The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-15
IRA SANKEY DEAD,
BLIND FOR YEARS
Singing Evangelist and Noted
Hymn Writer Passes Away
After a Lingering
Illness.
WORKED HIMSELF BLIND
Meeting Moody by Accident, They
Afterward Toured World To-
gether-IIymns Known
) World Over.
WORKED HIMSELF BLIND

New York, Aug. 14.-Ira D. San.
key, known as an evangelist through
out the Christian world. died last
night at his home In Brooklyn, but
the news OF his passing did not be-
come generally known until to-day,
Mr.. sankey was sixty-eight years old,
and for the last five years he had been
blind and suffered from a complica-
ton of diseases brought on from over
work. Almost to the very last he
worked at hymn writing, the gift
which had brought him fame in every
corner OF the earth His tours
throughout this country and Europe
with Dwight L. Moody the evangelist,
brought him into wide prominence.
Sankey, 1t might be said, wrote the
Gospel Hymns of the world. In Chi
ma, Egypt India, Japan, in almost
every language known to man San
keys hymns are sung. He received
large income from his publications
and had acquired considerable es-
tate.
Among Mr.. Sankey's most familiar
compositions are 1.-THE Ninety ana
Nine" and when the Mists Have
Rolled Away" His songs are said 70
have had a circulation of more than If
ty million copies. Mr. Sankey was q
rapid composer, some of his songs be-
Ing written in the afternoon and SUNG
| at the evening service. The Ninety
and Nine" came to him as an inspira'
| ton as he sat at the organ before .
great congregation in Edinburgh, Scot
/ land. He was called upon for song
and he could think of nothing appro
pirate for a moment. While he hesitat
ed. he remembered a few lines OF {
verse he had clipped from an Engllsl
journal the day before and thrust int
/ his pocket. Placing the clipping beior'
him on the quaint little organ, that n
always took with him on his travels, h
made IN the tune as he went along
He made not a single change IN tran
scribing the music after the meetini
closed.
1t was one of the most impressive
hymns ever written. Apparently san
keys source of supply was inexhaust
ible, for he wrote book after book o
GOSPEL hymns. In the last five or ST.
years he was interested in preparing
and publishing the story Of gospe
i HYMNS. At the same time he save
his wonderful voice for posterity b
singing into monographs. The rec
ords were sent all over the WORLD
sankey first met Moody by accident
Y, NJ. c. A. convention in 1ndianar
oils. They visited Great Britain fror
1873 10 1875. and again in 1888, an
made many tours throughout III
United States. When Mr.. Moody die
In 1889, Mr.. Sankey felt keenly tn
loss Of his friend. From that tim
he tried 70 conduct the work alon
which they had hitherto shared bS
tween them, but the task was TO
great. In 1902 his physical conditio
compelled him to give up most OF n
evangelical engagements, although !
continued for some time to do ed
torial work in compiling a new sci
!. ious of hymn books.
= Then came lalllng eyeslsnI VIII
speedily developed into total hlint
ness With the blindness came ais
a nervous breakdown. After his r.
tirement from public life the impre
, sion became general throughout Il
J country that he was dead He hin
self used to tell of an argument
. had with man on a train as
= whether or not he was dead. In Il
- beginning Of his active life Sank
= was a Methodist. but for the last Sc
: en- years he was a member of u
g Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian chur'
1 Of Brooklyn. He Is survived by
t. widow, Fannie V. Sankey, his tv
sons, I. Allen Sankey. and Edwa
Sankey, and two grandchildren.