The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-08
REV. DR.. DlAZ PENITENT.
May BE Reappointed if Petition Is
Received From, Other Mission

aries.
Several weeks ago the Morning News
published an account of the severance
of the relations of Rev. A. ]. Diaz
of Havana. with the Southern Baptist
Convention, and also the comments
upon this action of the convention, and
upon the minister himself, which were
made by prominent Savannahians who
are acquainted with Rev. Mr.. Diaz
and his acts in Havana which brought
about his dismissal from the mission
airy work of the Baptist Church in
which he was engaged in the Cuban
Capitol.
Since that time a special committee
OF the Home Mission Board of the
Baptist Church has made report to
that body, which, with other matters
pertaining to Rev. Mr.. Diaz has been
furnished by Rev. DR.. F. c. Neon
nell, corresponding secretary of the
Home Missions Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention as follows:
The Special Committee of the Home
Mission Board has returned from Cuba
and made its report through Judge
HlIlyer, the Chairman of the Commit
tee. The report is eminently satisfact-
DRY to the Board, and was unanimous
ly adopted
THE Committee while in Cuba salts
ned itself that the titles to the Jane
Building, about which doubt of owner
ship has been circulated, are clear and
lnd1sputable; being duly executed and
recorded in the Registrars office in the
city of Havana. In addition to this a
qut-claim was prepared and duly sign
ed by DR.. A. j. Diaz as pastor, and
Pablo Valdes as Clerk, on behalf of the
church, being unanimously directed to
do so in open church, conference
THE Committee informed the Board
that they were in possession of petit
ton from the Gethsemane Baptist
church, of which Dr. Diaz is now pas
tor, requesting aid of the Home Mission
Board in the support of their pastor,
and the use of the Jane Building as a
place of worship. The Committee re-
commended in favor of granting the
church the privilege of the use of the
house for the present under such ar
rangement as may be absolutely sat
isfactory to the Board, being unwilling,
and thinking it unwise to peremptorily
eject them; but declining to report in
favor of aiding the church as requested
on the ground that they were unwilling
at this time to re-appoint DR.. Diaz as
missionary of the Board. The Com
mittee at the same time reminded the
Board that Cuba has been in the throeS
of revolution, and entreated that pa
thence shall be exercised towards Dr.
Diaz, knowing the weakness of the
flesh, and expressed a hope that Dr.
Diaz would early convince the brethren
of his sincerity in his purpose; who
could then deny him the right of re-
turn, when he does indeed devoutly
consecrate himself to the ministry of
the Gospel.
'The Discrimination of the Committee
to the disappointment of DIR. Diaz
arises out of dissatisfaction with his
services that existed at the time of his
resignation. Briefly stated they are
these: s
First. DR.. Diaz management of our
missions in the Island Of Cuba, as
Superintendent, were not satisfactory
as respects the disposition of the Hospi-
tai Cemetery, ect
Second. AS regards reports made to
the Board of work accomplished.
Third. Regarding the use of his own
time while a missionary of the Board.
He devoted his time to a political cam
vas, placing another man in his pull
pit to preach who was not acceptable
to the Board. Note especially
to DR.. DiaZ on account of his political
oopinions, but on account of the use
of his time while a missionary of the
Board for the purpose Of partisan
political canvasisng.
""rhe Committee stated to the Board
that DIR. Diaz had expressed penitence
for his course, and an earnest desire to
return to the simple ministry of the
Gospel, and the faithful performance
of his duties as a missionary and pas
tor. But the Committee, ascertaining
as they did, that DR.. Diazs course had
met with the disapproval of other de-
voted missionaries in the Island, felt
constrained to see if there should be
fruits meet for repentance before re-
commencing him for appointment.
while no charge has been made
against DR.. Diaz's character, and while
there is no disposition to make such
charge, either by the Committee or by
other missionaries in the Island, it is
deemed eminently desirable to know
that DR.. Diaz' fixed purpose is to be an
humble ministed of the Gospel before
he is recommended for e-appointment.
This will be ascertained by a careful
observation of his life by those who
are daily associated with him, and will
be signfied to the Board by a petit
ton signed by all the other mission
aries under the auspices of the Board"