ated that no less
than 8,000 hymns and songs were written by this unusual woman.

Not all of her hymns possess high poetical excellence. In fact, they have
been subjected to the most severe criticism. John Julian, the English
hymnologist, with his usual candor, declares that "they are, with few
exceptions, very weak and poor, their simplicity and earnestness being
their redeeming features."

However, whether we consider her hymns of high poetic standard or not,
the fact remains that no one has written more hymns that are being sung
and loved today than Fanny Crosby. Certainly the hymnody of the Christian
Church is infinitely richer for "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour," "Sweet
hour of prayer," "Safe in the arms of Jesus," "All the way my Saviour
leads me," "Jesus is tenderly calling thee home," "I am thine, O Lord,"
"Rescue the perishing," "Speed away," "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,"
"Jesus keep me near the Cross," "Some day the silver cord will break,"
and scores of other inspiring gems that have come to us from this blind
genius.

Practically all her hymns are very subjective in character. Although this
is doubtless an element of weakness, it probably explains their unusual
personal appeal. It was the prayer of Miss Crosby that she might win a
million souls for Christ, and there are many who believe that her prayer
has been more than realized. A strong Scriptural note is heard in most of
her hymns. When she was yet a child, she committed to memory the first
four books of the Old Testament, as well as the four Gospels, and this
proved a rich treasure store from which she drew in later life.

Fanny Crosby's fault apparently lay in the fact that she was too prolific
a writer. Most of her songs were composed in a few minutes. Often the
lines came as rapidly as they could be dictated. It was this circumstance
that led Dr. S. W. Duffield to observe rather facetiously that "It is
more to her credit as a writer that she has occasionally found a pearl
than that she has brought to the surface so many oyster shells." However,
before his death he evidently had altered his opinion, for he wrote: "I
rather think her talent will stand beside that of Watts or Wesley,
especially if we take into consideration the number of hymns she has
written."

Certainly there are many pearls among the 8,000 songs she wrote, and
perhaps none has given more solace to broken hearts than "Safe in the
arms of Jesus." Often the themes of her hymn