The church alluded to was St. George's church, Leicester, a new edifice, which was completely destroyed on the 1st of August, 1846, by a thunder-storm. The steeple was rent asunder, and massive stones were hurled to a distance of thirty feet. The vane rod and top part of the spire fell down perpendicularly and carried with it all the floors of the tower. A similar disaster occurred to St. Bride's church, Fleet-street, London, about 100 years ago. The lightning first struck upon the metal vane of the steeple, and then ran down the rod and attacked the iron cramps, smashing the large stones that lay between them. The church was nearly destroyed. By the same wonderful force, ships have been disabled, trees split asunder, houses thrown down, and animals struck dead. 596. _Why is it dangerous to stand near a tree during an electric storm?_ Because the tree is a _better conductor than air_, and electricity would probably strike the tree, and then pass to the person standing near. 597. _If trees are good conductors, why do they not convey the electricity to the ground?_ Trees are only _indifferent conductors_, and the electricity would quit the tree to pass through any _better conductor_. 598. _Why is it dangerous to sit near a fire during an electric storm?_ Because the chimney, being _a tall object_, and smoke a _good conductor_, would probably attract the electricity, and convey it to the body of a person sitting near the fire. 599. _Why is it dangerous to be near water during an electric storm?_ Because water is a _good conductor_, and the vapour arising from it might attract the electricity. Man, _being elevated over the water_, might form the first point attacked by the electricity. 600. _Are iron houses dangerous during an electric storm?_ No; they are _very safe_, because their entire surface is a good conductor, and would convey the electricity harmlessly to the earth. [Verse: "To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice."--PSALM LXVIII.] 601. _Why does electricity seize upon bell wires and iron fastenings?_ Because copper wires are the _very best_ conductors of electricity; and iron articles are also good conductors. 602. _Supposing electricity to attack a bell wire, where would the point of danger exist?_ At the _extremities of the wire_, where the conducting power of the wire would cease, and the electricity would seek to find _another conductor_. 603. _Are umbrellas, with steel frames, dangerous in an electric storm?_ They are dangerous _in some degree_, because they might convey electricity to the hand, and then transfer it to the body. But, generally speaking, when it rains, the rain itself, _being a good conductor_, relieves the disturbance of electricity by conveying it to the ground. 604. _Are iron bedsteads dangerous in electric storms?_