Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-02
l CHRIsTIANIzED SRAELITE.
How He Rejected the Greed OF HIS
Fathers,

How He Rejected the Creed OF his
Fathers.
New York SUM-
The Fleet Street Methodist Epis-
copal Church of Brooklyn, Rev. W.
G. Steele, pastor, yesterday adyer-
tised that converted Jew, Mr.. NJ.
L. Rossyalley, of New Orleans,
would there tell and sing the story
of his conversion to Christianity at
1880 last evening. At the time
announced a large congregation
was seated in the church. The
pastor and Mr.. Rossvalley sat on
the platform sofa and merrily
chatted. Mr.. Rossyalley is an un-
mistakable type Of the German
Jew. He bears striking resem-
blance to a shrewd speculator, and
is constantly on the alert. He was
a surgeon in New Orleans during
the war. He purposes to make his
home in New York.
After the usual prelimary church
exercises, the pastor introduced
Mr.. Rossvalley, and the latter said:
Ny Christian friends, if you could
see my heart tonight l think you
would find it full Of love for Jesus.
Five months ago l cursed him.
Yes, for more than forty-six years
| cursed Jesus Christ. My soul
almost shrinks within me when l
think of the past. went to Jesus
at last and am happy; and now |
intend to tell you how found him.
In last February l was invited to
sing in Methodist church in AL
bany. After the singing one of
the members asked that everybody
might pray for the conversion Of
that Israelite = meaning me. l
said to the gentleman, " You might
as well attempt to convert the
stones in the streets to your notions
of religion. | will not be taken
out Of the Jewish faith" The
gentleman visited me at the Dele
van House one cold night, and told
me what Jesus had done for him
how Jesus took him out of the gut
ter, gave him a good family and {
nice home. The man was so earnest
that | began to think and say
"There must be something in this.
| came to New York. l was look
ing for something, but | didn'
know what it was. Then | wen
to Philadelphia, to Baltimore, anC
at length to Washington. My minC
was uneasy. ] saw an announce
ment that the Rev. E. p. Ham
mond was holding a revival meet
ing. l attended, and when tn,
great reyivalist began to chargc
upon the Sabbath breakers / fel
, that he was looking directly at me
Tears filled my eyes, and | bowe(
! my head. / listened to the beau
: tiful song, "Jesus of Nazaretl
! passeth by," and then turned to go
but Mrs. Young, of Washington
God bless her soul, stopped me
and asked that she might pray witt
me. I was led away like lamb
, When she finished her prayer,
went out of the church. | wa
> downcast and miserable. Arount
, the corner was a rum-hole, and
/ hurried to it with the intention o
! drinking brandy; but when
8 reached the threshold somethin,
t stopped me, and passed on up tn
street. Invent to my room, and for tn
\ first time in my life addressed my
self to Jesus. Then went to bed
/, but could not sleep. l arose an,
e prayed again, and at half-past tw
r IN the morning | was walking tn
s streets of Washington. l ha
! found Jesus, and l was so happy
o At eight o'clock l was at Mr.. Ham
& mond's hotel. BE opened the doc
of his room at my knock, and whe
q said, "Mr. Hammond, | hay
Q found the Messiah" he took me b
; the back Of the neck, and we knel
and prayed. l attended all hi
f meetings and spoke in Calyar
e church one day. We went dow
n Pennsylvania avenue together, an
IS exhorted and sang on the stree
!. corners. The day following / Wa
IS out alone. | went into a Jew
a store and asked the proprietor
E. loan me a dry goods box. He gay
a me the box, and rolled it to I'll
a corner. Then mounted the bo,
If Previously l paid a small boo
n black five cents to stay and hes
is me sing. The boot-black was m
lie first congregation, and ! SAM
n "Jesus, Lover Of My Soul"
l. Mr.. Rossvalley related several il
lie cidents Of his, association with Nj
IS Hammond in revival meetings, an
ID told how one young man threw h
Sc hat in his face when he (Mr. Rossvo
le ley asked him to become a Ohristia
!, The young man shouted: "Wha
le he asking me to be a Christian
of That fellows a Jew Mr.. Ros
valley took pride in saying that ]
afterward converted the your
man, The speaker is an enthu'
at asst, and believes in working with
h rush.