In her youth, Joanna Southcott of Devonshire, England, was a domestic servant. Later, she became a mystic and dictated prophecies (in rhyme). She fully expected to be the mother of the "true Messiah." But no Messiah came, even though 100,000 people believed in Prophetess Southcott in her heyday. In 1814 she died, leaving an eleven-pound box with instructions that it should not be opened except in time of national stress and in the presence of 24 bishops. During the last century, certain Britishers have been reported as going into trances over this box. However, it was never opened, chiefly because of the difficulty of assembling 24 bishops.
Recently the box came into the possession of the Psychical Research Society, a rather playful group of scientists including Sir Oliver Lodge. Respectful, they used no crowbar or ax. Resourceful, they peeked last week into the box with the aid of an Xray. Amused, they saw only the outlines of a horse pistol, dice box, skull, scissors, bead bag, pins, coins, rings, and what is believed to be the roll of a manuscript.
One week hence, the box of Prophetess Southcott will be publicly opened by the Psychical Research Society in Albert Hall, one of the largest auditoriums in London. Whether it will be an occasion of national stress and whether 24 bishops will be present, was not announced. Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle has declined an invitation to attend the ceremonies.