This Blind Woman Wrote many of the Hymns you sing in Church today. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

“Pass me not, o gentle Savior” is one of the most sang hymn in Churches today but only a few people knew the touching story of the blind woman who wrote the hymn and many other popular hymns we sing today. Here is a brief insight into the life and works of Fanny Crosby, the blind author of your favorite hymns.

Frances Jane van Alstyne more commonly known as Fanny Crosby, was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. Born 24th March 1820, Crosby was one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, with more than 100 million copies printed, despite being blind from shortly after birth. She is also known for her teaching and her rescue mission work. By the end of the 19th century, she was a household name.

Fanny Crosby was remembered as the Queen of Gospel Song Writers and also as the Mother of modern congregational singing in America, with most American hymnals containing her work. Her gospel songs were paradigmatic of all revival music, and the famous Ira Sankey credited the success of the Moody and Sankey evangelical campaigns largely to Crosby’s hymns. Some of her best-known songs include: Pass Me Not-O Gentle Saviour, Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home, Praise Him, Praise Him, Rescue the Perishing, and To God Be the Glory. 

Crosby’s place of birth

Some publishers were reluctant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals, so Crosby used nearly 200 different pseudonyms during her career.

According to Wikipedia, Fanny Crosby wrote more than 1,000 secular poems and had four books of poetry published in her lifetime. She as well wrote two best-selling autobiographies. Besides, she co-wrote outstanding nonreligious songs, as well as political and patriotic songs and at least five cantatas on biblical and patriotic themes, including The Flower Queen, the first secular cantata by an American composer. She was committed to Christian rescue missions and was known for her public speaking.

On January 24, 1844 Fanny Crosby with other students from the NYIB gave a concert for the United Congress. She recited a unique composition calling for an institution for educating the blind in every state which was praised by John Quincy Adams, among others. 

Two days later, she was among a group of Blind Institution students who gave a presentation to notable people at Trenton, New Jersey, where she recited an original poem calling for the aid and education of the blind. President James K. Polk visited the NYIB in 1845 and Crosby recited a poem that she composed for the occasion which praised the republican government.

Fanny Crosby’s earliest published poem was on the theme of a dishonest miller. The publication was made without her knowledge by P. T. Barnum, in his The Herald of Freedom.

However, it should be noted that she wrote her first poem when she was Eight years old. In that poem she described her condition.

“It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” She said.

When Crosby was still young, three years old to be precise, her family moved to North Salem, New York. In April 1825, she was examined by the surgeon Valentine Mott, who concluded that her problem was inoperable stating that her blindness was permanent.

Crosby and her husband

On March 5, 1858, Crosby married Alexander Van Alstyne. In 1859, the van Alstynes had a daughter named Frances who died in her sleep soon after birth. Some believe that the cause was typhoid fever, although Darlene Neptune speculates that it may have been SIDS and that Crosby’s hymn “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” was inspired by her death.

Crosby died at Bridgeport of arteriosclerosis on February 12, 1915 after a six-month illness, aged 94. She was buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, CT near her mother and other members of her family. Her family erected a very small tombstone at her request which carried the words: “Aunt Fanny: She hath done what she could; Fanny J. Crosby”.

The life of this great woman proved to humanity that God can use whomever He wishes no matter the situation.