Frances Jane (Fanny) Crosby (1820-1915), American hymn writer and poetess who wrote over 8,000 hymns. Once a preacher sympathetically rema...
Frances Jane (Fanny) Crosby (1820-1915), American hymn
writer and poetess who wrote over 8,000 hymns. Once a preacher sympathetically
remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you
sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you." She replied quickly,
"Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it
would have been that I should be born blind?" "Why?" asked the
surprised minister. "Because when I get to heaven, the first face that
shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"
Frances Jane Van Alstyne, poet and hymn-writer, known by her
pen name Fanny J. Crosby, was born at South East, Putnam County, New York,
March 24,1820. When six weeks old she lost her sight, through the negligence of
the attending physician, but in spite of this severe affliction has always been
noted for her cheerful and happy disposition.
She was educated in the New York City Institution for the
Blind, which she entered in 1835, and proving herself one of the brightest of
its favored pupils, completed the course of instruction in 1842. In 1847 she
was appointed teacher of English grammar, rhetoric, Roman and Greek history, in
this institution, filling the position acceptably until 1858. In 1851 she
joined the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she has ever since been a
devoted member.
When still very young she manifested poetic talent,
composing creditable verses at the remarkably early age of eight years. She is
described as an impressionable child, keenly appreciative of the beauties of
nature, and left so greatly to her own thoughts, her intellect matured rapidly.
Her first volume of verse appeared in 1844, under the title
"A Blind Girl and Other Poems." In 1849 came "Monterey and Other
Poems," and in 1858 "A Wreath of Columbia's Flowers." From 1853
to 1858 she wrote a number of songs, which were set to music by George F. Root,
some of them becoming exceedingly popular, such as "Rosalie the Prairie
Flower," "Hazel Dell," "There's Music in the Air,"
etc.
Her first Sunday-school hymn was written in 1864, at the
request of William B. Bradbury, the father of popular Sunday-school music in
America, and was published by him in his " Golden Censer." During the
succeeding thirty-two years she has been pouring forth from the riches of her
heart and intellect, hymns, songs, and poems until they now number over 5,000,
many of which have been published by The Biglow & Main Co., of New York
City.
Her hymns are characterized by simplicity, directness and
intense earnestness. Among the most popular are "Safe in the Arms of
Jesus," "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour," "Rescue the
Perishing," "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross," "The Bright
Forever," "Close to Thee," "Saviour, More Than Life to
Me," and "I Am Thine, O Lord."
Fanny Crosby never writes out her poems, but completes each
one in her mind and dictates it to an amanuensis. It is said that she can thus
compose a dozen or more hymns before finally committing them to paper.
Through the publication of the famous "Gospel
Hymns," and innumerable Sunday-school hymn-books in this country, and Mr.
Sankey's "Sacred Songs and Solos" in England, her hymns have attained
a wider circulation, and are at this time more extensively sung throughout the
world than those of any other living hymn-writer. Many of her latest and best
productions have appeared by her own request under various noms de plume.
In 1858 Miss Crosby was married to Prof. Alexander Van
Alstyne, a talented teacher of music in New York, and, like herself, totally
blind. She has, however, continued to write under her maiden name, which has
become justly noted.
Possessed of a strong and hopeful Christian faith, a faculty
for hard and persistent work, and a kindly interest in all about her, she is,
even in old age, one of the brightest mortals, and the life of every circle
into which she comes. Her residence is in Brooklyn. New York. [Note:
Information up to 1897; Fanny Crosby died in 1915.]
Hymns:
·
All the Way My Savior Leads Me (music: Robert
Lowry)
·
Be Thou Exalted (music: Alfred B. Smith)
·
Blessed Assurance (music: Phoebe P. Knapp)
·
He Hideth My Soul (music: William J.
Kirkpatrick)
·
I Am Thine, O Lord (music: William H. Doane)
·
Jesus Is Calling (music: George C. Stebbins)
·
My Savior First of All (music: John R. Sweney)
·
Near the Cross (music: William H. Doane)
·
Pass Me Not (music: William H. Doane)
·
Praise Him! Praise Him! (music: Chester G.
Allen)
·
Redeemed (music: William J. Kirkpatrick)
·
Rescue the Perishing (music: William H. Doane)
·
Saved by Grace (music: George C. Stebbins)
·
Savior, More Than Life to Me (music: William H.
Doane)
·
Take the World, but Give Me Jesus (music: John
R. Sweney)
·
Tell Me the Story of Jesus (music: John R.
Sweney)
·
'Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer (music: William
H. Doane)
·
To God be the Glory (music: William H. Doane)
·
To the Work! (music: William H. Doane)
·
What A Gathering! (music: Ira D. Sankey)
·
Will Jesus Find Us Watching? (words: WIlliam H.
Doane)
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