It took its rise from an apparently adventitious circumstance.  Mr. B——­, in the year 1796, was one of the distributing managers of the St. Andrew’s Society.  The distribution of this charity was of course limited to a certain description of applicants.  Mrs. B——­, interested for widows not entitled to share in the bounty of the St. Andrew’s Society, frequently collected small sums for their relief.  She consulted with a few friends on the propriety of establishing a female society for the relief of poor widows with small children, without limitation.  Invitations in the form of 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.