Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-11

develop, perhaps abnormally, his independ-
ance of thought upon all subjects, religion
included. 1t was not only his nature, IN
the exercise of his powerful intellect, TO
bring every proposition to the standard OF
human reason. but he could not do other
wise, without a. he thought, violating his
common sense. In religion as in all the
affairs of life he followed his reason. 1t led
him to the belief in, and firm conviction oil
an eternal, infinite. omnipOtent and all~lSe
Ruler of the universe, In the immortality oil
the soul, in human responsibility TO cons
cience and to God, coupled with perfect
freedom Of action and will. IN the reward
of the righteous. and the punishment OF the
wicked in future life. upon principles OF
infinite justice. In that he reached the III
innate end which the schools OF ethics are
agreed may be reached by the light OF nat
ural reaSon-where reason stops ana lalth
begins. That he did 80, proves that he was
n metaphysician of no ordinary powers
There he halted Belief in miracles, IN the
Bible a. an inspired revelation. IN the d.
vinity and incarnation OF Chrlst-all the
doctrines received through faith. he reject
cd a. contrary to reason. In advocacy OF
these views be wrote Il book, now almost
forgotten. and which | would do nothing TO
rescue from'ii. merited oblivion. There was
a tinge Of orthodoxy in his nature. but he
called himself and was in fact a theiSt.
Had he lived to-day he would not have
been worse man than many members OF
respected religious denomination.
In the seventeenth century the influence
of such doctrines was widely extended by
the aScetici>n Of the Puritans and the rigid
flrmality of the established church. By
q IA
Allen had formed a strong attachment for
Dr. Joseph Young. who had adopted these
principles and was q warm disciple Of VIII
liam Blount, an eminent jhei~t OF the pc
Rod named, and the author of many hetcr-
0dOx works, one of them called ' The
Oracles of Reason. through Young, Al
len became cquaiutci with the writings OF
Biount. and convert % his opinions. The
book which Alien wrote was little more
than q reproduction of Biount " Oracle>
and Other writings. and presents the same
arguments aiaa>t In their consecutive or
der
r. such men SIS Allen wisdom cometh
With increase uf Years. One incident. well
authenticated. IN bis later life, viii enable
Nuu % Judge ui tie tcuacity of his final adj
herence % these views. lie was blessed
with a religions vile and a daughter whom
he loved with all the affection of lis great
and gentle heart. Early fitted for better
life. She was called 20 it, experience before
She reached w1mauho0d 4 she Law upon
her diving bed She called her father O. her
side. and said 10 him " Father. am about
to die. Shall | believe in Your principles
or in Those my mother has taught me-
His frame quiyered. and for a moment he
could not reply. But when at last his at
fiction burst forth in tears. there came
wiki chem iE gentle tones from his trem-
bling lips. words which must have fallen
upon the ears Of the dying girl almost a.
comforting a. the voices of angels welt1m-
ing her 10 eternal rest: " Ny child, believe
what yodr mother has taught you ''' Ce.,-
slr~ of Ethan Allen. " Judge not and We
shall not he Judged. Condemn not and We
shall not be condemned. For wiki tie
same measure that We mete withal. it shall
he measured to yol again.
From whatever standpoint we look az
Ethan Allen oar impression i always the
same. lie j. always the conSpicu-
Gus figure, the recognized leader.
the man who moulds Others to
his Will. The view may be a. brief a.
that We catch when the lightning flashes
across the darkness Of the midnight ~kv.
but It i a. clear and fall a. il would be
under the glare of the monday sun. lie
plans himself IN the dentists chair ami
orders healthy mOlar to he wrenchei from
ITS socket, to encourage nervous. suffering
woman, whose pride j. thus made % over
come her fears. Il did not employ Won %
lie that note j. mine | only want little
time to pay 1t -, ne fairly roarS az bis a.
tOnishcd lawyer. who bad denied his
signature IN the trial ola lawsuit: and his
opponent gives him all the time be- asks.
This man must be hung according o.
law, he exc.aim- to the crowd threatening
to lynch the reprieycd tory and spy. come
here next Friday and you shall see some
body hung: If Relding i not. Twill DE hung
myself, and the crowd peacably di-prr~e-
Look AZ that poor mother. and then say If
you can 90 to your homes and sleep. 50 be
says to the discouraged neirhbars. ablut 10
give up the search for the lost children. and
back to the quest goes every man of them.
never TO give it up until the lost wanderers
are restored 10 their mother arms. rhe>.
transient CLEANS flashed upon him I'm his
unstudied moments reveal his true charac-
ter.
The physical j. the counter-proaror the
moral world The laws of each are cgaallv
permanent. certain and immutahie. !
single trace IN nature. equals in the
measure Of proof the cumulative evidence
OF all the senses. The physicist sits by his
table w.th simple Instrument in hi~ hand
\ rocket shoots across his line Of vision.
high INTO the upper air, and expl0din-a
Thousand yards away, scattcrS elrthward
It's wrcaths and flowers Of many rulnred
ire. The secret Of it. composition l. the
trade capital of lis maker + OBJ II. he has
frfVgrf I.ts Ia iNsr fr.s..,ta,,.l
Ii l. perfect now. no competitor can reach .
him, the secret Of lis monopoly Is safe Ia .
hi own bosom, his fortune Is made De
luded man From that single flash. an
Instant IN duration. that little instrument
las wreSted your secret. and craven it on /
the record of science. in characters which [
nO;hinS else can counterfeit in all ihe wide /
creation of Almighty God.
And - we require no cosmorama for the !
examination and analysis Of character. 4
single act, word, whisper OF look will F.
show 1t a. unerringly a. the COMPLETED /
record of busy life. One brieI line /
painted by the moral spvctro~cope. one /
little ialseho0d. shows the villain rs clearly /
As whole life of crime, and there are I
other lines given out bv no soul under 4
Heaven but that Of an earnest. brave and /
true man. To which ever side of his event
ul life You turn the instrument. it |
paints for Ethan Allen the better lines.
five seek for the element of greatest
bower in the character Of Ethan Allen. we
'hall at once select his influence upon other
men. His life Is crowded with its exhihi-
ions. Its effect Is ALWAYS strong. USUALLY
controlling. In this / assert faded
ruism, for so long a. success j. the accented
Measure OF human ability. 50 long will thi.
of personal influence be the best
violence OF true greatness. You carry
cesar and his fortunes. - and at the words
rom Caesar : lips. the galley slave forgetS
II fears and saves his own in saving Cas~ir's
life. There was light abundant for every
reneh soldier 80 long a. the little corporal
ould see his guiding star. Nv here l. YOUR
eglment golngy was asked of0ne of Sher-
lan's soldiers, after the historic march 10
he sea don tknow; wherever the old man
ants Us to 90 And in the answer there
as the strength of dozen regiments. \
erd OF painting iugitiyeS are fying for life
elore the hot pursuit of 4 mercileS~ enemy
IN an instant they are a disciplined in
nelble army, wheeling to begin their re-
stlesS march tn victory. \ rumor hath
rought tins miracie-but that rumor j.
lat SicT9caH has c7D.ci and this influence
~ l'NNiA ga Il great name I I
.ver dies. Alexander. Cesar. Napoleon
ellington. Washington. Grant. Sherman. +
leridan. Alien. When sill their influence ;.
aSe? When the Royal Bruce of scotland !,
y dying, be called one of his captains In /,
: side and gave him acommi>>ion II ,yas :
The good SIR John, g who had served him -
NJ and well, whom he asked. after bis !"
ath, to carry his heart to Jerusalem. and 4
ere in the holy sepulchre. lay it TO its final :,
st. In due time, At the head Of his elan. I !.
commenced his journey. 1t was in the .,
ys when might gave right. and thieves :.
d robbers heset the road. The rumor of 4
: coming outspei him, and MANY oh -
'uctlons crossed his path. lie ,weDt a.,
rough them all, until finally he encoun- -,
ed great Saracen army drawn mn in p
al squares with interloeked shields IN y
y the progress of the impudent unbe- "
vera living wall between himself and 20
purpose. lie was weary. travel and
tile worn. But through that pagan bost fin
path of duty lay; and not for one 81,
'athing space did the warrior hesitate Va
marched up within n snear-s le,,,,L - -,