N.Y. Benevolent Orders Law § 12

§ 12. Placing minors by adoption. Any corporation created under\nsection seven of this act or reorganized under section eleven thereof,\nfor the purpose of acquiring and maintaining a home for the aged and\nindigent members of such order and their dependent surviving spouses and\norphans, may place by adoption, according to law, minors placed in their\ncustody; provided authority so to do is given such corporation by the\nparent, guardian or other person or persons having the lawful custody of\nsuch minor or minors, if any such person or persons can be found, or, if\nnot, by the person or persons having the actual custody of such minor or\nminors.\n