Fanny Crosby, born in 1820 and blind for almost all her life, wrote over 8,000 hymns, many of them still loved and sung to this day. If I posted a different Fanny Crosby hymn here every day, it would still take some 20 years to post them all.
This antique Edison recording was made in 1906, when Fanny Crosby was still alive to hear it.
This is for Erlene, one of her favorite hymns–well, for everybody, really.
I always post any hymn that really asserts itself in my mind, even if I don’t know why it should. This morning that hymn was Draw Me Nearer–a Fanny Crosby classic from 1875. I had a hard time finding a video that was simple and straightforward: so I’ve got this for you, from some little church somewhere. Thank you, whoever you are–that was the way I wanted to hear it.
This is another one of those hymns we sang in Sunday school, with the superintendent’s wife on the piano: a very happy memory. We thank Erlene for requesting it.
This recording was made in 1906, on one of those old wax Edison cylinders that they had before records were invented. The high quality will amaze you.
Before she died in 1915, Fanny Crosby wrote between 8,000 and 9,000 hymns, many of which are loved the world over. If I posted a different Fanny Crosby hymn every day, it would take some 20 years to post them all.
It’s said Fanny Crosby wrote this hymn off the top of her head, all at once, while visiting with the composer–who just happened to have the tune handy.
Anyway, this is the hymn that was in my head this morning, and I hope you like the video. God’s handiwork never fails to move me. Draw Me Nearer, with video by the Rosehill Church.
Pressed for time this morning, I couldn’t find quite what I wanted in the form of this wonderful old Fanny Crosby hymn, Draw Me Nearer. But this plain little piano rendition is pretty close to what we sang to, in Sunday school.
I have no idea why so many artists perform this hymn as if it were a dirge. This is one you whistle as you walk down the street! And God will hear it.
Our first hymn request of the day is from Erlene–showing the new visitors how it’s done.
This recording of Fanny Crosby’s Draw Me Nearer, sung by Harry Anthony and James Harrison, is 110 years old! It’s on an antique Edison Records disc.
In addition to the hymn itself, these voices from the past have a glorious message for us: Christ’s Church is forever.
This is one of more than 8,000 hymns written by Fanny Crosby–Draw Me Nearer–and this recording is one of the few she would have had the opportunity to hear during her own lifetime.
Fanny died in 1915, and this Edison cylinder is from 1906. Many of you are two young to remember records and record-players. Well, these discs go back way before that. This is the very beginning of recorded sound.
Well, we all age; but Fanny Crosby’s hymns go on and on, praising and loving our Eternal God.
This is the first hymn that popped into my head today, this old Fanny Crosby classic. Hearing it played like this on a piano, just the piano–boy, does that ever take me back to Sunday school!
I don’t know about you, but I need a hymn.
Here we have Draw Me Nearer, a classic hymn by Fanny Crosby still loved and sung today.May God hear it as a prayer!
Here’s another good old-fashioned hymn, one of my favorites: Draw Me Nearer, Blessed Lord.
Yes, this is another one which very deeply moves me. I have selected a simple instrumental version with printed lyrics.
Listen. Follow the words. Let it sink in.
God is nigh.
