Learning

 From  Fanny  Crosby  

Fun  Facts  about  Crosby  
• She  was  born  in  1820  in  Brewster,  New  York,  the  same  year  that  Maine  was  admitted  as  the  23rd  
state   and   the   passing   of   the   Missouri   Compromise,   both   Russian   and   American   explorers  
announce   the   discovery   on   the   Antarctic   continent,   the   HMS   Beagle   was   launched   (Darwin)   and  
the  first  US  eye  hospital  was  opened  in  NYC.  She  died  in  1915  when  she  was  95  years  old.  
• She  was  the  only  child  of  John  &  Mercy  Crosby   –  he  had  been  a  widower  and  both  were  related  
to  the  Revolutionary  War  spy  Enoch  Crosby.  She  traced  her  Puritan  roots  back  to  Plymouth  Rock  
and  Ann  Brigham  and  Simon  Crosby  (cofounded  Harvard)  who  arrived  in  Boston  in  1635.  John  
died   the   same   year   that   Fanny   was   born   and   she   was   raised   by   she   mother   and   maternal  
grandmother  Eunice  Crosby.  
• She  is  also  related  to  Ernest  Crosby  (a  neo-­‐abolitionist)  and  singers  Bing  and  Bob  Crosby.  
• When   she   was   six   weeks   old   she   caught   a   cold   and   developed   inflammation   of   the   eyes.   Her  
condition   was   treated   with   hot   mustard   poultices   by   a   substitute   for   the   family   doctor   and   later  
discovered   to   be   a   “quack”.   Whether   the   treatment   cause   permanent   blindness   or   she   was  
actually  born  with  the  condition  is  unsure  because  she  was  so  young.    
• Fanny   wrote   her   first   poem   when   she   was   eight.   With   the   help   of   her   mother   and   grandmother,  
she   memorized   five   chapters   of   the   Bible   per   week.   By   the   time   she   was   fifteen,   she   had  
memorized   the   four   Gospels,   the   Pentateuch,   Proverbs,   Song   of   Solomon   and   many   of   the  
Psalms.  When  she  was  twelve  and  music  teacher  came  to  her  home  twice  a  week  to  give  singing  
lessons  to  Fanny  and  some  other  children.  
• When  she  was  still  fourteen,  Fanny  enrolled  in  the  New  York  Institution  for  the  Blind.  She  was  
there   for   eight   years   as   a   student   and   two   more   as   a   graduate   pupil.   She   learned   to   play   the  
piano,   organ,   harp   and   guitar   and   developed   into   a   good   soprano   singer.   She   then   became   an  
instructor  and  joined  the  faculty  –  teaching  grammar,  rhetoric  and  history.  
• While   Fanny   was   at   the   Institution,   her   mother   remarried   and   had   three   more   children.   Her  
second  husband  abandoned  her  after  six  years.  
• During  her  time  at  the  Institution,  Fanny  befriended  the  future  president  Grover  Cleveland  (then  
17   and   worked   at   the   Institution   with   his   older   brother)   and   they   spent   many   hours   together   at  
the  end  of  the  day  with  Cleveland  often  transcribing  poems  that  Fanny  dictated  to  him.  He  wrote  
a  recommendation  for  her  autobiography,  published  in  1906,  two  years  before  he  died.  
• Fanny  was  the  first  woman  to  speak  before  the  U.S.  Senate  where  she  read  a  poem.  She  would  
later   read   another   poem   before   the   joint   houses   as   part   of   a   lobbying   campaign   arguing   for  
support  for  education  of  the  blind.  She  testified  before  a  special  senate  subcommittee  and  sang  a  
song  she  composed  in  the  White  House  music  room  for  President  Polk  and  his  wife.  
• Fanny  considered  herself  a  “primitive  Presbyterian”  but  her  faith  was  later  described  as  “rooted  
in  Puritanism,  developed  by  Methodism,  warmed  by  the  Holiness  movement,  and  nourished  by  
her   Congregationalism".   She   usually   attended   services   at   the   18th   Street   Methodist   Episcopal  
Church  (in  the  Chelsea  district  in  NYC).  
• In   her   life,   Fanny   wrote   more   than   8,000   hymns   and   gospel   songs   and   became   known   as   the  
“Queen   of   Gospel   Song   Writers”   and   the   “Mother   of   modern   congregational   singing   in   America”.  
She  joins  Isaac  Watts  and  Charles  Wesley  as  the  most  common  author  of  the  hymns  we  find  in  
our  hymnals.  Because  some  publishers  hesitated  to  include  so  many  hymns  from  a  single  person  
she  used  almost  200  different  pseudonyms  during  her  career.  
• The   success   of   the   Moody   and   Sankey   evangelical   campaigns   has   been   largely   credited   to  
Crosby’s  hymns.  She  also  wrote  over  1,000  secular  poems,  published  four  books  of  poetry  and  
two  best-­‐selling  autobiographies  as  well  as  five  cantatas  on  biblical  and  patriotic  themes.  
Memorable  Quotes  by  Crosby  
"It  seemed  intended  by  the  blessed  providence  of  God  that  I  should  be  blind  all  my  life,  and  I  thank  him  
for  the  dispensation.  If  perfect  earthly  sight  were  offered  me  tomorrow  I  would  not  accept  it.  I  might  
not   have   sung   hymns   to   the   praise   of   God   if   I   had   been   distracted   by   the   beautiful   and   interesting  
things  about  me.”  
"He  had  his  faults—and  so  have  I  mine,  but  notwithstanding  these,  we  loved  each  other  to  the  last"    
“It  may  seem  a  little  old-­‐fashioned,  always  to  begin  one's  work  with  prayer,  but  I  never  undertake  a  
hymn  without  first  asking  the  good  Lord  to  be  my  inspiration.”  

Undaunted  By  Adversity  

"I  think  it  is  a  great  pity  that  the  Master  did  not  give  you  sight  when  he  showered  so  many  other  
gifts  upon  you,"  remarked  one  well-­‐meaning  preacher.  
Fanny  Crosby  responded  at  once,  as  she  had  heard  such  comments  before.  "Do  you  know  that  if  at  
birth  I  had  been  able  to  make  one  petition,  it  would  have  been  that  I  was  born  blind?"   said   the   poet,  
who  had  been  able  to  see  only  for  her  first  six  weeks  of  life.  "Because  when  I  get  to  heaven,  the  first  
face  that  shall  ever  gladden  my  sight  will  be  that  of  my  Savior."  
Fanny   Crosby   was   completely   undaunted   by   being   blind.   First,   it   was   all   she   every   really   knew.  
Second,  it  had  no  impact  on  the  truth  of  the  scriptures  and  on  the  foundation  of  her  faith.  Even  her  
very   first   recorded   verse,   written   when   she   was   only   eight   reveals   her   resolve   to   not   let   her  
blindness  impact  her  disposition:  
Oh,  what  a  happy  soul  I  am,  
captionhough  I  cannot  see!   (Even  though  other  works  use  this  word,  I  can’t  find  a  definition!)  
I  am  resolved  that  in  this  world  
Contented  I  will  be.  
How  many  blessings  I  enjoy  
That  other  people  don't,  
To  weep  and  sigh  because  I'm  blind  
I  cannot,  and  I  won't!  
Crosby  was  sent  to  the  recently  founded  New  York  Institute  for  the  Blind,  which  would  be  her  home  
for  23  years:  12  as  a  student,  11  as  a  teacher.  She  initially  indulged  in  her  own  poetry  and  was  called  
upon   to   pen   verses   for   various   occasions.   In   time   the   principal   asked   her   to   avoid   such  
"distractions"  in  favor  of  her  general  instruction.  "We  have  no  right  to  be  vain  in  the  presence  of  the  
Owner  and  Creator  of  all  things,"  he  said.  
It  was  the  work  of  a  traveling  phrenologist  (one  who  studies  the  shape  and  irregularities  of  the  skull  
for   insights   into   character   and   mental   capacity)   that   changed   the   school's   mind   and   again   ignited  
her  passion.  Though  his  study  is  now  the  ridicule  of  science,  the  phrenologist's  words  were  to  prove  
prophetic:  "Here  is  a  poetess.  Give  her  every  possible  encouragement.  Read  the  best  books  to  her  
and  teach  her  the  finest  that  is  in  poetry.  You  will  hear  from  this  young  lady  some  day."  
She   was   never   intimidated   to   speak,   read   her   poetry   or   sing   original   composition   before   friends,  
strangers,   congress   or   presidents.   When   she   was   not   able   to   attend   the   dedication   of   President  
Cleveland’s   birthplace   in   1913   because   of   her   health,   she   sent   a   poem   to   be   read   instead.   In   a  
concert  given  for  Congress  in  1844,  she  recited  an  original  composition  that  called  for  the  creation  
of   an   institution   for   the   education   of   the   blind   in   every   state.   This   was   praised   by   John   Quincy  
Adams  and  others  in  attendance.  
A  Way  With  Words  and  Music  
Another   member   of   the   institute,   former   pupil   Alexander   van   Alstine,   married   Crosby   in   1858.  
Considered  one  of  New  York's  best  organists,  he  was  also  blind  and  he  wrote  the  music  to  many  of  
Crosby's   hymns.   Crosby   herself   put   music   to   only   a   few   of   hers,   though   she   played   harp,   piano,  
guitar,  and  other  instruments.    
Many  musicians  came  to  her  for  lyrics.  For  example,  one  day,  musician  William  Doane  dropped  by  
her  home  for  a  surprise  visit,  begging  her  to  put  some  words  to  a  tune  he  had  recently  written  and  
which  he  was  to  perform  at  an  upcoming  Sunday  School  convention.  The  only  problem  was  that  his  
train  to  the  convention  was  leaving  in  35  minutes.  He  sat  at  the  piano  and  played  the  tune.  
"Your   music   says,   'Safe   in   the   Arms   of   Jesus,'"   Crosby   said,   scribbling   out   the   hymn's   words  
immediately.  "Read  it  on  the  train  and  hurry.  You  don't  want  to  be  late!"  The  hymn  became  one  of  
Crosby's  most  famous.  It  was  played  at  the  funeral  of  President  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  
Though   she   was   under   contract   to   submit   three   hymns   a   week   to   her   publisher   and   often   wrote   six  
or   seven   a   day   (for   a   dollar   or   two   each),   many   became   incredibly   popular.   When   Dwight   Moody  
and   Ira   Sankey   began   to   use   them   in   their   crusades,   they   received   even   more   attention.   Among  
them  are  "Blessed  Assurance,"  "All  the  Way  My  Savior  Leads  Me,"  "To  God  Be  the  Glory,"  "Pass  Me  
Not,  O  Gentle  Savior,"  "Safe  in  the  Arms  of  Jesus,"  "Rescue  the  Perishing,"  and  "Jesus  Keep  Me  Near  
the  Cross."  
She  could  write  very  complex  hymns  and  compose  music  with  a  more  classical  structure  (she  could  
even   improvise   it),   but   she   preferred   to   write   simple,   sentimental   verses   that   could   be   used   for  
evangelism.   She   continued   to   write   her   poetry   up   to   her   death,   a   month   shy   of   her   ninety-­‐fifth  
birthday.  "You  will  reach  the  river  brink,  some  sweet  day,  bye  and  bye,"  was  her  last  stanza.    
Her  earliest  published  poem  was  about  a  dishonest  miller  and  was  sent  to  P.  T.  Barnum  without  her  
knowledge.   He   published   it   in   his   own   newspaper,   The   Herald   of   Freedom,   which   focused   of   the  
dangers  of  sectarian  interference  in  politics  that  he  had  started  because  other  papers  rejected  his  
own   article.   In   1841   the   New   York   Herald   published   a   poem   she   had   written   as   a   eulogy   on   the  
death  of  president  William  Henry  Harrison,  which  served  as  the  start  of  her  literary  career.    
Crosby’s   poems   were   often   published   in   the   Saturday   Evening   Post   and   a   number   of   other   well-­‐
known  periodicals.  Although  she  was  often  reluctant  to  publish  her  poems  (she  thought  that  they  
were  “unfinished  productions”)  she  did  so  as  a  way  to  raise  money  and  notoriety  for  the  Institution  
(NYIB).  
In  a  period  of  6  years  (1851-­‐1857)  Fanny  collaborated  with  another  music  instructor  (George  Root)  
at   NYIB   to   write   nearly   sixty   secular   parlor   songs,   some   for   popular   minstrel   shows.   Because   of   the  
negative   view   of   these   shows   among   Christian   and   classical   musicians   these   authors   purposely  
obscured  they  connection  to  the  songs.  Root  used  the  name,  George  Wurzel,  and  Crosby’s  name  was  
often  omitted  completely.  For  many  years  Crosby  was  paid  only  one  to  two  dollars  per  poem  and  
the  composer  or  the  music  publisher  retained  all  rights  to  the  song.  

Unhappiness  Of  Her  Own  

Crosby  and  her  husband  (who  was  also  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  Frances,  who  died  in  her  sleep  
shortly  after  her  birth,  which  some  attribute  to  typhoid  fever  and  others  have  speculated  that  is  was  
SIDS.   Alexander   became   reclusive   and   Fanny   almost   never   spoke   of   being   a   mother,   just   several  
references   in   interviews   late   in   her   life   but   some   speculate   that   the   hymn,   “Safe   in   the   Arms   of  
Jesus”  was  inspired  by  the  short  life  of  her  only  child.  
After  this  time  the  couple  moved  frequently,  never  owning  their  own  home.  They  could  have  lived  
comfortably  with  her  income  and  his  as  the  organist  for  two  churches  and  private  lessons,  they  gave  
most   of   their   income   away,   often   organizing   concerts   as   fundraisers   for   the   poor   of   the   city   even  
though  they  lived  in  destitute  conditions  themselves.  
Although  the  source  of  the  rift  in  their  marriage  is  uncertain  (there  could  be  many  reasons),  they  
basically   spent   two   decades   living   apart.   Crosby   later   insisted   that   they   maintained   an   “amiable  
relationship”   and   kept   in   contact   with   each   other   and   occasionally   ministered   together.   He,  
however,  rarely  accompanied  her  on  her  travels  and  she  vacationed  without  him.  

The  Depth  of  Her  Hymns  

Crosby  had  a  specific  process  to  her  hymn  writing:  she  would  first  pray  and  ask  the  Lord  to  be  her  
inspiration.   Her   capacity   for   work   was   incredible   and   often   she   would   compose   six   or   seven   hymns  
a  day.  Her  poems  and  hymns  were  composed  entirely  in  her  mind  and  she  worked  on  as  many  as  
twelve   hymns   at   once   before   dictating   them   to   someone   who   wrote   them   down.   On   one   occasion  
Crosby  composed  40  hymns  before  they  were  transcribed.    
Her  lyrics  would  usually  be  transcribed  by  her  husband,  or  later  by  her  half-­‐sister  Carolyn  "Carrie"  
Ryder  or  her  secretary  Eva  C.  Cleaveland,  as  Crosby  herself  could  write  little  more  than  her  name.  
While  Crosby  had  musical  training,  she  did  not  compose  the  melody  for  most  of  her  lyrics.  In  1903  
Crosby   claimed   that   "Spring   Hymn"   was   the   only   hymn   she   wrote   both   the   words   and   music.   In  
1906   Crosby   composed   both   the   words   and   music   for   "The   Blood-­‐Washed   Throng",   which   was  
published   and   copyrighted   by   gospel   singer   Mary   Upham   Currier,   who   was   a   distant   cousin   who  
had  been  a  well-­‐known  concert  singer.  
She   has   had   many   sharp   critics.   Some   have   claimed   that   she   could   not   be   called   a   poetess   and  
claiming   that   her   hymns   were   weak   and   poor,   or   that   they   were   crudely   sentimental.   Critics   also  
attacked  her  writing  and  theology.  But  her  hymns  and  poems  had  great  impact  on  her  generation.  
Hymn   writer   George   C.   Stebbins   stated,   “There   was   probably   no   writer   in   her   day   who   appealed  
more  to  the  valid  experience  of  the  Christian  life  or  who  expressed  more  sympathetically  the  deep  
longings   of   the   human   heart   than   Fanny   Crosby.”   And   many   of   her   hymns   have   stood   the   test   of  
time,  still  resonating  with  believers  today.  
Some  of  her  most  beloved  hymns  include:  
A  Wonderful  Savior   Moments  of  Prayer  
All  the  Way  My  Savior  Leads  Me     One  Blessed  Hour  With  Jesus  
Blessed  Assurance     Pass  Me  Not,  O  Gentle  Savior  
Close  To  Thee   Praise  Him!  Praise  Him!  
Draw  Me  Nearer     Redeemed,  How  I  Love  to  Proclaim  It  
Every  Day  and  Hour   Rescue  the  Perishing  
Give  Me  Jesus   Safe  in  the  Arms  of  Jesus    
God  Will  Take  Care  of  You   Saved  By  Grace  
He  Hideth  My  Soul     Tell  Me  the  Story  of  Jesus    
Hide  Me,  O  My  Savior   Take  the  World,  But  Give  Me  Jesus  
Hold  Thou  My  Hand   There  Is  Joy  In  My  Soul  
I  Shall  Know  Him   This  Is  My  Story  
Jesus,  Keep  Me  Near  the  Cross     To  God  Be  the  Glory  
Jesus  Is  Tenderly  Calling   Unsearchable  Riches
 
Perhaps  the  best  way  to  understand  how  impactful  Crosby’s  hymns  are,  is  to  look  at  some  stanzas  
from  a  few  of  these  hymns.  What  are  some  of  the  common  major  themes?  
 
All  the  way  my  Savior  leads  me;   But  His  love  abideth  ever,  
What  have  I  to  ask  beside?   Through  eternal  years  the  same.  
Can  I  doubt  His  tender  mercy,   Oh,  the  height  and  depth  of  mercy!  
Who  through  life  has  been  my  Guide?   Oh,  the  length  and  breadth  of  love!  
Heav’nly  peace,  divinest  comfort,   Oh,  the  fullness  of  redemption,  
Here  by  faith  in  Him  to  dwell!   Pledge  of  endless  life  above!  
For  I  know,  whate’er  befall  me,    
Jesus  doeth  all  things  well;   Some  day  the  silver  cord  will  break,  
For  I  know,  whate’er  befall  me,   And  I  no  more  as  now  shall  sing;  
Jesus  doeth  all  things  well.   But  oh,  the  joy  when  I  shall  wake  
Blessed  assurance,  Jesus  is  mine.     Within  the  palace  of  the  King!  
O  what  a  foretaste  of  glory  divine.     And  I  shall  see  Him  face  to  face,  
Heir  of  salvation,  purchase  of  God.     And  tell  the  story  Saved  by  grace;  
Born  of  his  Spirit,  washed  in  his  blood.     And  I  shall  see  Him  face  to  face,  
This  is  my  story,  this  is  my  song,   And  tell  the  story  Saved  by  grace.  
Praising  my  Savior  all  the  day  long    
  Safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,    
I  am  Thine,  O  Lord,  I  have  heard  Thy  voice,   safe  on  His  gentle  breast,  
And  it  told  Thy  love  to  me;   There  by  His  love  o’ershaded,    
But  I  long  to  rise  in  the  arms  of  faith   sweetly  my  soul  shall  rest.  
And  be  closer  drawn  to  Thee.   Hark!  ’tis  the  voice  of  angels,    
borne  in  a  song  to  me.  
Draw  me  nearer,  nearer  blessed  Lord,  
Over  the  fields  of  glory,    
To  the  cross  where  Thou  hast  died.  
over  the  jasper  sea.  
Draw  me  nearer,  nearer,  nearer  blessed  Lord,  
To  Thy  precious,  bleeding  side.   Safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,    
  safe  on  His  gentle  breast  
Jesus,  keep  me  near  the  cross;     There  by  His  love  o’ershaded,    
there  a  precious  fountain,     sweetly  my  soul  shall  rest.  
free  to  all,  a  healing  stream,      
flows  from  Calvary's  mountain.   I  will  not  be  weary,  tho’  trials  may  come,  
And  troubles  before  me  I  see,  
In  the  cross,  in  the  cross,    
But  count  them  as  nothing  compared  with  the  love  
be  my  glory  ever,    
Of  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  to  me  
till  my  raptured  soul  shall  find    
rest  beyond  the  river.   I’ll  sing  of  His  love,  of  His  wonderful  love,  
  Tho’  billows  like  mountains  may  roll;  
Here  from  the  world  we  turn,  Jesus  to  seek;   I  fear  not  the  tempest,  I  dread  not  the  storm,  
Here  may  His  loving  voice  tenderly  speak!   For  Jesus  gives  joy  to  my  soul.  
Jesus,  our  dearest  Friend,  while  at  Thy  feet  we  bend,   I  cannot  be  weary  when  He  is  my  rest;  
O  let  Thy  smile  descend!  ’Tis  Thee  we  seek.   Whate’er  my  temptations  may  be,  
  I’ll  trust  in  His  promise  because  He  has  said:  
Redeemed,  how  I  love  to  proclaim  it!   “My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee.”  
Redeemed  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb;   There’s  joy  that  no  language  or  thought  can  express,  
Redeemed  through  His  infinite  mercy,   It  comes  from  His  presence  divine;  
His  child  and  forever  I  am.   And  when  in  His  likeness  at  last  I  awake,  
  Its  fullness  I  know  will  be  mine!
Take  the  world,  but  give  me  Jesus,  
All  its  joys  are  but  a  name;  
 
What  She  Wanted  To  Be  Known  For  
Interestingly,  although  best  known  for  her  hymns,  what  she  wanted  to  be  known  for  was  a  rescue  
mission   worker.   Many   of   her   hymns   came   out   of   the   context   of   city   mission   work   –   for   instance,    
More   Like   Jesus"   (1867);   "Pass   Me   Not,   O   Gentle   Saviour"   (1868);   and   "Rescue   the   Perishing"  
(1869)  which  became  the  theme  song  of  the  home  missions  movement.  In  later  interviews  this  is  
what  she  insisted  was  her  occupation.  She  lived  for  decades  in  areas  of  New  York  like  Hell’s  Kitchen,  
The   Bowery   and   The   Tenderloin   and   was   very   aware   of   the   great   needs   of   immigrants   and   the  
urban  poor.  After  her  marriage,  Crosby  "had  other  priorities  and  gave  away  anything  that  was  not  
necessary  to  their  daily  survival".  
Fanny  Crosby  also  wrote  hymns  of  worship  and  poems  of  praise  as  well  as  hundreds  of  letters  to  
friends  in  their  time  of  need.  Her  friend’s  daughter,  Ruth,  had  just  died  so  she  wrote  one  more  letter  
of  condolence.  She  closed  the  letter  with  a  poem:    
You  will  reach  the  river  brink,    
Some  sweet  day,  bye  and  bye;    
You  will  find  your  broken  link,    
Some  sweet  day,  bye  and  bye.    
O  the  loved  one  waiting  there    
By  the  tree  of  life  so  fair,    
Till  you  come  their  joy  to  share    
Some  sweet  day  bye  and  bye.    
Six  hours  later,  Fanny  Crosby  also  reached  the  river  brink  and  passed  away  quietly  in  her  sleep.  She  
no  longer  merely  had  a  foretaste  of  glory  divine,  but  instead,  she  tasted,  and  saw,  the  Real  Thing.  
She  herself  was  finally  “Safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus.”