Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 109
promised immortality. tnQF WISDOM C God says that He will show a new Sign which will contain a glorious victory. It will be a Sign for the whole world, and ca=: it will be by God's own hands and from the ~eaven. Let In 1902, Reverend Smyth-Pigott claimed to be the Messiah- J esus incarnate-"God, not 0 everyone wait for it because God shall show it very soon, so that He may make it evident that this humble person who is being abused by all nations is from Him. Blessed are > those who may derive benefit from it. man. " When the news reached Hadhrat Ahmad as he noted this man 's deceitful claims and said that similar false claimants had emerged at the time of the Messenger of Allahsaw , but were quickly annihilated. He predicted that the same would be the case of Reverend Smyth-Pigott. A revelation, ;;;. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) Qadian Kay Arya Aur Hum, p. 2 His claim is that he is the "true Messiah who was to come in the last ages" and that God has showered him with Grace. He first came to the attention of the United States in 1903 on account of controversy with Elijah III. Since the death of Dowie, the Indian prophet's reputation has soared, for did he not tell of the death of Dowie, that it should take place within his (the Messiah's) lifetime, should take place "with great sorrow and torment"? Another person who attracted Hadhrat Ahmad's as attention was one ReverendJohn Hugh Smyth-Pigott who lived in Britain. As a matter of fact, he had "inherited the messiahship" in 1899 by succeeding Henr y James Prince (1811-99) - a doctor and an Anglican clergyman who had claimed to be the immortal Holy Ghost in the flesh. Revere nd Prince was the founding father of the Agapemonite sect within Christianity. He had man y beautiful and wealthy women admirers who supported him in the 1840s to establish his scandalous community, the Abode of Love [Agapemone] on a piece of 200 acres of land at Spraxton, in Somerset. He could per s uade his followers to give up all or part of their earthly possessions in order to be 'saved'. The Agapemone became wealthy enough to build an extravagant temple, the Ark of the Covenant, at Clapton in London. ReverendJ. H. Smyth-Pigott was a handsome and charming man who, like his predecessor, Reverend H. J. Prince, loved the company of young and beautiful women. He had more than 3000 followers who lived very well, enjoying good food and drink, and playing billiards in the company of attractive yo ung ladies. All of his followers were Annallaha shadeedul 'iqaab (Allah is severe in punishing. ') Al-Badar, February 20, 1903 was made public, prophecised to be applicable to Smyth-Pigott. On August 23, 1903, Hadhrat Ahmad as issued another notice expressing his heartfelt pain that even in this age false claimants were emerging among the followers of Jesus Christ. He blamed the Christian dogma of the Divinity of Jesus for this abhorrent situation. Dowie had claimed to be Elijah in America , and Smyth-Pigott had become Jesus, the God in London. Hadhrat Ahmad as said that the difference between the two was that Dowie did not dare to call himself Jesus , but Smyth-Pigott was unashamedly bold enough to announce his Godhead. Soon after, the prophec y concerning him started to unfold, bringing him to manifest disgrace. Smyth-Pigott was married to a lady named Catherine, who was consecrated as the 'Bride of the Lamb'. There were dozens of the most beautiful women residing in the Abode of Love, and Smyth-Pigott would choose seven 'spiritual brides' each week. In 1904, to the surprise of the predominantly female Community, he chose an outside beauty named Ruth to be his 'Bride of the Lamb ' or his 'Chief Soul Bride'. Soon after, the 'spiritual' nature of their relationship was exposed to be no more than sexual intimacy as Ruth became pregnant-three times-giving birth to 'Glory',