nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

58
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
34. With Vice-President Williams in the chair, the following resolution,
offered by Louie D. Newton, was adopted:
[NOTE: The following resolution, adopted unanimously by the Southern Baptist Convention,
May 16, 1946, Miami, Florida, was prepared by Louie D. Newton, Atlanta, upon motion of the
Executive Committee adopted in Nashville, Tennessee, March 20, 1946.]
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS PETITION PRESIDENT TRUMAN TO TERMINATE
MR. TAYLOR'S APPOINTMENT TO THE VATICAN, AND
CALL THE VATICAN EMBASSY HOME
Whereas, Southern Baptists, in regular convention assembled, beginning a
Baltimore, in 1940, have repeatedly and earnestly protested the action of the
President of the United States in appointing Mr. Myron C. Taylor as his "Personal
Representative" to the Vatican, December 26, 1939, without the consent or
approval of the Congress, and in violation of the First Amendment to the
Constitution, and the Act of the 39th Congress, 1867, forbidding any further
appropriation of money "hereby or otherwise" for the support of an American
legation at Rome (meaning the Vatican), and,
Whereas, this unauthorized and unfortunate and untimely appointment has
stimulated and nourished deep anxiety and concern amongst the freedom-loving
people in every section of our Nation at a time when we so much desire and
need a unified people, and,
Whereas, the U. S. Embassy staff at the Vatican has been steadily increased,
notably following the surrender of Germany, costing the taxpayers approximately
$40,000 during the past year, and,
Whereas, our Government in further violation of the Constitution of the
United States (See Article I, Section 9) allowed Mr. Taylor to accept the Grand
Cross of the Order of Pius, carrying with it the hereditary status of a papal
nobleman (See story in New York Times, dated Vatican City, March 11, 1946),
and,
Whereas, the President of the United States has recently made official
announcement of the return of Mr. Taylor to the Vatican as the representative
of the President of the United States, with the rank of Ambassador, thus implying
an indefinite, and, perhaps, a permanent official representative of our Government
at the Vatican, without the consent or approval of the Congress, and
in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, and other provisions
of the Constitution and Acts of the Congress, therefore,
Be it resolved by the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention in
session this the 16th day of May, 1946, in Miami, Florida, convention, m
First, that we do most earnestly and respectfully protest this unauthori
and unfortunate procedure on the part of our Government, and, further, that
we again petition the President of the United States to immediately terminate
tte appointment of Mr. Taylor, and call home the Embassy staff at theT Vatican,
Second, that the President of this Convention be authorized and requeste
to seek immediate conference with the President of the United States and
personally present to him this protest and petition, and, * JIUxea ^ates ana
Third, that we do hereby further authorize and request the President of this
Convention to associate with him other officers of this Convention and other
members of this Convention, if such course be found wise and P ^ L t ? !
making this representation to the President of the United States and
Fourth, that we do hereby authorize and request the President of /M. r
vention to associate himself with spokesmen of other evane-eli^Tl iL,nl iT
have sought or shall seek such approach to the President ofthenl^?ll \ *°
protest of this violation of the Constitution, and this unaiitEoriS States m
tunate disregard of the cherished principle .of religious liberty Tn