New Britain herald., 1922-02-18
ITALIAN MISSION
 MAY LEAVE CHURCH
Lack ol Interest May Force Action
 by Parent Congregation

Unless more interest is shown in church matters within the coming month than has been in the past, 1t ID likely that the Italian Mission, now holding religious, services under the auspices Of the South Congregational church, will be dropped from the pa tronaSe Of that church,
 This mission has been in existence for some years, but, although the Italian Sunday school i'll the same church is very active and prosper ols, the mission has failed to grow as it was expected It is said the ay- craze attendance at the morning re- lieous services is about 20 people.
 Eostcrsl by South Church.
 The mission has been financed by the Connecticut Home Missionary so- ciety, a Congregational organization with headquarters in Hartford, and large part of its finances came d. rectly from the South church. In ad- dition to the financial help, the South church also furnished q meeting place, including heat, light and jani- tor service. It was conducted with the help of the City Mission, of which Miss Caroline F. Bartlett Is the head.
 Sunday School May Follow.
 Miss Bartlett has charge of the Italian Supnday school, which is not part of the Italian Mission, but is part of the South church organiza- ton. The children who attend this school arc mostly sons and daughters of people interested in the Italian Mission, and 1t is felt that should there be any breaking away between the church and the mission there is a possi biity of the Italian Sunday school following.
 May Work Independently.
 Rev. Michael Maietta, the Italian minister, could not be reached this morning to verify the facts, but it is understood from good authority that he has plan to take up the work in- dependently in case it is dropped by the South church.
 While the mission, as 1t stands now, being a distinctly Congregational or ganization, could not without permis- sion from the Connecticut Home Mis- Aonary society. legally remove its place of meeting, it has been advised by Miss Bartlett, it is said, that in the event of obtaining such permission 1t would be Wecomle to hold services Ill the Burritt Mission on Cherry street, from which neigh borhood most of the members come.
 May Continue.
 Tn an interview with Rev. Sherrod Soule of Hartford this morning, the latter, who is head of the Connecticut Home Missionary society. said: we shall continue with the Sunday school and if it shows q response in the way of attendance and interest, we shall continue with the Mission, otherwise the work shall be done by visitation and through the Sunday school.
 When asked what the attitude of the society was in the event the Italian people should form an 1nde- pendent congregation and hold meet ings in the Burritt mission chapel Mir, Soule said: "In that event they will not be under our auspices.
 City Mission Would Help.
 II the Mission fails to show the en- thuSiaSm that IS felL necesSdIy' IL To likely the City Mission will help in the personal visitation work among the people, it being more in the line of that organizations scope. Preach ing services in the South church Sum day mornings would be discontinued.
 May Be New Denomination.
 When asked if this meant that Rev. Michael c. Maietta would be dropped from the payroll. Mir. Soule appeared to feel that such might De the case. He stated that three monhs, period would be allowed Rev Mir. Maietta to work out the new plan of visitation and Sunday school work, in an experimental way, and 1T that failed, the minister would be gwen "plentv of time to make an adjust ment." He said he understood that 1T the plan proved failure in three months, that Rev. MT. Maietta intend- ed to take up the work independently, but did not know whether this meant the actual founding of new denoml- nation in the city or not. when asked recently as to what denomlna- ton the Italian Mission was, Rev. MT. Maietta replied that it was undenom- national. but strictly Protestant.