THE society which still perpetuates this noble charity began its career during the last war with England, and has now issued its fifty-eighth annual report. In other lands, where institutions have attained the hoary growth of centuries, this statement would occasion no remark; but here, amid the rush of new events, and the ceaseless change in nearly every locality, we can but feel that this deserves the appellation of time-honored. The wants of human nature are identical in all ages, hence an institution to provide for aged females, whose declining years were saddened by poverty, was needed in this city sixty years ago. The common almshouse, filled as it usually is with the dregs of society, is not a place of comfort to persons of refined sensibilities. For the relief of this class, a few benevolent ladies were moved with compassion. Meetings for the discussion of their plans were held, and in the autumn of 1813 an association was formed, which was the nucleus of this society. The organization of the society occurred on the 7th of February, 1814, in the session room of the Brick Presbyterian Church, when a constitution was adopted, and a board of sixteen managers elected. The managers held their regular meetings for three years in the same church, after which they were held in private houses, until the completion of the Asylum in 1838. During the first twenty-four years, the society simply gave pensions to its needy beneficiaries in money and clothing, and thought of nothing beyond. But in 1833 the plan of erecting a suitable Asylum was proposed. In the winter of 1834, after a sermon preached by Dr. Schroeder, in the Church of the Ascension (then in Canal street), setting forth the wants of the society, a collection of $310.20 was taken for the enterprise. But the impression made on the audience was better than the collection. Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Stuyvesant, who were listeners, soon presented the society with a deed of three lots of ground, the site of the present building. John Jacob Astor nobly headed a subscription with $5,000, on condition that $20,000 should be raised in a year. The ball being now fully in motion, many merchants and persons of wealth were successfully appealed to, and the amount realized. The Asylum was commenced in 1837, and the following year completed and thrown open for the reception of inmates. The edifice is a four-story brick, with a fine basement and sub-cellar, with accommodations for about one hundred persons, including resident officers and employes.

T0 the ladies of the Methodist Episcopal church must be accorded the honor of founding the first denominational Institution for the support of the aged andinfirm members of their persuasion, whose circumstances especially require it. The Home in East Twentieth street had preceded it twelve years, and proved the necessity and feasibility of such enterprises; but this was not denominational, and, great as had been its usefulness, there still remained a wide field in every religious organization for the largest endeavors of the self-sacrificing, and the charities of the benevolent. Under the profound conviction that a home should be provided for the aged and indigent of their own. communion, a meeting was convened on the 4th of March, 1850, at 459 Broadway, and was presided over by the venerable Nathan Bangs. A committee of inquiry was appointed and several subsequent meetings held, which resulted finally in the adoption of a constitution, and the, organization of a society, which consists of a board of seventy, or more, female managers, elected annually from the various Methodist churches in New York, and an advisory committee of gentlemen.

On the 1st day of November, 1850, the building No. 16 Horatio street was leased at an annual rent of $480, and soon after its doors were thrown open for the reception of inmates. Much of its furniture was contributed by the friends of the enterprise. The act of incorporation passed the Legislature June 19,1851, seven months after the opening of the Institution. During the first year twenty-three inmates were admitted, two of whom died, and the second year ten more were received, and one died, leaving an average family of thirty for the second year. This not only completely filled the building, but forced upon the minds of the managers the necessity of providing more enlarged accommodations. About this time, a fine plot of ground on Sixty-first street and Broadway was purchased, and a plan of a building prepared. A little consideration led to the conclusion that these lots, situated in so eligible a part of the city, might be advantageously disposed of, and a much larger plot obtained thereby, farther out of town. In 1853 twelve lots were selected and purchased on the Kingsbridge road, at One Hundred and Forty-second and One Hundred and Forty-third streets. The increase of the price of building materials, and the want of available funds, delayed for two years longer the commencement of the much-desired edifice. But God, in His inscrutable providence, was preparing them a site for their Bethesda in one of the loveliest portions of the city, where the aged inmates might remain in convenient communication with their churches and friends. In 1855, Mr. William S. Seaman, an aged member of the Allen Street M. E. church, donated to the society two choice lots on Forty-second street, near Eighth avenue, on condition that the annual interest of the estimated value Of the property should be paid to him during his lifetime. The society promptly accepted this generous gift, soon purchased the lot adjoining, and the following summer began the erection of the Home. Mr. Seaman died nine months after the conveyance of the property, but his last days were cheered with the assurance that the cherished Institution would be immediate erected, on the site he had so benevolently contributed. The corner-stone of the new building was laid with appropriate services, September 16th, 1856, and the, Institution dedicated by Bishops Morris and Janes, assisted by other clergymen, April 27th, 1857. The family, after residing six and a half years in Horatio street, was removed to these more eligible quarters on May 1st of the same year.