AGAPEMONITES (Ἀγάπη-μονή: "Dwelling of Love"). - English Protestants, followers of H. J. Prince.

Prince (1811-99) went from being a physician to becoming a pastor and preacher. An attempt of his to pass himself off as the Holy Spirit (May 1843) had as its consequence that the Anglican bishops forbade him to preach. In 1849, together with Starky, he set about announcing the imminent end of the world and inculcating the community of goods. He had a certain number of followers. The movement was centered around a common house (Agapemone) which did not have a good reputation because of the irregularities committed there.

In 1890 the sect received a notable influx of energies from a group of adherents of the Salvation Army. Among these was Smyth-Pigott, who was Prince's successor in the leadership of the Agapemonite movement, and in considering himself a divine person (Jesus Christ). At the beginning of the 20th century the community had dwindled to the point of comprising only a few people.

Bibliography

BIBL.: E. J. Dukes, s.v. in Hastings, Enc. of Relig. and Ethics, I, Edinburgh 1908, p. 175 ff.

Angelo Audino

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Agapemonites (Ἀγάπη-μονή: "Dwelling of Love")

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