"LET THE WALLS OF JERICHO FALL."

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2498, 14 July 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

"LET THE WALLS OF JERICHO FALL."

The London correspondent of the N. Z. Times writes :—An extraordinary incident occurred in connection witli the Salvation Army last night at Kingsbridge, near Plymouth. It appears that a circus was visiting that town, and had pitched the tent on a piece of waste ground. The tent was crowded with spectators, and a real good time was being enjoyed. The Salvation Army, with a big, blatant band, pitched their meeting just alongside the circus tent. They prayed that all the poor sinners within that wicked circus tent might be converted that very night. They prayed hard for the poor unconverted clowns who might see the error of their ways and join the Army. Then, to give greater effect to their supplications, they marched round that circus tent blowing their trumpets and singing. "Lit the walls of Jericho fall at the trumpet's sounding blast." The circus proprietor did not relish this opposition, for the noise they made interfered witli his performance. So ho hit upon a novel revenge. He had a couple of big elephants, quite tame, so lie turned them out with their keepers amongst the Army. The sagacious animals swung a clear roadway with their trunks, and the Army scattered like chaff before tho wind, singing as they departed," Let the walls of Jericho fall," &c. Now comes the very strange part of the story. Scarcely had the two elephants returned to the tent when a sudden storm arose and nearly blew the tent down. It split the main mast or support and damaged other parts so much that the top of the tent was hanging so low that it touched the performers' heads. Then another gust of wind shook the fabric to such an extent that a panic arose and the people fled in all directions, and tho performance that night was a failure. What was more remarkable is that previously to the sudden storm of wind the night was beautifully fine with no sign of a change. The Army say that the storm was a direct answer to their prayers,'' Let the walls of Jericho fall," &c. But the circus man says if they pray so strong as that they are evidently liable for all the damage to his tent.