Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction

May 1 Preached twice at Lena, Stephenson Co.

8 Preached at Haldane & Forreston & heard the Methodist in the eve, spent several days and walked 30 miles.

15 Preached twice at Loran village and Lyon Prairie, Stephenson CO.

29 Preached once at Elizabeth, Jo Daviess Co., and rode 6 miles and preached.

June 5 Preached twice at Haldane and Forreston and attended prayer meeting Sat. night.

12 Preached at Scales Mound, Jo Daviess Co. and walked to Montecello and preached for Br. Raymond.

19 Preached at Forreston and organized a ch. Presb. of 9 members. Being disappointed in the promised aid of Br. Holmes & Johnston. Having had a meeting on Saturday to arrange preliminaries. There are no Congregationalists in this village. I administered the Lord’s Supper.

26 Preached at Sharon & Prophetstown 9 miles apart.

July 3 Preached at Haldane & Forreston having walked 6 miles & visited 3 families the day previous.

10 Preached at Davis, and visited Br. Hodges next day.

17 Preached for Mr. Swanzey in his absence by reason of sickness.

24 Preached for my Swanzey - my old congregation where I have conducted the Wed. Ev. prayer meeting very commonly when at home.

31 Preached at Haldane walked 5 miles and preached at Forreston.

Aug 7 Preached twice at Lawrence, McHenry Co., Baptized the child of Rev. Mr. Holton and preached in the evening at Harvard 3 miles distant.

14 Preached at Orangeville and at Winslow, Stephenson Co.

21 Preached twice at Lena to allow Br. Johnston to explore a destitute region south.

28 Preached at Maroa, R.R. Station in Macon Co. and administered the Lord’s Supper.

Sept 4 Preached at Davis

11 Preached twice at Harvard R.R. Station in McHenry Co.

18 Preached at Scales Mound, 12 miles from Galena

25 Preached twice at Odell in Livingston Co. R.R. Station

Oct. 2 Preached at Davis which I shall abandon as I cannot get any stated supply for them and the prospect of an organization is remote. Having during the week visited Shirland, Br. Adams field at Fremont and Br. Bartlett’s field and the Elgin Association at Marengo and called at Freeport to propose Home Miss.

9 I preached at Lena again to enable Br. Johnston to missionate

16 Attended Synod at Galesburg & assisted at the communion, My eyes being very weak I am unable to read.

22 Preached at Haldane at 11 1/2 and Forreston 3 1/2 and heard the Lutheran & Methodist making 4 sermons in one school house.

30 Preached and administered Communion at Scales Mound, walked to Council Hill Station (5 miles) and preached for a Methodist Br.

Nov. 6 Preached at Milo, Bureau Co. in the Methodist Ch. and at the Hunter School House. At Milo there is a small Cong. Ch. to which Mr, Watts directed my attention. He is preaching now at Lasalle, is quite popular, but I never heard whether the Embargo is taken off to which Dr. B. alluded once. Next Sabbath and the 24th I am engaged to preach on Home Miss. With that exception I have not has an opportunity since the year came in, though I have urged the matter frequently upon the larger churches on the Lake Shore, on Fox & Rock Rivers. But what with hard times and many being in debt it seems that the churches on my field are more backward than ever. This is as true of Cong. Ch. as Presbyterian, excepting always Rockford whose churches from personal consideration perhaps invite me every year. My practice is (as always) to urge the duty and offering to preach on the subject unless the pastor prefers to do it himself.

Such is my account of Sabbath services up to this day. A variety of services on week days are passed over as attending Ec. meetings, writing a vast amount of letters which are increasing yearly- visiting ministers and entertaining ministers, visiting families where I happen to spend the Sabbath which I think will amount to the average number made by settled pastors. I find very little time for study when I am absent from Friday til Monday or Wednesday and them my eyes are so weak much of the time that I cannot use them to read as I would. But with all the sources of embarrassments we have great reason to rejoice and thank God for what has been achieved in the last 25 years.

Yours, etc.

A. Kent

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I was in Vienna Township a few weeks since and understood that the Congregational Ch. was desireous of employing Rev. Mr. Waldo and I suppose they are poor as new settlers generally are.

I was gratified at the goof report I heard of Br. W’s labours and sucesses and self denial and feared they would not be able to retain him on that field.

I recommend the appropraition asked.

A. Kent

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I did not visit Gardner when I passed through the county recently for I received the impression that they would not apply for aid. I am gratified with the tome of their application and I hope you will grant this request.

A. Kent

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Apple River Station on the Il. Cent. R.R.

Rev. Dr. Badger,

Please sent the “Home Missionary” to Geo. A. Groves, Shulllsburgh, Wisconsin and charge to my account 50 cents paid.

I put this first that it may not be forgotten. I came to this place on Saturday to assist in selecting a site for a Ch. & parsonage which the Ill. Cent. Comp. generously donated to churches that apply.

On the cars I saw an old man looking very earnestly at me. Presently he came and gave me his name (Wright) and said that my visit to Mineral Point 30 years ago was not in vain for it led one man to a “decision.” He then resolved to serve God, has lived many years in Springfield under the ministry of Rev. A. Hale and he stated that he has been unable to make progress during the two years. He showed a spiritual mind and seized the opportunity to speak to the conductor and exhorted them very affectionately to give good heed to whatever this old Missionary should say. Although it was an oasis in the desert of my present roving ministry, few lay men are more prompt to meet the calls of duty than he seemed to be.

When I called in 1829 at the grocery of Guy & Wright late in the evening, Mr. G. refused for some time to get up and let me [in] because he thought it was a man wishing for strong drink.

Yesterday I exchanged with Br. Raymond, preached at Shullsburg on Home Miss. and took up a collection of $4.45 after one of my best efforts, But it was a very cold day and snowy after a remarkably pleasant weather....walking...reached Monticello (6 mile) to his other appointment on time to find a group of 15 people without fire and the windows broken out of the school house, I had liberty in pleading for Zion, and for an increase of the ministry from the text, “Pray ye the Lord of the...”

They have voted to move their centre to Apple River Station which will perhaps ...promote their growth.

I caught cold by the experiment and sweat of walking and the chill of talking with the wind blowing in the broken windows.

[Br. Raymond] wished me to say that they should be glad of children’s clothes if you happen to have any for them. But they (4 in number) look pretty neat and tidy under the good husbanding of his excellent wife.

I wish you could look in and see that healthy happy group between the ages of 9 and 3. The senior Sec. himself could not show a better regulated household.

I should not have written this long epistle but I want to atone for past neglect and I obliged to wait for the cars.

Yours truly,

A. Kent

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I have carefully considered this letter and the endorsement and although I did not think I should countenance another application from them [Sycamore], yet I think they have given strong reasons which I cannot well set aside and I recommend the grant of 100.

A. Kent

P.S. It seems to me if it was my own case I should strike off 80 in view especially of the low state of the treasury. But Br. G. [Davis Gore] may not have such an economizer as I have within doors! It will occur to you that he has not argued as ably for the Church at Malta whose application he seems to have drawn up.

[n.p. n.d. Nov. ? 1859]

I have visited this field [Dunleith - East Dubuque], have carefully considered the whole matter and believe that Br. Watts is doing all that can be done and recommend the appropriation, though the prospect of self support is distant.

A. Kent

Galena, Nov. 29, 1859

I cheerfully recommend this application [Malta] and hope that the missionary may have such other reserves as will enable him to make this appropriation adequate to his wants.

A. Kent

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Dear Br. Goodwin,

This letter from quite a young man of some promise (and Br. to a man Cong. Minister in Kansas, I think). The friends in Franklin Grove for there is no church there made application for aid in his support in connection with the church at Grand DeTour.

He has a wife and one child (perhaps 2 years old) he is cheerful and hopeful, struggling to get out of debt to pursue a Theo. course (I think he is a graduate.)

He does not appear to apprehend that as a ??? he cannot claim a box of clothing.

But I think he is truly deserving as though he were at this moment preaching for he is looking forward to that work again so soon as he is qualified, It occurred to me therefore that your excellent wide and her coadjutors might not be already fully occupied, gather up and send them such things as they can but if they cannot do so, you will please return this letter that I may try to aid them from some other quarter.

Yours truly,

A. Kent

A. Kent

Galena, Dec. 6, 1859

Rev. Dr. Coe,

Dear Sir,

In fulfillment of my promise to report quarterly, I will give two or three items relating to the Sabbath services which I have conducted since my last report.

On Sabbath Nov. 20 I preached as I have done one in 4 weeks at Haldane & Forreston, Ogle Co., 5 miles apart.

In the morning at Haldane where by appointment the little church at Forreston (all but 2) met and agreed to unite in one organization with the scattered desciples at Haldane. We received by profession 2 and by letter 5. Other 5 being disappointed in not receiving their letters, united as occasional communicants in celebrating the Lord’s Supper after the sermon and the baptism of 5 children and one adult.

On Sabbath 27 I preached by previous request for Br. Gould and took up a collection for Home Miss. which amounted to $4.50, but many were absent he thought they could make it up to $10. They have done far beyond my expectations in completing a Brick Church, finished in good style within the year. It has cost a great effort.

But the most interesting item shall be reserved for another page.

Lena, Dec. 6, 1859

The Practical Working of the Home Miss. Soc. may be best illustrated by particular example.

In the winter of 1843, in passing from Rockford where I had been assisting in a revival to Galena (80 miles) during two of the coldest days I ever knew, I spent the first night at this place [Lena]. There was then but one house in this place, a double log cabin, occupied by a pious family whose hospitality I enjoyed.

In that long and cheerless sleigh ride I had been once turned over in a snow drift and had frozen both my cheeks, the only parts of the face exposed; and their warm welcome and warm bed in a warm room were among the luxuries of my diversified reminiscences.

In 1852, I spent a Sabbath here, and although there was then quite a cluster of houses and a very small school house, yet it would not accommodate the congregation, and I was invited to preach in the adjacent grove where there was every facility for the choir “to sing among the branches.”

This little church has received from the Society to the amount of $925 in connection however with other churches until this year, They have increased to 56 members and exert a controlling influence here in despite of the conflicting efforts of four other sects who have this their center of operations. They have built a neat and tasteful Brick church which will furnish 300 sittings; they have rented slips to the amount of $300, which is appropriated to the minister’s salary. And yesterday while their minister was gone on an exploring tour I preached for him by exchange and took up a collection which when complete will amount to $10 or 12 and which is an implied earnest of what they will do for us after a year or two when they shall have paid off what is due to the Church Erection fund.

In appendix they have a good minister who is labouring to the extent of his strength and in whom they are well untied, in proof of which one man has given him 2 most eligible ??? and another who is not a professor has generously assisted him to build a very commodious brick dwelling house and advanced half the cost for which he will give him his own time to cancel the debt.

Thus has Home Missionary aid secured the nucleus of a strong church, has prompted the out-lay of $3000 in the establishment of a permanent ministry of their choice which we trust will here after be self sustained.

Already your missionary has organized another church 12 miles south and there is a fair prospect that still a third will in due time be gathered by him at a new R.R. Station 4 miles distant where yesterday he began an effort which he proposes to continue as a service for every alternate Sabbath afternoon without the help bestowed by the society these blessed results would not have been achieved.

A. Kent

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I am dissatisfied with the delinquency of the church [Sandwich] in keeping back their application almost 3 months. And it appears that your treasury is low, from what is said in “Home Miss.” and because several besides myself have not received the promised remittance. Query. Would it not be better to cut short this grant by 50 rather than promise more.

A. Kent

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By request I visited Milo and spent a Sabbath there and having heard of Mr. Allen sojourning with his brother within 10 or 15 miles I called on him proposing this arrangement and I am pleased to learn that he acceded to their request, It is reported that he had $1000 salary in Mass.

A. Kent

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I left home this morning at 6, reached here at 9 1/2, visited Mr. Sager. He told me the Methodists had just closed an exciting meeting at which there were some conversions, one of which was Mr. Baxter. He wished me to visit him. They had a reputation not very commendable. I called. She was alone and in answer to my inquiries expressed serious concern. He came soon. Stated his dissent from the Methodists apparently to draw me out in conscience of their wild ways. But expressed his resolution to watch and pray hereafter, stating by the way that he was converted at 12 and again 2 1/2 years ago. I concluded that the same thing might occur again. Called on Mrs. Farley who has just buried her husband. The appraisers were there but she wished me to call again. In the afternoon I visited a family that liver 3 miles out. They profess to have experienced religion since their child was buried, both she and her husband (who was not at home) since the Methodist meeting commenced. I called on a family of United Brethren who are constant at my meetings.

29- I preached at the Springvale School House, took up a collection for the A.H.M.S. of $8 and distributed the 1st number of the A. Messenger to subscribers, and appointed communion at my next visit (4 weeks). Rode in the evening to Forreston (5 miles) and preached. Congregation large and solemn, albeit the Methodist; all absent was told that Mr. Baxter afore said insisted on having prayer meeting at his house at the hour of preaching. This is quite in character with Methodists.

30- Rode to Freeport, called on Mr. Hyde & Rev. Mr. Vanzant, tried again but in vain to persuade them to take a collection for Home Miss., but amidst the internal troubles, no place could be found for it. Rode in the evening to Pecatonica & lodged with Rev. Mr. Willis, for whose support I have an application. They are still in debt for their church. Mr Willis throat is giving out and he thinks of giving up preaching for a time and working on a farm in the vicinity and I foresee and predicted to him the result. They will depend on him for preaching and he will depend in part on mother earth for his support. It was also said incidentally that the application was made for him as a test whether they could get aid for another man. I proposed to Mr. Willis the question, shall I go over to 12 mile grove to take up a collection where the church church have done so nobley in assuming the support of Rev. Mr. Perry. But he informed that Dea. Weld was dead. Dea. Woodruff has failed in business, 2 brothers in law are deeply involved by trying to save his farm and another wealthy man was involved in debt by speculation and I gave up that project.

31- Rode to Winebago Station. Walked over to Br. Sloan’s, had a pleasant visit, dined and planned and prayed with them. Learned that it was but 10 miles across to Byron & Stillman’s Creek churches, and I determined to walk over there. Br. Sloan expressed his gratification when I stated that more stringent measures must be adopted with our feeble churches. He thought we were drawing too largely on the A.H.M.S. hereabouts.

It was intensely cold and I stopped on my way and spent an hour with Father Sweeny, an old minister and missionary for 40 years in Oneida Co., N.Y. Reached Byron before dark and lodged with Mr. Knowlton who has corresponded with me about a supply and proposed to preach to both churches next Sabbath (5 miles apart) and take collection for H. Missions. He is willing I should preach but doubted about the collection. as they must make a great effort to support a minister whom they have in view and would need help. I showed him your appeal and said that if A.H.M.S. can not meet their engagements already made, I did not think they ought to issue new commissions.

Feb. 1 Afternoon walked over to Stillman’s Valley Ch. across Rock River and proposed to preach for them Sabbath afternoon and lodged with Col. Brown. Feb. 2 wrote part of a sermon from Acts 15..21 for the time and the place to show the importance of regular Sabbath Services even without preaching and assisted at the evening prayer meeting. It was a Union Meeting in a Union Hours (Baptist & Cong.).

3 Wrote a letter to my nephew in Beloit College. Pres. Chapin has informed me that there is universal seriousness there. Walked over to Byron and held an interesting conference with a pious family residing where I stopped to rest. In the evening encountered an Old Free Will Baptist minister with his new notions.

4- Lodged with Dea. Rood, who said they never since the organization (23 years) had a minister who performed pastoral duty. I said it was the duty of the Deacons and private members to visit & the deacon invited me to visit with him. We rode in all about 12 miles and visited 12 families, conversing with individuals and praying with most, and reached home at 9 1/2 in the evening pretty well jaded. It was a hard day’s work but it evidently did the Deacon good. 5th Preached at Byron and visited on my way an old saint of 87, The deacon took me to the other settlement and I preached again in the New CH built by Cong. & Baptists on Home Missions, but they were not willing to take up a collection. I went to visit them with a view to take collections in each church. But being refused I think that may be refused if they apply for aid and the can struggle along without aid, though they are greatly weakened by removals, being 12 miles from the R.R. station which greatly cripples Old Churches.

6- Walked to Rockford (12 miles), called on the treasurer of the 2 cong. Ch. who paid me $106.24 which supersedes the necessity of a draft from New York (at present) which I had applied for but have not received probably because you are out of funds.

7- Came to Belvidere and shall be detained here to preach this evening for Br. Willis, whose people are blessed with a revival and he is too hoarse to speak. This will give me an opportunity to forward several applications which I have on hand with their perplexities. Spent the day in the study and preached in the evening to a crowded house and solemn. Took the cars at 9 1/2 and rode to Huntley at 11 p.m. and in the morning called on mr. Huntley and took breakfast and inquired the prospect of Rev. Lot Church being employed another year. His faithful labours are prejudiced by some imprudences which render him less acceptable to outsiders and they arranging to employ him 1/2 time at Riley 6 or 7 miles south where a church has recently been formed. Called on Mr. Church and urged the necessity of improving the people to do their utmost for the society is embarrassed.

Took the noon train for Wayne, walked out to Mr. Kellog's and had a delightful visit with the old gentleman who is labouring faithfully and successfully to bring the church back to us who have been led off by obedience to A. Missionary Association but at the loss of one worthy member who is displeased with his advocacy of our society and has rented his farm and left the place. The younger Kellog, who has been commissioned for Roscoe is at home in ill-health (I judge from inaction). His light I fear his light will go out for want of his father’s energy. We had a pleasant prayer meeting in the evening.

9 Walked tot he station 4 1/2 miles against a tremendous wind. Rode to Chicago.

10 & 11 Spent the time inn various matters of business. Attended a Prayer Meeting at Mr. Patterson’s in the morning which has been kept up for many months daily and reported at that meeting a prayer meeting of 82 years in Dr. Springs Ch. in Newburyport, Mass. I have obtained a pass on the I. Cent. R.R. for its entire length, labelled “complimentary.” This is the more acceptable as it is refused to ministers by a vote of all the Chicago R.R. recently and will be more use to me than a half-fare ticket on all the others.

11 Saturday evening. I took the cars to Thornton Station and preached there. They have built a Presb. Ch. but are feeble and somewhat divided band.

Tuesday Morning I called on Br. Loss and engaged him to run down and supply them every alternate Sabbath (it is 24 miles) gratuitously.

14 Feb. I took the cars and visited Br. Clark (C.R.) who is commissioned for Canfield and Jefferson. His field is not a promising one. Its contiguity to Chicago (12 miles) renders it doubtful whether much will be accomplished there. I was apprehensive that he was devoting too much time to his farm, but found he had anticipated me for he had rented it for 3 years.

15- I met with Rev. Mr. Bartlett in Chicago. He was in fine spirits. His different fields seem to become more more promising. Hither to Lake County and the North part of Cook have been presenting a forbidding aspect.

16- Spent in making calls and making out my assortment of tracts for distributing.

17- Rode to Fairbury, Livingston Co. and with the Elder of the Ch. visited 2 families in the evening who have not united with this Ch.

18- Preached an Lenten Preparatory and received one into the Ch. whom we visited yesterday.