Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1373

Carbon of a letter from Heath to Rev. Monsignor John A. Ryan, National Catholic Welfare Conference, 1312 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.

April 3, 1941

 

 

 

Dear Monsignor Ryan:-

     In conversation with my excellent friend, Schuyler Neilson Warren, of New York City, upon mat­ters of social and economic significance, we have had occasion to refer to some of your many excellent contributions in that field and, particularly, to your volume, “Distributive Justice” in which I became very much interested some years ago.

     Having, as an amateur, for some years back concentrated my interest and observations upon the workings of the existing social and economic organization, I have often felt that it would be a pleasure to be acquainted with you, or otherwise in some direct communication with your work and thought. I value and admire your allegiance to the institution of prop­erty first, it seems, as a means of securing and pre­serving individual rights, and then, perhaps, second­arily or derivatively, as an agency of the general social welfare.

     My own primary concern also is for the in­dividual human being, and for the social organization as an instrument for his growth and perfection. This makes it seem desirable to examine the institution of property with reference to the maintenance and growth of the social organization as the collective servant of the individual man.

     From this standpoint, I have attempted to understand and explain the institution of property in land rather more with regard to the social organization itself and as a whole than with regard chiefly to the individual rights of those persons who are invested with the proprietary authority and bearing its responsibilities.

     Mr. Warren kindly suggested that we might be interested in discussing these matters together. I assured him that I would be most happy to make your acquaintance. Accordingly, he wrote me that he has written something to you concerning me, and has sent me a note of introduction with the suggestion that I call upon you at some early and convenient date.

     I expect to be at my home in Elkridge, Md. until about April 12th when I will again visit Prince­ton and Hew York. If agreeable to you, I shall be most happy to call upon you if you will kindly suggest a convenient date for it between now and that time.

With very great respect, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Spencer Heath

 

 

SH:MLL

Enc. – 8 real-estate pamphlets.