Evening journal., 1911-03-29
TO DEDICATE
ITALIAN MISSION
Distinguished Church Work.
erS to Take Part in Sab
bath Exercises Here
SPLENDID MISSION HOME
PROVIDED BY WEST CHURC


II is likely that next Sunday will be
a day long remembered by the people
Of West Presbyterian Church, as
marking the elimination Of over Ave
years OF successful mission work
among the Italians Of the city. in the
dedication Of the first church building
for the people of Italy In Wilmington.
In the autumn of 1906, West Church,
at the suggestion Of the pastor. the
Rev. Alexander Alison, Jr., and with
the cooperation of the Presbyterian
Board of Sunday School Work, en-
listed the services of an Italian coli
porteur to make house-to-house
canvass OF the Italian colony, dis
tributing Bibles and literature, and
ascertaining the sentiment among the
foreigners with reference to the OPEN
ing OF mission. The response was
so hearty that Immediately a work
was inaugurated. settled mission
ary soon become a necessity. The Rev.
Cyrillo Barana was secured and
speedily gathered a congregation. At
ter year OF pioneering Mr.. Barana
was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas
De Pamphlets, who has labored ever
since with conspicuous success. The
work has been carried on In rented
quarters at Seventh and Scott streets.
but for many months the congrega-
tion and Sunday school have been
greatly handicapped for lack OF room
and adequate facilities for proper con-
duct OF the work. For over a year
the work Of gathering money Tor
/ d.
Late In the autumn Il was felt that
sufficient money was I'm hand to be-
gin the work OF construction. A
splendid lot on Dupont street below
Seventh was accordingly secured and
the building OF a chapel started A
few weeks ago the matter OF raising
the amount necessary TO complete the
chapel, as also the remaining indebt-
edness on West Church's other mis-
sion property az Second and West
I streets. was taken up and the desired
sum speedily obtained. Thus the
, new chapel costing over $4,000, will
! be dedicated next Sunday afternoon
4 free OF debt
: The Italian congregation numbers
almost one hundred with a Sunda,
school OF close TO one hundred an'
e fifty. Archibald NJ Main. a rulinl
: elder of West Church, Is the superin
,. tendent Of the Italian Sunday schoo
= and he is supported by faithful
: corps OF teachers.
g Well Appointed Building.
The chapel building is a simple bu
8 attractive brick structure OF two
g stories. The main floor Is on the
e level OF dupont street, while the base
1 ment is below the street level, but by
reason of the steep westward slope OF
, the ground is still entirely above the
ground. The main floor is divided
into three rooms by rolling partitions,
all OF which apartments are easily
thrown into one large auditorium cap
able Of seating between $50 and 300
people The basement Is divided into
two rooms. This arrangement Is
meant to adapt itself to the require
ments Of moderately graded Sunday
school such as the present needs Of
the work among foreigners suggest.
In the belfry upon the roof OF the
building hangs the bell which swung
! aloft on the old Monroe Street Chapel,
at Eighth and Monroe. and called 10
! worship the first congregation Of West
Church before It built its present
/, house Of worship az Eighth and Wash
! ington streets. That was AZ years ago.
and its peals next Sunday afternoon
, will start anew many a sentiment that
has slumbered for years
The interior is attractive and
u cheerful The walls and ceiling are
tinted a buif color, and the shapely
windows are of prism glass. The
seating Is with maple portable chairs.
I, The pulpit furniture is OF light golden
oak and is the gift of the Macedonia
Circle OF Kings Daughters 10 the
memory Of the Rev. William II. Logan.
The pulpit Bible is the gift Of Miss
. Nellie Green Logan, daughter Of the
minister In whose honor the pulpit
furniture is given. A handsome new
4 piano and caen stone baptismal
i font complete the furnishings. The
, pulpit is covered with brussels carpet
5 and the aisles with mating runners.
Italian Mission Chapel.
u The dedicatory exercises will take
Y place next Sunday afternoon at $3.50
u o'clock. Music by the Italian Chorus
of men and the children Of the Sun
! day school, as well as solos by both
Italians and Americans, and hymns
sung simultaneously in both English
{. and Italian, will be features Of the
y program. Brief addresses by local
y speakers will be followed by addresses
I from prominent Italian orators from
! : New York. The Rev DR.. Aide Piraz-
: zini, director Of the Italian department
Of the White Bible School Of New
York, and the Rev. Dr. Arturio Dl
Z Pietro. editor of the Evangelical Ital-
!. lana Heraldo, both we'll known men
: among Italians, will be present. The
: Rev. DR.. Alexander Henry, secretary
a of the Presbyterian Board of Publi-
= cation and Sabbath School Work and
/, superintendent of the ten thousand
- Presbyterian Sunday schools In the
, United States, and the Rev. Joel S
Gilfllan. ID. ID. OF Ne6arK, presbyter-
ial evangelist Of the New Castle Pres
bytery, will be I'm attendance.
Dr.. Henry will spend the day In
Wilmington and visit West Church
at the morning worship.