The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-19
MRS. CROSBY
Tho Famous Blind Hymn Writer
Speaks at Hope Street Church.

Mrs. Fannie ]. Crosby. the famous
writer OF hymns. spoke before large
audience at the Hope Street Methodist
church last evening. and although So
years old. was most interesting and her
remarks were closely followed.
The service opened with praise
meeting and singing OF Mrs. Crosby's
hymns.
Mrs. Crosby In opening recited poem
composed by herself entitled: "Only to
/, Live for Thy Glory. Only to Know We
Are Thine" She took as her text for the
evening the words And now abideth
Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest
OF these is Love-
Mrs. Crosby said that faith is the cvi-
dence of things not seen. II teaches us
TO adore God and TO believe every word
that He has spoken. 10 obey His COM
mands, and 10 trust and look up TO Him.
Faith, so the speaker said. has done
world OF good, and In all cases unlocks
the doors of prayer. II will lead TO the
gates OF Paradise, and then love will
hold US there. She said that love was the
great engine which In time will draw the
entire world to the feet Of God. and at
the present time we could not exist with
out IL. She spoke of the great growth OF
the Methodist church I'm recent years.
and said that 1t was sure to grow still
larger in the years To come.
Some OF the hymns which Mrs. Crosby
has written and which have attained n
wide reputation are Blessed Assur-
ance." Rescue the Perishing," II Am
Thine, Lord. Though Your Sins Be
as Scarlet" Saved by Grace" Pass Me
Not, o Gentle Saviour" Safe In the
Arms of Jesus" "A Handful of Leaves"
Jesus Will Give You Rest" Lord at
Tbtr Ia. ha Int
Give Me Jesus" GLORY TO God. Hallelu-
jah," only n Beam of Sunshine" Re
deemed, How ] Love to Proclaim It.
Come Unto Me, Ye Weary" Jesus is
Calling" Speed Away" "All the Way
My saviour Leads Me-" ITO the Work.
to Me- I'm Thy Cleft, Q Rock Of Ages,
Thou, Ny Everlasting Portion and
Tell lie the Story OF Jesus"
Mrs. Crosby was born In South East.
Putnam county. n. Y, March "a 1920.
and when she was six weeks OF .-.ve an
which resulted I'm her total loss OF vision
At the age OF her parents moved to the
town OF Ridgeheld, Conn, and at the age
Of 10 she entered the Institute for the
Blind in New York city, where she was n
pupil for ~ years.
She then became teacher I'm the same
institution, and remained there until
1858 She was converted 10 the Methods:
faith early in life. and her poetic faculty
was also developed at an early age.
While q pupil at the Institute for the
Blind Mrs. Crosby received many dstin-
guished guests She was close friend Of
Grover Cleveland.
In the year 1s45 George #. Root became
a teacher I'm the school. and for the can
tatas OF Daniel and the Pilgrim
Fathers" which he wrote, Mrs. Crosby
wrote the music. She is also the author
OF the popular songs. "Rosalie." Prairie
Flower" "Good-by, I'm Going Home"
Music In the Air and Never Forget the
Poor Ones"
In the year 1888 she married Alexander
Van Alstynes~who was also a pupil In
the school for the blind. During her life
she has written three volumes OF poems
and also 5000 hymns. Unlike number OF
people who are afflicted with blindness.
Mrs Crosby considers IL blessing. for
she says that IL she had not been blind,
she would not have received such a good
education as she did and that she would
not have developed her memory 10 such
an extent as she has. The famous hymn.
Saved by Grace" was written by Mrs
Crosby az Northied In 1898, and the
well-known sofi. Rescue the Perish
ing" was written Just after she had In
luenced n young man to become "A
Christian. and II brought her the inspir-
alton % write the song