They were started by Montanus in Phrygia around 137 A.D. He had 2 female assistants named Prisca and Maximilla. Their ecstatic outbreaks was also referred to among Christians as the New Prophecy Movement. Eusebius described it this way--- "And he [Montanus] became beside himself, and being suddenly in a sort of frenzy and ecstasy, he raved, and began to babble and utter strange things, prophesying in a manner contrary to the constant custom of the Church handed down by tradition from the beginning."
Montanism eventually was declared heresy and divided Christianity. It finally faded away in the 500's. Bishop of Rome (Pope) Victor I was somewhat sympathetic at first to the movement. They ordained female Bishops & Elders. They also believed that prophets could forgive sins. They also used a book called the Testament of Job which was a mystical re-writing of the Biblical book of Job.
So the heresy of the modern charismatic movement is nothing new...
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11
