JOANNA SOUTHCOTT'S BOX

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21829, 16 December 1932, Page 18

JOANNA SOUTHCOTT'S BOX

AGAIN IN PROMINENCE. I Joanna Southentt and her box are 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 Southcotians. Joanna 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 bn 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, but there were no bishops present It was found to contain a pistol, a puzzle, a nightcap, a dice box, and a few books which did not seem to bear on the situation. It is suggested that perhaps the idea was that the pistol should he used on unwanted politicians! But immediately afterwards, the Soutlicottiaus 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 bishops. All that is known is that the new box weighs 1501 b and is bound with copper bands.