Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction

Your encourage me to report freely my observations in passing over my field and beyond its limits. I wrote from Iowa : and I continue my report. I spent a Sabbath with Br. Gaylord, his congregation numbered 90 and the same in the afternoon. He enjoys the confidence of the people. But as they reported their agent in feeble health and had not visited them in 2 years. I used some freedom in conversing with Br. G. and raised the inquiry which is applicable to other churches, whether a people unable to contribute no more than they do and who have been aided so long should not allow their missionary to give part of his time to other destitute fields. He felt the propriety of the suggestion and said he was surrounded by missionaries etc. But a prominent member afterward said to me that there were neighborhoods where he had formerly preached.

I spent a night at Williamsburg, Mercer Co., where Br. Crittendon (O.[ld] S.[chool]) is preaching and where I spent a Sabbath 2 years ago. I could get no more light in regard to openings for preaching in that county except it should be at New Boston and Keithsburg a very young village on the Miss. midway between Oquaka and M. and a rival in its claim to county seat.

I failed to reach Edgerton to spend the Sabbath as I had planned all along, but was happy find Br. Strong on the ground and building a house. I am obliged to Br. Reid for introducing him, though I had corresponded with him and I think it better that the ministers of Presbyterian Churches in Ill. should belong to Ill. Presbyterys rather than Iowa Associations. I found him quite sensitive in relation to the letter of the Chocktaw Miss. to the Am. Board and quite disposed to give his views to the public. I tried to dissuade him from garnering up and igniting the [anti-slavery] fire brands which when tied to the long rails of little foxes may spoil the view & burn it both “the shocks and the standing corn.”

At Rock Island I was surprised and pleased to meet with Br. Holt. He had not yet preached there. There I heard over again how the people grieved that Br. Dwinell left them. I regard him equal to any station and as he had expressed a doubt in a letter to Br. Osborn about remaining at Salem, I wrote inviting him to return and named to him Rockford and the first church at Chicago and also wrote to Br. Bascom and Loss who goes to the 3rd church in Chicago. They are finishing a neat little chapel at R.I. and I am invited to assist in dedicating it 3 weeks hence. I spent a night at Port Byron 16 miles up the River - found Br. Bullen there- just in from the east and gave him a hearty welcome. Br. Reid has located him to preach half his time on each side of the Miss. There was no church in either village, but Br. Reid has formed a small Congregational church at Port B. I attended a prayer meeting. They were encouraged by the increased attendance: there were present 4 men, 2 Presbyterians & 2 Methodists besides women & children. In reflecting upon the circumstances I concluded that the restrictions to Agents not to organize churches did not hold when they are out of his appointed bounds. One of the Methodist Brethren recognized me as an old friend and I had spent a night at his new cabin a mile above on my way to Synod at St. Louis 20 years ago and when I described the first prayer meeting in Galena he said he was present at that time. I called upon Br. Copeland who is about to leave Albany. I told him he could go to Minnesota whither his inclinations led but I thought there were more urgent calls in Ill. and I have pointed out several promising and appropriate fields. It occurs to me that Minnesota is as well supplied for this year as any part of the land.

I called on Br. Gray. He is in doubt whether he should make a new application for aid to labour at Mt. Carrol and asked me to visit & counsel with him which I intend to do on my was to R. Island. He was going to preach at Savanna next Sabbath: said the church was in disorder as he foretold would be the case when Br. Emerson organized it after lecturing on Congregationalism. We both thought that things were not ready for Ch. organization.

From what I saw and heard at Elizabeth, I suppose the people are dancing for joy at the arrival of Br. Childs. He spent 2 Sabbaths here waiting for me, and made a very favorable impression. One of the best judges reckoned him far before Br. Dwinell!

I am getting my head under water and hot water too. Br. Behrends wrote to Br. Spees reflecting on me for silencing him. But now he has written to me enclosing your letter and ascribing to it his reputation & confession which is indeed most humiliating : says he is an adulterer: begs me to forgive and try him again that he may undo the mischief which he has done to the cause of Christ. We shall forward the documents to his judges who have ordered their session to take the testimony.

Br. Hodges has written me letters of complaint that I am unfeeling to condemn him without a hearing. I have been to see him, he was not a t home. I could not stay at his house all night with my sick wife but told his wife that I should stay at Deacon Brewsters 2 miles distant. He did not some to see me. Br. Gemmel and Mr. Reed of Byron take sides with him and their testimony is quite contradictory to that of Esquire Robertson of Rockford. Deacon Brewster & several of his neighbors living between Westfield & Byron and I have written him again that in view of the facts he ought to demand an investigation from his Association. I cannot do it for I have no jurisdiction. But I am compelled to withhold my commendation until he is acquitted.

I have called on Mr. Blanchard who was sanguine that he could sell the Guernsey Frocks. He has not sold any, and this is in accordance with what Mr. Corwith said at first. He has been here longer and better knows the market. The article finds no favor among our minds.

We are very thankful for the name you have just sent but we want a great many more. Br. Humphrey is lodged at Milwaukee and Br. Monroe is gone to Wisconsin and I have not seen him yet.

Yours, Etc.,

A. Kent

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Dear Br.,

Enclosed I send you a letter from Sharon and improve the opportunity to mention several other matters.

I spent the Sabbath (18) at Mount Carrol by request of Br. Gray preached twice and twice in the country and the 2 previous evenings and gave my advice as he has solicited it in consequence of the revival made by the Methodists, Swendenborgians, etc. After inquiries made (as he suggested) I told him if he would give up his school and other secular employments and give his whole time to the ministry : If he would direct the people and make himself familiar that he would gain ground in despite all existing opposition: that he was respected in the country and village and that his preaching was uniformly very acceptable. That is so doing I should feel justified in urging him to stay and that he need feel no solicitude about his adequate support. He has dismissed his school as I recommended and proposes hereafter to have a small school of misses to be taught by his wife.

Monday I made my way a cross to Beloit and while there I had a conversation with Br. Chapin President Elect of Beloit College concerning a change of my field so as to confine me to the west side of Northern Ill. and Wisconsin. I have no objection though it may easily be seen that such changes should not be made often because when one has become acquainted he can operate to better purpose and with less expense than in a new field.

If such an arrangement is made we have thought (Br. C and myself) that Br. Clary would be the suitable man for the other field. And the Providence of God has seemed to point him out and we each fixed upon him without a knowledge of the others voice. I wish not to continue that appointment but I thought a suggestion from us could not be improper.

On my way home I called on Br. Howell, He has closed his labors at 12 Mile Grove and proposes to himself to attend for a time to his secular affairs that afterwards he may visit his place and give himself wholly to his work, He says he loves his work and has no disposition to leave the ministry. His people seem quite willing to have a change and say that he is uninteresting as a preacher and that his family cares have been such as prevents him from pastoral labours. I conversed with Deacons Weld and Woodruff they are determined on an effort to build a sanctuary this winter. I spent the next Sabbath at Elk Horn Grove in aid of Br. Jessup who is disabled from preaching now 4 weeks by the state of his throat and lungs. They are trying to build a church. I had intended to spend that Sabbath at Como, a thriving village on Rock River. ..Wednesday evening I preached at the dedication of the little neat chapel (25x40) at Rock Island. It was a deeply interesting occasion and the house was well filled. Br. Holt seems to be well satisfied to labour there, and I regard it prospectively as a vastly important place.

My pen, as you will perceive, makes it difficult to write. I remain as ever your servant in the Gospel.

A. Kent

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[When calling Chapin to Beloit:]

“We repeatedly united in prayer for we felt that the future growth and symmetry and usefulness (not to say the very life) of the infant we were nursing would depend very much upon the man to whom we should entrust its early education and subsequent discipline.^258[258]

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“In committee of the whole” we voted after talking with Br. Drake of Elk Grove and questioning him about devoting all his energies to the work, that we should recommend the application be granted.

A. Kent

Br. Whitney of Oswego Co. N.Y. who brought a commission from you (as he affirms) wished me to say that he thought that 400 would not support him and his family of 8, and I replied that if your committee allowed him more they would probably do it in the form of “out fit” to enable him to bring them to this country.

Br. Loughhead has presented his case before the Com. and we recommended that he receive 200 dollars for a year commencing Jan. 1, 1850, and that he close his school as soon as his engagement permits.

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Galena, Dec. 18/49

Dear Br.,

I have just returned from a broken trip having gone no further than Mt. Carrol where I spent a week with Br. Gray partly waiting for snow, and intending to go across Ill. River : broken by a wild horse who kicked my sleigh all to pieces and allowed me to return safe and sound to get another horse which is the fourth I have been obliged to exchange this year.

A letter from Br. Pearson states that their association have investigated the charges against Br. Hodges and decided unanimously that he had done nothing in relation to the matter derogatory to his Christian character. My object therefore is fully answered for as the association have addressed the responsibility of vindicating him I am now prepared to recommend him to aid and to meet his accusers with a voucher which will sever me from responsibility.

You made me not any trouble by your letter to Mr. Behrends but it has led to a confession which superseded the necessity of a painful examination. I have had the same reflections respecting foreign clergymen and it seems to me that special efforts should be entered on systematically to find out & bring forward young men from the families of foreigners to be educated and trained for the ministry. Cannot some one (of those who can) be induced to write articles for the religious papers that shall hold up this subject in all its length and breadth.

I did not intend to object to the location of Br. Bullen and Strany, but I fully approve it and when a missionary is in sight of his field on the opposite side of the river they can easily understand one another when the river is impassible. In what I said of Br. Gaylord’s field, I said no more that I would have others say of my field. It is not to be expected that we can be every where: but you seek light from any quarter.

If there was any implied reflection on Br. Reid, it was not intended.

Br. Copeland called and I told him there were no openings for more missionaries in Minnesota but I pointed out several here. He has returned but I was not at home when he called. I consider we have a doz. openings in Northern Ill. more urgent than Minnesota can furnish in a year or two. But there is less of Romance about entering these.

The people of Rock Island could do no more for preaching while making the effort for a church edifice and my impression is that if the Exec. Com. withholds aid entirely that it will be assumed in part by Br. Osborne who has become responsible for the house. He has done nobly and I felt for him and have aided him 25: They said all along that they should depend on the Society to furnish them a pastor but under their trying circumstances they thought it indispensable to secure a present supply.

Yours, etc.,

A. Kent

[Chapin Papers-Beloit College: letter to Professor Joseph Emerson]

Galena, Jan. 29, 1850

Dear Br.,

Your letter of inquiries is before me. And it seemed at first to be a complete puzzle. But the more I have reflected upon it the more I have become confirmed in the conclusion that we as a Com. (and through them as a Board of Trustees) are shut up to one course.

It sees to me that in view of the present posture of affairs and indeed in view of our own past action, we are compelled to throw our Female Seminary into the market and to give it to the highest bidder.

There it is true some restrictions. Its location must be in Ill. and it must be contiguous to the state line and it should be in a healthy atmosphere both physical and moral. We ought (other things being equal) to prefer a location where we have reason to believe that it would be not only patronized by the community but where there is that high tone of moral and religious influence which would satisfy the most scrupulous parent.

Considerations of this kind should not be lost sight of nor should we disregard the anticipations cherished by Rockford people nor the noble efforts of those at Rockton. But after all, I think there is no way for us to get out of the labyrinth of difficulties which beset is on every hand but to make the whole thing turn upon the largest and best subscription. We are more completely tied up to this now at this second effort then we were at first.

Certainly you ought to attend that examination and encourage that school but you cannot locate the seminary we have in charge. But the committee ought to act and act promptly if there no prospect of light from the east as we had anticipated.

It strikes me that the reasons you suggest are forcible for postponing any effort at Rockford to raise funds just now, but there is of course a matter over which we have no control, and divine to have none. In fact, we cannot foresee what and how many and how great rivals may appear on the field of honorable competition for the tempting prize.

I must confess while waiting for an answer from the east the whole matter has been so quietly and so completely laid on the shelf that I cannot even recollect all the committee. I think that Br. Person and yourself were associated with me and and further than this I do not recollect.

I have declined attending the examination because Br. Peet has requested me to be at home of the 5th. I wish I has some copies of your annual catalogue, etc.

I expect to be over that way again in a week or two, Deo Volente.

Yours very Truly,

A. Kent

An after thought - I think Br. Chapin was on that com.

[Chapin Papers- Beloit College]

Comm. of Trustees of Beloit College

Feb. 7, 1850

The undersigned as a committee of the Board of Trustees of Beloit College are instructed to receive propositions for the location of a Female Seminary in Northern Illinois according to the original understanding upon which the college was founded.

They accordingly invite proposals upon the following basis:

I. That the Board of Trustees of the Seminary will be legally & perhaps in part personally distinct from that of Beloit College.

II. That the seminary shall be under the immediate charge of an Executive Committee residing principally in the vicinity of the institution.

III. That this committee do not feel authorized to determine details as to permanent plan of management, precise site, or any other matters which can remain open for consideration of the trustees of the Seminary though the establishment of the school upon a temporary basis is contemplated as soon as practical after determining the location.

IV. That subscriptions to be applied to the erection of buildings & other expenses necessarily incidental to the commencement of the undertaking be made in the form of promissory notes, made payable in such installments that the necessary buildings shall be ready for use by the first of Sept. , 1852.

The committee deem it proper for them to state that after taking into account religious, moral & social influences their recommendation to the board will depend principally

upon the position of places which may compete as being central, healthful, accessible & pleasant.-

And especially- upon the amount of subscriptions. This is regarded as important not only as furnishing means for the commencement of the enterprise but ever more so, as indicating the interest of the people in the plan and in order to meet the just expectations and claim the support of other places of the object in other quarters.

The committee understand that the desire and to the extent of their ability the purpose of the originators of this two fold enterprise is that the contemplated institution shall not be inferior in grade, importance or usefulness to the college.

Propositions addresses to Rev. A.L. Chapin, President of Beloit College will be received until the first of June next.

A. Kent

R.M. Pearson

Joseph Emerson

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Dear Br.,

It appears from the letter of Br. Hildreth that your Com. refused entirely the application of the Church in his behalf. I am surprised at this, as I believed he acted in good faith upon the invitation given him by Br. Osborne (I did not know or did not recollect that Br. Reed was consulted). I did not “solicit” for I knew nothing of it so far as I recollect till after he began to preach there, but I did “sanction” or approve it for I thought the church could not be held together except they could have preaching. And I should always fell he that he was wronged if he was entirely refused aid.

I have never been absent from Galena more than 4 weeks at a time. My only question was whether he ought to have the full amount asked. On one side he is living in a village where 400 would be but a poor support for such a family as his, and on the other I was under the impression that he did not give much more of his time to go over on Sat. & preach on the Sabbath. But according to the representations of the letter he did more. And I intend to write to Br. Osborne and if his views correspond : [lined out] On reflection I think I need say no more to Br. Osborne on the subject. But I never engaged “to pay him as Mr. Dwinell was paid.”

If I had been living at Davenport and had merely performed Sabbath services, I should not have felt at liberty to receive more than 150 dollars for six months. I have drawn on you for ninety eight dollars because I should soon want the money and the colfporteur was anxious to pay its owes to the society. If I have done wrong I wish you to let me know, but I put in a month distant that it might not embarrass you.

Br. Whitney writes that he wants more money, a new church and ordination.

Br. Childs has found trouble enough from a Millerite who has now run off with a widow. He will no doubt give you the history of the thing. He is going over to Br. Savage for sympathy and refused to labour among the miners.

I am on my way to McHenry County and perhaps Kane and Cook.

Feb. 12. I passed through Belvidere on Sat. They are sadly bereaved, and their loss is ours. Br. Wright was growing rapidly in public esteem.

I reached Br. Smalley in the twilight and found my letter has not reached him. And the Free Will Baptist occupied the house in the morning with a sermon on Baptism, a class meeting, and the Lord’s Supper and the Seceders in the afternoon. But I was invited to preach in the evening. I compelled my text to bring out the necessity and duty of finishing their neat little church (24x30) (which is enclosed and painted and stands there a mere shell) notwithstanding their wheat crop is cut off and they feel they gave done their utmost, I inquired and they said they needed 50 dollars to finish it, I header the subscription and we raised 27 1/2 on the spot and they think it will be made up. And that is better than so much to Home Missions for your missionary will accomplish double when he can have a house.

I called yesterday on Br. Wilson and on Br. Milhouse (one of his elders at Virginia Settlement) and endeavored to prepare the way for Br. Wilson to preach once every Sabbath to that church also to that at Crystal Lake with the hope that they might together do more to sustain him. But did not meet with anyone who belonged to Crystal Lake Ch. and did not find time to call on Br. Beech. I apprehend that he will not easily find employment in the vicinity.

Elgin, Feb. 15. Br. Clark has organized a church at Algonquin or Oceola, 5 miles from Crystal Lake and proposed to have a man take charge of the 2. Perhaps Br. Langdon will go there.

Last Saturday Br. Beech explained to Br. Clark the reason of his ceasing to preach at Crystal Lake to be the fact that the house was not warmed. But the people refused to warm the house because they did not wish him to occupy it. He explained the reason of his saying that he should “have no support from his farm” : that he probably has in his mind at the time the idea he should get nothing from it because the crops had been cut off in previous years. Br. Clark stated these things to me and I thought it would help you. Br. C. also said “According to my best recollection of the minutes of the Crystal Lake Church it was previous to the close of his third quarter that they voted unanimously that would not hear Mr. Beech. On Tuesday I took the cars and went to Chicago where I heard Br. Savage in Br. Peterson’s Church and spent 2 nights with Br. Loss and saw Br. Childs who came there to find Br. Savage. I think him justifiable in having come. There are meetings every evening in most of the churches in Chicago and quite a number attend the evening meetings in the 1st and 2nd churches.

Big Rock Creek, Tuesday Feb. 19. I reached Aurora on Friday and found I has outrun my appointment as I did also on the previous Sabbath. It is of little use to send letters by cross mails through small post offices, For example when I called on Br. Miller Sat 16 he was crying over news of a brother in law having died in Rockton more than 2 weeks before. This is a sore evil to an agent. Br. Miller has been holding meetings in Aurora with most flattering prospects, as I learned from several. But the Methodists brought into their Church Elder Puffer, and he by his puffs and anecdotes drew off the ??? and Br. M. began a meeting 4 miles west and spent the Sabbath there among Universalists and reported a very profane man as having begun to pray that day. While I preached 3 times & on Home Miss. once but took no collection. It was not expedient. But if I had not supplied in town that country congregation would not have had preaching. Br. Miller labours with all his might, I judge. Dea. Strong of Aurora in reply to my enquiry concerning Br. Bergen said that I might inquire of Dea. Johnson & Mr. Pierce who belong to the Jerico Church to which Spencer Baker now ministers, for reports unfavorable to Br. Bergen’s character. So In have been over to Jerico to hunt up the story of his appropriating to himself a pig, which when traced back to its origin was not only wicked but contemptible, but other stories related to his refusing to lend his horse which we could not trace out because the man was gone to LaSalle Co. Another was more grave and contains an insinuation of forgery. The statement is that the application for aid to which you responded as dated Dec. 1 1847 was subscribed by Issac S. Fitch whereas Dea. Issac Fitch avers that he did not put his name there. Please examine by whom that application is signed : whether Fitch is one and is so whether it is Clark Fitch or Issac Fitch and if the latter, I see no way but to send us the document.