JOAN SOUTHCOTT’S BOX

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 November 1932, Page 3

JOAN SOUTHCOTT’S BOX

AGAIN IN PROMINENCE Joanna Southcott and her box art in the news again. Her followers have sent to the English bishops a petition with 10.000 signatures demanding that the box shall be opened. Another big petition is being prepared. The bishops have not replied.' They have never replied to any of the many missives they have received from the Southcottians.

Jeanna Southcott, who had something of a reputation as a prophetess, died in 1814, leaving behind the box and instructions that in the hour of her country’s need it should be opened in the presence of 24 bishops. In it would be found, she declared, the remedy for all Britain’s ills. A box which was declared to be the box was opened a few years ago with great ceremony, hut there were no bishops present. It was found to contain a pistol, a puzzle, a nightcap, a •diet- box, and a tew books which did not seem to bear on the situation. It is suggested that perhaps the idea was that the pistol should be used on unwanted politicians! Rut immediately afterwards the Southcottianii announced that what had been opened was not the box. The box, they said, was in the keeping of a woman, whose family had secreted it for years. They will not reveal the identity of the Woman, however. That is being kept as another little surprise for the bishop;-. All that is known is that the new box weighs 1561 b. and is bound with copper bands.