South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-06
MYSTERIOUS BOXES
ROUSE CURIOSITY
Sealed by Woman PrOpheSy-
ing the Second Coming OF
Christ" 2 Century Ago.

International News Service:
LONDON, Sept. Certain sec
tions of the population are much ex-
cited over the century-old sealed
prophecies Of Joanna Southcott, re-
lating TO the second coming of
Christ" The box containing these
prophecies has never been opened
since il was closed over a hundred
years ago.
To quiet credUlous persons. some
Of the English clergy are consider
ing carrying out the ceremonies
prescribed for the opening Of the
box and so getting the matter out
OF the way
The box or boxes according 70
some versions there are pa are not
20 be opened. members of the Jo-
anna Southcott sect say. until they
are sent for by the bishops sud
denly and unaware, in time of ma
tional danger.
Twenty -four bishops or their
chaplaius. or other appointed clergy,
are required TO be present when the
box Of sealed writings is opened
Joanna Southcott. farmers
daughter. born i'm Devonshire IN
1850. became convinced i'm 1892 that
she had supernatural powers and
that the spirit Of truth had visited
her
She began To write and dictate
prophecies i'm rhyme She declared
herself the woman spoken OF in
Revelations MI:
and there appeared a great won
der i'm heaVen--a woman clothed
with the sun, and the moon under
her feet. and upon her head crown
Of twelve stars. And she
brought forth man child. who was
TO rule all the nations with rod Of
iron, and her child was caught up
unto God and 10 His throne"
Joanna appeared in London and
began 20 gain disciples She sealed
$4,000 elect at charges varying be
tween $3.50 and 1925 each.
Makes Prophecy.
When she was more than 60 years
old she announced that she would
give birth 10 the Shiloh OF the
/ prophecy on oct. 10. 1914. OF course
/ the delivery did not take place. II
I was announced she was i'm a trance
and she died of brain fever 10 days
/ later Great precautions were nee
essary TO prevent a riot at her
/ funeral
According To the best accounts
! she left box containing a snuff
| box. roll of prophecies and gor-
/ geous robe for the Messianic babe
! Shiloh. whose expected birth did not
| occur This box was to he opened
| on Jan. u, 1915, but nothing was
J heard of il on that date
Now believers" have requested
| Bishop Boyd Carpenter. canon OF
| Westminster and formerly bishop OF
! Ripon. To gather the necessary
/ bishops or clergy round him so that
/ the claims Of the prophecies may he
| tried. The bishop. in an interview
said he did not know where the boN
/ is
II have met some of these good
people" he said, and have asked
| them where il is, and they have re-
1 piled, 1t shall be produced at the
| time. / think the box should h-
! opened in order To allay excited in
| terest i'm the matter
! Box still i'm Existence.
/ one of the boxes is in the posses
, sion of Miss Alice Seymour, wh'
I lives i'm DevOnshire The other i.
owned by Mrs. Kenyon. ST.. 20 whom
it came from her grandfather. Rich
ard Hill Norris, of Birmingham. n,
was believer of the Joanna South
/ colt sect.
1T came to me as the eldest O
the family" said Mrs. Kenyon. blu
what is in the box do not know
nor whether there is anything in i
at AN.
The conditions under which
hold il are that it shall not he open
ed except at the request OF the bish
ops or the government.
"I am quite prepared 10 go on
waiting another hundred years unit
the conditions with regard 10 tn
opening are fulfilled"
J. r Cutley of Bedford place
Bootle. states that his wife has
Joanna Southcott box which she re
ceived some years ago with an elder
~ lady i'm Liverpool, since dead, an,
which was only 20 be opened undo
! exceptional circumstances.
There were, she thinks % boXe
made at the time of the deposit O