Learning About Henry George
at the Henry George School

Lois T. Bryan

[Reprinted from Ms. Bryan's newspaper column, "A Woman Views the News," printed in the Allentown, Pennsylvania Evening Chronicle, 14 March, 1968]

From time to time I have tried to paint brief word pictures of individuals whom I consider to have been blessed with admirable attributes.

One man I know is a dedicated advocate of the Henry George theory of economics, I first became acquainted with him at my church and soon learned he had for years held weekly classes at our local Public Library, explaining the doctrine of Henry George. Economics has always held great fascination for me. Knowing a serious approach to the subject involves the viewing of one philosophy in relation to another, delving deep into the past, T decided to enroll in the course. To my surprise, I learned no fee was required, the only expense being the cost of the texts used for study, Progress and Poverty and The Science of Political Economy, both by Henry George.

I learned these disciples of the Henry George idea teach without compensation, with students, teachers and believers scattered all over the world. There is no strident propaganda, no reaching for headlines. All discussions are calm, reasoned and factual.

Year after year this man conducts his classes, relatively small. This is his all important "thing". His discourse is subdued and quiet. He will never "mow down" a Belligerent adversary but waits, quietly, until his challenger had spent himself and then coolly attempts to refute or to lead him along some, other line of reasoning.

It is a pleasure to converse with him, He consistently maintains his "cool". He can raise doubts about many formerly held convictions by his force of logic. He will occasionally, in a letter to the editor, comment or take issue in response to an editorial or with reference to some statement by a contributor and can readily spot a convert in the "Editor's Mailbag" columns.

He is a part of a large corporation, an avid reader, dresses conservatively and chats quietly. His life is that of the average citizen, with his church, job, his travel and his pleasures. Yet, being true to his convictions, he will assiduously perform his duties whenever he has committed himself. He is never discouraged nor does he lose hope and yet that is not entirely correct for I believe he is greatly disturbed and dismayed by current economic trends and by the fact that present attempted solutions simply don't solve. However, his dedicated persistence in a calm, reasoning effort to get people to think objectively, if nothing else, continues in and out of his classes. If he is a typical Georgist, it speaks well for their adherents.

I was enriched and enlightened by the course and the contacts. Perhaps because I was primarily impressed by the manner in which he pursues and promotes this all important thing, I am still refreshed by the experience. We all unconsciously harbor one or perhaps many things but declare that there is nothing we can do. He wouldn't agree!