p. 16 | New York City by L. Zecchetto

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1907

New York City

By L. Zecchetto

Since last November, when our little Italian church of eleven members was organized, five others have been added to the church, and quite a number are now keeping the Sabbath, and are getting ready to unite with the little company.

One evening two months ago, while I was giving Bible readings to two young men, the pastor of the church to which they belonged walked in, and told me that he wanted to know the company they were in, and asked if he would be allowed to participate in the meeting. I answered that nothing would give me more pleasure than having him join us. After a season of prayer, I asked what subject they desired to study. The minister answered, “Let us have the Sabbath, by all means, for if you are right, I want to know it; and if you are wrong, I desire these young men to know it.” So, with the help of God, I endeavored to present the Sabbath question in the best way I could. At the close, I asked him if he had any questions to ask. He answered, with tears in his eyes, that he had none; that the only thing left for him to do was, with the help of God, to keep God’s Sabbath day, and he desired to have two studies every week thereafter. After several studies, he confessed that we were right, and said it was his desire to join us. I hope that every reader of this article will especially remember this brother in prayer.

Our hall meetings are much improved since Brother Calderone, an ex-Catholic priest, is helping me in holding open-air meetings outside the hall, one-half hour before the regular meeting begins.

The greatest enemies we have to contend with in New York are the Italian Protestant ministers and missionaries, who have combined their forces to close up our work. They have gone so far as to employ the police authorities to stop us, but I am glad to say that their efforts were without result.

We feel greatly blessed in being able to start an Italian sixteen-page paper published monthly, bearing the third angel’s message. We feel confident that this paper will be a great light-bearer. If all who read this will subscribe for the paper and put it in the hands of some Italian, they will be doing a good work for the advancement of the cause among this people. Order through the Review and Herald Office, 32 Union Square East, New York City, or send to the writer, 590 Fifth Ave., New York City.

Another encouraging feature in God’s work here among the Italians is that Brother C. Giraldi, an ex-minister in the Methodist denomination, has just completed the translation of the book “Bible Readings for the Home Circle,” in the Italian language. I trust that this book will be a great help to the Italian people.

I hope that every reader will remember in his prayers the Italian work in this great metropolis, where there are so many thousands who have never heard the message.

L. ZECCHETTO.