Lightning Protection Quotes
As historian Andrew Dickson White observed, “As late as 1770 religious scruples regarding lightning-rods were still felt, the theory being that, as thunder and lightning were tokens of the Divine displeasure, it was impiety to prevent their doing their full work.” Years after most civil buildings were protected by Franklin’s lightening rods, thousands of Christian churches were still destroyed by lightening and pious bell-ringers killed in their towers by lightening strikes to the bell towers.
Note his reference to God. At the time, there were many who refused to protect their homes with this scientific device as it was God’s will to send the lightening. Before that when lightening set a house afire most fire brigades would but out the fire if it spread to adjacent homes, but would not save the house the God had selected for destruction. See {612836} .
