The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-08-09

FEsTIvAL.-The ladies ofthe M. E. Church,
Bel Air, had everything in readiness, on
Tuesday evening, for the entertainment of IL
large crowd at their festival in the Court
House, but a thunder storm defeated their
intentions, by lettering people from turning
out On Wednesday evening, however, the
public made amends for their absence the pre-
vious night, by crowding the court room to its
greatest capacity. Ice cream, &c, disappear
ed rapidly, but the supply appeared to be in
eXhaustabe. To add to the pleasure of the
occasion, Mrs, Charles E. Phelps, of Balli-
more, kindly sang, in most exquisite style,
several songs, including "The Murmuring
Sea" and "The Echo Song" The latter,
alone, was n rare and delightful treat.
The festival was continued on Thursday
night
CoNvocATroN.-The Baltimore Convoca-
ton of the Protestant Episcopal Church met
at Spesutia Church, on Wednesday, There
were present of the clergy, Rev, DR.. Rich, the
Dean ofconvocation; Rev. Mr.. Van Antwerp,
of Baltimore; Rev, Mr.. Murphy, Rev. Henry
Swentzell, of Chambersburg, Pa; Rev. Mr..
Christian, rector of the church; Rev. Mr.. Col
burn, of Churchyilc and Rev. Dr. Martin of
llavre de Grace, The opening sermon was
preached in the morning by Rev DR.. Martin,
and the Holy Communion was administered.
In the afternoon, after evening prayer was
said, general discussion took place upon the
subject: "What are the relations of the people
to the parish to the clergy and to the
State" The convocation was continued
Air, being announced to preach on that day.
LIGHTNING RODS AND INsURANCE-This
summer five barns in Hartford county were
struck by lightning, set on fire and en-.
trely destroyed. None of them, we are
informed, Were protected by lightning rods
AS many more, which We're thus protected
received the electric discharge on the points
of the rods, and although the points in some
cases were fused and destroyed, the buildings
escaped injury. All the burnt barns were
insured in the mutual companies of Hartford
anu 1Olk COuHIlCS, anu Vic lUSS W Jnc lntI
bers which has cnsued, we believe would have
been avoided if the buildings had been rod
ded
Insurance companies, as a general thing
do not make any marked difference in rates
of premiums in respect to buildings being
rodded or not but experience this summe
and in previous summers, would seem t
show that some difference ought to be made
Barns filled with newly cut lmy are more liza
BILE to receive an electric discharge than an,
other kind of buildings. This is due to Til,
fact that there ascends from the hay II stead.
column of moist and heated air, which fur
nishes one of the best possible conductors TO
the electric fluid in its passage from the cloud
to the earth Where a good lightning rod i
attached to the building the lightning, at
tracted at first by the moist mir, seeks the roC
as pathway to the ground. II the barn i
not thus protected, the charge alights on TIN
highest point of the building, and the barr
being filled with gas from the fresh and heat
ed hay, is immediately wrapped in flames.
1t would be wise, we think, for the mem
bers of our county Insurance Company t.
amend the by.laws, so as to require an extr
amount of premium upon barns not protect
ed with lightning rods.