The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-25
A GREAT TOBACCO BOX.
Ia Little G;G of an English Oversees
Grows Into ~ Massive Chest.

The greatest tobacco box in the world,
and tho strongest As well, Is the property
Of "A society known M that Of "Thc Past
Ovcr-ccr, of 81. Margaret and 81. John,
Westminster. 1t is simply a getting
together of those who have held the Office
of OVcrsecr OF the parish for the purpose
of eating an annual dinner, which they
have regularly done for now nearly 200
wears. incidentally they have become
also c|ustodians Of the Westminster To-
baccO Box. The story goes that in the
year I513 one Of the ovcrseers who had
benin the habit Of bringing tothe tavern
dinners his own private tobacco box and
putting it at the service of his friends,
presumably with a better brand than the
common one in it, presented to the com
pauy "a tobacco box for its own use when
hc should have got beyond the need Of
dinners. The society accepted the box.
and placed upon it a silver rim ana a
plate upon which were engraved the
name and the good deeds Of the donor.
The next overscer put upon the box
another plate with his name and official
achievements upon it. Ills successor did
the same. and so grew up the custom
that the box should Toe delivered 10 the
care of each new overseer. who, upon
retiring. should add to it aplate engraved
with ms name and some suitable inscrip-
ton. Before long the box became quite
oycriaid with silver plates, and then 1t
was fitted into a large box, and the new
plates were pat upon that. This IN turn
was inclo7od in a still larger box when 1t
had been covered with decorations. and
this operation was repeated until now the
original little box has grown into a nest
of half a dozen or more boxes. the outer
one being q massive silver covered. hex
agonal chest. which was made from "a
beam that was once in Westminster ABB
bcy. Silver plates of all sizes and shapes
and decorated with all manner of figures,
pictures and inscriptions cover all The
boxes. In most cases the notable event
of the year has been recorded 10y picture
or words upon the plate OF the oversccr
for that year, and the box has thus be-
come a condensed chronicle Of the his
tory of the past century in England.
At each annual dinner the box j. with
"a regular ceremonial handed over to tine
new oyerscer by the senior church war
den. and the oycr,eer Is commanded 20
take due care of the article. to produce 1t
ut All parochial entertainments L. which
he shall bee invited ca have the right to
attend. and To always keep IN it tobacco
enough 10 furnish at least three pipes.
under penalty Of forielting SIX bottles If
Irlaret. Besides this he has to furnish a
bond in 81. 900 as security FOR the care Of
the box. one of the peculiar regulations
Of tine dinner. introduced in 1925. IS that
10 must be served at D o'clock by the
striking of a certain church clock, or the
landlord forfcits two bottles of wine. and
If he fails to produce his bill promptly at
$50 o'clock he loses another bottle.
Once i'm 1893 an overseer named Read
had a claim against the parish and he re-
fused TO give mp the box and threatened
To destroy it unless the claim was paid.
\ suit i'm chauccrv was begun. and Lord
| Chancellor Loughborouch dccrccd that
the box must be- turned over 10 the 500
ciety and that the Ovcrseer must also pay
the costs of the suit, whercat the society
had a special dinner and rejoiccd greatly,
and entered upon its books the record
that the solicitor who conducted tine suit
for the society should be made an honor
airy member. '.that he may often have
am opportunity of contemplating the box
and ITS recovery. In l,Sj thieves
robbed the dinner table of all the silver.
but luckily the box had been taken care
of by the oyer-ecr before they came
New York Sun.