Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction

His excuse for remaining where is is being the impossibility of renting a house. I believe he spends a good deal of time in visiting his people. I recommend the grant of $150.

A. Kent

P.S. I suppose there is not much prospect of good being done at Ogle Station, and I should think it would be well to intimate that aid after this year could not be furnished unless he moves on to his principal field of labour, which will result I presume in their raising his whole support.

Galena, Ill., Nov. 1860

I find it very difficult often to discriminate between seeming and real inability on the part of Home Missionary Churches to support the Gospel.

Perhaps I have given you a statement of the manner by which the Ch. at lee Center were persuaded to pay their debt of $200 to their minister and raise his whole salary when they have resolved on applying for 200 aid. I have now another case to report in which by putting the screws on we can sometimes make a church feel that they well lose by withholding more then is meet. I had held up the Church at Lena as a model and was surprised a few weeks since to find Br. Johnston disheartened. He could not get his pay- could not get any discipline enforced- and could command but very little aid in social meetings. He then spread out the matter in a letter, asking advice. I spent a Sabbath there by exchange and he went to Forreston) and looked over the ground. It was agreed that he should announce his purpose to leave and give the reasons as above.

He accordingly gave notice which astonished them for he had built a house and they thought they had him sure.

They immediately began to move and raised $300 for next year and proposed to ask $200, s they were in debt for the church.

He assured he did not wish to oppress them and as he thought they should no longer tax our society, he would obtain 1/2 his salary for the coming year by supplying another church, for we has laid a plan to have him preach 1/2 his time at Forreston & vicinity, and thus relieve me of my four weeks appointment there.

This alarmed them and they reviewed the figures on the subscription, and from 15 they “sat down quickly” and wrote 50 and 50 and so on.

Their $600 was soon made up to my great disappointment for I was very anxious to have him preach at Forreston.

They rightly judged that if they suffered him to go 1/2 the time they might lose him altogether, and Br. J. says they appear to be in much better spirits. So much for the difference between “moral” & “natural” ability.

[An edited version was apparently published in Home Missionary.]

____

from Sept. to Nov. inclusive

I have preached 15 sermons in vacant churches, 3 times on Home Missions, heard others whose appointments were prior to my 5 times.

Spent one Sabbath and a week in exploring new ground and trying to resuscitate a church where I encountered hardships from walking in all some 20 or 30 miles in the rain, not rebuking but entreating delinquent elders, visiting dissatisfied families, and otherwise exposing myself in a way I would not do again for any pecuniary consideration.

I have baptized one adult and 2 infants and refused to baptize the child of the wealthiest man in the place which will probably result in his going to another denomination. Administered the Lord’s Supper once, visited 10 Home Missionaries and 26 families & many more.

Received of Mrs. I. Whiting, Elk Grove $5.00

“ Mr. S. Halsey, Forreston 10.00

“ Mr. G. Waterbury 0.50

“ Presb. Ch at Waltham 33.73

“ The 2nd Presb. Ch. Galena 55.00

“ The Cong. Ch at Peoria 18.00

122.23

It may be interesting to state some facts concerning the church at Waltham.

Some 5 years since I visited there. They had but a shell of a house for worship, no means to finish it, no heart to attempt and those best able to contribute drawing off from dissatisfaction, They had no preaching and no Sabbath school, But a minister in the vicinity at work on a farm for his health kindly offered to give them six months preaching if they would repair their deserted house, As as s further hope, I gave them $10 to encourage and stimulate them to begin. Nov. 11 I preached there and took up a collection for Home Missions. The house was crowded with the benches in the aisles. I read Deut 26, as pertinent to my purpose, and urged them to raise $30 as a thanks offering for a comfortable house, for a good minister whom they all love (to make him life member) and for a revival last winter which added largely to their number.

He took up the subject after I finished and reminded them of my donation and the result was #33.73 which is a noble contribution for a country congregation in a new settlement of farmers., as you may judge from the fact that there was 25 waggons gathered about the door.

They now talk of building a larger church. They had a Bible Class of 44 persons that day and their minister said he had been greatly blessed in his own soul by the revival.

_____

Daniel P. Noyes

Dear Sir,

I have had a good deal of trouble with Rev. Tho. Kidder an old man from Vermont who is looking after a field and after putting myself very much to inconvenience, exposure, and hardship to facilitate his settlement he has left me to go and annoy Mr. Geurnsey at Dubuque. But he has expressed much dissatisfaction that I would not pay his expenses, and pledge the churches where has has preached to pay for every Sabbath service as they do in New England. I paid him $4.50 out of my own pocket and he wants me to ask the Committee if they would allow something for his preaching at Edington 2 Sabbaths for he poor.

He reads good sermons and his first appearance is very good but I think he is not fitted to this latitude. But I have done with him unless he comes to spend another week with us.

I suppose that secretaries as well as agents have their trials.

With sentiments of respect,

A. Kent

___

Rev. Daniel P. Noyes,

Albany, Whiteside Co.

Dea. Pease

Andover, Henry Co.

Batavia, Kane Co.

Shemung Town, Belvidere, Boone Co.

Dea. Nichols

Mr. Collins

Buena Vista, Stephenson Co.

Bristol, Kendall Co.

H.S. Colton

Buda, Bureau Co.

Joseph Foster

Cambridge, Henry Co.

Carrol, Carrol Co.

Cedarville, Stephenson Co.

Adrain Lucas

John Ruth

Centralia

Carlinville, Tazewell Co.

Como, Whiteside Co.

Crete, Will Co.

Crystal Lake, McHenry Co.

Dea. Soilsbury

Allan Baldwin

DeKalb, DeKalb. Co.

Dement, DeKalb Co.

Mr. Richards

Elianbeth, Jo Daviess Co.

Mr. Mollison

Silas Marshall

Elk Horn Grove, Carrol Co.

Elgin, Kane Co.

Elmwood, Peoria Co.

Franklin Grove, Lee Co.

Mrs. Brayton

W.J. Sherwood

Freeport, Stephenson Co.

John A. Clark

James Mitchell

E.H. Hyde

Freemont, Lake Co.

Fulton, Whiteside Co.

Galena, Jo. Daviess Co.

N. Stillman

A. Esty

Henry Corwith

Judge Sheldon

D. Hemkins

L.S. Felt

E. Long

A. Tomlin

Trinity Hallet

Mrs. Ann Telford

Mr. Rood

Mrs. Keeler

Mrs. Strode

Mrs. Horr

H.H. Houghton

Wm. Townsend

Garden Prairie, Whitside Co.

Gardner, Grundy Co.

Geneseo, Henry Co.

Robert Getty

Granville, Putnam Co.

Thomas Ware

Grouse P.O., Kane Co.

Harvard, Mchenry Co.

Hale P.O., Ogle Co.

Dr. E. Hurd

Halls Settlement, Perry Co.

Hickory Creek, Will Co.

Harris, Lasalle Co.

Joliet, Will Co.

Lawyer Norton

Kankakee, Kankakee Co.

Mrs. Ripley Edler

Kappa

Kendal, Kendal Co.

Lane [Rochelle], Ogle Co.

Lacon, MArshall Co.

Wm. Fisher

Mr. Ford

Lodi [Maple Park], Kane Co.

Lyndon, Whitesides Co.

Dea. Milligan

Mr. Orton

Lena, Stephenson Co.

John Goodard & Bro.

Lawrence, McHenry Co.

Lee Centre, Lee Co.

Dea. Brewer

Lysander, Winnebago Co.

Lllly Lake, Kane C0.

Mackinaw

Mankato, Kankakee

New Canada

Marengo, McHenry Co,

Millegeville, Carrol Co.

Minonk

Mr. McCord

Millford, Iroqouis Co.

Mr. Journey

Milo, Bureau Co.

Morrison, Whiteside Co.

Magnolia, Putnam Co.

Momence, Kankakee Co.

Zacariah Wood

Nora, Jo Daviess Co.

Dea. Rogers

Mr. Francis

New Rutland

Owen, Winnebago Co.

Oregon, Ogle Co.

Orangeville

Tho. Pollack

Ottawa, LaSalle Co.

Chas. Brush

Sam’l. Gridely

Judeg Hollister

Judge Caton

Pana

Pena

Peru, Lasalle Co.

McMillan

Pecatonica, Winnebago Co.

Dea. H. Woodruff

L.B. Judd

Wm. Hewitt

Polo, Ogle Co.

Mr. Barber

Rev. Mr. Pearson

S. Watherbury

Poplar Grove, Boone Co.

Richard Warren

Prairie City, Ford Co.

Mr. Blanchard

Paw Paw, Dekalb Co.

Prophetstown, Whitesides Co.

Providence, Bureau Co.

Rantoul, Champaign Co.

Ringwood, McHenry Co.

Ridgefield, McHenry Co.

Mr. Button

Mr. Davis

Rockford, Winnebago Co.

Mr. Colesman

R. Emerson

Mr. Edwards

Penfield & Brothers

Mr. Diekerman

Sanford & Bro.

S. Church

C. Spafford

Dr. D. Clark

Sharon, Whitesides Co,

Snatchwini, Bureau Co.

Soumanauk, Kane Co.

Sterling, Whiteside Co.

Mr. Wetherly

South Ottawa, LAsalle Co.

Mr. Mason

Spring Lake

Sugar Grove, Kane Co.

Sycamore, Dekalb Co.

Mr.. Waterman

J. Kellog

Dea. West

Tamora

Tiskilwa, Bureau Co.

S.S. Patterson

Tonica, Lasalle Co.

Tolona, Champaign Co.

Tyler, Winnebago Co.

Ward’s Grove, Jo Daviess Co.

Waukegan, Lake Co.

Henry Blodget

Waltham, Lasalle Co.

Geo Nye

West Urbana, Champaign Co.

Wethersfield, Henry Co.

Wilmington, Will Co.

Wenona, Marshall Co.

Udina, Kane Co.

Union Grove, Putnam Co.

Vanceburg, Winnebago Co.

Mr. Rugg

Yours Truly,

A. Kent

____

I regret that I did not receive this a week sooner as I should have visited the church [Wayne Center] in passing last week, but I thought they would be self-supporting this year. Br. Kellog will not rest until he brings them up to that point. I regard these statements as fully reliable abd recommend they be allowed $100.

A. Kent

____

Rev. M. Badger, D.D.

Dear Sir:

In making my annual report it was my purpose to give some statistics showing the number of ministers and churches of our denomination in connection with the population of the district which my agency covers, but I soon found that it would prove too great a tax upon my weak eyes. And I am obliged to borrow eyes to do much of my writing. And I must be content to say generally that in a population of six hundred and twenty four thousand which these twenty four counties now contain:

We have about 150 ministers & missionaries in active service which would seem to be but a partial supply. When, however, it is considered that there are five other denominations of evangelical Christians occupying the same ground, and that one of them at least has many more ministers & churches than we can claim, it may be assumed that we are well supplied as most of these U.S. But if our ministers & churches are not as numerous yet we think they are exerting as extensive & healthful an influence as those of any other branch of the Ch.

In looking back over the year, we cannot report many powerful revivals, but the general aspect of the churches will compare favorably with any previous year, if we judge of them by the large attendance upon public worship & at their prayer meetings, their S.S. & other indications of vitality & progress. In several instances, however, a gracious work of the Holy Spirit has been witnessed. One of your missionaries has recently spent three weeks in the field that had abandoned two or three years ago, from its apparent hopelessness, and now reports a blessed work of grace resulting in the addition of twenty to the church and encouraging the hope that they will again sustain preaching in that wide field of distribution.

It is manifest that ministers & churches fall far below the standard of high attainment which primitive Christians erected in time of persecution, but if we regard the improved tone of many secular papers & the respect for the Sabbath paid by our public functionaries, if we observe the screens behind which the gamblers & drunkards hide & the palpable & vile imitations of Christianity under which immoral and unprincipled men cloak their infidelity, we may safely conclude that ..religion is on the advance.

Two churches have been reluctantly crowded on to the ground of self-support & I trust will find themselves invigorated by the effort, and four have been added to our list of beneficiaries. Two of our missionary churches which were ready to die have been resuscitated & supplied with the stated ministrations of the Gospel. One of them has enlisted with commendable zeal upon the work of raising a house of worship and the other finding itself ... has it in contemplation to build a larger house. Several edifices have been repaired during the year, and quite a number of churches are struggling to relieve themselves of the debts in which the pressures of the times had involved them.

I am compelled in this promptness as I am to start on a journey today to meet appointments.

With Great Respect,

Yours, etc.

A. Kent [This letter not in Kent’s hand.]

A.H.M.S. in acct. with A. Kent

expenses for travel & freight $60 $660.00

money already reported 169.47 cr

Dec. 9 2nd Presb Ch Eagle Point 5.55

16th Cong Ch., at Wysox 5.64

24th A. Sager 10.00

Jan 15th Batavia Cong. Ch. 32.50

Feb. 5th Rockford 2nd Cong. Ch. 92.92

28th Union Park Cong. Ch. Chicago 11.35

327.46 327.46

332.54

60.00

272.54

A. Kent

Galena, March 19/61

Rev. Dr. Badger,

Dear Sir:

I was reminded by your circular of some omissions in my an. report.

We have 41 missionaries and 64 missionary districts on my field.

It is difficult for me to know when churches become self-supporting as they do not report to me, but in looking back 3 years I find 7 churches which have assumed the support of their ministers, 6 by removals and other untoward circumstances are discouraged and 23 have ceased to apply for aid for want of ministers or other reasons known to themselves.

You will please send a certificate of Life Membership to Mrs. M.F. Goodwin (the pastor’s wife) and the Home Missionary to E.A. Herrick the pay for which I shall acknowledge in my quarterly report, as covered by a contribution from the First Congregational Soc. of Rockford and oblige yours, etc.,

A. Kent

P.S.

I have great reason to be thankful that I am not blind. But it is a privation to be dependent on others for information from abroad.

_____

Durand, Ap. 1, 1861

Having spent the Sabbath and preached here and visited with the professing Christians within my reach, it seems proper that I should put down what I have learned while it is fresh in my mind.

The Presbyterians all expressed great uneasiness at the low state of Religion, all give evidence of piety though not in that warmth and ...which is desirable. And they all agree in the opinion that the preaching of Rev. Mr. Hodges is not likely to be useful here and that while they respect him as a friend and sympathize in his afflictions, they cannot attend his preaching since he has allowed himself to denounce the Church which they prefer. They show a lively concern for the dishonor done to God by the errors of professing Christians.

I have called on the only two members of the Cong.. Church which I can find. And they would give me the names of but one other who is Mrs. Cable living 6 miles off and of whom it was said in my hearing that she was more ready to attend parties of pleasure than the worship of God. From other information I think the above remark does not do her full justice.

Mrs. Peterson lives in the village and appears to be an intelligent and judicious Christian. She mourns over the sad state of Society, expresses a great desire that the present embarrassments may be removed, and her apprehensions that Mr. Hodges’ labours will not be useful, and said of her own accord that it was a matter of indifference whether she was a Presbyterian or a Congregationalist (She came from a Presbyterian Ch.). I became greatly interested in her during my short visit of an hour. Her associations are such as makes it necessary I suppose to speak and act with caution.

I walked out and back (3 miles) in the P.M. to visit my old friend (he is 73) Mr. Hoyt, the only male member of the Cong. Ch. He is unable to attend meeting here and attends the Methodist’s in the school house near by. I could get no information from him. He seemed to be absorbed in the political affairs of the country, but manifested no interest in the Church at Durand.

Ring Wood,^277[277] Apr. 4

I sought and obtained an interview with Br. Hodges in which I reminded him of our long acquaintance and of my apprehensions that he failed egregiously in pastoral visitations which constrained me when he removed into this field of wide distribution to exhort him to give himself to the work of visiting and explorations that from what I heard I thought he had greatly neglected that part of his ministerial duty, and was not likely to be useful there. I stated that as agent of the A.H.M.S. it did not belong to me to arraign men on the grounds of delinquency in moral character, but only to inquire whether they were likely to be useful, and that my apprehension of his failure in this respect were derived from the Presbyterians as also from the ready admonish of the only members of his own church. (And here I ought to say that the Presbyterians explain the facts that those leading men of society who are not professors of religion rally around him because he fills the place which the Unitarian occupied, and preaches in a manner which satisfies them and does not disturb their conscience. But they all agree in saying that if his preaching and other labors had given promise of usefulness they should not have sought another organization). He then kindly offered to read a copy of a letter he had written to the secretaries which I was very glad to hear, in which among some erroneous statements he charges me with sectarianism and said he should not send his application through me.

I replied that if the tables were turned and it was a Presb. Ch. which was thus run down and a Presb. minister was unsuccessful, I should approve of a Cong. Ch. being organized under the same circumstances.

But I am taxing my eyes severely and must shorten this explanation.