The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-22
WILLING TO HELP OUT DIAz.
REVOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY BY
SAVANNAH BAPTIsTs.

The Government Urged to Protect
the Cuban Missionary and the
Southern Baptist Home Mission
Board Called on to Provide for His
Wants While in Confinement and
Means for His Defense-Rev. DIR.
Goodwin Differs in His View of the
Case and the state of Affairs i'm
Cuba.
Strong resolutions OF sympathy with
Rev. A J. Diaz, the Baptist missionary,
whose imprisonment by the Cuban officials
on the charge Of completely in the insur-
rection. were adopted at a meeting Of the
Baptists at the Duffy Street church last
night.
There was only a small attendance. but
the earnestness OF those present made up
for any lack Of numbers. Nearly every
one present expressed strong sympathy
with Mr. Diaz
Rev. S. A. Goodwin, pastor of the First
Baptist church, was the only speaker who
did not express entire sympathy with
the resolutions. The tenor of DR.. Good
wins remarks was in opposition to such
action. He said that hasty action would
do no good. Mr.. Diaz's case, he believed,
should be placed in the hands of the Secre-
AdIg OF DkdLG ana II the missionary were
not guilty he had no doubt that his re-
lease would be effected.
Mr.. Diaz's position in Cuba, Dr. Good
win said, Is as the missionary OF the South
ern Baptists. and If he had taken part in
the Instruction in any way he would have
to suffer for IL. DR.. Goodwin spoke dis
said that they are not conducting war
fare. but are merely organized bands Of
bandits.
The tone of the meeting was entirely in
OnDnEfrtOn To the n0Ciffnp q lxpn nv ~
Goodwin. Rev. Mr.. Shipman, pastor Of
the Duffy Street church, and other speak
ers expressed the belief that the charges
against Mr.. Diaz was trumped up by his
enemies, the opposition to his work in
Cuba having been very great, that he was
IN danger of his life and might be secretly
disposed Of at any moment, and that un-
less the United States government at once
manifeSts its intention to protect him and
secure for him a fair trial there would be
little hope of his ever leaving prison alive
The speakers We're severe in their re-
marks on Ramon O. Williams, eX-consul of
the United States, speaking of him as an
agent of the Spanish government: If Cen
Lee, who has been appointed to the consul
late, were already on the grounds, they
said, they would have no fears for Mr.
Diaz, and on this account they urged that
1t was necessary for Mr.. Diaz' S safety that
the state department should at once extend
him its protection as citizen of this coun-
try.
The resolutions as offered by Mr.. Ship
man and adopted by the meeting without
dissent, are as follows.
We have learned with deep regret that
Rev. A. j. Diaz, a missionary of the home
mission board of the Southern Baptist
convention, in the Island of Cuba, is un-
der arrest upon the charge of completely
In the Instruction and also that as d
prisoner his life is in constant peril from
many causes, and since he has proven
himself a faithful missionary of the cross
and an earnest supporter of the faith as
Baptists hold 1t, be it resolved,
l. That we, the Baptists of the city of
savannah hereby express our earnest
sympathy with him in his trials and suf-
ferings.
2. That we, heartily concurring in what
has already been done, petition the home
mission board to use every available
means for the bringing about at an early
date as possible a fair trial and in the
meantime whatever may be necessary for
our missionary's present needs be amply
provided for.
3. That whatever expense may be neces-
sary in this emergency, we, the Baptists
Of savannah, VIII gladly bear our proper
tomato share.
The resolutions will be forwarded by
Mr.. Shipman to DIR. 1. T. Tichenor, secre-
tary of the home mission board of the
Southern Baptist convention, at Atlanta
Two young Spaniards residing in Savan-
nah occupied seats in the rear of the
church and were interested listeners to the
proceedings.