ADAMIC
ADAR
Adatnic Constitution. See Covenant.
Adamites, 1, a sect of heretics in Northern Africa in the second and third centuries. They pretended to the primitive innocence which Adam had before the fall ; and, in imitation of his original condition, they appeared naked in their religious assemblies, which they called Paradises. The author of this abominable heresy was a certain Prodicus, a disciple of Carpocrates (August. Be Hares. 31). 2. A similar heresy, under the same name, appeared in Bohemia in the fifteenth century. (See Picard, Ceremonies Rellgieuses, fig. 215.) Their founder was a Frenchman, John Picard, after whom they were also called Picardists. From France they spread over a large portion of Germany, especial- ly over Bohemia and Moravia. Their chief seat was a fort on an island of the river Lusinicz, from whence they frequently set out for plundering and murdering. Fiska suppressed them in 1421. For a long time they seemed to be extinct, but in 1781, when Joseph II is- sued his patent of toleration, the Adamites came again forward and claimed toleration of their principles and meetings. But when they made known the character of both, the government speedily suppressed them. Also this time their extinction was only apparent, and in 1849, after the publication of the edict of toleration, they again showed themselves in public, especially in the district of Chrudim, Bohemia. In five villages they were very numerous, and in one, Stradau, they even succeeded in making many converts. All their members belong to the Czechic (Slavonian) national- ity, and are mostly mechanics or peasants. They deny the existence of a personal God, but assume a Supreme Power (Moc) which has created the world, which henceforth exists through itself. Every Adamite claims a spirit who cleanses him from sins. They re- ject sacraments and worship, but expect a saviour (Marokan) from whose appearance they hope the real- ization of their communistic ideas. Their meetings and the public confession of their principles have been again suppressed by the government, but they are known still to exist in secret. (See Beausobre, Sur /< -■ A d< unites en Boheme, in L'Enfant, Hist. Buss, i, 304 sq. ; Pertz, Script, rer. Austria!, sect, xiv.) — Mosheim, Ch. Hist. cent, ii, pt. ii, ch. v, § 18; Lardner, Works, viii, 425; Wetzer and Welte, xii, 11 sq.
Adamnanus. See Adamaxxus.
Adams, Eliphalet, an eminent Congregational minister, was born at Dedham, Mass., March 26, 1677, and graduated at Harvard College in 1694. After preaching in various places for ten years without set- tlement, he was ordained pastor of the church in New London, Conn., February, 1709, and died April, 1753. He was a man of learning, and was very much inter- ested in the Indians, whose language he had acquired. He published a number of occasional sermons. — Allen, Amer. Biog. ; Sprague, Annals, i, 234.
Adams, Hannah, was born at Medfield, near Bos- ton, in 1756. She learned Greek and Latin from stu- dents who lodged in her father's house. In 1784 she published a View nf all Religions, which went through several editions in America, and was reprinted in Eng- land. In her fourth edition she changed the title to Dictionary <<f /,; lighms. She also published a History of the Jews (Boston, 1812). Her History of X< w Eng- land appeared in 1799. She died at Broolilinc, Mass., Nov. 15, 1831.
Adams, Jasper, D.D., President of Charleston College, S. C, was born at Medway, Mass., Aug. 27, 179:1. graduated at Brown University in 1*15, and studied theology at Andoyer. In 1819 he was made professor of mathematics at Brown University, and was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the same year. In 1824 he became Presi- dent of Charleston College, but in 1826 he removed to the charge of Geneva College, in New York. In 182s he returned to Charleston, and managed the institution
till 1836, when he left it in a highly prosperous state. After preparing and publishing a system of Moral Philosophy (New York, 1838, 8vo), he was for two years chaplain at the West Point Academy, and tbtm re- moved to Pendleton, S. C, where he died, Oct. 25, 1841. Besides the " Moral Philosophy," he published a number of occasional sermons and addresses. — Sprague, Annals, v, 641.
Adams, John, was the only son of Hon. John Adams, of Nova Scotia, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1721. He was pastor at Newport, but dis- missed, 1730. He died at Cambridge in 1740. He was distinguished for his genius and piety, and is said to have been master of nine languages. A small vol- ume of his poems was published at Boston in 1745. — . Allen, Amer. Biog. ; Sprague, Annals, i, 350.
Adams, Samuel, M.D., a minister of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, was born in 1766, and practised medicine till mature years, holding iniidel opinions in regard to Christianity. After his conversion, in 1813, he entered the Ohio Conference in 1818 as a travelling minister, and devoted himself to the ministry fifteen years. He died at Beaver, Pa., March 6, 1832. — Mm* utes of Conferences, ii, 214.
Adams, Thomas, a pious and learned English di- vine, rector of St. Bennet's, London, was sequestered; for his loyalty, and died before the Restoration. Hei was a great favorite with Southey, who says that " he had all the oddity and felicity of Fuller's manner." His Works, chiefly sermons, were published in 1630 (fol. Lond.). His Exposition of St. Peter was reprint- ed in 1839 (imp. 8vo, London).