In the year 1811, some gentlemen of New York established a Magdalen Society:  they elected a board of ladies, requesting their aid to superintend the internal management of the Magdalen House.  This board chose Mrs. Graham their presiding lady, which office she held until her decease; the duties attendant on it she discharged with fidelity and zeal.  In 1812 the trustees of the Lancasterian school solicited the attendance of several pious ladies, to give catechetical instruction to their scholars one afternoon in every week:  and Mrs. Graham was one of those who attended regularly to this duty.

CHAPTER XI.

DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES AND CORRESPONDENCE.

“FEBRUARY 8, 1812.

“’By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward:  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.’  Heb. 11:24.

“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution; the natural heart is enmity against God, and hates his image wherever found.  If individual Christians have the favor of individual worldlings, it never is for their piety, that is rather borne with than loved; and too often Christians save themselves from reproach by unfaithfulness; that, alas, has been my sin and shame.  In all my friendships with worldlings, some of which have been tender, how unfaithful have I been to friendship’s highest office.  How seldom have I endeavored to rescue my friend from sin and Satan, by leading her to the Friend of sinners, the source of happiness.  Contenting my vile, selfish heart, with things pertaining to this life unconnected with that to come, leaving her under the influence of ’the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life;’ without eyes to see her danger, or friend to warn her of it; and while she communicated with me in things common to both, in all the good she knew, keeping back nothing from me of all she possessed; how often have I concealed my richest treasure, without inviting her to the participation.  O, faithless friend!  O, ungrateful, unfaithful—­first to that gracious God who opened mine own eyes, arrested ray attention, stopped up my path, and turned me to the way of life; and next to my friend, whom I have left to pursue that same way of death, without attempting to lead her to this same sovereign, merciful, gracious Deliverer.

“And what withheld!  Shame belongs to the heart governed by such motives; fear of contempt, reproach, or, at most, the loss of a carnal friendship.  Of three such friends, now gone to their place, two continued their worldly course to the last, so far as I know; for the third the Lord provided a more faithful friend, who became worker together with the Spirit of God, led her to the Friend of sinners, who has compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, By Him she was received, and in Him she found life, light, and peace.