Page:The Complete Works of Henry George Volume 3.djvu/334

 142 THE CONDITION OF LABOR.

and of more numerous requirements in daily life. It is gratifying to know that there are actually in existence not a few Societies of this nature, consisting either of workmen alone or of workmen and employers together; but it were greatly to be desired that they should mul- tiply and become more effective. We have spoken of them more than once ; but it will be well to explain here how much they are needed, to show that they exist by their own right, and to enter into their organization and their work.

54. The experience of his own weakness urges man to call in help from without. We read in the pages of Holy Writ : It is better that two should be together than one ; for they have the advantage of their society. If one fall he shall be supported by the other. Woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth he hath none to lift him up* And further : A brother that is helped by his brother is like a strong cityj It is this natural impulse which unites men in civil society; and it is this also which makes them band themselves together in associations of citizen with citizen ; associations which, it is true, cannot be called societies in the complete sense of the word, but which are societies nevertheless.

55. These lesser societies and the society which consti- tutes the State differ in many things, because their imme- diate purpose and end is different. Civil society exists for the common good, and therefore is concerned with the interests of all in general, and with individual inter, ests in their due place and proportion. Hence it is called public society, because by its means, as St. Thomas of Aquin says, Men communicate with one another in the setting up of a commonwealth.^ But the societies which are formed in the bosom of the State are called private,


 * Ecclesiastes iv. 9, 10. t Proverbs xviii. 19.

t Contra impugnantes Dei cultum et religionem, Cap. II.

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