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Life and Letters of Rev. Aratus Kent Introduction


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It would be exceedingly interesting to read a history of some 20 men I could name as disciples of Christ who were once among the hardest cases. Several are now members of our church and 4 or 5 have been just received at Mineral Point. I have conversed today with 2 excellent brethren who are talking about removing to Elizabeth I am very sanguine in the belief that within 2 years Br. Downes would build a good church : gather a large congregation, and witness a revival that bring in great numbers who are now wretchedly depraved, and obtain his entire support from the people and it seems to me it ought not be neglected any longer. It is a healthy place beyond doubt.

There is no question but that our Presbytery would most earnestly request this appointment if it were suggested to them, but it will be impracticable to have any Presbyterial action until they meet in May.

I hope you will understand our views from what I have now put down. We want to bring Mr. D. before this community without seeming to be officious. We think it immeasurably important to commence another church and know not how to effect our object. The city is steadily growing and is destined to grow and if we do not multiply ourselves other sects will as certainly as like causes will produce similar effects. It is impossible for one man to do the work that is accumulating here.

Yours Affectionately, A. Kent

P.S. It is the wish of the session that Mr. D. be commissioned and sent out as soon as he can come and we shall strive to make him welcome.

Mr. L. Eddy who has just settled at Mineral Point and has a powerful revival. Said he had written a Brother to come visit here who is equal to any. Do you know him? Br. Lindsay also has written and thinks he should like to come west. Confidential. [marginal note]

________


Galena, Ill., April 8, 1845

Dear Brother,

Br. Lewis to whom I sent word that I had money he might have has made no reply and I have spent most of the money appropriated to his use 50 of which I paid to Mr. Gray which will be put to the credit of your society if he is commissioned. Perhaps I shall be able to furnish Br. Lewis 50 in the course of the summer.

It will not be thought strange that we should attach importance to what is going on around us when intelligent Christians at the East and in Europe are watching our movements with intense interest.

If we look only at the salvation of the present generation the preaching of the gospel is the great means on which, under God, we should rely. But when we look to ultimate and far reaching results the great desideratum toward which we should bend our utmost efforts is to establish and sustain a system of thorough Christian Education, and render it acceptable to all. And to effect this, and to effect this we must have local agents stationed at all points in the great field. But all history shows that there are no agents so efficient in promoting Christian educations as Evangelical Ministers. Hence, we are conducted obviously to the conclusion that Home Missionaries should be multiplied to meet the demand. And perhaps in the Western country where so little interest is felt in the cause, they should be especially instructed to carry this point but using every means within their reach: such as lecturing in education, visiting schools, procuring competent teachers, and using their influence to establish primary schools and academies.

We want also a few general agents like your late superintendent at the East who shall who shall travel from county to county delivering lectures on education and diffusing information on the subject. Have you not a few educated, accomplished, eloquent, splendid men who have enough if Howard’s spirit to devote 10 years or a life to an untiring effort to raise to a pitch of educational enthusiasm that they would be honored throughout the state in all time as highly as St. Patrick is in Ireland. Could not something be done also toward furnishing libraries like those in N.Y. State schools on specific conditions.

Your anniversary is approaching, It is a fit occasion to inquire, Is anything accomplished? It might be said in reply that we cannot count up the results of moral as we can those of Military achievement. When the soldier kills his man, he is there until he is counted, but the soldier of the cross cannot tell how many under his preaching have been slain by the law and made alive by Christ. Especially is this true among the roaming population of a newly settled country.

But it would be ungrateful to God not to acknowledge what he has permitted us to witness with our own eyes.

Without any forecast on mine I was sent to this place 16 years ago. I remember the Sab. morning I walked over the ground and for the want of a better plan for retirement and there pleaded with my master his own promise Lo I am with you always & before I went into the bar room to magnify his office and asset his claims to this service. I remember too that on one of my preaching tours I ascended a high ridge over looking the Mississippi for many miles. It was a magnificent sight. And I made my reflections audible: Lord Jesus I take possession of this while land for thee and if Father Hennipin had previously claimed it for the Virgin Mary, it was a usurpation which had long ??? given up for there was no one in all the region to defend his claim.

Now if we take the log cabin which served me 10 years for a church as the center of a circle whose radius measures 200 miles, that circle 16 years ago would enclose not another clergyman either Catholic or Protestant devoted exclusively to the cure of souls as far as I can recollect.

Now if we should reckon up only the Presbyterian & Congregational Ministers we should doubtless find on that area from 1 to 200 and these intelligent self denying me 9/10 of whom have been or are now sustained by your society and that to at less expense than the Florida War I trust moreover in the eternal result that more souls will be saved than there were Seminoles killed. It is the more economical investment!

In this mining country we have had a reinforcement of Missionaries within a few months which has made our hearts glad (though we need more) and a work of grace has followed this labour in 4 or 5 places. At Mineral Point God has wrought wondered for his name sake and in looking over the country I cannot but admire the triumphs of divine grace in the recovery of some who were among the most hopeless cases in our early history. From this meagre outline of what God has done in our little corner of your great field, should not the friends of the missions thank God and take courage.

Yours, etc.,

A. Kent


_________

Galena, Ill., Aug. 8, 1845

Dear Br.,

I have just had an interview with another student of the Mission Institute whose judgement I respect. I inquired respecting Mr. W. Nichols. He said the Big Platte church where he belongs were about to employ him, but he made inquiries concerning his success where he had laboured (at Columbus) and found that he was very unacceptable. He was consulted by Mr. Nichols about coming up here and he did not encourage it. Mr. Marks observed that his own report would exhibit him as the most useful man in Presbytery. c.c. He has too high an idea of his own usefulness. He does not doubt but that he is a good man.

I thought that this information might be seasonable is he should apply. But I shall expect that he will come up here first : perhaps :

Mr. Parks babe is dead & we are well as usual:

Yours, etc.,

A. Kent


I think there is a disposition in our session to move toward colonizing - and that Mr. Marks has made a favorable impression. Have you or Br. Badger a better man in your view for this post{?}

_________

Galena, Ill., Sept. 15, 45

Dear Br.,

According to your request I give my opinion in the negative (see 873 case of Mr Warner.)

I have not heard much said about his labours at Mount Carroll. But I understand that he was doing nothing and from all who know of his past efforts I have heard but one opinion that is entirely inefficient. He said to me last time I saw him that he thought of quitting the ministry on account of his health and I encouraged the idea as far as he gave me the opportunity. Br Peet wrote me & expressed the wish that he would resign the ministry or take admission to some other body.

Yours etc., A. Kent

N.B. I have heard that Br. Gray has preached at Mt Carroll but a letter from his wife recently states that she was recovering and that he was quite sick with fever.

_________

Galena, Oct. 17, 45

Dear Br.,

Having returned in safety after a fortnight absence in company with Br. Downes to attend Presbytery & Synod I will make a record of matters & things.

Presbytery met at Shannon we spent the Sabbath & Saturday previous there by request of Br. Bliss but he was sick and his wife very sick and the whole settlement sick so that we could gather scarcely a score to preach to. Br. B. brought a letter signed in due form by Elders & Trustees requesting that he might be commissioned again. But a request came soon after by one of the signers that we would not act until further instructions. We then (cc Br. Downs has been added to the Com.) made some inquiries and ascertained that he was not acceptable as a preacher. And the testimony was uniform both there and at Moline.

We had very small meetings both at P. & Synod at Galesburg. Sickness has prevailed to an unusual extent in this region particularly about the water courses. It has been excessively hot and dry i.e., the showers have been sufficient to keep the surface moist but the little streams are low and many entirely dry.. I saw in my journey several old settlers sick who never had been sick before.

On our return we came to Rock Island and there followed up the River. Dined with C. Spring who was sick called on Mr. Hickcock at Moline who is well and from all that appears was doing well. Called on Br. Jessup who with his family are well though every family in town is sick.

Spent a night in Savannah : All sick there : Br. Gray and wife & child are sick and have been for 2 or 3 months. A child to be buried was brought to the house for religious services, he spoke for 5 minutes and was exhausted. He has begun to build a house and had moved into it, but they were obliged to be removed to the neighbors, for they could not take care of themselves and others could not leave home to take care of them. So now they stay a few days in a place. He had tried to work at his house until the Doctor has forbidden it., He cannot finish it and the neighbors cannot help him. I believe that if some of our good people at the East knew his situation, they would sent him 50 Dollars extra to finish his house for he cannot finish it himself and he cannot do without it. The people there and at Mt. Carroll are anxiously waiting to have him resume his preaching. He seems to have made a good impression where ever he has gone. I have felt it my duty to make this representation.

But I have another statement to make as one of a Com. on Home Missions.

The subject was brought up in Synod and we are unanimous in the opinion that Agencies for Home Missions are too large, and that if 4 or 5 were sustained in Ill., it would be a measure of economy. We have therefore resolved to petition that the territory which is covered by our Synod be divided from North to South and that Br. S.G. Wright be our Missionary agent and his labours be confined to that district, and that another man be sent into his present field of labour. We think that he will prepare the way of the Lord for introducing other labourers and that our church will contribute towards his support.

The other members of the Com will report officially as soon as they have corresponded with the Congre[ga]-tional bodies.

A remark was made in my hearing that Br. Badger sympathized strongly with Congregationalists and in conformation it was said that he is endeavoring to give circulation to the Puritan. I replied that I had never seen nor heard any thing of the kind. But I may observe here that I do not think the Puritan is calculated to promote harmony, unless is changed from what my limited reading has conceived.

Next week I propose Deo Volente to go in company with Br. Powell to Beloit to attend another Col. Convention. Br. P. has preached here 2 Sabbaths during my absence with great acceptance.

I was asked if he could not be had for the winter to supply our new Church until they can have Mr. Marks of Quincy in the spring. I should regret having his mind diverted from his other field and I regret that they should think of drawing Br. M. away.

Yours truly, A. Kent

__________

[Galena] Oct 12, 1846

At a meeting of Synod held at Belvidere, Boone Co., a committee consisting of Brethren Kent, Bascom, Kellog, and Pendleton249[249] were instructed to renew the application made at their last meeting to H. Miss. Society to appoint 3 agents in place of one for our state.

We think that our State is large enough and sufficiently populated to afford work for 3 efficient men and that one man labours to a great disadvantage in travelling over so large a field without affording time to labour in any one place long enough to secure the object.

We think that each of the districts contemplated contains a multitude of churches and settlements just in that condition as to need attention and that the labours of a judicious agent would develop resources which would ultimately refund all that is now required for their support.

All of our experience proves that delays are prejudicial on account of the growing influence of error and sectarianism and that it would be a saving of labour to furnish those agents while these young communities are in the forming state.

A. Kent, Chairman of Comm.

The Brethren have left without aiding me much in preparing this communication. But Br. Kellog expresses his opinion decidedly that Br. Crane is needed here more than in his present field of labour.

__________

Galena, Ill., Oct. 19, 1846

Dear Brother,

I have been appointed a committee to request your committee that your agent Rev. S. Peet be allowed to devote 2 months this winter in aid of “The Beloit College”. The facts stated in Br. Hale’s letter have induced us to think that we ought to move with accelerated velocity towards the commencement of a regular College course. And the trustees with much anxiety and trembling have resolved by the blessing of God that they will commence next year. We hope therefore you will see the propriety of granting our request. Br. Eaton preached once for me yesterday and is gone this morning to visit his Brethren Downes, Powell and Lewis.

Yours in bonds of the gospel, A. Kent

_____

[Chapin papers- Beloit College]



Galena, Ill., Ap. 14, 1847

Dear Brother,

The Ex. Com. of Beloit College have requested me to call a special meeting of the Board of Trustees at Beloit on the 8th of June at 7 p.m. to be present at the laying the corner stone and to attend to such other business as may come before them.

They also request me to suggest that the meeting on the 4 Monday will not be necessary and I shall dispense with it so far at least as to stay away myself.

The reasons assigned are that they will not be ready sooner and they look for better attendance.

They have appointed Mr. Hinman financial agent and Superintendent of building.

Yours affectionately,

A. Kent


___________

Freeport, April 23, 1847

Dear Brother,

There is no little suffering endured by some of our Brethren in consequence of not receiving the aid which they have anticipated from your society. Brethren Gray and Powell are among the sufferers the latter you will hear from in 2 or 3 weeks, the former must be heard now. He made application in due manner and time to receive an appropriation of 200 dollars from you commencing with the 3rd of November, and has come to the conclusion that you did not intend to grant his request for he thinks from a clause in some letter he has received that he has evidence that you have received his application but we presume that his letter has never reached you.

We think therefore that we should urge you to grant his request and forward the money immediately as he has been compelled to leave his appropriate work and labour with his hands 6 days in the week. We have entire confidence in this Brother’s ability and acceptableness and should be grieved if his wants were not relieved without further delay. We have experienced much difficulty in consequence of applications for aid being sent to individual members of the Com. without their having opportunity to consider with their coadjutators or to get additional light by seeing some person resident in the neighborhood.

To remedy that evil we have requested their applications to be handed into us at the stated meeting of Presb.

A. Kent

John Downer



C. Waterbury

______


[Chapin Papers- Beloit College]

Galena, May 5/47

Dear Br.,

It is my official duty at the request of the Ex. Com. to inform the Trustees of the Beloit College that the meeting of the board will be postponed again from the 8th to the 22nd of June.

They seem to have some to that decision reluctantly for reasons which they deem sufficient. Great questions in their estimation will come up.

Yours in the best bonds,

A. Kent250[250]

_____


[Chapin Papers- Beloit College]

Galena 29 June 47

Dear Br.,

After spending the Sabbath at Winslow to supply Br. Hazzard’s lack of service, I reached home and had a long conversation with Br. Spees, which I though worthy of reporting.

He manifested a lively interest in the west and the College effort. And in answer to his enquiries I stated to him confidentially of whom we had spoken for president and professors that I might avail myself of his knowledge and judgement.

He rather gave preference to Dr. Riddle and at my particular request he expressed his opinion that Dr. William Adams of the Brown St. Church New York would be the best man in the U.S. for that office. He named Brainard of Philadelphia.

In the course of conversation he indicated that he was disposed to some to the west as the field of greater usefulness. That he had looked forward to a professorship of Languages (and had been shaping his studies for it) if he could be situated as to go out and preaching on the Sabbath and that he would be willing to take that office in our college with the understanding that he should first spend a year in obtaining funds while his services might not be needed in the institution. For this I should think him particularly fitted on several accounts.

I thought it important that this should be known to my coadjutors and that it might influence their movements in another direction.

For qualifications he referred me to Dr. Nott and Professor Yates of Union Col., Dr. White and Dr. Adams of New York,, Hon. Willard Hall of Delaware.

Dr. White might be consulted as to the expediency of appointing Dr. Adams and the probability of his accepting.

Brother Chapin, what think you of these suggestions? I thought I would whisper them to you and if it should meet your views you may name it to our secretary.

Br. Spees is going to St. Louis - his address is Cincinnati.

Yours in haste for I have piles of letters to answer.

A. Kent


____

[Chapin Papers- Beloit College]

Galena July 28, 1847

Dear Br.,

I send this to you as one of the Committee of Correspondence and you can bring it up at our next meeting.

I received your letter in reply to my former letter and am not disposed to dissent from the views you expressed, but we must endeavor to get all the light we can obtain and we shall have enough of darkness to wade through even then.

It is very likely that after our utmost care a few years will reveal many mistakes that will admit of no cure and will only tax our patience.

Yours truly,

A. Kent

__________

Galena, Ill., Sept. 10, 1847

Dear Brother,

Your letter is before me, and it must be answered. I have revolved the subject over and over and regard it a very responsible agency.

I have not felt at liberty to answer in the affirmative but I should mistake the favorable opinion of men whom I respect for the will of Him who placed me here and who only is authorized to remove me. I am afraid to answer in the negative lest I should seem to be more concerned for my personal comfort than for Zion’s prosperity.

There are difficulties that weigh with me and I will state them and wait for further light.

I am settled down comfortably in one extreme corner of the field and cannot transfer my family to a central frontier. My wife is reluctant to remove and is feeble and not likely to enjoy good health soon. My position therefore will render it necessary that my expenses should be greater and my periods of absence longer than if Galena were more central.

I do not covet notoriety but on the contrary shrink from those sever strictures which such men are obliged to endure.

I am not adapted to the work. It requires a man of great fenestrations and I am not quick in any pleasing human character. It is the business of your agent to find the man and adapt them to the field, for to go over the ground and report the distributions will avail nothing. You have already more vacancies than you can supply. Am I not right in saying that the apportionment of ministers at the West is so unequal to that in the Eastern States that we should be justified in taking almost any man from his post at the East because they can easily obtain another to fill his place. An agent then should explore his field and having ascertained its wants, should go to the East and not only visit the Seminaries to obtain young men but should be justified in persuading the best pastors to leave their work where they are restricted to township limits and come West where they can mould the character of whole counties whose population is doubling every 5 years- justified in saying to such men the “Lord hath need of thee” But I am not eloquent in that line. It demands the soul of Peter and the energies of Cornelius or Evarts to plead for the west and persuade them to the self-denial of such a removal.

You have misjudged in respect to my acquaintance and influence. I am known is 2 counties in Wisconsin and 3 or 4 in Ill. You think I should be acceptable to the people generally. The Congregationalists will suspect me of favoring the Presbyterians and the strong abolitionists would turn cold shoulder, I have read over what is said of the duties of an agent but yet on a closer inspection of the office I am at a loss to know how to act without more specific instructions and if my own mind was satisfied it would still be a problem whether I could satisfy the people.

My theory has ever been to go where Providence shall direct but it is not easy to distinguish between the leadings of Providence and the bias of my own mind.

I shall hope to hear further from you and myself to be guided aright.

Yours as ever,

A. Kent

There are many beautiful localities in this Prairie-land but there is one spot that I have always admired. It is a ridge of prairie which puts into Elk Grove from the north and from which you look off upon the 3 Platte mounds that lift their bald fronts to a southern exposure. The landscape exceeds in beauty any I ever saw, At that point, when a missionary of your society, I once alighted from the fatigues of my journey to spend the night on the log tavern. I was annoyed with the practices which prevailed and I succeeded in persuading the proprietor to abandon the traffic in ardent spirit and afterwards as I occasionally preached in the Grove I regretted that so delightful a spot should be wholly devoid of any good moral influence and that its leading men stand aloof.

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