Spreading the Philosophy of Freedom

Anna George de Mille

[The welcoming address to those attending the Henry George Congress.
Reprinted from Land and Freedom, September-October 1939]

In behalf of the Henry George School of Social Science I give our welcome to all who have come from far and near to confer. We realize full well, all of us, that this gathering cannot be merely a love-feast of friends who, thinking alike, have come together to compare notes and to report progress. It must needs turn into a council in which all differences as to methods for spreading our message must be put aside, all small intolerances as to ways and means must be forgotten. We must use our entire strength for spreading the light; our lamps must be trimmed to burn brighter than ever before.

Civilization at this moment is standing with back against wall facing destruction. Communism, Nazism, Fascism have sprung out of the poverty that is the result of denying the Natural Law. They are the antithesis of democracy of democracy that stands for freedom; freedom of production and freedom of trade, as well as freedom of speech and press and religious expression. Democracy is a way of government but freedom is a way of life.

And so we must each of us go forth from this Conference, strengthened, encouraged, inspired to spread this philosophy of freedom as taught by Henry George. We must always remember that there are as many ways of spreading the truth as there are people to spread it; there are as many ways of spreading it as there are ways of it being accepted. "Each in the station to which he has been called, let us do what is set us, and we shall not clash. From various instruments set to different keys comes the grand harmony."