April 28 – Sing a Song
One of the great early gospel singers was known as “The Sweet Singer of Methodism.” Ira Sankey became a Christian at the age of 16, served in the Civil War, worked for the IRS and then the YMCA. Later he became a part of Dwight Moody’s evangelistic crusades, traveling with him as a singer and composer.
He was with Moody at a revival meeting in Chicago when the fire broke out. The two men barely escaped with their lives. He traveled to England with Moody and worked with him to build Carubbers Street Mission in Edinburgh, a building that is still being used for the same purpose today. He met Charles Spurgeon, who began promoting his songs within his services.
He compiled over 1200 songs into a collection called “Sacred Songs and Solos” which is still in use today and became president of Biglow and Main publishing company until his death in 1908.
One of the people that he worked with often was the blind composer, Fanny Crosby.
Another Methodist, Fanny Crosby was one of the most prolific hymnwriters ever with over 8000 songs coming from her pen. She was not only a composer/lyricist, but was a very popular speaker and for a time was one of the best known women in America.
Fanny Crosby was blinded by a quack physician when she was just six years old and spent her entire life helping the blind. She lobbied congress for additional support for education for the blind. She had enrolled in the New York Institute for the Blind and while there, learned to play the guitar, the piano and how to sing.
She began writing poetry as a child and made her living writing secular songs which were set to music by popular musicians of the day.
William Bradbury approached her about writing for him and over the years she wrote lyrics for hymns for many different composers including Philip Bliss, Robert Lowry and Ira Sankey. She played “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” one of her own compositions at President Grant’s funeral.
Some of her most well known songs are “Blessed Assurance,” “I Am Thine, O Lord,” “Rescue the Perishing,” “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” “To God Be The Glory,” “Draw Me Nearer.”
One of the great early gospel singers was known as “The Sweet Singer of Methodism.” Ira Sankey became a Christian at the age of 16, served in the Civil War, worked for the IRS and then the YMCA. Later he became a part of Dwight Moody’s evangelistic crusades, traveling with him as a singer and composer.
He was with Moody at a revival meeting in Chicago when the fire broke out. The two men barely escaped with their lives. He traveled to England with Moody and worked with him to build Carubbers Street Mission in Edinburgh, a building that is still being used for the same purpose today. He met Charles Spurgeon, who began promoting his songs within his services.
He compiled over 1200 songs into a collection called “Sacred Songs and Solos” which is still in use today and became president of Biglow and Main publishing company until his death in 1908.
One of the people that he worked with often was the blind composer, Fanny Crosby.
Another Methodist, Fanny Crosby was one of the most prolific hymnwriters ever with over 8000 songs coming from her pen. She was not only a composer/lyricist, but was a very popular speaker and for a time was one of the best known women in America.
Fanny Crosby was blinded by a quack physician when she was just six years old and spent her entire life helping the blind. She lobbied congress for additional support for education for the blind. She had enrolled in the New York Institute for the Blind and while there, learned to play the guitar, the piano and how to sing.
She began writing poetry as a child and made her living writing secular songs which were set to music by popular musicians of the day.
William Bradbury approached her about writing for him and over the years she wrote lyrics for hymns for many different composers including Philip Bliss, Robert Lowry and Ira Sankey. She played “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” one of her own compositions at President Grant’s funeral.
Some of her most well known songs are “Blessed Assurance,” “I Am Thine, O Lord,” “Rescue the Perishing,” “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” “To God Be The Glory,” “Draw Me Nearer.”
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