Hymn of the Month: To God be the Glory
Friends, in July, we’ll reintroduce hymn of the month, which was a popular and unifying experience last year. One small alteration is that we’ll sing the selected hymn just for 3 Sundays in the month, so as not to “wear out the welcome”.
The hymn I have selected is To God be the Glory by Frances Jane Crosby. Known as Fanny, she was born in 1820 in New York state, and died in 1915. At six weeks old, she developed inflamed eyes from a cold. The family doctor was away, and a quack prescribed hot mustard poultices, which destroyed her sight completely. About her loss of sight, she later said:
It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.
Her father died when she was one, so she was raised by her mother and grandmother. They grounded her in Protestant Christianity of a Methodist flavour. Her grandmother was a special influence, spending hours describing nature and introducing her to the Bible. This book became more familiar to Fanny than any other. It is said that, as a child, she could repeat large slabs from memory including the book of Ruth, many of the Psalms, and much of the New Testament! This furnished the inspiration, themes and wording for her hymns.
At age 15, Crosby enrolled at the New York Institute for the Blind where she remained seven years, learning to play piano and guitar and to sing. Later she joined the faculty at the school, teaching English and history. She married a fellow teacher, Alexander Van Alstyne. At his insistence, she kept her maiden name. They had one daughter who died in infancy.
Fanny Crosby ranks among Christianity’s greatest hymn writers. Over her long life, she composed more than 8,000 texts, many of which endured, including Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine, as well as To God be the Glory. Because some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one person in their books, she used many pseudonyms during her career. Her usual fee was just $2, which often went to her work with the poor.
To God Be the Glory was written and first published in 1875. The tune was composed by William Doane, a frequent collaborator with Crosby. Used by Ira Sankey only in the British editions of his famous song books, it was largely unknown in North America until used in a Billy Graham Crusade in the 1950s. Since then, it has become greatly loved.
It is a tremendous hymn of grace. From the start, Fanny Crosby ascribes all glory to God for his work (“great things he has done”). In an echo of John 3:16, God’s love is seen in giving us his Son. His atoning death opens a “lifegate” sufficient for anyone to come in.
The second stanza sets forth the condition to receive salvation: simply faith. The redemption is promised to “every believer”. In fact, even “the vilest offender who truly believes”, such as the thief crucified with Christ (Luke 23:40-43), “that moment from Jesus a pardon receives”.
I love the chorus’ repeated gospel invitation and pray more will respond to it: Come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give him the glory; great things he has done!
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
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