By Sue Fitton
Ever listen to a tune, hum a song, hear a melody, recall certain phrases, and then real-ize there is a common thread throughout? Such is the case with Fanny Crosby’s name attributed to countless well-known hymns such as Blessed Assurance, To God Be the Glory, and Near the Cross. Without a doubt, she was a remarkable woman.
Born in 1820, Fanny Crosby lost her sight at the age of six weeks to an eye infec-tion and medical ignorance. As a young child she zealously memorized the Bible with her grandmother’s help. At age 15, she became a student, and later a teacher of English and an-cient history at the New York Institute for the Blind. While there she started crusading for the education of the blind. In 1843 she joined a group of lobbyists for the same cause in the nation’s Capital. She was the first woman to appear before the US Senate and later a joint session of Congress, pressing for a school for the blind in every state.
In 1858 she married Alexander Van Alstyne, also blind and a former student. Their only child died in infancy.
As a poet, she wrote lyrics for scores of songs. About 1864 Fanny began writing hymns, between an astounding 5500 and 9000
in all. The exact number is obscured by nu-merous pseudonyms used to preserve her modesty. Many of the hymns were especially popular in the Methodist church, which, for a time, observed an annual Fanny Crosby Day.
Crosby considered her true vocation to be helping the poor, living in some of New York’s roughest neighborhoods. She gave away so much of her money to aid those in need that she frequently found herself on the edge of poverty.
At age 60, following her husband’s death, she decided to focus her life on mission work, serving rescue missions. She provided support and counseling to alcoholics, the homeless, and unwed mothers. In her will, she directed that her money be used to provide shelter to homeless men. Her bequest estab-lished the Fanny Crosby Memorial Home for the Aged that opened in 1925.
Fanny Crosby died in 1915 of a stroke following a prolonged illness. She was 94 years old. At her request, her grave was marked with a small tombstone bearing this inscription: “Aunt Fanny: She hath done what she could.” Fanny Crosby’s remarkable life shows just how much one person can do when inspired by the love of God!