gaged, successively as Trustee, Treasurer, Second Directress, and First Directress, in behalf of the blessed work she had undertaken. She died on the 28th of July, 1860, at the age of ninety-two years; and when, from the bed of suffering and weariness, she woke in the glory of an immortality inconceivable to mortal mind, we can fancy, amid the ecstatic joy of the first moment of bliss, that one source of delight, and not the least, would be the sight of the many happy, glorified spirits who, but for her instrumentality, might have languished here in want, and died ignorant or neglectful of the glorious inheritance purchased for them by their precious Savior.

"We dare not trust ourselves to lift, in imagination, the veil that separates us from that unseen world; it would make us so envy her, so long to be there, that we could not, without repining, turn back to earth, and its cares and sin. But may such a life as hers, with the reward we know she now enjoys, be a spur to our zeal, and inspire us never to weary nor faint, but work on and rejoice that we may bear a humble part in the great scheme of making the world happier and better."

CHAPTER XII.

MRS. HOFFMAN AND MRS. STARTIN.

The Associates of Mrs. Bethune.-Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Startin. -Their Character and Services.-Testimonies of the Board.

IT is to be lamented that so little has been preserved of the excellent women who were associated with Mrs. Bethune in the foundation and early progress of the Orphan Asylum. The writer has taken great pains to discover whatever remains concerning them on record or in the memory of the people, but he has not been as successful as he desired and hoped.

Mrs. Sarah Hoffman was the contemporary rather of Mrs. Graham than of her daughter, but Mrs. Bethune held her in that respect and veneration which her strong mind, benevolent character, and dignified carriage were so well calculated to inspire; and that this regard was not unreciprocated is seen in the fact that Mrs. Hoffman preferred to resign her directressship of the older society to preside over the Orphan Asylum Board, which was more especially the enterprise of her younger friend. Unless she had done so, Mrs. Bethune would not have had the same courage for the untried work; but Mrs. Hoffman's name was as a tower of strength, so high was her moral and intellectual position in the best society of New York at

that time. There is an affectionate tribute to her memory in the Life of Mrs. Graham (p. 167, American Tract Society's edition), written by Mr. and Mrs. Bethune. Mrs. Graham "and her venerable companion, Mrs. Sarah Hoffman, Second Directress of the Widows' Society, traveled many a day, and took many a step together in the walks of charity. Mrs. Graham was a Presbyterian, Mrs. Hoffman an Episcopalian. Those barriers of which such an unhappy use has been made by sectarians to separate children of God fell down between these two friends at the cry of affliction, and were consumed on the altar of Christian love. Arm in arm, and heart to heart, they visited the abodes of distress, dispensing temporal aid from the purse of charity, and spiritual comfort from the Word of God." Mrs. Hoffman continued her active superintendence of the affairs of the society until 1817, after which her age and infirmities forbade her to continue her much-loved employment, and her attendance at the meetings of the Board almost entirely ceased, though it was not until August, 1821, that her spirit returned to God. Mrs. Hoffman recommended to the ladies the election of Mrs. Startin as her successor. Mrs. Startin was accordingly elected, but declined in favor of Mrs. Hamilton, who, every way fitted for the responsible office, was, as the second directress, from the beginning the one to whom, in the judgment of the Board, the honor was due.

Extract from the Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the Orphan Asylum, August 7, 1821:

"It becomes the duty of the Board this day to record the decease of their late beloved and very venerable directress, Mrs. SARAH HOFFMAN. Eminent in the discharge of her relative duties, in humble hope and ardent faith, and in all the walks of usefulness appropriate to the children of God, she was particularly distinguished by her early, persevering, affectionate, and successful exertions in the cause of the orphan, in the establishment of the society and of the asylum which now affords support and protection to so large a number of otherwise friendless children.

"For many years she was associated with another benevolent member of this Board, whose death was formerly recorded, Mrs. Isabella Graham, in the care of the widow and the fatherless; and in later years, with the lamented Secretary of this Board, Miss Isabella W. Ogden, called away in the vigor of youth.

"As they had remembered the commandments of their God in life, so their God remembered their souls at the hour of death, enabling them to triumph over all its terrors, in the blissful hope of eternal life; and that dark valley, from which human nature, destitute of religion, shrinks back with horror, they entered with a cheerful composure, beholding a ray of heavenly light, leading them on to the regions of immortal glory. The smile of Him who was wounded for their sins and bruised for their iniquities, that He might become their Redeemer, evidently shone on their departing spirits. 'The Eternal God was their refuge, and underneath them the everlasting arms.' 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Mrs. Hoffman was the daughter of Mr. David Ogden, of Newark, N. J. Her brothers were Nicholas, Abraham, Isaac, Samuel, and Peter Ogden. She married Mr. Nicholas Hoffman, by whom she had two sons, Josiah Ogden, afterward Judge Hoffman, and Martin Hoffman, with whom she resided after her husband's death, in Broadway, near Amity Street. Mr. Ogden Hoffman's first wife was a Miss Colden, and it was at her house, in Wall Street, that Mrs. Sarah Hoffman and Mrs. Graham met to organize an association of young ladies for teaching schools among the poor, as recorded by Mrs. Graham, 1804.

Mrs. Sarah Startin was one of those on whom, from the beginning of the institution in 1806, the asylum rested. Elected a member of the first Board of Trustees, she contributed her wisdom, faith, and courage during the difficulties of organizing the charity and bringing it before the Christian community for support. Mrs. Startin was the widow of an eminent English merchant, so holding a high place in society; and the estimation in which she was held as an intelligent, consistent Christian, enabled her to commend it effectually to the patronage of the best as well as the most influential people in the city, and thus contributed to make broad the foundations of its future great prosperity. At the first Mrs. Bethune cheerfully undertook the office of Treasurer, but her feeble health, with the cares of her family, compelled her to resign it at the end of two years, when (1809) Mrs. Startin was chosen to succeed her, and continued to