MYSTERY BOX.

Shannon News, 28 September 1923, Page 3

MYSTERY BOX.

JOANNA SOUTHCOrrs WRITINGS. Somewhere in Devonshire, in a spot known only to a chosen few, lies the famous box of Joanna Southcott, around which periodically during the past century all manner of tales' have been woven.

Joanna Southcott was a religious mystic; born at Gitt-isham, Devonshire, in 1750. She wrote rhyming prophecies, and declaring herself to be the woman spoken of in Revelation xiii. She died in 1814, leaving a large number of followers and the famous box, which was to be opened on January .12, 1915, “in the presence of twenty-four bishops or other appointed clergy.” The year 1915 came and went, and tlh'e box was never opened. Followers of Joanna Southcott are calling lor the opening of the box. The press secretary -of the movement has interviewed the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose- cnaplain, in tne course of an official reply, S ‘a-ys:— The Archbishop has recently urged that the box "be opened forthwith, and has done his very best to secure that- (this should be done. Those in charge, however, have declined to act unless conditions were made which would make the whole proceedings farcical. You are doubtless aware that there -are rival boxes in different.parts of England which claim to be the -authentic article.

The Archbishop requests that in (anything you publish in the matter with regard to hims-elf this letter he made public. The conditions which apparently prompted the use of the word “farcical” include the. following:— All prjesenti at the, opening must read the prophecies. The assembly is to last three days. A suitable house must be hired or lent for the occasion, and the box must be placed previously for three days 111 the mult or cellar of the house, which must be close to a field or a failed-in space. The first day must, be .devoted to a discussion between the bishops and a double jury of twenty-four believers.

The second day will witness a sign from the Lord of “great importance.” . The third day the sealed writings are to he. opened arid examined, and they may be -burned if the verdict of the" bishops is against them. If the followers of the century-de,ad Joanna Southcott -are really desirous 'of seeing the box opened they w< surely agree To- a modification of the conditions, as suggested by the Archbishop. Some of them in the meantime are making extraordinary statements. “Moscow’s fate will be Britain’s doom, unless the bishops open Joanna Southcott’s box,” says one. “If it is not opened, we .shall have disasters of physical phenomena in weather, earthquakes, wind -and lightning). and the sword of war, plague, and insurrection.”