New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-03-04
THE LIFE WORK or REV. JOHN W
KRAMER.
BY HENRY GEORGE, JR.

In the death of Rev. John w, Kramer
rector of the Protestant Episcopal Churcl
of the Holy Spirit, Bath Beach, Greater
New York, and of Rt Rev. Thoma.
Nnty, Bishop of Meath, Ireland, tn,
worlds movement for the assertion o
common rights to the soil loses two of it,
strongest champions.
Early on the morning of December %
1893, DR.. Kramer woke his family and
said that he thought that his hour had
come; that his mind was at peace, and his
work done, save that there was Just one
word to add to the Christmas sermon which
he had all but fnished-and that word
was 'trustful" A few hours later Dr.
Kramer succumbing to protracted heart
trouble, followed his wife, who had gone
in the year proceeding, aud sank into the
long sleep.
The word that he gave to his daughter, a.
should have passed was of all words that
which best explained his own character.
A man of clear mind and strong princi-
pies, and of firm courage to follow
wherever his conscience led, he trusted
Truth, and did not for moment waver in
the belief that communities as well as
men have but to follow straight after her
to come to that high plain of civilization of
peace and plenty, of which the great and
wise in all ages have dreamed He was
a firm believer in the rule of Providence
through the medium OF justice and that
as men SOW, SO shall they reap; and he pro-
claimed his convictions without counting
costs.
Born in Baltimore, January s, 1882, he
received an academic education, and in
1850 married Julia Ann Jackson, of Balti
more. He studied medicine; and gradu-
ating, practiced two years. But his
thoughts had now turned to the church.
and he commenced study for the ministry
Then came the Civil War, and he entered
the conflict as chaplain of the First Mary
land Regiment. In 1865 he was ordained
as minister in the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and became rector of Calvary
Church, Summit, N. J. He removed to
New York City in 1870, and during twenty
years residence there, was rector of the
Church of st. John the Evangelist and
Church of the Holy Faith. and in 1890 be-
came rector of the Church of the Holy
Spirit, at Bath Beach He was identified
with all the larger New York charities
State Charities Aid, Charity Organization
Society, and Sanitary Reform Society
He was master of st. Johns Guild from
1875 to 1885. and gave personal super
vision TO the excursions of the floating
hospitals of the guild He was one of the
founders Of the Church Association in the
Interests Of Labor, and had extensive ex
perience in visiting the poor, publishing a
"Manual for Visitors of the Poor" He
was, moreover, author of several religious
works, among them "Religion," 'The
Right Road published in New York
and London), and comfortable Thoughts
for Those Bereaved." AT the time of his
death DR.. Kramer was general secretary
for tho Church Congress in the United
States.
II was when Henry George spoke before
the Church Congress at Detroit in the
early eighties that Dir. Kramer and he be-
came acquainted. My father spoke on the
question of labor, showing that the labor
question was in fact the moral question,
and that all teachers of morals must take
an interest in the economic question. In
this address he set forth those doctrines
which in after years became embodied in
the term "Single Tax" The address ex-
part Of it devoted to the remedy, many of
those considering the matter for the first
time regarding as something like a pro
posal Of theft tho proposition that the
common rights to land be observed with
out compensation to existing land owners
But DR.. Kramer was not one Of these OBJ
jectors. The present system OF private
in land was TO his thought wrong,
and he saw no way Of compromising with
it. He accepted without qualification the
single tar proposal to absorb the whole
value OF land-thN is, economic rent
through the medium of taxation.
Soon he pnt his principles to the test.
My father was nominated by the organ
lied workingmen Of New York for the
Office OF Mayor in 1886. DR.. Kramer pre-
sided over the meeting of general citizens
IL Chickeiing Hall called to endorse the
action Of the workingmen in nominating
Henry George. Rev. X. Heler Newton,
Prof. Thomas Davidson and Rev. DIR.
McGlynn were among the speakers, and,
a''r',i, this was the meeting that led to
b.. Mc3lynn's accommodation soon
after. Resolutions were passed. and the
chairman wns requested to report at the
ratification meeting to be held in Cooper
Union, and in his speech at this latter
meeting DR.. Kramer said among other
things:
"We mean to say to men who have put
their speculative hands npon the neces-
saries Of life. Hands on Of our land. Of
our food, and Of our fnell' Nothing will
be destroyed that il Of real value. Trains
will come to our city and steamers cleave
the waters Of our bay, and men 20 to and
fro over our streets. Fictitious values may
tumble, but real values will have more
and lasting foundation than