New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-21

The centennial report OF the society. outlining
its history and work. rs financial CONDITION ana
IT'S charitable achievements. which had been COM
piled by Miss Jackson, read by Mrs. Bronson
follows:
One century old How much there is contained
in that short phrase. Few societies can boast o.
maj nave fourished for short time perhaps a
decade, and then we have lost sight OF mem en-
ties which seem better able 20 meet the demands
ber n' Isl. by Few earnest Christian women and
regularly organized December 20 following Inc
members OF this little gathering never dreamed
OF the dimensions which their Work was destined
- reach AT this meeting were chosen as liz liz
d.rectrcss Isabella Graham second ha'h lre
Wknson Jane Harfison secT Iory sa ara Ns
Sarah Hoffman, Eliza Ann seton, M ay loSs ~ ~
Pierce. Mary Wyckon. Isabella smith, Mary WATTS
In SoDem yeIo w ey te ey the Course q when
many heads OF families were stricken down, !eaF-
Itsltion and as the minutes tell US, none but wit
nesses could nave imagined the sunerlngs OF many
nr[eS Of empioymen as every kind Il industry
Was at a standstill Then i was that this society
pr i}tee Composer Of Mrs Hoffman Mrs Good and
Mrs X LynssioP was ap to nave Sermon
preached in Trinity Church on behalf Of the society
which hitherto 5sd 9 @ enarsed OUTSIDE
ala was found necessary In the same year ,he
hogs ia Tae e bY Stte!y the sum Of $500 for the
purpose OF building house for the beneht o, ne
ton,s: The upper part OF the building was used e
9r sas ot ciohng The store part OF
the building used for dry groceries anu nay 20
he given 10 the widows as the managers orders
would indicate.
TWO LOTS GIVEN TO THE SOCIETY.
About this time Mrs. Montgomery presented the
soc,o,v with two lots OF ground 50xl00 feet. IN
stanton-st Thus It the foundation Of our
permanent fund was laid. After few months
Miss Ann de Peysters legacy OF 600 was added
suca was the regard In which the society was held
ina, on September Il. 1872 the non-commiss stoned
omcers and prvates OF the detachment command
ed by Captain Horne, stationed al North Battery.
gave the Widows Society the rations OF wood due
knowlrg when their families might need help. AS
the years rolled BY one alter Ter anSther nterf'ted
[ kind friend who was ever ready with her help we
wefe left a substantial and generous bequest In
IT TO-DAY our cen,ennal-what more fitting place
could We have for celebrating the day than mere in
this Assembly Han. on tnls spot where Mrs; Rob
ert L. Stuart lived so many years and so nobly dis
P mnd Of ;2G5c5o stands as living memorial Of
trends passed away. but whose noble work goes
Inc iirst Of The kind established in America, but re-
port tells US it was the hrst Of the Kind IN the
result was that similar was formed in London
N If York # E s pas the
Orphan Society, which was rounded by Two OF our
M fever Ho sioarss a4 Of 49, TO oR aa hs
children bereft OF their parents.
THE WORK AT FIRST.
At first the limits OF the society work very
email but as years passed by and permanent
fund grew larger the boundaries Increased. and AT
present IT embraces a wide area beginning from the
East River and Ferry-st on the south 20 Chatham
ST. then along Chatham-st as far as Canal and
Iaight sts TO the Hudson River; then taking the
VII ,le city In as FAR north Seventeth-st. This
leree field is divided into Afty districts and each
district Is taken in charge by manager. TAe
FIRST mention OF orders given TO the widows was
an eouiyalent 70 81 81 per month al present Il has
crown 10 S. besides donations in cases OF sickness.
INC society takes much pride IN the fact ;n2t All
nancy subscribed has gone directly 10 It's 5eneH-
niarjcs none ever having been paid In house rent
FOR us accommodations or 10 iiS officers as slli-
IIes The seml-aonthly meetings having always
,rattor ~ Interest to state the numter OF widows
briord every twenty-htth year since the society
was formed: IN that way We ar" better able 10
'AFFf5 First % twenyfth year 2ss WIDOWS. with 5os
er9T children we're helped and the amount %
money expended o. them wa q. 81 7sG0? ,oo,
mali Children, we're helped the money expended
then; va" fswenty-frth year 4S5 widows with i2io
small children. we're helped; the money expended on
thsm was tyweniy.ifth year 524 widows with 1856
small children. were helped; the money expended on
the founders o. this CHARITY are at work to-day
o.' ,beir ancestors one hundred years ago.
Mrs william Preston Griilin , our ilrs; direetress
forty-thrce years has most ably filled tho posi-
Ton as d.rectIess and has presided lis meet
M NJ "I q NJ Miller. Mrs Hofmans great-grand-
daughter is at present second dlIe,tfess. AS also
IS her greatnece Mss Dey our rerd b1 Ser
HE services carries forward worthily the work
Of her husbands grandmother. whose name appears