circular letters were
sent to the ladies of New York, and a very respectable number
assembled at the house of Mrs. Graham. The proposed plan was approved,
and a society organized. Mrs. Graham was elected first directress,
which office she held for ten years.

At the semiannual meeting in March, 1798, Mrs. Graham made a very
pleasing report of the proceedings of the Managers, and of the amount
of relief afforded to the poor. The ladies of New York truly honored
themselves and religion by their zeal in this benevolent undertaking,
in reference to which Mrs. Graham says, in a letter to her friend
Mrs. Walker:

"I mentioned in my last that we had planned a society for the
relief of poor widows with small children: the success has been beyond
our most sanguine expectations. We have now a hundred and ninety
subscribers, at three dollars a year, and nearly a thousand dollars in
donations. We have spent three hundred dollars this winter, and nearly
all upon worthy objects. The poor increase fast: emigrants from all
quarters flock to us, and when they come they must not be allowed to
die for want. There are eight hundred in the almshouse, and our
society has helped along many, with their own industry, that must
otherwise have been there. The French, poor things, are also starving
among us; it would need a stout heart to lay up in these times."

In the same letter she informs her of the first monthly
missionary prayer-meeting known to have been held in the city of
New York.

"The second Wednesday in February we commenced our first monthly
meeting for prayer for the Lord's blessing on ours, and all the
missionary societies. It was far from full; but we must be thankful
for the day of small things, and pray, and wait, and hope. The Dutch
churches, the Baptist and Presbyterian have united so far as to
officiate in each other's churches; they have collected about
seventeen hundred dollars, and are looking out for two missionaries to
send among the Indians, or to the frontiers."

A few months later we find the following letter to a young man on
his joining the church:

"SEPTEMBER, 1798.

"MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND--You have now ratified in a public manner
that transaction which, no doubt, passed previously in private between
you and your God. You have declared your belief of the gospel, and
have taken hold of God's covenant of promise. You hav