The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-29
Rolia Floyd of Syria

Then he'll do l." exclaimed the
man to whom | had said that We had
engaged RoIla Floyd to accompany
US from Damascus to Jatfs. You
have been fortunate in securing that
mysterious man. His name is worth
a hundred rifles against any tribe in
Syria"
Floyd was one of a colony of
Americans who left the pine forests
of Maine, in the United States, some
ten or a dozen years ago TO settle in
the Holy Land, to there he ready to
greet the blessed Redeemer at His
second coming. Blu; dissentions, Bit
ter and irreconcilAble, arose among
them in Jaffs; they were looked upon
with hate and suspicion by Jews,
Arabs, and Mohamedsns; 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 . fine point of Turk
ish law, and through the combined
effects of death, i'll luck and licen-
tiousness, the members 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 ascer-
tain, Rolla Floyd and bis 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 tenderness,
with all who were afflicted, while Mr..
Floyd started the pioneer express Of
Syria by carrying letters and packa-
ges between Jaffs and Jerusalem on
week days, and preaching the Word
of God, without money aud without
price, on Sunday.
His fine athletic form and his Won
derful strength, coupled With bis in
variable Kindness of heart and mild
ness of temper, soon created a mark
ed sensation among the natives; for
when finding them in personal quar-
rel and rolling in the dust like fierce
mastiffs, be frequently rushed into
the crowd and, graspiDg the two
combatants by the nspes of their
necks-one in each hand, slowly
walk them down to the sandy shores
of the Mediterranean, and souse them
into the briny surf until promises Of
peace and reconciliation had been
given. Frequent attempts were made
to rob bis express of valuable pack
ages, but he always managed to cap
ture one or both of the bandits, and,
compelling them to listen to an i'm
pressive sermon on honesty, be al
WAYS let them off on receiving prem
Uses of reformation. BY this kindness
in not turning his prisoners over to
Turkish vengeance, and his entire
fearlessness, he in time became as
great an idol among the desperate
thieves and cut threats as he was
arong the most upright.
With q memory that seems to be
without limit, he shortly became en-
tire master of the Arabic, so that be
speaks it with an accurate fuency,
acquired by but few not born on the
desert. in his familiarity with the
Bible he surpasses all men l have
ever seen, quoting from memory al
most any verse that may be called
for between Genesis AID Revelations.
1t is asserted by those who have
known him for years, that they have
never seer him display anger or bois-
ferrous m;rth. Travelling as q mis-
sionary throughout the entire length
and breadth of Palestine, and becom-
ing familiar with every lake, bill,
valley, cave, stream aud mountain
mentioned in the Bible, be is to-day
unquestionably the best informed in
biblical history and topography of
any man living. The American Gov
eminent has twice offered him a Con-
sulship; but his reply has been, Il
shall make less money, but perform
more labor among the poor children
of God by remaining in the field"
Once every month be regularly
makes his appearance in Jerusalem,
and takes bis seat in the East as the
W. NJ. of Royal Solomon Mother
Lodge, F. A. NJ, which position be
has long held by the unanimous votes
Of all the members.
llwavs ~petting th;nre doun O., 81