which I thought I should be welcome and comfortable for the night and on a bright Sabbath morning I set out in season to ride the remaining six miles, but when I had come almost within sight of the log school house I was stopped by a swollen stream and was obliged after all to give over the attempt.

I turned the horse towards the place of my afternoon appointment, thinking that I could at least assist in the Sab. school. There I met with a preacher whom I regarded as essentially heretical. But I could not well avoid hearing him, for it rained again, so that could not return to the thicket and there was no house near. I assumed he would call me Brother and ask me to make the concluding prayer, and so he did. I could not refute without making a wrong impression on minds unused to discriminate and I prayer thinking that I would take him in my buggy and converse with him alone, but he did not give me the opportunity. After he had finished there was yet 1 1/2 hours to the time of our meeting. Most of the audience went home, and though hungry and fatigued, I must nicely make myself agreeable during the intermission. And I sat down and read a tract and attempted to administer appropriate counsel to the father of 7 children who had buried his wife 2 days before, and a wife whom he has often treated as a Brute. I then went out, and having “shut the door” I knelt down on the fold of my umbrella and sought aid from on high, after which I preached with some freedom to 17 persons, including 2 infants and one church member, and endeavored to supply what was lacking in the heretical preacher’s account of faith.