Rev. Christopher Russo Article - Italian Presbyterians - 1897


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Posted by Larie Tedesco on 28 NOV 2008 9:56:57

The Daily Picayune Presbyterians
Yesterday evening a very interesting ceremony was held in the new Italian Presbyterian church on Clio and Howard Streets. The leading Presbyterian ministers of the city were present and took part in the ceremonies, which were held in honor of the first of the new church. church was started by Rev. Mr. Russo, and Italian minister, but the house itself is the gift of the brotherhood of Dr. Palmer's church. The edifice is a pretty one, situated near the corner of Howard and Clio streets. It has just been completed and is well furnished with scats and an organ and each other church furniture as is necessary. erection for some time past, but was not finished until a few weeks ago. Mr. Russo invited all Presbyterians to come to the opening exercises, by not a great many of them were there yesterday. Drs. Palmer Mallard, Steele, Forman and several others and deacons of the various churches of the city were present, but few members. Mr. Russo read the opening passage from the 27th Psalm. The singing, as well as the address of Mr. Russo, was in Italian. Mr. Russo, in the course of his remarks, which lasted half an hour or so, told at some length of his conversion, how he went forth to d all the good he could for his people, the Italian element, in the city, and how he had succeeded already in establishing the church in the city. He spoke of the twelve years work he had done in New Orleans since his conversion, and hoped that he would live to do a great deal more. He spoke of the membership of the First Italian church, how that forty-four good and faithful workers had now been gathered late that organization and that it focus for the spreading throughout the city of the good cause of religion. He said that the Italians were taking favorable to protestantism and would, he believed, before many years, be gathered to that church in large numbers.
Romanism, the religion in which Mr. Russo had been born and raised, came in for a few rubs by the speaker, and following his remarks were short addresses by Dr. Palmer, Dr. Mallard and a closing prayer by Dr. Steele. The remarks of Dr. Palmer were a few brief words of advice to the members of the new church, telling of the struggles they would encounter in their journey towards success, but that their watchword should be prayer and faith. There was singing by the choir, and after a short prayer by Mr. Steele, the ceremonies were concluded.


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