Allen, Ethan
Allen, Ethan (1)
an American general and infidel, was born at Roxbury, Conn., in 1739. He first became conspicuous in resisting the laws of New York in behalf of those who held land grants under New Hampshire. He led the attack against Ticonderoga in 1775, and did other valiant service in the American cause during the Revolution; and died in 1789. He published a number of controversial pamphlets: a Narrative of his observations during his captivity from 1775 to 1778: and Allen’s Theology; or, The Oracle of Reason (1786). The object of this last work was to ridicule the doctrine of Moses and the prophets. Allen had some very absurd notions as to the future state of man; e.g. that man would, after death, transmigrate into beasts, birds, etc.; and that he himself would live again in the form of a large white horse. See Allen, Amer. Biog. Dict. s.v. Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Allen, Ethan (2)
an Episcopal minister, was born at Londonderry, Vt., Nov. 25, 1794, and was a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1823. For some years after his graduation he was engaged in teaching in Millwood, Va. In 1828 he became principal of the academy in Hanover, Mass., where he remained five years, and then removed to Rochester, N. Y. Here he had charge for some time of St. John’s Parish School. While engaged in teaching, he had directed his attention to the study of theology, and, having been ordained, his first settlement was in Otis, Mass., where he remained ten years (1836- 46), and then removed to Nantucket, Mass., and was rector of Trinity Church in that place for nine years (1846-55). His next parish was in Guilford, Vt., for twelve years, and he died there May 19, 1867. (J. C. S.)
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Allen, Ethan
(1737-1789) Leader of the Green Mountain Boys and of their famous exploits during the American Revolution. He is less known but nonetheless significant as the earliest American deist. His Reason, the Only Oracle of Man (1784), expressed his opposition to the traditional Calvinism and its doctrine of original sin. He rejected prophecy and revelation but believed in immortality on moral grounds. He likewise believed in free will. — L.E.D.