Fanny gave the Christian world such songs as: A Shelter In The Time Of Storm, All The Way My Saviour Leads Me, Blessed Assurance, Close To Thee, He Hideth My Soul, I Am Thine 0 Lord, Jesus Is Calling, My Saviour First Of All, Near The Cross, Pass Me Not, Praise Him Praise Him, Redeemed, Rescue The Perishing, Safe In The Arms Of Jesus, Saved By Grace, Saviour More Than Life To Me, Speed Away, Take The World But Give Me Jesus, Tell Me The Story Of Jesus, The Lights Of Home, Thou Mighty To Save, Tho' Your Sins Be As Scarlet, Tis The Blessed Hour Of Prayer, To God Be The Glory, To The Work, Will Jesus Find Us Watching ... to mention but a few.
Born in a one-story cottage, her father, John, was never to be remembered by Fanny for he died in her twelfth month. When Fanny was six weeks old, she caught a slight cold in her eyes. The family physician was away. Another country doctor was called in to treat her. He prescribed hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes, which destroyed her sight completely! It was later learned that the man was not qualified to practice medicine, but he had left town and was never heard of again. Fanny never felt any resentment against him, but believed it was permitted by the Lord to fulfill His plan for her life. A wise mother set about immediately to prepare her daughter for a happy life, in spite of this great handicap.
When but five years old, she was taken by her mother to consult the best eye specialist in the country, Dr. Valentine Mott. Neighbors and friends pooled money together in order to send her. The dreaded answer came, "Poor child, I am afraid you will never see again." Fanny did not think she was poor. It was not the loss of sight that bothered her young heart. It was the thought that she would never be able to get an education like other boys and girls. Surprisingly, at the age of eight, she wrote her first recorded poetry: 0 what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, 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! Around nine years of age, the family moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she was to stay until age 15. Mother was kind, but busy making a living for both of them, so it was Grandmother who became an unforgettable influence in her life. Grandmother spent many hours describing the things of nature and heaven to her. Also, she introduced Fanny to the Bible and this book now became more familiar to her than any other. She began to devour the scriptures. It is said, that as a child, she could repeat from memory the Pentateuch, the book of Ruth, many of the Psalms, the books of Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and much of the New Testament! This furnished the themes, inspiration, and diction for her imperishable gospel hymns.
Two great blind poets of history, Homer and Milton, were to be joined by another great, Fanny Crosby, who published her first poem at the age of eleven.
Near her 15th birthday came a happy announcement ... Mother could send her to a new school, The Institution For The Blind in New York City. Fanny clapped her hands joyfully and cried, "O thank God, He has answered my prayer, just as I knew He would." So it was on March 3, 1835, that Fanny boarded a stage for Norwalk and then a boat for New York City. She was to spend the next 23 years of her life there, as a student for twelve years, and then as a teacher for eleven years more.
From early childhood the sightless girl had felt the urge to write poetry and several short verses had come from her lips. At the institution her abilities began to assert themselves with renewed force. Her teachers did not encourage her efforts but strangers did.
William Cullen Bryant visited the school one day and gave her much encouragement, after chancing to read some of her verses. She said afterwards, "He never knew how much he did by those few words." Then one day, Dr. Combe of Boston, examined the heads of the blind students. As he felt her head, he exclaimed:
And 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.
This was the encouragement that she needed. Poetry began to flow from her heart and mind. In the autumn of 1843, when she was 23, she was the sightless guest of Congress. Endeavoring to secure an appropriation for its work, a group from the school was sent there. She paid tribute to Congress in original verse and then began paying tribute to the Lord. She delivered no stirring oration, nor pathetic story but simply recited some poems, about the tender care of a loving Saviour. She spoke with conviction, as though she had seen the Saviour face to face. The notable assembly addressed included such men as: John Quincy Adams, Thomas E. Benton, Hamilton Fish, Henry A. Wise, Alexander Stevens, Jefferson Davis, and Robert Toombs. Before long, tears were glistening on the hearers cheeks, for whether great or small, thousands were to find her message a healing balm for the soul.
As a result of this witness, she began to make friends with the great political and religious leaders of her time and no one could forget her once they met her. During her lifetime, she knew all the presidents except George Washington. President VanBuren dined with her and remained one of her warmest friends. She heralded the virtues of William Henry Harrison even though he served but one month. When President Tyler came to the Institution For The Blind, Fanny welcomed him with an original poem. Her friendship with President Polk was close and inspiring. She enjoyed a close friendship with President Cleveland for more than half a century, for at one time he was the secretary of the Institution For The Blind while she taught. He took an unusual interest in her life and work and was often engaged in copying her poems.
Many visitors came to the school making memorable occasions for all. Once, Jenny Lind came. She sang and Fanny Crosby recited her poem called, `The Swedish Nightingale.' When Henry Clay visited the school, Miss Crosby was elected to recite a poem in his honor. When she had finished, Clay took her by the hand and said, "this is not the only poem for which I am indebted to this lady. Six months ago, she sent me some lines on the death of my dear son." Young Clay was killed in a battle in Mexico. Standing there, the great statesman and the blind poet wept together.
At school her first book published at age 24, was entitled The Blind Girl and Other Poems. Also, she composed several popular songs and assisted in writing what was probably the first cantata published in America. At age 27, she became an instructor at the school, a position which she held until 1858, when she left.
With all of her apparent devotion to Christ, already shared in so many ways, it is hard to believe that she was not converted until 1851, age 31 . This glorious beginning happened at a revival service held at the old John Street Methodist Church in New York which she joined. Recalling the incident years later, she said: After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, `Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed?' and when they reached the third line of the fifth stanza, `Here, Lord, I give myself away,' my very soul was flooded with celestial light.
Romance came into the life of Fanny Crosby, also. As early as age 20 she fell in love with another blind student by the name of Alexander VanAlstyne. He was especially fond of music and was captivated by her poems. She, likewise, was fascinated by his sweet strains of music. Later, he was to write the music of some of her hymn-poems and spend 44 years with her in marriage. One day in June he sang to his beloved, the music of his heart. Fanny tells the story:
From that hour two lives looked on a new universe, for love met love and all the world was changed. We were no longer blind, for the light of love showed where the lilies bloomed, and where the crystal waters found the moss-mantled spring.
He also became a teacher and for over 15 years their friendship bloomed. Finally, on March 5, 1858, she was married at age 37. Life was just beginning for Fanny Crosby, for her life's ministry was still ahead.
The marriage was a happy one with VanAlstyne, who lived until 1902. The couple had one child, only to be taken in death while yet a baby. Perhaps this incident helped inspire Fanny to write, Safe In The Arms Of Jesus, which was to comfort thousands of grief stricken parents suffering a similar fate.
Upon her marriage, she intended to use the name Mrs. VanAlstyne, but her husband insisted that she continue to use her maiden name, which was already quite famous. Later, the couple united with the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church, in New York. Fanny Crosby remained a lifelong Methodist.
Through Peter Stryker, the minister of a Dutch Reformed Church, in New York City, she met the well-known composer, William Bradbury. He gave her a most cordial welcome: Fanny, I thank God that we have at last met, for I think you can write hymns, and I have sought for a long time to have a talk with you.
He suggested that she attempt a hymn for him that week. This was the opportunity that she was waiting for. In three days she returned and submitted her first sacred song, the initial stanza of which reads:
We are going, we are going to a home beyond the skies, where the fields are robed in beauty, and the sunlight never dies.
This was in 1864, when Fanny was 44. Now, her course was set and this was her first hymn, used as a Sunday School hymn.
Some stories of her most famous hymn-poems follow:
