THE VOL. I.] Saturday, May 25, 1816. [No. 9. THE NEW-YORK ORPHAN ASYLUM, is well known to the greater part of our readers. To those, however, who are unacquainted with it, a summary sketch of its history may not be unaccept able. THIS valuable establishment is unquestionably the offspring of "the Society for the relief of poor widows with small children," which was instituted in the city of New-York, in the year 1796. The beneficence of this last mentioned Society, being limited by its constitution to subjects in the situation which its title designates, could not be extended to the children of those widows whom death removed from its care. The same fatal stroke, by which these little ones were bereaved of their last earthly parent, severed them likewise from the enjoyment of the pittance which with her they had shared, through the fostering bounty of that Society. These children were thus cast upon a wide world; or, conveyed to the Alms-house, they were placed› in a situation highly unfavourable to that kind of attention and culture which their helpless condition most needed,—that which would promote their mora?> improvement. The ladies who conducted that establishment, had often to exert themselves to find some better provision for these forlorn objects, formerly of public, now of private charity; but owing to the increase of demands thus created on their individual resources, they were frequently compelled to leave the children to take their chance in the common receptacle of wretchedness abovementioned. In order to find a remedy for this deficiency, some of those "mothers in Israel," who were among the most active managers of the Widows' Society, devised, in 1806, the plan of an institution, which should provide for indigent fatherless and motherless children of legitimate birth. A Society was accordingly formed, which held its first meeting on the 15th of April, 1806. Its management. was committed to a board of ladies, consisting of a first and a second Direstress, and seven trustees. In April, of the following year, it was incorporated by i the legislature of this state, under the style of "THE ORPHAN ASYLUM SOCIETY IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK." At first, a small house in RaisinStreet, in the village of Greenwhich, was used for a temporary asylum, and the children were placed under the immediate care of a pious and respectable man and his wife, who have ever since continued to fulfil the duties of their station, with a tenderness, discretion, and fidelity, which entitle them to public esteem and public acknowledgments. VOL. I.-No. 9. From the rapid augmentation of the number of Orphans, that house soon proved to be too small for their accommodation. None more spacious could be rented, to answer the purposes of the establishment. To undertake the building of a large house, and the purchase of the necessary ground, without funds, with an income derived chiefly from voluntary, and of course, precarious contributions, and not more than sufficient to enable the trustees to defray the growing expenses of the establishment, was considered by many a des perate project. But the advantages of such a house were deemed by the Board of so great importance to the prosperity of the institution, as to constrain them to resolve to use their best efforts to cause it to be built; humbly relying on the protection and favour of the orphan's Father and Friend-for the supply of the needful to accomplish their pious design. By means of assistance from the state legislature, and the corporation of this city; of collections in several Churches, and various private donations; and especially by means of large loans made to the Board, for some years without interest, by two of their distinguished friends and benefactors, the trustees have been enabled, under the smiles of a gracious God, not only to provide for the daily wants of the children whom Providence committed to their care, but also to procure a permanent dwelling for all such as are likely to be the subjects of their charge for several years to come. Their building is of brick, fifty feet square, and capable of accommodating more than two hundred orphans. In the prosecution of this arduous undertaking, the Board have had to contend with many difficulties, calling for the exercise of much faith, patience, and diligence. Their cares and perplexities in conducting the concerns of that establishment are not generally known and appreciated. That respectable Board certainly require no eulogy from man. They have doubtless felt a much superior gratification in the conscientious discharge of a Christian duty. The inexpressible delight of having been instrumental in rescuing a large number of fatherless and motherless children from indigence, wretchedness, and vice; feeding and clothing them; and affording them the shelter of a comfortable roof erected by the hand of Christian benevolence; seeing them growing up in habits of order and industry; beholding their infant minds gradually stored with knowledge, calculated to fit them for usefulness in life; and, what is of far greater moment, to view them "trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" is indeed a vastly richer reward, than any human praise could confer. Their benevolent zeal, however, and their unwearied exertions to promote this interesting charity, are not the less deserving of the respect, the gratitude, and the aid of every friend to humanity and religion. The trustees have never refused admittance to one orphan proposed to them, who was a proper object of the charity of the institution. Yet, many a time have they spent the last dollar in their treasury, and been without any means,' from the ordinary resources of the Society, of supplying its daily wants. Then, in the exercise of Christian faith, have they looked to "the Father of the fatherless in his holy habitation." He who even "hears the young ravens when they cry," and "in whom the fatherless findeth mercy," has beheld their necessities, and sent some welcome messenger of his covenant faithfulness to furnish the needful supply. Although the Society has been so prospered, as to be enabled to pay for the house and ground they now possess, the establishment is still subject to continual and increased expenses, and they need the continued support of a beneficent public. In the plan of their establishment, they have declared" their permanent fund to be in the charities of their fellow citizens." This expression of confidence, is as honourable to this Christian community, as it is worthy of a charity which finds an advocate in every bosom where glows one spark of humanity. It will, we trust, never be forfeited, never disappointed. Our readers will, no doubt, cordially unite in adopting the following language of the venerable "preacher of the Gospel to the poor in the city of New-York," in the close of his letter lately addressed to the ladies of this Society: "May the God who directed the feet of Pharaoh's daughter to the river Nile, and inspired her breast with compassion to rescue the weeping Moses from destruction; may he direct the managers of the Cphan Asylum success-, fully to perform their respective duties, and so to engage the public beneficence in its favour, that from thence may proceed a succession of virtuous orphans, who shall prove honourable and useful members of Society." We subjoin an extract from the report of the trustees, presented at the anniversary meeting of the Society in April last. Report of The Orphan Asylum Society, for 1816. "THE Orphan Asylum Society," beg leave to present to the public, their annual report of the state of the affairs of that Institution; and to call their attention to its claims on their continued patronage and protection. It is with peculiar pleasure they announce to their friends the receipt of $5000, liberally granted them by the Legislature, arising from the Board of Health Lottery. This sum has enabled them to cancel the mortgage on their property at Greenwich, and to make some necessary addition to it. Though, a few years ago, the Managers of this Institution had not even "seven loaves" to set before a famishing multitude of orphans, 150 have eaten, and been sent away to the respective places assigned them; and 93 still remain to testify that "the goodness of God endureth yet daily" towards them. 22 children have been admitted since the last report; 33 placed in respectable families, with mechanics, &c. The Board are now relieved from the burden of a debt that has occasioned them some anxiety; but it must be remembered, they have still to be anxious for the support of a vast number of helpless children, who, deprived of their na tural protectors, look to them for the succour which they only can render, as the almoners of the public bounty. With such a community, it is only necessary to plead the increased expenses of this interesting charity, (in consequence of the advanced price of every article of provision,) and its total reliance on the annual contributions of its patrons; and the Board are sanguine in the hopes of receiving such aid as shall enable them to further this good work. The public will discover in the account, some failure on the part of subscribers. This is a circumstance much lamented by the Trustees; though theyare assured it has a risen rather from inattention, than a disposition to omit a duty so important as that of meeting engagements of this nature. The amount of subscriptions will be found less than that of the year before, though many new subscribers have since been added. Every year's experience of the utility of this Institution, serves as a new incentive to the Board, to proceed with renewed ardour, rejoicing in the approbation and support of a benevolent public, and the blessing of Him who is the "Father of the fatherless." Carpenters' and Masons' work, repairing, 116 51 John I. Glover, for principal and interest on four lots of ground, 2,643 26 Sarah Startin, for principal and interest of her mortgage, 2,175 00 Superintendents' salary for 1814, Tablet in memory of Mrs. M'Kenzie, 400 00 20. 31 Support of the Asylum, viz. Mrs. M'Kenzie left the Orphan Asylum Society a legacy of 1400 dollars, which the Will ordered should be laid out in stock: it has been invested in six per cent. stock of the United States. FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. Thoughts respecting the ancient covenant people of God. No. II. In a late number, we glanced at the signs of the times, as indicating the speedy commencement of the universal reign of truth and righteousness. Allusion was had to the great exertions now making for evangelizing the heathen, contrasted with the remarkable insensibility which appears still to pervade the Christian world as to any active exertions to bring into the Gospel-fold "the dispersed of Israel." In the present and succeeding numbers, it is our design to endeavour to awaken Gentile Christians to an immediate attempt in behalf of the outcasts of Israel. The overthrow of the city of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the dispersion of the children of Israel among all nations, affords a striking instance, not only of God's abhorrence of sin, but of his faithfulness and veracity. These terrible judgments were inflicted as the just reward of their iniquities. The word of Jehovah was pledged to accomplish the woes that he had denounced; and although he endured with much long-suffering their multiplied provocations, and delayed speedily to execute retributive justice |