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| Fanny Crosby |
By Marilyn Turk
How many of you know the hymn “Rescue the Perishing?” Or “Blessed Assurance” or “To God Be the Glory?”
Did you know they were written by a blind woman?
Indeed, they and about 8000 other hymns and gospel songs
were written by Frances Jane Crosby, otherwise known as Fanny Crosby. Born in
1820, Fanny is one of the most prolific hymn writers in history. Over 100
million copies of her songs have been printed. She’s known as the “Queen of
Gospel Song Writers and the “mother of modern congregational singing in
America.”
Most American hymnals contain her work, rivaling Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley in productivity. In addition to hymns written under her own name, she wrote under almost 200 pseudonyms because some publishers were reluctant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals. She also composed over 1000 poems, as well as, secular and patriotic songs.
Most American hymnals contain her work, rivaling Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley in productivity. In addition to hymns written under her own name, she wrote under almost 200 pseudonyms because some publishers were reluctant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals. She also composed over 1000 poems, as well as, secular and patriotic songs.
Fanny became blind months after she was born, a fact she considered
a gift from God. At the age of eight, she wrote her first poem. Years later,
she said, “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 around me.”
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| Fanny Crosby |
She also once said, “When I get to heaven, the first face
that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”
Fanny gave credit to her blindness for her good memory as
well, saying that had it not been for the affliction, she might not have so
good an education, have so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a
memory. And what a memory she had. Vefore the invention of braille, she was not able to write herself, so she had to
dictate her hymns to someone else, sometimes storing as many as twelve in her
mind at once before they could be dictated. At one point, Fanny composed forty
hymns before they were transcribed.
Her creative productivity was amazing and her work ethic
impressive. But the secret to her talent lay in her method. She described it
this way. “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.”
In addition to her method, her motivation stirred her to
write, setting a personal goal to win a million people to Christ through her
hymns, and that, too, was part of her prayers.
Although Fanny Crosby is best known for her hymns, she
preferred to be known as a city mission worker. As she aged, she saw her true
vocation as one who helped the needy, inner-city people rather than as a famous
songwriter. She preferred to live in the poorer areas of Manhattan to better
relate to the needs of those in urban rescue missions. Afraid to be considered
wealthy, she gave away most of her earnings to those less fortunate. Many of
her hymns were inspired by her involvement in missions, in particular, “Rescue
the Perishing,” which became the theme song for the home missions movement.
Do you have a favorite Fanny Crosby hymn?
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| Fanny Crosby's Tombstone, Died Feb. 12, 1915 |
Marilyn Turk lives in and writes about the coastal South. By popular demand, her lighthouse blog at marilynturk.com, has spawned Lighthouse Devotions, now available at Amazon. Click here.