stundist

‖n. [ Russ. shtundist, prob. fr. G. stunde hour; -- from their meetings for Bible reading. ] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a large sect of Russian dissenters founded, about 1860, in the village of Osnova, near Odessa, by a peasant, Onishchenko, who had apparently been influenced by a German sect settled near there. They zealously practice Bible reading and reject priestly dominion and all external rites of worship. -- Stun"dism n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]