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NEWS &
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FEATURES |
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FANNY J.
CROSBY, BLIND HYMN WRITER |
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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 favoured 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 pen names.
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. Fanny Crosby died in 1915.
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This page
is updated on Sep 18, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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