Fanny J. Crosby was born March
24, 1820 in Putnam County, New York. She is considered to be the
most important writer of gospel songs that America has ever
produced.
When Fanny was six
weeks old, she caught a cold, and her eyes became slightly
inflamed. Her regular physician was out of town, and a man
posing as a doctor gave her the wrong treatment. Within a
few days, her eyesight was gone. Fanny was never
bitter. She once said, "I have not for a moment in
more than eighty-five years felt a spark of resentment against
him, because I have always believed that the good Lord, by this
means consecrated me to the work that I am still permitted to
do."
Fanny was not given
to
self-pity either. One
time a preacher said, "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 , "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 clergyman. "Because
when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my
sight will be that of my Savior!"
From early childhood, Fanny showed a
natural gift for poetry. She had considerable experience in
writing secular verse
before she turned her talents to writing sacred poetry at the age of
44. She wrote between 8500 and 9000 texts, many of which were set
to music by the leading hymn writers of the day. Included
among her hymns are such popular favorites as "Blessed
Assurance," "To God Be the Glory," "Saved by
Grace," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," and "I Am
Thine, O Lord."
Fanny died
peacefully in her home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on February
12, 1915. The crowds at her funeral were a testimony to the
wide-spread influence she had for the Lord. On her grave
is a simple marker with the name "Aunt Fanny" and
these words:
Blessed
assurance, Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
William H. Doane
William H. Doane was born in Preston,
Connecticut in 1832. He was the chief musical collaborator with
Fanny Crosby in the production of gospel songs. He was a talented
musician as a performer (flute and organ) as well as a choral
conductor. Of his over 2000 hymn tunes, many are still in common
use today.
