Among the Italians in Chicago, Ill.
By Ole Andres Olsen
In January, 1912, Brother Rosario Calderone came to Chicago from New York, and began work among the Italians. He has been alone in his efforts, and as would be expected, has met many difficulties and much opposition. His plan of labor has been to hold meetings in two places,—at our church on West Erie Street and in the Swedish Mission hall on Oak Street,—both of which were favorable to the Italian communities. In connection with the meetings the greater part of the effort was put forth in personal work from house to house. At times street meetings have also been held with good results. The Italians are, with few exceptions, Catholics, and considerable illiteracy exists among them. This makes the labor for them the more difficult; but notwithstanding the difficulties, there will also from the Italians be gathered a people to be numbered among the saved. During the time Brother Calderone has been laboring in Chicago, eighteen or more have begun the observance of the Sabbath. A Sabbath-school has been organized, and regular Sabbath meetings have been in progress for nearly a year. Sabbath, September 20, was a good day, and marked an interesting advance move in the work among these people here in Chicago. On this day, after careful preparation, eight dear souls, five brethren and three sisters, were buried with their Lord in baptism. All had been reared Catholics, but have now heartily accepted the present truth. I never met a more happy and hearty company of candidates than these. Two were baptized some time ago, but have left Chicago, one going to New York, the other to Italy; both are faithful to the truth. After the baptism we proceeded to organize an Italian church, composed of ten members—these eight baptized, and Brother and Sister Calderone. Several others have already requested baptism, but we have felt that they are in need of still more instruction that they may the more intelligently enter the holy covenant and be established in the whole truth. There was a goodly number of Italians present, who listened with profound15interest to the instruction and questioning of the candidates. The prospect is that soon others will unite with these who have covenanted to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Brother Calderone was ordained elder of the church. A clerk and a treasurer were also elected. Brother Calderone informs the writer that at present there are about thirty families, Italians, that are studying the truth. There is a great urgency for a lady Bible worker to devote her entire time to visiting and working among the families. We are earnestly praying that the Lord will give us such a helper. We shall be glad when the time comes for a church to be organized among the Poles, Hungarians, Bohemians, Slovaks, Roumanians, and others. May the Lord hasten the day. Another forward step has been the starting of a small sixteen-page quarterly paper in Italian. The Italian Sabbath-schools have no lessons, and there was an urgent call for such lessons. So this little paper provides them, as well as some matter helpful to interest our Italian people. We trust this effort may prove helpful to the work, and a blessing to our Italian believers.