Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-12-04
ROLLA FLOYD OF SYRIA.
The w. M. of Royal solomon
Mother Lodge, #. and A. M
of America.

Damascus Cor. american Trareller.
"Then he'll do it." 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 hundred rifles
against any tribe in Syria"
Floyd was one of colony of
Americans who left the pine for
ests of Maine, i'm the United States,
some ten or dozen years ago to
settle in the Holly Land, to there
be ready to greet the blessed Re-
deemer at His second coming.
But desensions, bitter and irrecon-
cilable, arose among them they
| were looked upon with hate and
suspicion by Jews, Arabs,and Mo-
hammedans 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 Turkish law, and through the
combined effects of death, ill luck
and RIGHTEOUSNESS, the members
became mad, drunk and reckless,
and Of all the devoted praying
band. every member of which,
when leaving America, was justly
famed for purity. piety. faith and
virtue, there only remains in Pal
estine, so far as | could ascertain,
Rolla Floyd and his worthy and
amible wife.
These two unwavaring Chris
tians remained true to Christ, and
true to themselves. Mrs. Floyd
made friends among the natives
by her needle, her machines, and
her patient tenderness with all
who was afflicted, while Mr.. Floyd
started the pioneer express Of
Syria by carrying letters and
packages between Jaffa and Jeru-
salem on week days, and preach
ing the Word of God, without
money and without price, on Sum-
days.
His fine athletic form and his
wonderful strength, coupled with
his invariable Kindness of heart
and mildness of temper, soon crea-
ted marked sensation au.Ong the
natives; for when finding them in
personal quarrel and rolling in the
dust like fierce mastiffs, he fire.
quently rushed in the crowd, and
grasping the two combatants by
the napes of their necks-one in
each hand-slowly walked down
to the sandy shores of the Medi-
| terranean, and soused them into
the briny surf until promises of
peace and reconciliation had been
given. Frequent attempts wer
made to rob his express Of valua-
BILE packages, but he would always
manage to capture one or both of
the bandits, and, compelling them
to listen to an impressive sermon
on honesty, he always let them off
on receiving promises of reforma-
ton. By this kindness in not
turning his prisoners over to Turk
ish vengeance ana his entire fear
lessness, he in time became as
great an idol among the desperate
thieves and cut-throats as he was
among the most upright.
With memory that seems to
be without limit, he shortly be-
came entire master of the Arabic,
so that he speaks it with an accu-
rate fluency, acquired by but few
not born on the desert. In his ia
maliarity with the Bible he sur
passes all men l have ever seen,
quoting from memory almost any
verse that may be called for be-
tween Genesis and Revelations. 1t
is asserted by those who have
known him intimately for
years they have never seen
him display anger, surprise or
boisterous mirth. Travelling as q
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 topography ofany man living.
The American Government has
twice offered him a Censulship
but his reply has been, II shall
make less money, but perform
more labor among the poor child
rem 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 Royal Solomon
Mother Lodge, f. A. NJ, which
position he has long held by the
unanimous votes of all the MEM
Ders.