Born: 24 March 1820, United States
Died: 12 February 1915
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Frances Jane van Alstyne
From Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.:
Blind song writer
She has written over twenty-five hundred hymns besides many secular songs, cantatas, and lyrical productions of various kinds. “Rescue the Perishing,” “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,” and “Keep Thou My Way, O Lord,” are among her well known productions. In connection with Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., for many years was carried on the Mayflower Mission and the last named hymn was long used as the Mission prayer song.
“Close to Thee,” “Come to the Saviour,” “Saviour, More than Life to Me,” “I am Thine, O Lord,” “So Near to the Kingdom,” have been sung round the world in English and have also been translated into many other languages.
She does not rank with the great poets but her songs have reached many hearts where more stately productions would not have gained admittance. Her mission has been a noble one and well performed. To,
Rescue the perishing. Care for the dying. Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave ;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen. Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Her productions might well be called “Songs of a Half-Century,” for she has been writing for more than that period of time.
Her talent for writing verses showed itself when she was not more than eight years old and every year since has seen something from her pen. All these have been written in her blindness and many of them, so full of joy and hope and light, gain new beauty and a measure of pathos, when we remember that they were written in darkness.
She is married, her husband’s name being Van Alstyne, but the world continues to know and love her as Fanny J. Crosby.
Although she has written so much her productions have never been collected into a single book.