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Northwest Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“In Tribute to Fanny Jane Crosby” |
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I. Introduction.
A. Fanny Crosby, one of greatest American writers of hymns,
lived to be 95 years old. For all but 6 weeks of that time,
she could, physically, see nothing. But, her spiritual
insight, and vision, have helped generations of people and
her songs are among best-loved and most-often sung
compositions.B. Her blindness originated when she was 6-weeks old, when
a country doctor mistakenly prescribed a mustard plaster
for an eye ailment.1. Misfortune turned to blessing when she began to
write verses at age of 8.2. At 12, she entered the New York City School for
Blind and remained there, as a student and a
teacher, for 23 years.3. A future President, Grover Cleveland, was secretary
for the school, and he often transcribed poems she
dictated to him. When he became President, many
years later, Fanny was a frequent guest at the White
House.C. In 1858, she married Alexander Von Alstyne, a teacher at
the school.1. At age 44, in 1864, at urging of popular church
music composer William B. Bradbury, she began
to write religious poetry.2. Over the next 50 years, she produced poem after
poem – for a number of those years, she was under
contract to the Bigelow and Main Company to
write 3 hymns a week. Her poems eventually
numbered 9,000!D. Fanny Crosby never could remember having seen anything,
but her ability to “visualize” color and movement was truly
remarkable.1. Her lyrics are simple and scriptural; earnest and
evangelistic.2. They capture very spirit, and essence, of gospel
message.E. Three (3) generations after Fanny Crosby’s death, her
songs are still frequently sung, and are very popular.1. To write the words, or music, for just one song that
has lasting impact is an accomplishment.2. Fanny Crosby far surpassed that and left legacy of
many songs that have proclaimed gospel to many
people.F. Focus, now, on some of commonly-sung words of this
blind poet. Not to glorify her, but to glorify One of Whom
she wrote and Whom she trusted.1. Listen to few lines from her poem “Hold Thou My
Hand” composed in 1880:“Hold Thou my hand; so weak I am, and helpless.
I dare not take one step without Thine aid;
Hold Thou my hand, for then, O loving Savior,
No dread of ill shall make my soul afraid.Hold Thou my hand, that when I reach the margin
Of that long river Thou didst cross for me,
A heavenly light may flash along its waters,
And ev’ry wave like crystal bright shall be.”2. Fanny Crosby helped people “see” Jesus and the
Father. Quote from F. Furman Kearley:“We cannot approach singing . . . passively, waiting
for the leaders to stimulate us, but we must
approach [it] with a heartfelt desire to express the
thoughts, praises and yearnings of the heart of
God.”This is just what people like Fanny Crosby help us
to do, as she did in her writing.II. Songs (19 in book).
#4 (“To God Be The Glory”).
#300 (“Praise Him! Praise Him!”).
#383 (“Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross”).
#480 (“Blessed Assurance”).
#508 (“A Wonderful Savior”).
Optional: #514 (“Redeemed”).
#639 (“Rescue The Perishing”).
#849 (“A Wonderful Savior”).
III. Invitation. (Go back to scripture reading: Luke 7:20-23).