SOCITTY, in its most enlarged sense, signifies the whole race or family of man ; as, "the true and natural foundations or society, are the wants and fears of individ uals." In a narrower sense, it signifies, persons living in the same neighborhood, 11110 frequently Meet: in company. It is atoll VI name given to any association of persons uniting together, and co-operat ing to effect some particular object, as the societies or academics for promoting the cause of literature ; bonevo'ent socie ties, for purposes of public charity ; mis sionary societ ics, for sending missionaries abroad ; and various others. In society, a man not only finds more leisure, bit better opportunities of applying his tal ents with suecess. The social principle, in fact, is of snot an expansive natur..,, that it cannot be eon fined within the cir cuit of a family, of friends, or a. neigh borhood ; it spreads into wider systems, and draws men into larger communities and commonwealths ; since it is in these only that the mare sublime powers of our nature attain the highest improvement and perfection or which they are capable.
— The purposes for which benevolent and religious societies arc formed will be best inferred from the epithets with which they are connected ; temperance societies are established with a view to promote sobriety, mendicity societies for the relief of the indigent, fie. There is no feature, perhaps, which distinguishes a civilized from a savage state more than the estab lishment of such societies ; and in this view England has a right to claim a place in the foremost ranks of civilization, whether we regard the number or the principles of the management of its reli gious and benevolent institutions.