THE AGAPEMONITES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1749, 13 September 1905, Page 53

THE AGAPEMONITES.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE “ABODE OF LOVE.”

LONDON, September 5. Dr Kennion, Bishop of Bath and Wells, states that, though advised not to notice the notorious proceedings of the Agapemonites he will inquire if there has been any new departure or anything that will give proper cause for interference, and if so, he will not fail to take advantage of the opportunity.

The Agapemonites and the “Abode of Love” have attracted considerable attention in England during the last three year®. It was exactly three years ago—Sunday, September 7th, 1902 —that ’arnyth Piggott, at the chapel of the “Abode of Love,” Clapton, London, announced himself a® tho successor of Henry James Prince, the founder of the Agapemonites, that he was the Messiah, and that the ark of the covenant was at Clapton. Several ladies in the congregation testified that Mr Piggott’s claim was correct. On the Monday Mr Piggott met with a hostile demonstration from , 200 unbelievers and on the following Sunday, September 14th, the roars of a crowd of 3000 people, who called him blasphemer, so frightened him that he left Clapton, greatly to the dismay of his followers. The sect, if so it may be called, was founded by Prince, formerly a clergymar of the Church of England, in 1845, near Bridgwater, and immediately attained a local notoriety, which in 1860 was widely extended by the trial of an action brought against him on behalf of former disciples named Nottige for a disgorgement of money he had obtained from them. Previously what had been known of the doings in the “Abode of Love” had been by rumour only, but the revelations made at the trial were sufficient to show that immorality of a gross description was practised. Most of the prophet's disciples were women, whom he selected.in a manner in which it would be difficult to say whether the ludicrous or the horrible more prevailed. He instructed his dupes that the Judgment had arrived, that the day of prayer and supplication was over, self-humiliation and self-denial had lost their virtues, and nothing remained but the necessity for pure enjoyment. Three weeks ago a cablegram from London stated that the Registrar at Bridgwater was summoned to the “Abode of Love,” Spaxton. to register the birth of a baby of Mr Smyth Piggott, the leader of the Agapemonites. The Registrar saw in the chapel forty worshippers. Mr Reed (Mr Piggott’s secretary), Mr Piggott and the Registrar were the only, men present. A beautiful young woman lay on a couch, on which was a babe dressed in white. Mr Piggott admitted that he was the father of the child, and that the mother was Ruth Greece, described as a ladv. thongh next in reply to a question she was described as a nurse. The child was then christened, and a splendid choral service followed. Mother and child received lowly homage and glory, and the child was considered to he the “New Messiah.” Mr Piggott’s legal wife was present, or in the vicinity of the chapel. Ruth Greece was deluded into believing herself to be Mr Piggott’s divinely appointed spiritual bride, and as such was received by the Agapemonites.