THE ABODE OF LOVE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5208, 25 November 1927, Page 3

THE ABODE OF LOVE.

NO NEW “ MESSIAH.”

AGAPEMONITES DRIFTING AWAY.

According to a Daily Chronicle correspondent, since the death of John Hugh Smyth-Pigott, the self-styled “Messiah,” the sect of thei Agapemonites has steadily diminished in strength. At the “Abode of Love” at Spaxton, Somerset, money, which once was no object, is now tight ; the economy axe is bqing trenchantly wielded within those high, mysterious walls.

Those who remain accept the nominal leadership of the big Scotsman Douglas Hamilton, who brought Smyth-Pigott to Spaxton. But there is no new “Messiah,” and little likelihood of one being proclaimed in the near fuure. Village people note the diminishing strength of the Agapemdnites with some regret, for they have been kind to the poor, and have paid 'handsomely for services rendered. But nowadays the Agapemonites are employing practically no outside help, and are themselves doing most of the gardening and attending to poultry.

I. learned (the correspondent continues) that there are now only about 50 people connected with the Agapemone. The great majority of these arc elderly or old. women ; Douglas Hamilton has only five male companions. In the intervening months since the “Messiah’s” death three women—two of them between 70 and 80 years of age—h.avei passed away. They were buried in t,he village churchyard, Hamilton officiating at the graveiside.

This strange man, who was at Oxford with Smyth-Pigott, and who persuaded him to come to Spaxton as Brother Prince’s successor, changes little with the passing of the years. He is tall, clean-shaven, dressqs in ordinary tweeds, and has a. stately walk. When he meets the villagers he always has a pleasant word for them.

Hamilton officiates at the; two Sunday services and the mid-week services. His diminishing congregation feel his lack of magnetism and Are. They Sit women on one side of the aislej and the few .men on the other, with servants behind, and recall the stror. g personality and the dark, piercing eyes of Smyth-Pigott. “A different type of man altogether from Smyth-Pigott,” I was told. “They would never make him ‘Messiah.’ He is not serious enough ; he is much too human and will even joke with people.”

“Sister Ruth” is still here. So, too, is Smyth-Pigott’s lawful'widow, now 75 years of age. She was entirely omitted from the “Messiah’s” will,everything going to Ruth, his “spiritual wife.” Ruth wore semi-mourning for some time, but is once again dressing in the, 'height of fashion. She retains her youthful figure and her good looks. Occasionally Ruth and Mrs SmythPigott go for drives in one of th® fleet of four cars. Sometimes they are accompanied by Panion, known as Power, a cheerful youth df 20, and Lavqtia, known as Light, a handsome, tall girl of 17. The eldest of the three “spiritual” children, Glory, known outside as David, is still pursuing his medical studies in London. Both Panion and Lavetia are termed by villagers as “sporty.” Nothing please# Panion better than a day in the hunting field. Lavetia’s education is not yet completed, and she is receiving lessons from a woman member of the sect who is both a motor engineer and an architect. Some people think that Glory, a serious-minded youth, may be called upon to succeed his father when his medical studies are ended.