Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction

We, Bros. Farnam, Bascom,^245[245] & myself tried to get Brother Wright to come up as a Missionary between Rock & Miss. River. we offered him 500, he seemed inclined to come and I found a Brother Graham in our Church about 20 miles south east (a central point, a bachelor who was to furnish his family a good house and abundant provisions if he should only burse his board. But alas we found the people cling to him and he could not get away. I have communicated to Dr. Hawes appealing to the ministers of my native state for help and to Andover stating to them that I am alone in a distant country of 20,000 inhabitants.

I have written to Brother Peet in relation to Fair Play and Potosi 30 miles north and he has written back that he came 10 miles this side of Rock River (half way I should think) and turned back for fear that the snow would [envelop him] in the mean time. I left my people to visit each of those places twice this winter, next week I have to go 20 miles south to preach a formal sermon. It is hard to see a harvest lost for want of labourors and I sometimes want...[to travel] trough this whole country and preach on the duty of the churches to raise ministers in despair of getting any from the East.

Yours Truly,

Aratus Kent

________

Rev & Dear Sir,

You have doubtless been apprised by Mr. Ripley that we have taken up a collection for the A.H.M.S. to the amount of $40. To this you may add $50 which is deposited with Dr. H. Newhall subject to your order, contributed by A. Kent.

If an angel should be deputed to write the history of our country, some 20 tears hence, I have no doubt that he would place your society in the foreground among the agencies Providence employed to elevate the moral character of the Western States.

Among the missionaries you are helping sustain in this vicinity there are some choice spirits who count not their lives dear unto them that they may finish their lives does not undo them, that they may finish the course with joy and the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Two of whom have recently called on me and refreshed my bonds with the Lord, and one of them so awakened the sympathies of our brethren that unsolicited they furnished him with an overcoat, pantaloons and buffalo overshoes. But his dress was not the only thing that reminded us of John Baptist for he too is preaching in the Wilderness and preparing the way of the Lord. I have had such accounts of a third (Holbeck) to think that perhaps God was preparing him for an Evangelist. He was to be installed to day but the weather and the state of the River is such that I presume there will be no meeting of Convention.

Concerning a fourth, (Dipow) I have had such representation from his physician of his arduous labours and enfeebled health as to induce me to write recommending him to desist for a time from preaching.

You will rejoice with me that Dr. Waterbury has planted himself at that very point where we sat down together to mourn over the desolations of Zion and devise ways & means for her relief.

I am impatient to find a suitable man for the region south of us in this country : It is a hand full. And it is hard because it has been so long neglected.

I have been appointed commissioner to Gen Assembly. It will be 11 years since we were at the East. But it seems very desirable that this people should have a supply and I see not how it shall be affected. I have though that if some good brother near New York would exchange with me for 2 or 3 months in would be a great accommodation and I have thought of Brother Hat field because he has been here before.

It may seem presumptuous in me to make such a proposition but I think the reasons are plausible.

1) Our Synod have requested that our ministry brethren at the East should visit us. 2) They need such a tour for their information and health. 3) They are in the habit of leaving the city in summer and such an exchange would afford them more leisure. 4) If they wish to find an important point where they may labour with great good effect, this city affords ample scope. 5) no man can appreciate this country til he sees it, and a trip by Cincinnati, St. Louis, Galena, Chicago, and Buffalo may now be made in 20 days time and with 100 dol. expense. And, if not as fashionable, it be as useful as the tour of Europe. 6) We need the counsel of the fathers. I think I could urge reasons why either of the following clergymen would do well to take that tour and be made welcome Dr. McAnly, Dr. Spring, Dr. Patton, or Dr. Peters.

It would greatly facilitate my plans if they could secure a supply and allow me to plead there for the west. I have but little hope that any one will volunteer, but I thought it a duty to make the suggestion to you and hope you will have the goodness to drop me a line as soon as convenient.

I remain yours affectionately,

A. Kent

Galena, Ill., Aug. 30, 1843

Dear Brethren,

I hope to see Mr. Lewis next month prepared for a campaign on Apple River, and I have written by advice of Brother Dixon to persuade Brother Hicks (now supplying Br. Bascom) to come to Fair Play & New Diggings and require answer soon. And I thought I should write to a young Licentiate Calvin Terry of Enfield visiting a little for Br. Peet & see what he is doing to supply the little churches north. Now I have concluded with your approbation to write to Br. A. Pomeroy^246[246] once a labouror on the Ill. River. He is said to be very useful and efficient in Con. as an Evangelist, tho Br. Hale said he was not quite the thing in Ill. Having been for the time rather worldly minded. He took me aside at the Con, Association and said he was ready to go [to] Ill. if duty called (his wife is very feeble). I thought from all that I could learn that he would be an asset: could adapt to this region particularly to the mining region. And if he was commissioned to come to labour in different places at his and our discretion he might be very useful in promoting revivals organizing churches and doing that preparatory work necessary to our calling and settling of ministers. But I distrust my own judgement and hope that you have means of knowing him better than I do.

I commit the accompanying letter to you to forward or not at your discretion.

Brother, I remain your affectionately,

A. Kent

Brother Norton is about to leave Rockford, I know no good reason.

Br. A. Pomeroy,

Dear Brother, I have reached home in safety after an absence of near 4 months in which I have experienced many miseries, found my family well except the death of a child of 14, given to us : a pious child of great promise. I have been pressed with cares and calls and greetings and have had no time to survey the field, but am well persuaded there is an opening around me for you to labour with great prospects of success in gathering congregations, organizing churches and promoting revivals and preparing the way for introducing young ministers...According to your own suggestion I now invite you to come on and “occupy”.: Come this fall as soon as you can: by the northern route, from Albany to Buffalo 25 hours & 10 dollars: from B. to Detroit, 30 hours and 7 dollars, from D. to Chicago 39 hours $8.50, from Chicago to Galena 48 hours & 8 dollars.

If you will come and labour for 2 years, I think I may venture to say that we can raise you 200 a year on the ground and the Home Miss. will do the rest. And I think that in 2 years time you may do great good and be ready to stay permanently. There [are] many things of interest in this region and I have come to the conclusion that you are ??? to this country.

Please to give me a definite answer as soon as convenient.

Yours etc. A. Kent

________

Galena, Ill., May 14, 1844

Rev. M. Badger^247[247]

Dear Brother,

Brother Holbrook requests me to write to you and state the situation and wants of this region the probability of his usefulness in the field which he contemplates the views of our church and what they will do etc., and ask you whether you will become responsible for $400 per an. on condition that he raises what he can where he labours (say $100 perhaps less) his commission being to act as your agent in Western Wiskonsan, Northwestern Ill. and Northern Iowa and labouring as an Evangelist and supplying destitute places at his discretion, it being understood that he preach in Galena 1/4 of the time while I labour among the destitute as far as possible. He wishes you to reply as soon as maybe that it may reach here by the 2nd Tuesday of June when this convention meets at Platteville.

This plan falls in with what I have contemplated as far as giving me a little breathing time. My weekly preparation which is now burdensome in connection with its pressure of other duties. My work is increasing amazingly aside from pastoral duties, my correspondence is becoming formidable. I can also occasionally preach about the country where I have extensive acquaintance. One of us will be always on the ground to supply the calls in Galena. He will need as a young preacher time for rest and for study but will feel it no burden to preach on the Sabbath.

Our people have become greatly attached to him and he certainly possesses some peculiar talents for an evangelist and when I proposed that he should ask in that capacity and in that of an H.M. agent and locate in Galena and supply them 1/4 of his time they voted unanimously to invite him and to be responsible for 200 dollars - which together with what you will give will make him 600 and in my opinion that is not too much but perhaps you will think me extravagant and I shall submit my opinion to yours.

I hoped to have seen Br Waterbury this week but shall be disappointed (not going to Rockford until next week) I believe he fully approves of our plan. We think that Tom Peet’s field is too large and he neglects western W[isconsin] and I think that Br. Holbrook has marked out too much ground. I should have preferred that he be restricted to the east side of the Mississippi, i.e., unless Br. Peet should prefer to continue to take charge of Wisconsin. My opinion has been that your agents should be multiplied so as to make them less riding and to do more work. I am obliged to write in great haste: if you should commission him he wished that two laymen together with Br. Holbrook and myself might be a committee through whom all applications for aid shall come. And I would suggest Dr. Horatio Newhall and Edwin Ripley as suitable men.

All which is respectfully submitted.

Yours,

_________

Galena, Ill., Aug. 14, 1844

Dear Brother,

It is not an urgent case the settlement on Apple River is 10 years in advance of the other settlements in Northern Il. It is within the mining district and for 15 years I have preached there occasionally. About 6 years ago 100 dollars was raised and appropriated for the support of a Missionary there but it has never been used.

More recently the flourishing village of Elizabeth has sprung up around which there is a settlement of farmers & I have been told that 600 miners are now digging within 4 miles and the amount of lead raised there this year 2,000,000.

The returns from the late election in the village gives 598 votes in that precinct and it is safe to reckon the population within a Sabbath days journey as exceeding 2000.

There is a little church in the village and they need a minister : a minister of some moral power and some moral courage for it is a hard field and no suitable man has yet been found willing to engage. Such men seem to shun the place. I took a journey of 80 miles last week to obtain a missionary for them but he preferred locating in a new village of New England people in the midst of a sparse settlement (the whole number perhaps 400.) I came home to sympathize with a lay brother on the ground who has sustained a larger Sabbath School single-handed & alone for 5 or 6 years and who told me some weeks since that he was quite distressed.

I have spread the case before our church and they will meet tomorrow morning at the rising of the sun to pray that God will send a minister to Elizabeth and I propose to carry in this letter and like Hezekiah spread it before the Lord:

There are 2 ways of showing the power of the Gospel and the influence of your society.

One is to look at the prevalence of infidelity & vice where no effort is made and the other is to mark the progress of truth the march of improvement & the triumph of benevolence where a judicious expenditure of your funds is made.

Br Lewis entered a field as hard as this one year since...already he has secured the confidence of the people, the Sabbath is recognized, a nice house of worship is being built, a church is organized and some young men have been hopefully converted & have joined ...to the lord.

I doubt not that if an efficient man had been sent to Apple River 5 years ago and 500 dollars expended in his support he would now be well sustained, a large church gathered and they propose to send back 100 dollars a year in aid of the destitute : such is the economy of your system.

This church was for several years dependent on your bounty, and yesterday we sent off 180 dollars to your society and 24 dollars in aid of an academy being built to prepare ministers & teachers for the west by another church dependent on your funds & this in appendix to considerable contribution the same day for the suffered on the American Bottom.

Now if you will find the suitable man we will find within the country 400 dollars for his support for one year....

Yours affectionately, A. Kent

We do not want a lame duck for that field nor a broken winded animal that has been 1/2 dos times run off the track.

________

Dear Brother,

I received your letter Monday and went the same day to fill an appointment I had made on the waters of Apple R. because Mr. Littlefield’s labours were not acceptable in that neighborhood. There is was confirmed in my opinion that he is very unacceptable as a preacher and several Presbyterian families were mentioned who did not desire the continuance of his labours among them. Mr. John Strong who was his main support and with whom he boarded has fallen out with him and is making efforts in connection with some others to get an old school man I understand. I have ever felt that it was most unfortunate for this country that he returned to it. But I have wounded the good mans feelings by expressing my opinion. I think I cannot do the cause of A better service than to recommend that further aid be with held for other men are prevented from taking the ground while he occupies it. I have no doubt of his superiority to me in personal piety but he is doing no good as far as I can judge. I think if he would return to Indiana or engage in other employment it would be well. You will understand that the region about Elizabeth and I used to designate as Apple River is 10 miles from Mr. Littlefield’s location, which he now calls Apple River Church. Mr. Graham of Elizabeth a judicious young Irish man and Christian has told him that he cannot do any thing there.

I was disappointed that our project of building a 2nd church had not made so much impression upon your minds as it does upon ours who see it in all its bearings. We think that there is a great opening for a new effort and we apprehend that if we do not move soon an Old School Br will and we do not wish that issue to be introduced into Galena. Mr. Seely of Bristol, Con., who preached here one Sab. has been sounded a little and the response was rather favorable and another letter will probably be sent soon. I have never seen him and it seems like a marriage on a short acquaintance. My back aches literally and if it did not my cares and responsibilities are enough to make it ache.

I should not be ashamed of this letter if you could know the circumstances under which it is written.

Our excellent friends the Ripleys have been greatly afflicted in the death of Lucy, aged 15:

Yours, etc., A. Kent

Write immediately if you can give us any light in regard to a man to build a 2nd church here. Nov. 23 Our movement as yet are in conclave (session) but that they are in concert you judge when they talked of raising 500 for the first year beside 200 from A.H.M.S.

__________

Galena, Ill., Oct. 2, 1844

Dear Brother,

With no ordinary anxiety and I trust sincere prayer we have ventured to agitate the question of communing a new congregation in this city. It is agitated by the session in conclave, It involved a responsibility we fear to assume and which we dare not longer postpone. Three questions have come up: Whence shall we find a house? Whence find the man to undertake it? And, whence find the “vara avis” to lead the enterprise? The first we can secure by renting a public room in the heart of the city. The second: we have marked off the names of about 15 whom we shall recommend and invite others to volunteer. And now comes the third. Where is the man suitable for the most inviting but very arduous field of ministerial labour?

Who is there like yourself that has the whole country before him and is accustomed to judge of the mental and moral power of clergymen and who better than yourself knows whether the suitable man would consent to enter upon this new and deeply responsible achievement.

Brother Badger will you come. I know your answer. I would gladly undertake it, if other duties would permit. Will you look about and send an answer as soon as convenient. We think that this operation ought not be delayed. All this by way of preface.

Yours, A. Kent

And here I introduce you to my excellent Brother Campbell

Rev. Mr. Badger

Dear Sir,

I write by direction of the session of Mr. Kent’s church to urge upon your attention our want of a minister to supply a second Pres. Church now in contemplation. Our new stone church is full : The revival last winter brought into our church a great many young men whose spirit and good requires that they should be set upon some new effort for the extension of the Redeemers Kingdom. There is a large class in this community who do not attend church at all. Clearly all of the legal profession : many of the physicians & more of the merchants are of this class. Now sir if you can inform us how & where we can find the man of some experience who can interest such a class & with the help of the old church & a few working men & women can build up a second church you will materially aid the cause.

A Mr. Eaton, a graduate of the Union Theo Sem & now if we are rightly informed labouring in some church in N. York city has been mentioned to us. Do you know him? Is he the Man? Can he be obtained? About a year last summer a young man by the name of Seely or Ceilly, a native of Ridgefield Conn also a graduate of Union Theo Sem (if I recollect right) spent a Sabbath here with whom we were much pleased. Do you know him? Is he such a man as we want? Can he be had?

I am also directed to inquire if the new congregation can obtain aid from the Home Missionary Soc for a time. The persons who will compose the new church will be mostly young men : mechanics and journeymen of limited means who will hardly be able to sustain the effort without aid. We hope to hear from you as soon as you can give us the requisite information. we have delayed this effort too long I fear. To delay longer seems to us after prayerful deliberation on the subject to be only giving the ground of which we may now take easy possession up to the Universalists: The Campbellites: or somebody worse.

Respectfully yours on behalf of the session,

A.B. Campbell

___________

Dear Brother,

I have written to Mr. Bowen^248[248] at Savanna the following this evening.

“Dear Sir I have just heard a rumor that your minister Calvin Gray is and open and strong advocate of the Oberlin Theology. If this is so I think that Christian candor should have constrained him to avow it as his as his letters recommendatory gave no hint of it and I thought it necessary to give you notice of the fact that such a rumor was afloat lest you should be induced in my recommendation to commit yourself further than you would.

I am sure our Presbytery would not receive such a member. You will please to show him this and assure him of my high esteem of him as a man and my great grief at this rumor and my earnest desire that he may feel entirely free to contradict it.” Yours etc. A. Kent”

The information I received from Br. Eddy of Mineral Point who has a commission from you. He says his (Buffalo) presbytery would not give such a man a letter as Geneva Presb has done. I thought it right to inform you immediately as it may influence your action if you have not acted already.

Yours, etc.,

A. Kent

_________

Dear Brother,

I wrote you as I thought I ought in regard to Br. Gray.

Since that I have conversed with him and with Br. Eddy whose installation at Mineral Point I attended last week.

Br Gray satisfied me that though he dissented from the course professed by ministers and presbyters, yet he did not wish to advocate the peculiarities of Oberlin Theol. And he left the impression on my mind that he had now no inclination to agitate that subject. And it appears to me wrong to drive him from us by refusing him the aid he seeks.

Br. Eddy after conversation with me thinks he ought to be commissioned and Mr. Bowen in his answer received this morning says Mr. Gray has made a very favorable impression on the whole community and to a much greater extent with some of our hard-hearted tight-fisted anti-religious people than I supposed and good Christian could.

I do therefore renew my recommendation that he be commissioned.

I have signified to Br. Lewis that if he is about to draw on you for money I can furnish him $100.

Yours, etc.,

A. Kent

Galena, March 7, 1845

Rev. & Dear Brother,

Your letter is before me and was long in coming. But I hasten to answer it as soon as I have my instructions. Our Session met last evening and I laid it before them.

We are well pleased with Mr. D. on paper and should like to see him on the ground. But we are embarrassed and hardly know how to act. The Session are unanimous but we have not yet breached the subject to the church. And we anticipate some difference of opinion about the propriety of the movement but think that they will come into our views when fully explained. We have corresponded with Mr. Seely of Bristol, Conn., (who spent a Sabbath here once) he has declined coming. I received a letter this day from Rev. T. Castleton of Syracuse offering to come, having succeeded in gathering a Church in that village within the last year, but I showed it to some of my brethren who thought he was rather “green”. We expect very soon to lay this object before the church. We have been rather private about it lest agitation should arouse other elements by which we might be circumvented.

There are Brethren in and out of the church who would prefer an Old School minister, which we fear would make disturbances in our harmonious community. We want greatly to see Mr. Downes, but how is it to be done? After long consultation we have concluded to request that he be appointed missionary within the bounds and under direction of the Galena Presbytery, with a view to his labouring at Elizabeth which would bring him under the observation of this church and enable them to act understandably. There seemed to be entire unanimity on the part of those 4 who were present.

Let me then show reasons why he should come to Elizabeth. It is becoming the most densely populated spot in the missionary district except our city and 2 or 3 villages. I judge there are 2000 souls within 2 or 3 miles of that village (perhaps 3000). It is an old settlement I have preached there occasionally for 15 years. I have tried in vain to get some man that is willing to go and labour there. Mr. Lewis you will recollect was destined for that field but was prevented by another having stepped in before him. Mr. Langdown from Hartford came this winter, but a letter from him today states that he prefers to remain where he now is near Chicago It is an exceedingly hard and wicked field and therefore just what Mr. D has been seeking for. “I choose to go where help is needed most and obtained with most difficulty” : It is an “Old Waste” and “a settled region which has hitherto been without spiritual cultivation.”. It is however no worse than New Diggings was 1 1/2 years ago but under Br Lewis’s transforming influence it has become greatly changed. Indeed no where have I seen faithful labour so uniformly and largely blessed as in this sinner Mining Country. I would not exchange it as a field of ministerial labour for any other spot under the sun.