The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-07
new MESSIAH
COMING HERE
Piggott, Pastor Of Strange Sect,
Makes BIasph0mOus Claim.
A LONDON MOB ATTACKS HIM
Has a Following Of 5000, Which Worship
In $500,000 Church Former Sailor
keesSss $40, 900 a Year.
A LONDON MOB ATTACKS HIM

head OF the peculiar sect In Clopton
known as the Agapemonites. or Dwell
ers in the Abode of Love-" who recently
proclaimed himself the New Messiah" Is
expected soon to visit America in an ef-
fort to spread his doctrines.
He has been absent several days from
his luxurious home, near the 100000
church In which his followers worship.
and there Is a rumor that he has already
sailed for New York incognito.
This is not considered probable. how
ever and II is believed that he Will re-
appear In Clopton after spending brief
period In retirement.
Piggott and his associates are adding
steadily TO the boldness OF their claims
| A clergyman named Brown recently chal-
lenged the Messiah" 10 a public debate
| Piggott's secretary. Douglas Hamilton, re-
| piled that communications addressed 10
| Piggott by name would be disregarded,
| and that II outsiders wished TO reach the
| Messiah they must accord him that IL
| tie and approach him In an attitude OF
| supplication.
| Hamilton added that he was not the
secretary of Piggott but the beloved
! disciple OF the Messiah.
| RAISED STORM OF PROTEST.
A storm of protest has been aroused
by the claims and performances OF the
new Messiah" His visitors since Sep
tember IL. when he issued his proclama-
| tion, have numbered sometimes as many
| as $4,000 In day.
Most OF these persons visited him out
Of curiosity and came away denouncing
| him as a blasphemer. Several times no
has been mobbed and large numbers OF
policemen have been required TO protect
him from the fury OF the crowds.
- l. at hay In o
about 5000. are loyal TO him. however,
and accept with implicit faith his state
ment that he is the Son of God
| The church was founded about ten
| years ago at Spaxton. England. by man
known as Brother Prince. who said he
was a second John the Baptist, the fore
| runner OF a new Messiah" He founded
convent. known as the Abode Of Love. y
| to which many women hocked. The
| church does not approve OF marriage, and
when a married couple become members
they pledge themselves TO regard eaci
other as brother and sister
Piggott and HIS wife took this vow
when they Joined the sect. but they con
tinue to live together.
ALL READY TO GO TO HEAVEN.
Piggott became the leader upon tn
death of Brother Prince. four years ago
| One OF his first remarkable acts was e
assemble his followers and tell them tina
| they were all TO go to heaven with hin
] on a certain day At the appointed tim
| they met in field near Spaxton an
waited to be translated from the earth Z
l heaven. Some OF them renounced tn
4 | faith, but the failure only temporary
| retarded the growth Of the sect
PIGGoTT's UNIQUE CHURCH.
Again Piggott promised to take his peo
| ple 10 heaven. this time on August p
ID 1901 second disappointment did no
q | shake their faith and shortly afterwar
they erected the beautiful church facin
Clopton common. In the northeastern par
, | OF London where the sect now worship
o The exterior OF the church Is uniqu'
= The spire is decorated with four enor
: | nous figures representing the strane
- | beasts described In the Apocalyps
!, | These were executed bv A. @. Wake
! | the famous SCULPTOR. The interior OF IN
s | church is magnificent, with mosaic floor
v richly carved woodwork and mostly deco
rations.
- P,ppott's coming visit TO America w
- not he his first He lived many years c
,s the Pacific coast. He was born In En'
> land about so wears ago. and was ed,
In Gated for the clergy at Cambridge J
abandoned the career chosen for him 4
" his parents and emierated TO Californi
v where ne lived dissoIute NE accordir
= 10 his own story. Later he became
IS, sailor.
IL. BEcAME AN AGAPEMoNTTE.
r.
IN He returned to his native country
TO | 1890. took holy orders and became c
at rate of the Church Of England In Lo
IS don parish Next he Joined the Salvati
IN Army and was made q major. only TO d
wv sert in a short time to the Agapemonites
ali The new Messiah is tall and OF au
We tere appearance. lie wears clerical ga
with a Roman collar. lie drives In
1T brougham and lives In luxury on
,st $50. 900 year which he receives from
as followers.
ed "
YtasO aBOulIAlruTc