The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-12-01
RoLLA FLoYD or SYRIA.
THE w. NJ. OF ROYAL SOLOMON MOTHER LODGE,
+. AND A. NJ, OF AMERICA.


THE W. NJ. OF ROYAL SOLOMON MOTHER LODGE,
+. AND A. M, OF AMERICA
Damascus Correspondence Of ne Americaa Tfassiler.
Then he'll do it, y exclaimed the man to
whom l had said that we had engaged Rolla
Floyd to accompany us from Damascus to
Jaffa. You have been fortunate in securing
that mysterious man. His name is worth q
hundred rifles against any tribe in Syria"
Floyd was one of colony of Americans
who left the pine forests of Maine, in the
United States, some ten or dozen years ago,
to settle in the Holy Land, to be there ready
to greet the blessed Redeemer at His second
coming But dssensions, bitter and irrecon-
cilable, arose among thom in Jaffa ; they were
looked upon with hate and suspicion by Jews,
Arabs and Mohammedans their crops were
stolen as fast as they ripened, and many of
the men falling out with work took to drink.
They lost their lands, bordering the plains of
Sharon, near Jaffa by a fine point of Turkish
law, and through the combined effects of
death, i'll luck, and Righteousness, the men,
bers became mad, drunk, and reckless, and of
all that devoted praying band, every member
of which, when leaving America was justly
famed for purity. piety, faith, and virtue,
there only remains in Palestine, so far as
could ascertain, Rolla Floyd and his worthy
and amiable wife.
These two unwavering Christians remained
true to Christ and true to themselves. Mrs.
Floyd made friends among the natives by her
needle, her medicines, and her patient tender
ness with all who were afflicted, while Mr..
Floyd started the pioneer express of Syria by
carrying the letters and packages between
Jaffa and Jerusalem, on week days, and
preaching the Word of God, without money
and without price, on Sunday.
His fine athletic form and his wonderful
strength, coupled with his invariable kindness
of heart and mildness of temper soon created
marked sensation among the natives for
when finding them in personal quarrel and
rolling in the dust like fierce mastiffs, he fire.
quently rushed into the crowd and, grasping
the two combatants by the napes of their
necks-one in each--slowly walked down to
the sandy shores of the Mediterranean, and
soused them into the briny surf until promis-
es of peace and reconciliation had been given.
Frequent attempts were made to rob his ex-
press Of valuable packages, but he always
managed to capture one or both Of the BAN
dts, and, compelling them to listen to an i'm
pressive sermon on honesty, he always let
them off on receiving promises of reformation.
BY this kindness in not turning his prisoners
over to Turkish vengeance and his entire
fearessness he in time became as great an
idol among the desperate thieves and out
throats as he was among the most upright.
With memory that seems to be without
limit, he shortly became entire master of the
Arabic, SO that he speaks it with an accurate
flnency, acquired by but few not born on the
desert. In his familiarity with the Bible he
surpasses all men have ever seen, quoting
from memory almost any verse that may be
called for between Genesis and Revelations.
1t is asserted by those who have known him
intimately for years that they have never seen
him display anger, surprise, or boisterous
mirth. Travelling as a missionary throughout
the entire length and breadth of Palestine,
and becoming familiar with every lake, hill,
valley, cave, stream, and mountain mentioned
in the Bible, he is to-day unquestionably the
best informed in biblical history and topo-
graphy of any man living. The American
Government has twice offered him Consul
ship but his reply has been, shall make
less money, but perform more labor among
the poor children of God by remaining in the
field"
Once every month he regularly makes his
appearance in Jerusalem, and takes his seat
in the East as the w. M. of the Royal Solo
mon Mother Lodge, f. A. NJ, which position
he has long held by the unanimous votes of
all the members.