Henry Allen (theologian)

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Henry Allen (June 14, 1748- January 28, 1784) was born at Newport, Rhode Island, but afterwards settled in Nova Scotia. He served as a minister at Falmouth, Nova Scotia but the Congregationalists later barred him from preaching in their churches. He served as an itinerant preacher during the New Light movement. He died at North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Allen, whose name is sometimes spelled as Alline, reportedly maintained that Adam and Eve before the fall had no corporeal bodies and denied the resurrection of the body. He taught that the souls of all men are emanations from the same Spirit. Though he made many converts to his religious ideas, the Allenites dwindled after his death.

Wesley, sent Alline’s writings by the Nova Scotia Methodist leader William Black*, pronounced them “miserable jargon,” and most subsequent commentators have agreed.

He published 487 Hymns and Spiritual Songs, as well as other pamphlets.

[edit] References

Julian, John (June, 1907). A Dictionary of Hymnology. London: John Murray, 51. 

Bumsted, J. M.. Alline, Henry. Dictionary of Canadian Biography online. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.

Revival Library. Henry Alline - 1748-1784. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.

Lochhead, Douglas. Alline, Henry. Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.