unity.

The tendency of this social life is to differentiate into more and more
groups, positive in character, which renders our social existence
complex and difficult to analyze. The social groups overlap one
another, and are interdependent in all their relations. In one way the
individual becomes more and more self-constituted and independent in
his activity; in another way he is dependent on all his fellows for
room or opportunity for action.

This complexity of social life renders it difficult to estimate the
real progress of society; yet, taking any one of these {454} individual
groups, it will be found to be improving continually. School life and
school associations show a marked improvement; family life,
notwithstanding the various evidences of the divorce courts, shows
likewise an improved state as intelligence increases; the social life
of the church becomes larger and broader. The spread of literature and
learning, the increase of education, renders each social group more
self-sustaining and brings about a higher life, with a better code of
morals. Even political groups have their reactions, in which,
notwithstanding the great room for improvement, they stand for morality
and justice. The relations of man to man are becoming better
understood every day. His fickleness and selfishness are more readily
observed in recent than in former times, and as a result the evils of
the present are magnified, because they are better understood; in
reality, social conditions are improving, and the fact that social
conditions are understood and evils clearly observed promises a great
improvement for the future.

_Interrelation of Different Parts of Society_.--The various social
aggregates are closely interrelated and mutually dependent upon one
another. The state itself, though expressing the unity of society, is
a highly complex organization, consisting of forms of local and central
government. These parts, having independent functions, are
co-ordinated to the general whole. Voluntary organizations have their
specific relation to the state, which fosters and protects them on an
independent basis. The school, likewise, has its relation to the
social life, having an independent function, yet touching all parts of
the social life.

We find the closest interdependence of individuals in the economic
life. Each man performs a certain service which he exchanges for the
services of others. The wealth which he crea