A SKETCH OF THE ACTIVE LIFE OF Mrs. Saraz Hoffman, IN HER LABOURS OF KINDNESS TO THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, they rest from their ONE of the peculiar excellencies of religious biography is, that while it preserves the memory of the just, it insinuates itself, by a sort of irresistible impulse, into the breast of a pious reader; and, while it inspires him with admiration of the goodness and grace of God in the character which it exhibits; it produces an anxious solicitude to copy after the example by pursuing the paths of virtue and usefulness in the world. This species of writing, therefore, happily combines precept and example, seldom leaving the eye of the reader without producing some valuable impression upon the heart, to be realized in future practice. With these views, the following sketch of the virtues and active life of Mrs. Hoffman is presented to the public; and although the incidents which occurred in the course of her years were not nu D merous, yet some of them were so strongly marked, and exhibited the charms of piety and benevolence, as to merit the highest commendation, and to form an admirable example for imitation, especially by every female. Mrs. SARAH HOFFMAN was the daughter of David Ogden, Esq. one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the then Province of New-Jersey; and who also was a Member of his Majesty's Council. Her mother's name was Gertrude Governeur. Mrs. Hoffman was born at Newark, New-Jersey, September 8, 1742, and married to Mr. Nicholas Hoffman, November 14, 1762, by whom she had four children, two of whom, with twenty-four grand children, and nine great grand children, survive her. It is not known when Mrs. Hoffman first received her religious impressions. It is however certain, that in the more early part of her life, she passed through many scenes of disappointment and affliction; and that under all these she enjoyed the support and consolations of her God, which made her christian character shine with greater brilliancy. Nor were those afflictions without a benign influence on her latter days; for while they taught her the evils to which humanity is subject, she learned the charming art of feeling for another's woe; and how to stretch forth the maternal hand of kindness to relieve. The numerous domestic duties of Mrs. Hoffman, rendered more urgent by the protracted illness of her husband and her daughter-in-law, she prudently confined her charities to private objects; but not unfrequently would she encourage others in more public acts of benevolence, by giving to them her mite in favor of the needy, and exhorting them to persevere in doing the will of their Lord. When those beloved relatives were removed by death, Mrs. Hoffman was at greater liberty to express the benevolent feelings of her heart; and, in the year 1800-1, opportunities of a peculiarly distressing kind, were presented to her attention. She was not alone, but associated with other benevolent females; and every exertion was made to relieve the afflictions of the poor and needy. Among the number of these objects were destitute widows with small children; for the relief of whom it was contemplated to form a Female Association. The proposal was made in November, 1797, and organized on the 20th of December following, under the character and style of THE SOCIETY FOR THE Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children. The following Ladies constituted the First Board of Direction. MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, First Directress. MRS. W. MACOMB, Second Directress, MRS. DIVIE BETHUNE, Treasurer and Secretary. MANAGERS. MRS. MARY STARTIN.-MRS. W. SETON.-MISS BOWMAN, afterwards MRS. LOW of Flatbush.--Mrs. HOWE, MRS. HOPSON, now of England. Peace to the Widow's throbbing breast, whose tears, And give the healing balm ! AT the first stated meeting of this Society, in April, 1798, it appears that 98 widows and 223 children, had, by their means, been brought through the severity of winter, with a considerable degree of comfort. Shortly after the establishment of this humane institution, Mrs. Hoffman became an active member, and was chosen Second Directress. I find her name enrolled, with others, in the charter granted by the Legislature in favor of this Society; and she continued to fill this worthy station 'till the year 1806. It was a happy trait in the formation of this Society, and still continues, that objects of distress be relieved without the shadow of regard either to national distinction, or to religious persuasion. It is presumed that this Society was not only the first of the kind established in America, but the first in the world! Information of this establishment soon reached the city of London, and produced a dictate in the breast of some ladies of distinction, to form a Society in imitation of the one in New York; and which was supported under the patronage of the Duchess of York. When one of the managers visited London, she was waited upon by several ladies, to inquire particularly into the manner of conducting this Society, and received desirable information. Our citizens have not forgotten the dreadful ravages made by the yellow fever in the year 1798. While that pestilence walked our streets at noon day, arrested the hand of industry, interrupted the course of trade, it also swept away more than two thousand to their graves, leaving many a destitute widow weeping over her helpless babes. This was a loud call upon the exertions of the Society; and the several ladies connected with it, formed themselves in little bands, purposely to explore the habitations of distress, which opened an extensive, though melancholy field for Mrs. Hoffman to evince the sympathy and benevolence of her heart. It would be deemed incorrect were I to announce the worthy names of those who are still living, who also were engaged in this labor of love; yet I should feel a degree of criminality, not to record the names of those who have departed, and who were associates with Mrs. Hoffman in those works of kindness. Mrs. Isabella Graham was her chief companion; Mrs. Mills, Mrs. J. R. Livingston, Mrs. W. Seton, Miss Rebecca Seton and Mrs. Howe; each in their. day evinced the pious disposition of their hearts, and stretched forth the hand of kindness to the widow and the fatherless. Of the late Mrs. Mills, it is but justice to record, that by the members of the Board of Direction, her judicious counsel was always heard with respect and attention. Her knowledge of the world led her to that discrimination of character which was applied with the happiest effect; and of this excellent woman it may be said, I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink ; a stranger, and ye took me in; sick and in prison, and ye visited Nor can I omit adding to this list, the name of the lately deceased Mrs. Mary Chrystie. Although her personal duties did not permit her to take a seat in the Board of Direction of this Society, she was one of three who suggested and brought the plan of the Institution before the public. She contributed liberally to its support during twenty-three years. Her counsel and her prayers for its prosperity were highly appreciated by many me. of its managers; so that when the names of Hoffman and Graham are mentioned among the mothers in Israel, that of Chrystie will not be forgotten. What to me gives a zest to this female association is, that its members were of different religious persuasions. Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist; yet all partook of the same spirit, and drank so freely of "the milk of human kindness," which exhilarated them in pursuit after objects of distress, that they were never weary in well-doing. The christian, while it is his privilege to worship God, according to his knowledge of the gospel, and the dictate of his conscience, is bound to maintain the profession of his faith without wavering; but whenever he beholds the image of Christ in any person, though he differ from him in mode of worship, will esteem the person for the sake of the image. And, it is equally true, that wherever the good man beholds the marks of human wretchedness in any form, the love of Christ to him, will constrain him to pity and to relieve; for such is the nature of christian benevolence, it knows no bounds but the habitable globe. How charmingly were these sentiments exemplified in the generous efforts of Mrs. Hoffman and her associates! And how devoutly is it to be wished, that all who profess to receive the virtues of christianity, may copy after such bright examples! Mrs. Hoffman was an Episcopalian, and strongly attached to the principles of her church; Mrs. Graham was a Presbyterian, and equally adhered to her profession; yet, the ties of natural relationship or sisterhood were not more firm than the attachment of these females in their charitable exertions in favor of the needy. The temper, condescension and perseverance of these humane ladies is a fine comment on Paul's admirable description of active charity described, 1 Cor. xiii. 4—7. To give the reader some view of the benevolent walks of Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Graham, I will venture to say, what has been communicated to me by an aged lady of a different religious profession to them, and who is still living. She accompanied them on their visits for two successive winters, commencing with November, and ending with March. They would meet at 10 o'clock in the morning, and continue their visits 'till the dusk of the evening, in search after objects needing compassion. These were sometimes found in garrets, cellars and other places of obscurity, half starved, destitute of |