Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction

The meeting dismissed, I waded through several sloughs till I reached the house of Gaines, mine host, and at 5 p.m. I sat down to meat which I ate with good relish and a thankful heart. I ought perhaps to add: this Gaines is the old white-headed man whom I Baptized a year ago. His daughter the 8th of April last united with the Church and received the Lord’s Supper on her dying bed. She had delayed making a profession on her husband's account. And her father gave noble testimony when he leaned over her and whispered, “I thank God that you have been spared to see your father a sober man.”

You may say that the prospects of this church are dark, and yet I have strange confidence that God will yet build up his church there and my object in this statement is not to complain of hardships, for I have no feeling of the kind, but it is to show what are the embarrassments connected with preaching in the new settlements and if the missionary happens to be tossed about from one field to another before he has time to witness & report the good results of his labours, your committee may honestly draw the conclusion that he is either unfaithful or unskillful and should no longer be sustained by the charities of the church.

Pilgrim in Progress

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Galena, June 4th [1849]

Dear Brethren,

Br. Gould’s case has prompted me to make this communication. I spent 3 days with him and preached 3 times in his fields last week, and he made out as strong a case as the above and I really felt at the time that he was hardly dealt with. Communication with some of his former hearers has somewhat modified his statement, and yet I am not sure he should be utterly be precluded from aid. He now proposes to leave Troy Grove and confine himself to the eastern field. Br. Gould has been through thick and thin in meeting his appointments on the frontier.

I throw out these things for your consideration though I am not yet prepared to recommend him to receive aid.

I spent last Sabbath at Hazel Green to supply Br. Phillips. He having recently bled at the lungs. I preached morning & evening for him and in the afternoon at Fair Play (6 miles off). Br. Chaffee has preached there in the morning and wishes to be employed there and at Menominee, as I am informed. Perhaps it is best he should.

I had a long conversation with the trustees at Hazel Green Sat. evening, and Sab. morning preached my ox sermon (Doth God take of Oxen). It was a powerful sermon in defense of supporting ministers, for many members went home caught up again of new milk and carried it over to Br. P. saying, If Jesus alone must feed oxen I will not be behind the rest.

Br. Rood said he signed 35 on condition they should not ask but 100 of your society. But the burdens are heavy on a few. They have a large congregation but many are English who think that one dollar to such an object is a great amount. On the whole I advise that they receive 100 dollars.

Yours affectionately,

A. Kent

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Dear Br.,

I came down last week to spend Sabbath here and to attend the Gen. Association of Iowa at Davenport.

It was my desire to see the Brethren, and to be some what filled with their company, and I was not disappointed for we has a very pleasant and I trust profitable interview. I rejoice greatly to find gathered together so large a body of excellent men whose great object seemed to be to honor the Lord and extend the Savior of his Name over the state of their adoption. I am no longer on the Frontiers by my position from being a far distant outpost so soon to become an important center commercial and ecclesiastical, irrespective of the Theo, Sem. of Galena, which is no hobby of mine.^256[256] And I have only to regret that my name is not where I put it, c.c., after all the rest except that of Br. Neill.

Br. Dwinell has left and I am quite sure that if he had stayed another 6 months he never would have left. I am confirmed in the opinion that a New School P. Church should be sustained here. But it will be a handfull and embarrassing for a time. I wish we had a suitable man for it is prospectively a very important position to be occupied by your society. There seems to be a determination to put up a temporary house of worship. But they greatly need the man. Perhaps you know where he is to be found.

Yours truly, A. Kent

Mr. Hildreth preacher here in the morning and I in the afternoon. Right glad was I that you consent to commission 2 men for Minnesota. I think it wise.

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Ottawa, La Salle Co., June 19, 1849

Dear Br.,

An expensive week.

I must be allowed to report from day to day in order to preserve information before it is gone from me.

I left Rock Island on Monday last and having made about 10 miles, my horse died. It is one very serious trouble that I am obliged to entrust any horse to the mistaken kindness of the warm friends of your society, who show their good feelings by feeding any horse to satiety and often contrary to explicit instructions. Had I taken care of my own horse he would have been alive now but I left him at R.I. to go over to Davenport. I offered to put him into the care of the Livery Stable but was forbidden. It has cost me more than 80 dollars to make his place good.

I state this not to awaken your sympathy, but because you ask to know the lights and shadows of your missionaries. The cholera is abroad and a traveller here and there falls a victim (I think travellers are particularly exposed). I have had symptoms 2 or 3 times of late that made me feel that I might be carried off suddenly and it chided a feeling of reluctance to have the missionary field.

Having promised Br. Loughead that I would visit his field (at his request) before or after Synod, I crowded sail to ride across the state and visit Morris and spend the Sabbath so that I might be at Buffalo Grove the Sab. after Synod.

The church has informed him that his services were not acceptable (rather hastily I think). He felt aggrieved. I listened to the tale of labors and trials there and the interference of Mr. Comons to unsettle him. I called on some of the Church. They complain that he does not study: does not visit the people and strangers. I called on some of the Old Settlers, not professors, who have offered to sustain him and heard their statements. They say he has been useful and if removed it should have been done more deliberately and with more regard to his feelings.

Finally, I approved the decision to which he had come that he had better not preach there any more but still remain in Grundy County and in the house he has built and occupy the destitute places. There are 4 or 5 points north of the Ill. River where preaching ought to be furnished and the south side the largest and most populous part has never been explored. In all that county I was told there was no preaching of any kind except as there is one feeble Methodist class 10 miles south. I should have spent more time in exploring but the vertigo in my head yesterday morning admonished me not to make any such new efforts and I must be at Synod at Lacon on Thursday. I had planned to visit Wilmington and Momence but the loss of my horse threw me back 3 days.

Br. L. spoke of Marsailles or Grafton Ch. where he & Br. Basset have laboured. I availed myself of the opportunity and called on Giles Jackson and proposed that Br. L. should preach there and at his Brothers neighborhood 8 miles apart every other Sabbath and the alternate Sabbath at one or two other points from all which I hope he will get 1 or 200 dollars. Mr. Jackson seemed pleased with the suggestions, spoke well of Br. Loughead, alluded to the trials he has gone through in years past, and promised to write him immediately and invite him to come. Br. L. has felt quite discouraged of late and thought of going to farming. I encouraged him but urged the importance of more study and visiting form house to house as essential to the success of a Home Miss. And I may ass that on Sab. I preached to the people of Morris on the importance and permanency of the pastoral relation, a discourse prepared for Synod by appointment. And the Baptist Br. struck off 1/4 of his bill for shoeing my horse “for the good I had done the day before.” This same little village of Morris should be occupied: its prospective importance demands it. Do send us men. I have 15 fields in my district that call loudly for ministers. And how can one sleep when his children are crying to him for bread. “Send us a minister or dissolve the church” says one.

Grand Detour, June 27, 1849

On my way home I rest a few moments amidst the heat & dust and fatigue of “journeying it” to finish this letter.

Recent alarm about the cholera made attendance at Synod small, but we went trough our business and the sessions were very pleasant.

The Church at Lacon will you dedicate a fine church. We met in the basement. We have tried the experiment and return to fall meetings of Synod.

Br. Gould : I did not intend to allude to him again so soon but I can conversed with several of his nearest neighbors within the ministry and they agree with me in opinion that he ought to have missionary aid. I talked with him (without at all committing my self to him) urged the duty of a H. Miss. being wholly devoted to his work, He said it was his purpose to be. And, on the whole, if I should get encouragement from you, I should encourage the church to renew this application, This in no reflection upon the Ex. Comm. They can only act upon the light they receive. He has a family of 7 children, one is now the wife of Br. Lord of Sharon and Br. Clark^257[257] of Granville spoke very highly of him. He has lived in his family. He will not apply again except he is encouraged to do so. Should you still hesitate and demand more full evidence of his usefulness, I will undertake in all of the next 6 months to examine the matter and give you reasons more in detail.

Yours very sincerely,

A. Kent

_________

Dear Br.,

I have just received a line from Br. Neill in which he represents his necessities to demand a salary equal to 700. I am sorry the necessity exists but I should not be willing to refuse the appropriation, for I am anticipating that with the divine blessing he will be useful there.

I trust that provision will be made at Stillwater so that Br. Whiting will not now need so much. He will be here soon I presume, as his goods have arrived: a small box, 270 c charged $7, which the merchant said should cost but 2 if it had been sent in company with others.

Not having much to write, I will entertain you with the account of my Sabbath Services for some months past and the distance of the paces from each other.

[March] 25. Preached for Br. Phillips

[miles between] 9 miles

April 1. Preached on Home Miss. at home and in the country in the p.m.

9 miles

8. preached to Apple River Church & administered communion

15. Attended Presbytery and held a Communion

15 miles

22. Preached to the Apple River Church and In Lafayette Co., Wisconsin

18 miles

29 Preached in Minnesota at Stillwater

408 miles

May 6. Preached at the Apple River Ch. and in Wisconsin again.

408 miles

13. Preached at Belvidere on Home Miss. and administered the Lord’s Supper

23 miles

20. Attended Cong. Gen. Ass. and Preached at South Ottowa

123 miles

27. Preached to Apple River Church

121 miles

June 3, Preached twice for Br. Phillips (sick) and once at Fair Play

100 miles

10. Preached at Rock Island

150 miles

17. Preached at Morris, Grundy Co.

71 miles

24. Attended Synod at Lacon : preached on the pastoral relation on Friday

145 miles

July 1. Preached at home and administered the Lord’s Supper in exchange with Br. Spees who preached at Buf. Grove

15 miles

8. preached at Elizabeth

91 miles

15. Preached at New Diggings, having assisted at Br. Downes’ installation during the week

70 miles

22. Preached at Waddam’s Grove and Mr. Consell’s[?] school house

115 miles

29. Preached at the same places on my return from Meeting of Trustees of Beloit College

55 miles

Aug. 5 I am to preach at Elizabeth

I have given you these statistics as showing a greater distance travelled between Sabbath Appointments and that without failing to meet my engagements (except in case of swollen stream) than I expect to do very often. In going to Minnesota I used a public conveyance. You may ask, how much I have studied. It is but little that I can do in that way.

I presume that there are other correspondents of yours that are glad of the opportunity to letting off some of their egotism, but amidst the dry details of your office work you ought to have some entertainment occasionally,

So farewell until I have occasion to write again.

A. Kent

I have received applications for aid in support of Rev. Mr. Hodges for another year but shall detain it for 2 or 3 weeks until I pass through his place or residence & inquire.

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[Letter from Rev. George Gemmel in reference to the Hodges case]

To Secy. of A.H.M.Society

Byron, Dec. 24th, 1849

Dear Brethren,

It is made our duty to address you on the case of Br. James Hodges. By a vote of the Winnebago & Ogle Association. Therefore without apology we will perform that duty assigned us.

In July last the church of Otter Creek & the church of Westfield made out a joint application for aid in sustaining Br. Hodges in preaching to them (which application is herein enclosed) & the same was endorsed by the Missionary Committee of this Association. As you will see by reference to the enclosed, it was then forwarded to your agent Rev. A. Kent, who having heard some reports concerning Mr. Hodges refused to endorse the application & it was ultimately returned to Mr. H. The matter at the request of Mr. Hodges was taken up by the Association & investigated & the following minutes placed on our records.

Certain reports having been circulated affecting the ministerial & Christian character of Br. Hodges in relation to a certain horse trade made by his son who is under age & the matter having been brought before the Association for investigation & the Association having duly considered & investigated the reports in question declare that in opinion of the Association the charges brought against Br. Hodges are destitute of the least foundation in truth & are fully persuaded that he has done nothing in relation to the matter brought against him derogatory to his Christian or ministerial character.

Also a resolution was passed instructing the Missionary Committee to forward the application of said churches directly to your Society with the recommendation of the association to grant the aid solicited in the application of said churches (this resolution is not now in my hands). But the above is the amount of it. We therefore in behalf of and in the name of the Association would ernestly recommend & request that the application of said churches should be granted & Br. Hodges commissioned according thereto which we believe will advance the cause of Christ in the region. Praying the Lord to bless & guide you in all your relations & duties, we remain as ever your Brethren in Christ.

George Gemmel

In behalf of the Committee on Missions

Br. L. H. Loss having removed his connection from us I was appointed in his place on this Committee & this was left in my hands by Br. Pearson for me to make out & forward to you.

Geo. Gemmel

I wrote to you last week & made out my quarterly report in that alluded to this. The above is the action of Association. I may hereafter give you a history of this whole matter & detail the course of Br. Kent with reference to this & some other matters. We are Congregationalists & some of us also Antislavery Men which make some jar in some matters. But I hope Br. Kent means well.

_______

Dear Brother,

In the present state of my wife’s health our physician recommends constant riding and if she can ride over Northern Ill. it will enable me to serve her and serve the church at the same time. Thus far we have succeeded as well as I expected and she is rather improving, notwithstanding the heat and fatigue and notwithstanding we are pursuing a track where the Cholera has but lately spread consternation and death.

The application is renewed for aid to support Br. Hodges, but a hint was given me to inquire at Rockford and providentially I fell in with the very man who had cognizance of the facts- from information thus received and backed up be a man from his own vicinity, I saw my way clear as I thought to write him that I was ready to sanction the applications which were endorsed by Br. Loss & Pearson until I heard a rumor of a trade in horse-flesh which came to me in such a manner that I could not forward it until there was some explanation or acknowledgment.

I preached last Sab. at Elgin and took up a collection of 20 dollars for Home Missions, which please charge to me also at Dundee on the same subject in the afternoon. But Br. Wills deferred the collection for a month or more. Br. Clark said that another application had been prepared for aid for Rev. S. Baker. But he refused to recommend him. I invited Br. Bergen who is much interested in the field which employs his alternative Sabbath (Little Rock & Sommonouk) but he is not satisfied with the prospect of usefulness where he has spent the other Sabbath and I made it my business to go through Shabbony and PawPaw Grove to inquire if he could be employed there. The prospect is unfavorable. He seems to have no other object before him, but to labor a missionary.

I spent the night with Br. Baldwin of McHenry Co. who is now with his brother a few miles south of Paw Paw. He thinks a field presents itself there which is suited to his health where he can occupy new ground and preach without much study on 3 or 4 different places including the 2 little churches Br. Gould has left. I could not dissent though I had gone out of my way to persuade him to visit Buffalo & Gap Grove, where a prudent & judicious man is needed.

Sept. 10. I preached yesterday on Home Miss. at Granville and took up a collection which Br. Clark will obtain. In the afternoon on the permanency of the pastoral office, there being a disposition on the part of some churches to turn away their excellent minister. In the evening... spent the night a Lowell. You are aware that our dear Br. Gleason has been suddenly taken by Cholera. I visited his house that is left desolate and in which I saw them healthy & happy a few weeks since. I looked into his study where I lodged last autumn, I looked over his library and selected some of the books which were present to him from Dr. Nettleton of precious memory, and obtained the loan of his last sermon which we read while riding across a broad prairie (Ion. 10.23). It is rich in thought and written in a neat & Christian style. Indeed with a few closing remarks from another hand it would have been an appropriate discourse for the funeral of a most excellent minister such as he was regarding his bereaved church. After 4 years of ministerial service among them he had won their confidence as a zealous preacher and a faithful pastor. The day appointed for his installation was observed by the church as a day of fasting & prayer on account of his untimely removal and while their “tears are on their cheeks” they have applied to you again to know where they shall find a successor who may prevent the divisiveness which his removal gives them reason to apprehend.

But their loss to him was gain and his last sermon revealed the power of his faith. During the closing service he was uniformly calm and cheerful except as he pulled through a period of depression when the powers of darkness assailed him and he said the adversary had got the advantage of my soul. I don’t feel the sweet presence of Jesus and I have done. Many pertinent passages of scripture were repeated throughout effect. After some time he broke silence. “Well I know that God is upon the Eternal Throne and there I must put my track. I have no where else that I can go. Though he slay me yet will I trust him.” After a few hours his distress passed away and his countenance assumed again the expression of tranquillity when he remarked “The cloud is gone and I enjoy the sweet presence of Christ.” ...Once he fixed his eyes of his wife and with an effort said farewell. Then he commenced moving his lips as if in prayer but the voice was gone. He kissed her repeatedly and held her hand tightly until the muscles relaxed in death.

Sept. 18/49. Having passed through Ottawa, Morris, Lockport, Jolliet, Napiersville, visited Chicago (via the rail cars) and called upon Br. Farnham at Batavia who is again unsettled. I spent Sabbath at St. Charles and preached on Home Missions. I intended to go to Wilmington & Momence but the time was too short.

Shall I give you the names of some of the principle points where preachers are wanted in my field for which we have no supply. Waddam's Grove, Buffalo Grove, Gap Grove, Como, Lower Rock Island, Providence, Lamoille, Marengo, Batavia, Oswego, Marsailles, Morris, Hennipin, Magnolia, Lowell and Lockport or Wilmington according as Br. J. Porter shall remain at W. or go to Lockport.

Since I discovered that the price of the Home Missionary was reduced to 50 cents I have promised several copies to be subscribed for, which you will forward and charge to me paid (for one year). 1) Gen Geo, McIlvive and 2) Daviess Hewitt, Elgin, Kane Co., 3) P. Hatch, Kane Co., 4) Reuben Pritchard Dekalb Co., Shabbona Grove.

I have written to Rock Island that they may expect Br. Holt there.

Yours as ever,

A. Kent

Galena, Sept. 21, 1849

Dear Brother,

I respect to Rev. S. Baker, I have heard that he had renewed his application to your society. I have not changed my opinion nut have said to me of his Presbytery that his conduct ought to be inquired into. And my references are not to Mr. Bergen but to Br. Clark of Elgin, Br. Baldwin, Isiah Walkup, Allen Baldwin, and others, in McHenry County.

Br. Chaffe’s case I will inquire into next week, if God permits.

The Guernsey Frocks, I have received and shown a sample to one man who thinks that has as saleable though not as good an article which he purchased 7 /1/4 per dozen. And it is too large a lot to sell soon. Another man thinks he can put them off but will not buy them and I engaged to let him have one box, and he will report progress. He will dispose of them if any can, I think.

I am obliged to pay 265 dollars in New York on or before the first of November and I shall authorize Mr. J.W. Phelps to call and inquire if you can furnish it, if not, he will write me and I shall provide for it here.

I have received letters from Br. Hall that Messers. Holt and Munroe are on their way. And a letter from Br. Whiting stating that he shall leave Brownsville for Cincinnati as soon as the Cholera and expenses will permit. Price of steamboat fare to Cin. 15 Dol. each.

Yours affectionately,

A. Kent

________

Dear Brother,

I reached home in safety Monday morning (having spent the Sabbath at Elizabeth) after a fatiguing journey of 626 miles and an absence of 4 weeks. My own health good and that of my dear wife essentially improved, for which I continue to be grateful to our sleepless Supervisor.