Palisadian., 1923-03-02
Italian Mission
Dedicated Sun. Last
After Many Trials

OH sunday, FeDruary 70, was cele-
brated an event in Cliffside, unparal-
leled in it's way on Hilltop Section,
when, as the elimination of years of
work and earnest, but at
times, almost despairing hopes, the
coihmodious convenient building of
the Italian Congregational Mission in
Cliffside standing completed, trium-
phant over all difficulties, held its ded-
ication services with mingling of
various nationalities and an enthusi-
astic rallying of old friends and for
mer workers.
This mission is quoted everywhere
as among the churches of several
states, as unique and ideal in it's in
ception, beginning literally under the
wing of the American Grantwood
Congregational Church, with meetings
held in summer in the alley in its
rear, and in the church itself in cold
weather and evenings. Encountering
much Encouragement, little group
of American members, and an Italian
minister sang, prayed and gave simple
talks to those Italians who would lis
ten-Sunday after Sunday-when
once the work got under way after the
Deacons' Board had, month after
month, discussed the question of our
Italian brethren's respect and future
salvation and our responsibility, and
the pastor made survey of condi-
tions.
For several years the Italian chill
dren attended Sunday school with
the Americans; services were held
Sunday afternoons and classes for
children and adults, evenings. Then
the growing parish was moved to
Cliffside, among the larger population
there and for several years, Reverend
S. c. Gozzo, who has always been
it's pastor, has continued it in made:
quate little tenement rooms and
every day the present missionary
worker has had all kinds of classes
and even a Bible vocation school.
amidst almost insuperable difficulties.
This tenement changed owners last
summer and the mission had a few
months to find a new home. Then it
was felt that the time had come for a
permanent place and a real church,
and the claims of the successful work
induced the Congregational Church
Building Society to supply funds for
such, as the land had been purchased
some years ago, and the little congre-
af -
pledged to- repay $500 year on the
loan of half the amount.
Plans were made by our local young
architect, Robert Cadien, Jr., and the
building progressed SO wonderfully
that the congregation met in its base
ment early in December, and finally it
was ready for dedication through the
additional labors of its pastor (who
has lived in his overalls for weeks,
scrubbing and varnishing) and of Mr..
and Mrs. Leeger, who have gone down
there for days of hard work, so that
ing, clean, artistically decorated audi
torium. with stained glass windows,
orderly pews and a pleasantly furnish
ed study and entrance.
1t was truly a crowd! Grantwood
members of the mother church min
CLING with Cliffside Mission members,
who warmly welcomed them, and the
church was filled to overflowing.
The service began with congrega-
tional singing and the professional of
the vested choir of tiny girls under
the care of the missionary worker,
Miss Vivien Donaldson, and the serv-
ice continued in English and Italian,
with Mr.. Gozzo in charge.
Rev. Cause, Rev. F. J. Panetta of
New York and representative from
the Congregational Church Building
Society participated, and Rev. Dr..
Agide Pirazzini, head of the New York
Biblical Seminary Italian department,
preached the sermon in Italian.
Special musical features were a
quartet by "our Russian brothers" and
harp and violin duet by the Misses
Donaldson. Mr.. Sears of the Italian
use of the building, which is larger
than it's parent church, and of the
Russian services held there Sundays.
Mr.. Leeger told briefly the story of
the building, which he had taken over
to finish when the first contractor, one
to finish it for the specified $4,000.
The extra debt of $4,000 was incurred
in its completion, but at that it repre-
sents labor of love and gifts, and
it's most conservative value is placed
at $4,000 or more
Between the afternoon and evening
services every one inspected the
building, with its apartment for the
pastors family, and the basement,
with it's kitchen, shower bath, etc.
In this room a long serving table,
prettily decorated in pink and lighted
with pink candles, held sandwiches
and cakes, and a special spaghetti
dish, made by an Italian chef, and
coffee and cocoa appealed to the ma
tionalities, who sat down as one big
family, served by the efficient COM
mittee, Mrs. Leeger, assisted by Mrs.
Sears and Mrs. Yaeger, with Helen
Leeger and Ruth and Ethel Sears as
mattresses.
The evening service was in charge
of Mr.. Abbatti, the celebrated sculp-
tor, who is also a minister. The pas
tors desire for a community church
was certainly realized in this inaugu-
raj service, in which the Russian min
lister, the Russian quartet, the Italian
and the English ministers partici-