Fanny Crosby “ You can't save a man by telling him of his sins. He knows them already. Tell him there is “ Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make a petition, it would have been that I was born pardon and love waiting for him. Win his confidence and make him understand that you blind? Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my ~~~ believe in him, and never give him up!" savior.” ~ Fanny Crosby ~ Fanny Crosby Communicating Through Music Thesis Writing Hymns Music has been a way to communicate for centuries. In the 19th century, For many years, Fanny only wrote poems but eventually started adding Fanny Crosby used music to communicate her love for Jesus by writing over music to them with the help of her husband. She earned a reputation 9000 hymns. As a result, millions of people can use those hymns as they If per fect earth ly sight were o ered me “Two of my secrets for staying happy and healthy are to control my tongue and to for her new songs and got a job to write hymns for a publisher, making worship. to mor row I would not ac cept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God control my thoughts. I never want to say an only a few dollars per hymn. She wrote 6 to 7 hymns a day, which led unkind word. I never want to think an if I had been dis trac ted by the beautiful her to have written 9,000 hymns in her life. To avoid suspicion about and in ter est ing things about me. unkind thought. If you find anyone happier than I am, I want you to show him to me. ~ Fanny Crosby so many hymns written under her real name, Fanny used many My cup of happiness is full to overflowing.” pseudonyms to get her hymns published. As paperlesshymnal.com ~ Fanny Crosby states, “ Fanny used many pseudonyms including: A., C., DHW, V.A., Ella Dale, Jenny V., Mrs. Jenie Glenn, Mrs. Kate Grimley, Viola, Grace J. Francis, Mrs. C. M. Wilson, Lizzie Edwards, Henrietta E. Blair, Rose Atherton, Maud Marion, Leah Carlton, and many others.” Some of her famous hymns are Blessed Assurance, Safe in the Arms of Jesus, Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, and more. “There was probably no writer in her day who appealed more to the valid experience “It seemed intended by the blessed Fanny Crosby with her stepsisters and stepmom Providence of God that I should be blind all Inspirationalchristains.org of the Christian life or who expressed more sympathetically the deep longings of the my life, and I thank Him for the human heart than Fanny Crosby.” dispensation.” ~George Stebbins Fanny Crosby writing music ~ Fanny Crosby Britannica.com 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 “ It is not enough to have a song on your “ The Holy Book has nurtured my lips. You must also have a song in your That other people don’t, entire life.” heart.” ~ Fanny Crosby ~ Fanny Crosby Fanny Crosby with husband Alexander Van Alstyne To weep and sigh because I’m blind Paperlesshymnal.com I cannot, and I won’t! ~ First Poem by Fanny Crosby “In more than eighty-five years, I have not for a moment felt a spark of resentment against the doctor who blinded me, for I have always believed from my youth up that the good Lord, in His Fanny’s Early Years infinite mercy, by this means consecrated me to the work that I am still permitted to do.” ~ Fanny Crosby Fanny attended the New York Institute for the Blind, later becoming a teacher. While teaching, she met and married Alexander Van Alstyne in 1858, who was also blind. “My grandmother was more to me than I could ever express by word or pen.” They had a daughter who died in infancy. To reassure her husband, Fanny wrote the ~ Fanny Crosby poem, Safe in the Arms of Jesus, referring to their baby. Alexander taught music, he was able to help Fanny compose music for the poem that later became a hymn and inspired the writing of other hymns. Fanny Crosby’s Impact Fanny became so popular in the public that she was the first woman to be addressed by the US Congress and met 21 presidents, from Early Influences John Quincy Adams to Woodrow Wilson. Fanny succeeded in communicating the love of Jesus through her hymns. Her hymns are Fanny Crosby was born in New York on March 24, 1820 with an eye typically very simple as they tell the story about Jesus, and left infection that blinded her. She was raised by her mother and people interested and wanting to know more about him. Her hymns grandmother who taught her about Jesus and the Bible. Her led more than 1 million people to Christ. Fanny’s songs are still sung grandmother also taught her songs and poems about Jesus and helped in churches, even 100 years later, She got attention for her work, but her memorize parts of the Bible. She even wrote her own poem when always made sure Jesus got the credit. she was eight, which would inspire her to write many more throughout her life. Blessed Assurance by Fanny Crosby Safe in the Arms of Jesus by Fanny Crosby Fanny Crosby Thearda.com “It may seem a little old-fashioned, always to begin Fanny Crosby Thearda.com one’s work with prayer, but I never undertake a hymn without first asking the good Lord to be my inspiration.” ~Fanny Crosby “Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important for us. We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded that we are Vulnerable. We must be treated as equals, and communication is the best way we can bring this about.” “Since you cannot see, we will be your eyes for you…You can see it through our eyes. We’ll tell you about it. You can make up pictures of it in your head.” "Fanny Crosby was not held back at all by her “One of the easiest resolutions that I ~ Louis Braille ~ Grandma Eunice Crosby blindness… the words of her poetry and formed in my young and joyous heart was hymns helped more people to see and know to leave all care to yesterday and to believe and experience Jesus as anybody with two that the morning would bring forth its own working eyes and 20/20 vision." peculiar joy.” ~ Reverend Alfred T. Day ~Fanny Crosby Fanny Crosby~ Communicating Through Music Kathryn Woodward Junior Division Individual Exhibit Student Composed Words: 408 Process Paper: 451 Process Paper I chose my topic when I received a book last year on Fanny Crosby. After hearing the theme for this year, I saw the book and it drew my attention. I looked into some other subjects, but Fanny Crosby stuck, so I decided to do my project on her. First I started out reading the book to get a foundation of knowledge about Fanny Crosby and her life. Then I started searching the New York Institute for the Blind and when she was a student and then when she taught there. I researched information about the time when she wrote her hymns. I gathered the information and started putting it together. I started out with creating a rough draft of my paragraphs and edited them a few times until I was pleased with the results. Then I created my bibliography, annotated it, sorted it in primary and secondary, and put it in MLA format. I looked for quotes that Fanny Crosby said and found a good amount. I also found lots of quotes about her and blindness from other people. Then I looked for pictures of Fanny Crosby, the New York Institute of the Blind, and some of her hymns. I first started my project by compiling the information and deciding how I wanted it to look. Because I have done an exhibit in previous years, I knew how the layout of the board should look, so it was easy for me to do online. I started with where I wanted the paragraphs and then found a place for the pictures. I tried to match the pictures near the subject of the paragraphs that would make sense. Then I found a place for the quotes using the same process. I had to rearrange some of the items a few times, but finally found a layout that worked. After going to the Regional competition, I used the judges comments to add or change some information. My NHD teacher helped me edit my paragraphs and I lowered my word count. I then rearranged my board some. My project relates to the theme, Communication in History, because by writing the hymns, Fanny Crosby communicated her love of Jesus. Fanny also communicated stories through her songs. She told people about his works and power. In some of her hymns, she told stories about her life and how Jesus helped Fanny personally. The hymn, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus'' refers to her child that died in infancy. Fanny wrote this to give comfort to her husband about the child. She changed the lives of many people and continues to change them by giving them knowledge and comfort of God everywhere through her 9,000 hymns.