JOANNA'S BOX MYSTERY

Shannon News, 22 March 1927, Page 3

JOANNA'S BOX MYSTERY

SEALS MAY BE BROKEN. SHILOH'S MOTHER. Joanna Southcott's famous box of prophecies may be opened very shortly. The story of this box is one of tho most remarkable in the history of religious beliefs, and there are sti'.l thousands who are firmly convinced that it contains secrets which will bo of inestimable value to the nation. - The famous prophetess left instructions that the box was to remain closed "until the nations is in dire straits.' There was talk of opening it during the Great War, and ever since in the event of any trouble falling on Britain ? the 50.000 believers in the efficacy of what the box contains have urged that the country should be saved by concerted action of the four-and-twenty bishops who must demand the box before anything can be done.

Joanna sealed the famous box originally at Plumptree, in Devon, and left it in the care of the Vicar of Swinford, who believed in her divine inspiration. The -vicar left it in charge of his son, and at the present time it is in the custody of a Church of England clergyman, who has kept it hidden for the past thirty years. Turned Out.

Joanna's excursion into the realms of prophecy was due, originally, to disappointment in a love affair, after which she claimed "divine, inspiration," a claim which her father disputed to the extent of turning her out. of his house. After various wanderings she went to Exeter, where she was spiritually informed that she was to "be the ', mother of "Shiloh, the second incarnation of Christ." The Methodists of the district, to which sect she belonged, by their hostility drove her to Plumptreo, where a married sister gave her houseroom.

It was while living with her sister that she began her written prophecies and, as- the sister was of the same opinion as her father and the Exeter Methodists, Joanna had to seal her writings in a' box to save them f ro'n being burned. It was not-by her will that the famous box went into hiding, but her followers have deemed this the safest way of preserving the marvellous contents of the casket unharmed. Th'= box itself-weighs about lh hundredweight .and is roped, nailed, locked and sealed ,the lock having a koy which Joanna, used to carry in a silk bag which hung round her neck. The Millennium. Actually there is not one box, -but and management of brood sows are important factors in this imthe outermost one measuring about three feet in length by about a foot and a-ha!f in breadth and depth. This outer case is so heavily nailed that it will have to be broken when th° great day of opening comes, to get at the inner case. Round its edges aro the seven faded, red seals which were affixed by Jonna's followers when it was closed.

According to Joanna herself, tb |! opening of the box is to signalise the beginning of the millenium. It is because of this that the followers of the lady are anxiously waiting fo>the bishops to make a move, and give the nation a chance.