Fanny Crosby a Profitable Servant the Life, Times and Works of a Diligent Workman Who Needeth Not Be Ashamed
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Fanny Crosby A Profitable Servant The life, times and works of a diligent workman who needeth not be ashamed. 1 Outline… • Why Fanny Crosby? • Childhood • The Institute • Career • Key People: DL Moody, ID Sankey, Presidents…, • William Doane, Main & Main • Notable Events • Cholera • Addresses to Congress • Contact with Contemporaries • Faith • Marriage • Publications • Ministries: • NYC Missions, Giving to the poor, Children’s Ministries • Resources 2 “By any standard, Crosby deserves study…” “She produced thousands of hymns and thus left her mark on Protestant devotion.” At the time of her death: A contemporary newspaper tribute by Annie Willis observed of Crosby: “The writer of favorite hymns is one of the great powers that influence the world.” Trinity Hymnal, 2006 • 55 To God Be the Glory Heard Thy Voice • 173 Praise Him! Praise Him! • 556 Though Your Sins Be as • 175 A Wonderful Savior Is Jesus Scarlet My Lord • 605 All the Way My Savior Leads • 234 Tell Me the Story of Jesus Me • 264 Jesus, Keep Me Near the • 693 Blessed Assurance Cross • 701 Redeemed, How I Love to • 533 I Am Thine, O Lord, I Have Proclaim It! Her Heart Can See The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby by Edith L. Blumhofer 3 Tell Me the Story of Jesus… 4 Introduction… Francis Jane Crosby; Born March 24, 1820 in Brewster, NY Died February 12, 1915 in Bridgeport, CT at the Age of 94 “Her lifetime overlapped those of every president from John Adams to Dwight D. Eisenhower. During her life the country’s population swelled from 5 million to 100 million, and the number of stars on the flag increased from twenty-three to forty-eight. In 1820 James Monroe sat in the White House; in 1915 Woodrow Wilson led a nation poised at the brink of World War I. In 1820 the population included millions of slaves, …in 1915 millions of recently arrived southern and eastern Europeans challenged Americans to adapt to greater religious and ethnic pluralism. The young Crosby rode about in horse-drawn carts. The year she died, railroads crisscrossed the United States and the Ford Motor Company produced its millionth automobile.” Her Heart Can See The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby by Edith L. Blumhofer 5 Where… 1. Born in Putnam County, (Southeast) Brewster, NY 2. North Salem, NY 3. Rigdgefield, CT 4. NY Institute for The Blind 5. Married: Maspeth, (Queens) NY 6. Died Bridgeport, CT 6 Family… • Great Britain; 8 ancient sites bear the name Crosby dating back to 1204 • Crosby means "town of the cross" • The first Crosbys arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632 • "My ancestors were Puritans; my family tree rooted around Plymouth Rock; all my predecessors of lineage died at a good old age." Fanny Crosby 1903 • I was raised as a “Calvinistic Presbyterian” FC Memories of 80 Years • Father: John Crosby • Mother Mercy Crosby Crosby • Grandmother: Eunice Crosby Mercy, Julia, and Caroline Morris and Fanny Crosby7 Blinded at just six weeks old… • At six weeks old, Crosby caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes. Regular physician was out of town. Man claiming to be a doctor recommended mustard poultice • Her corneas were burned and scar tissue developed obscuring all but the brightest light. The doctor fled and was never heard from again. o“What kind of life can a blind girl have? Who will want our precious Fanny?” John Crosby 8 Father dies when Fannie was 6 months… • That same year, John Crosby was working his field on a rainy day in November and came in badly chilled. He died 3 days later. • 1825 Mercy, a widow at 21, moved to North Salem, NY, Grandma Eunice’s home. She realized though, that her father could not support her and Fanny. She took a job as a maid with a wealthy, nearby landowner. 9 Very Early Training… • Grandma Eunice (1778-1831) took a special interest in Fanny. For the child’s first 4 or 5 years, Eunice was closer to her than her own mother. • Eunice decided that she would be her granddaughter’s eyes. She firmly resolved that Fanny would not be a helpless invalid, dependent on others as so many others were in those days. • She taught Fanny about botany and to love God's creation. Taught her to recognize flowers and trees by the feel of their leaves asking: “Now what tree was this one from?” • Spent many hours vividly describing the landscape, sun, stars and the moon to young Fanny “Fanny Crosby” by Bernard Ruffin 10 Hope for Healing… • 1825 at the age of 5 • Market wagon to Sing Sing then by sloop down Hudson to NYC • Famous Dr. Valentine Mott, Chair of Surgery at Columbia College School of Medicine • She could see some light and color but little else. • After examining her eyes he said “There was no hope, malpractice had spoiled them” “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” by Chester and S. Ann Hearn 11 Age 8, her first poem… Oh, what a happy soul I am, 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! “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” by Chester and S. Ann Hearn 12 Longing for Learning… Desiring God… • Fanny longed to learn like the other children • Fanny prayed to be able to learn and to be able to go to school • One day while visiting grandma, Eunice saw Fanny’s concern and asked her: will you meet your grandma in God’s house on high? • Fanny: “By the grace of God I will.” • Grandma Eunice died shortly there after. 13 Zealously memorized the Bible… • “… I was eight years old, when we moved to (nearby) Ridgefield, Connecticut; and there we remained until I was fourteen. • “During these years my greatest anxiety centered itself in the constant thought that I would not be able to get an education; but, in the meantime, I was determined to be as content as circumstances would allow, and to hope for any good fortune that the future might have in store.” • “Mrs. Hawley, a kind Christian lady, in whose house we resided, and who had no children of her own, became deeply interested in me, and under her supervision (while Mercy was at work) I acquired a thorough knowledge of the Bible. She (read) me a number of chapters each week to learn, …I could repeat a large portion of the first four books of the Old Testament and the four Gospels. At Sunday-School the children would stand in the aisles and repeat some of the passages that they had committed during the previous week; and there was considerable rivalry in trying to recite the largest number.” *131 Christians Everyone Should Know Broadman & Holman Publishers. **Memories of Eighty Years by Fanny J. Crosby 14 New York Institute for the Blind • Shortly before her fifteenth birthday, Crosby was sent to the recently founded New York Institute for the Blind, which would be her home for 23 years: • 12 as a student, 11 as a teacher. • She initially indulged in her own poetry and was called upon to pen verses for various occasions. *131 Christians Everyone Should Know 15 Hamilton Murray… • Fanny’s original poetry and engaging personality quickly won her the frequent duty of writing and reading her verse for visiting dignitaries • Hamilton Murray read long passages of poetry to Fanny and required her to memorize them • Taught her meter, rhyme, and rapidity of composition 16 Some of her publications… • 1831 First publication of one of her poems • 1844 First volume of verse “The Blind Girl and Other Poems” • When the legislation failed to pass she went about the same end another way… • Full List online 17 Poetry for presidents… • 1843 By age 23 Crosby was addressing Congress… “…when I finished my poem there was a dreadful silence which I interpreted to mean that the audience was not pleased. With mingled emotions, alternating between hope and fear, I waited, … In reality I suppose, not more than thirty seconds passed before there was such a tremendous applause that I was actually frightened.” • … she knew all the chief executives of her lifetime • Back again in 1844 & 1846 Lobbying to pass legislation for “schools for the blind in every state” Galli, M., & Olsen, T. (2000). Introduction. In 131 Christians everyone should know (pp. 160–162) Eighty Years by Fanny Crosby https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Crosby#Marriage_and_family 18 Influential Co-Worker… • Grover Cleveland • 16 years old joined NYIB as a staff clerk • Spent many hours in conversation with and taking dictation from Fanny • Later became 22nd & 24th President of United States My dear friend: "It is more than fifty years ago that our acquaintance and friendship began; and ever since that time I have watched your continuous …labor in uplifting humanity, and pointing out the way to an appreciation of God's goodness and mercy. “… those who have known of your works and sympathized with your noble purposes owe it to themselves that you are apprized of their remembrance of these things. I am, therefore, exceedingly gratified to learn that your eighty-fifth birthday is to be celebrated... As one proud to call you an old friend, I desire to be early in congratulating you on your long life of usefulness, and wishing you in the years yet to be added to you, the peace and comfort born of the love of God. Stephen Grover Cleveland "Yours very sincerely, 22nd & 24th President "Grover Cleveland.“ Memories of Eighty Years by Fanny J.