THE "ABODE OF LOVE"

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 5 March 1909, Page 6

THE "ABODE OF LOVE"

PIGOTT FOUND GUILTY.

"BLASPHEMY AND IM-

MORALITY."

LONDON, Jan. 22. The Rev. J. H. Smytb-Pigott was on Wednesday, at Wells, found guilty by .the Consistory Court, of immoral acts, conduct and habits. Mr Chadwyck Healey, K.C., the chancellor "of the diocese'of _ Bath and Wells, in 'announcing this decision, said it would ■be reported to the. Bishop, who would in due course pass sentence.. Hints were thrown out during the hearing both by the chancellor and Mr Beveiiey R. Vachell, counsel representing the Bishop, that they could not say what action might "be taken in other Courts. These proceedings against SmythPigott were of special interest. The Court assembled in the old Consistory Court, a place little more than an alcove in the wall of the cathedral, on entering by the west door. The defendant having Ibeen called three times, and there being no response, the Court proceeded to the Chapter House. -,' The procession was headed by the public, prominent among them being Mr Stokes Read, of the Agapemone. On resuming, substituted service of the "complaint" was proved, and Mir .Vachell opened the case for the Bishop. He said the object of th© proceedings was to obtain f.roni th© chancellor a declaration that John Hugh SmythPigott was incapable of holding preferment in the Church of England. It .would be shown that he was a cleirk in Holy Orders, and though he had been residing in the diocese of Bath and Wells, he held no preferment in it. He declaired that since 1902 Smyth-Pigott had been the successor of that notorious character, Hemry James Prince, who died in 1889, who was known as "Brother Prince." It was said that under that succession he was the head of a community of men and women at Spaxton, and there, under the guise of a so-called religion, they led a life of blasphemy, fraud, and immorality. Before giving the life story of Pigott, Mr Vachell mentioned that Mrs SmythPigott was living at Spaxton, and was apparently content, to be there, as a letter had been received from lier that day. He thought Pigott got in touch with "Brother Prince" or his followers in Dublin. He went to Clapton in 1887. There he built the "Ark of the Covenant," which counsel described as the recruiting ground where many deluded women were obtained as adherents for Spaxton. "In September, 1903, J^dgott proclaimed himself to be the ' Son.' That resulted in! a great number of brickbats being thrown at him, >a.nd something in the nature of riots. He shortly after .withdrew from Clapton, and was installed at the head of the Agapemone at Spaxton. "When conducting services at the Ark, a lady's madd, Ruth Annie Pireece, became infatuated with him, and accompanied him.to the Agapemone as his ' spiritual wife ' —whatever that may be," added counsel. On June 23, 1905, Ruth Annie Preece gave birth at the Aerapemone to a child, of which Sni^th-Pigott declared himself to be the father. The Bishop was anxious that steps should be taken to cleanse that cesspool of blasphemy and immorality in his diocese. The case was carefully elaborated by the ptrosecution. Signatures of Pigott, dating back 23 years, were proved. His marriage with Miss Catherine Reynolds was also testified to by that lady's brother and sister, and evidence was taken that she was residing a-t Spaxton. Then came the evidence of the two registrars, who recorded the birth of "Glory" and "Power."

Mir White, of Bridgewater, told the Court how, when he was sent for to place on record the birth of 'Glory," he found Ruth reclining on a ©ouch, attired in beautiful white satin, with Smyth-Pigott beside her. The latter offered a blessing when the. registration was terminated, and sang a joyful hymn.

Mr liook, who registered the birth of '"'Power,1' and happened to know Mrs Siuyth-Pigott by sight, was able to .say that she was not' the- person who signed the register as the mother of "Power," the second child born in the -''Abode of Love."

Mr Farnocon.be, a Oroydon. journalist, gave evidence' of an ilitervievr with the defendant at the Agapemone. In reply to the journalist's inquiry as to his views on maairiage, Pigott said : "There is no such thing as marriage hero. We are all brct-heavs and .sisters in the spirit." They were all lifted abovA the ordinary accepted code of morality. Immediately on Mr Farncombe leaving the witness stand, Mr Stokes Rend, of the Agapemone, rose, and asked, as there was no one present to defend Mr Pigott, if he might, say a word.

"I can't possibly hear you. There

is no .appearance entered," ruled the chancellor. The chancellor held that Smyth-Pigott was the same man who was ordained in 1882, that his marrage wais proved, and that his wife was still living, and was not the same person as Ruth Aniniie Preece, and that the children] born in 1905 and 1908 were the chiidareni of the defendant and Preeoe. Smyth-Pigott was condemned m the costs of the cause.