Frances (Fanny) Jane Crosby - 1820-1915

“ I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not… I will make darkness light before them.” Isaiah 42:16

“Aku mau memimpin orang-orang buta di jalan yang tidak mereka kenal, dan mau membawa mereka berjalan di jalan-jalan yang tidak mereka kenal. Aku mau membuat kegelapan yang di depan mereka menjadi terang dan tanah yang berkeluk-keluk menjadi tanah yang rata. Itulah hal-hal yang hendak Kulakukan kepada mereka, yang pasti akan Kulaksanakan.” Yesaya 42:16

• Lahir : 24 Maret 1820 di Putnam County, New York
• Wafat : 12 Februari 1915 di Bridgeport, Connecticut
• Dimakamkan di : Bridgeport, Connecticut

Fanny Crosby mungkin adalah pengarang lagu yang paling produktif dalam sejarah. Walaupun ia buta karena kesalahan seorang dokter pada usia 6 tahun, sepanjang hidupnya, dia menuliskan lebih dari 9000 lagu pujian. Dia masuk ke sebuah institusi pendidikan untuk orang buta yang dikenal sebagai New York Institution for the Blind di usianya yang ke-15 dan kemudian mengajar Bahasa Inggris dan sejarah (1847–1858). Tentang kebutaannya, dia menulis:

Sepertinya disengaja dalam anugerah providensia Allah, bahwa saya harus menjadi buta seumur hidup saya, dan saya berterima kasih kepada-Nya untuk pengecualian ini. Jika penglihatan fisik ditawarkan kepada saya besok, saya tidak akan menerimanya. Saya mungkin tidak dapat menyanyikan lagu-lagu pujian untuk memuliakan Allah, jika mata saya mengarahkan diri saya ke hal-hal menarik dan indah dari diri saya.

Sebagai murid sekaligus guru, Fanny menghabiskan 35 tahun masa hidupnya di sekolah. Dia sering diminta untuk menghibur pengunjung dengan puisi-puisi ciptaannya, dan dia beberapa kali bertemu dengan kepala negara,jenderal, atau orang-orang penting lainnya. Dia pernah diminta untuk bermain musik pada pemakaman President Grant. Buku puisinya yang pertama diterbitkanpada tahun 1844 dan diberi judul 'Anak Perempuan Buta dan Puisi-puisi Lainnya'.

Setelah meninggalkan sekolah, dia mendedikasikan seluruh hidupnya melayani yang membutuhkan dan yang di tengah kemiskinan. Dengan mengandalkan penghasilan dari tulisan-tulisannya, dia kemudian sangat terkenal karena lagu-lagu pujian ciptaannya. Dikatakan bahwa penerbit mendapatkan begitu banyak karya darinya, hingga mereka harus menerbitkannya dengan nama samaran. Tarif yang biasa diterimanya sekitar $2 seringkali dipergunakan untuk mendukung pekerjaannya pada yang berkekurangan. Pekerjaan misinya begitu melegenda, seperti pengabdiannya untuk melayani orang lain lebih dari dirinya sendiri.

Ketika dia meninggal, pada batu nisannya terukir kalimat, 'Tante Fanny' dan 'Anugerah yang Pasti, Yesus adalah Milikku - Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine. Sebuah pengecapan awal anugerah sorgawi.' Elisa Hewitt memperingati kematian Fanny dalam sebuah puisi:

Menuju sebuah tempat indah penuh cahaya Sang Surya dan pujian,
Burung penyanyi kita telah melakukan perjalanannya,
Dan dia yang telah menyanyikan pujian di tengah kegelapan sekian lama,
Sekarang menyanyikannya dalam Terang yang indah.

	Nama-nama samaran yang dipakai Fanny Crosby:
	Adrienne, Cora		James, Annie
	Alstyne, Fannie Jane		James, Mary
	Andrews, A. E.		James, Sarah
	Apple, James		J. F. O.
	Armstrong, Alice		J. W. W.
	Atherton, Rose		Judson, Myra
	Bell, Carrie		Lankton, Martha
	Bethune, Catherine		Lincoln, H. N.
	Black, James		Lindsay, W. Robert
	Black, James L.		L. L. A.
	Black, James M.		Lowry, Minnie B.
	Blair, Henrietta		Marion, Maude
	Booth, Florence		Martin, S
	Bruce, Charles		Martin, Sallie
	Bruce, Robert		Martin, Sam
	Burns, Charles		Miller, Laura
	Carlston, Mary		Montieth, A
	Carlton, Leah		Montieth, Alice
	Church, Fannie		Park, Edna L.
	Craddock, Eleanor		Prentice, Mrs. L.C.
	Culyer, Lyman G.		Smiling, Mrs. Kate
	Dale, Ella		Smith, Sallie A.
	Dayton, Flora		Smith, Sallie E.
	D. D.		Smith, Sally
	D. D. R.		Smith, Sam
	Dykes, Ryan A.		Sterling, J. L.
	Dykes, Rian A.		Sterling, Julia
	Eliot, James		Sterling, Ryan
	Edmonds, Lizzie		Sterling, Victoria
	Edwards, Lizzie		Stewart, Victoria
	F. A. N.		Taylor, Ida Scott
	F. J. C.		The Children’s Friend
	F. J. V. A.		Tilden, Louise W.
	Fannie		Tilden, Mary
	Fanny		V., Jenny
	Forrest, Mrs. Edna		Van A., Mrs.
	Frances, Carrie		Van Alstyne, Fannie
	Frances, Grace J.		Van Alstyne, Fannie Jane
	Frances, Lillian G.		Van Alstyne, Mrs.
	Frances, S. Trevor		Van Alstyne, Mrs. Alexander
	Frances, Victoria		Viola
	Garnet, Jenny		Wallace, Zemira
	Glen, Jenie		Wilson, Carrie
	Gould, Frank		Wilson, Mrs. C. M.
	Grinley, Mrs. Kate
	G. W. W.
	Harmon, Ruth
	Hawthorn, Carrie
	Hope, Frances
	Hops, Frances
	Lagu-lagu pujian hasil Fanny Crosby
			Morning Land, The
	All the Way My Savior Leads Me		Music of the Angels
	Army of Endeavor		My Savior First of All
	As the Bird Flies Home		My Song Shall Be of Jesus Near the Cross
	At the Cross There’s Room		Nearer the Cross
	Awake! Awake!		Never Give Up
	Awake! Awake! O Heart of Mine!		Never Shone a Light So Fair!
	Awake! For the Trumpet Is Sounding!		No King but Christ
	Away! Away!		No Sorrow There
	Beautiful Vale of Rest		No Tears in Heaven
	Behold Me Standing at the Door		O Be Saved
	Behold the Wondrous Love		O Blessed Bible
	Bless This Hour of Prayer		O Brother, Life’s Journey Beginning!
	Blessed Are They That Believe		O Child of God
	Blessed Assurance		O Church of God, Arise!
	Blessed Bible		O Eden, Dear Eden
	Blessed Cross of Jesus		O Fly to Him
	Blessed Feast, The		O My Savior, Hear Me
	Blessed Homeland		O to Abide in Jesus
	Blessed Redeemer		Oh, How Sweet When We Mingle
	Blest, Blest Forever		Oh, Precious Words!
	Blind Bartimeus		Oh, to Be Nearer
	Blood Washed Throng, The		Oh, What Are You Going to Do?
	Break Forth, O Joyful Heart		Oh, Wonderful Word!
	Bright Forever, The		On Let Us Go
	By and By		On the Banks Beyond the River
	By the Grace of God We’ll Meet		Only a Beam of Sunshine
	Calling for You		Only a Little Way
	Children Sing		Only a Step
	Choose Ye Today		Only Thy Garment’s Hem
	Christ Is Risen!		Onward, Ye Pilgrims
	Christ the Lord Is King		Open the Gates of the Temple
	Christian Brother, o’er the Main		Opening Hymn
	Christian Flag, The		Our Festive Song
	Cleansing Fountain, The		Out in the Sunshine
	Close Thy Heart No More		Out of Bondage
	Close to Thee		Palace of the King, The
	Come Again		Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
	Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace		Pilgrim’s Journey, The
	Come, Come Away!		Praise Him, Praise Him
	Come, Great Deliverer, Come!		Praise, Praise His Name
	Come in, O Blessèd One		Praise the Rock of Our Salvation
	Come, Oh Come, with Thy Broken Heart		Praise Ye the Lord
	Come to the Fountain		Press On!
	Come unto Me, Ye Weary		Pure Within
	Come with Rejoicing		Rainbow Round the Throne, The
	Coming Today		Redeemed, and with the Price of Blood
	Conquering Now and Still to Conquer		Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!
	Cry from Macedonia, A		Rescue the Perishing
	Dark Is the Night		Rest at Home
	Dear Jesus, Canst Thou Help Me?		Rest over Jordan
	Faith in Jesus		Revive Thy Work, O Lord!
	Few More Marchings Weary, A		Room for the Penitent
	Gathering Out of Tears		Sacred Fountain
	Glad Tidings		Safe in the Arms of Jesus
	Gladly We Will Go		Save Me at the Cross
	Glory Ever Be to Jesus		Saved by Grace
	Glory to God, Hallelujah		Savior, More Than Life
	Go Work in the Vineyard		Shadow of the Rock, The
	God So Loved the World		Shall I Be Saved Tonight?
	God’s Holy Church Shall Triumph		Shepherd’s Fold on High, The
	Good-night Till We Met in the Morning		Shout in the Camp, A
	Great Jehovah, Mighty Lord		Sing Once More of Jesus
	Greatness of His Mercy, The		Sing unto God
	Guiding Hand, The		Sing with a Tuneful Spirit
	Hand in Hand		So Near to the Kingdom!
	Handful of Leaves, A		Some Sweet Day, By and By
	Hark! There Comes a Whisper		Sound the Alarm!
	He Feedeth His Flock		Speed Away
	He Hideth My Soul		Stand by the Right
	He Is All in All to Me		Sweet Story of Jesus
	He Is Coming		Take the World, but Give Me Jesus
	Healing at the Fountain		Tell It Out with Gladness
	Hear and Answer Prayer		Tell Me the Story of Jesus
	Hear Us, O Savior!		Tenderly He Leads Us
	Heavenly Father, We Beseech Thee		Tenderly Pleading
	Here from the World We Turn		There Will I Follow Thee
	Hide Me		They That Be Wise
	Hide Thou Me		They’ll Soon Be O’er
	His Words Are True		This I Know!
	Hold Thou My Hand		This My Plea
	Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord		Though Kindred Ties Around Us
	How Oft in Holy Converse		Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet
	How Oft We Are There		Through the Valley of the Shadow
	How Sweet the Hour		Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, Alone
	I Am So Glad That Jesus Came		’Tis Summer in My Heart
	I Am Thine, O Lord		’Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer
	I Have Entered Beulah Land		To the Work
	I Live but in Thee		To God Be the Glory
	I Must Have the Savior with Me		Too Late
	I Will Not Be Long!		Tried and True
	I’ll Bear It, Lord, for Thee		Trust in the Promise
	In Bethany		Trusting Jesus
	In the Twinkling of an Eye		’Twill All Be Right at Last
	Is It There?		Unsearchable Riches
	Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home		Watch and Pray!
	Jesus, My All		Wait on the Lord
	Jesus, My Only Hope		Waiting for the Promise
	Joyfully Sing		Walking in the Good Old Way
	Just a Word for Jesus		Water of Life, The
	Keep Thou My Way		We All Can Do Good
	King Is Coming, The		We All Can Do Something for Jesus
	Laurels, Fresh Laurels		We Are Coming Home Tonight
	Lay It Down		We Are Going. We Are Going
	Let Me Lean on Thee		We Praise Thee, We Bless Thee
	Let the Light Stream In		We Walk by Faith
	Lights of Home, The		Welcome for Me
	Like a Wayward Child I Wandered		We’ll Give Our Hearts to Jesus
	Like as a Father		What a Gathering
	Lion of Judah, The		When Christ Arose
	Lo! the Golden Fields Are Smiling		When Each Others Face We See
	Look Up! Ye Weary Ones		When the Dewy Light Was Fading
	Lord, Abide with Me		Where Is Thy Refuge?
	Lord, Here I Am		Why Do the Holy Angels Sing?
	Lord in Zion Reigneth, The		Whom Have I in Heaven?
	Make Haste!		Will Jesus Find Us Watching?
	Master’s Call, The		Will the Angels Come?
	Meet Me There		Will You Come?
	Message Sweet Is Borne to Me, A		Yes, There Is Pardon for You
	More Like Jesus Would I Be
	Morning Draweth Nigh, The

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