A MYSTERIOUS BOX

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 16

A MYSTERIOUS BOX

LEFT •BY JOANNA SOUTBCOn\

Human-nature loves a story o? a box. From generation to generation rational people, have put their faith in the box of Joanna Sputhcott. Now we hear (says the;,"Daily. Telegraph") that: somebody in Hammersmith, has. opened it. ;; This spems to':,be;an:advance on' all previous narratives, 'for -hitherto the -.precise. situation of-the box and the name and nddress -of^anybody .who lias seen it have been hiddenfrom us.:: .ThcHradition is ■that;'when Joanna; died "in 1814 "she left behind lief a box■■' which, as 'she said, contained divinely-inspired writings,: destined to help '•"'England in a time of danger, and which was only to be open-: ed in.the preserice'of 24. bishops; Further stories state thai the box is now in the West of England 'guarded-by four 1 faithful disciples of; Miss'Southcqtt, and -tfiat: I.herß-ha'ssbeen''iuV attempt" JDot'whbl-'" ly -.successful to ■-.- muster the prescribed number of bishops:for,the ope..ing ceremony.: The gentleman at Hammersmith.^ says that.his box, black and coffin-shap-: ed—whifihis a good touch—contained a ringlet;. :6p grey liair, a:Bible of 1702.; ;andj a_document signed "Joanna Southedtt;." 1805;"' jtheV'dper'atiye cla-use of this,,:';VEones of unknown?crea--' tui-es,vas^mariy 'as; there are bishops,; ■Bhall^e; dug out- of" the earth, and moii? st^rs;of a^lost:world shall live, and/men Bh'all/be-made to wonder.";.

Joanna Southcott was a Devonshire girl, born in" 1750. She had a good many wooers, but "remained single/ Until she.was turnod .40 she worked as" shop girl, arid: servant,': with a blameless character. :.She was rather more" than' normally given: to religious observances.: Besides attending every - service at Exeter Cathedral, she was regular at 'Methodist "meetings ..till. she surprised' one of .them by- a confused statement -''■ that Providence had sent.her to Exeter. The meeting was not inclined to'agree Witli' her. ".- She went;; away,: had ten days' with./"',the ,-powers of darkness," and began to _write prophecies in queer rhyme and^: queerer Uprose;' : Her sister" tow her >he r was !.losing - her wits; but people-who,were not relations were more tespectful. ■;■ In ten! years "she had gathered many disciples^from all over England, and issued to them sealed papers, which, were to -ehsura; their salvation. Whether . she charged -for these documents, and how -much' she■/charged '■' is disputed. ,V The only difficult effort of faith required: of., her .followers was to believe in her.' ',The theology which she taught was - otherwise.; orthodox.' But in. 1913, being;'then a^woman of; more than-,6o,?she: announced 1 -that she was about to 'give birth to a second Cfcist/ She shut herself up, her disciples ordered a crib to;cbst,£2oo, and spent £100 onpap-spooris. At, the end of .1814 she . died ofdropsy.;.; : .. j . , ;