Came across this on microfilm in a newspaper from 1937 and thought some of you might like it. Lyrics follow:


One night, in an old-fashioned Methodist evangelistic meeting, worshipers
were singing Isaac Watts' popular hymn, "At the Cross." When the singers
reached the final verse and the phrase "Here, Lord, I give myself away..." a
blind girl acting on the words she sang, offered herself to Christ.

There is the story of Fanny Crosby's conversion and who in that revival
crowd could know ho great a soul was being born into the kingdom that
night? How many guessed that this young woman of 31 was destined to find
her life ministry in the writing of evangelistic songs -- songs that would lead
thousands of other non-Christians to a loving and saving Christ?

It was not until 10 years later that Fanny Crosby began to write religious
verses. But her hymns came easily and rapidly and it was not long until she
was being hailed as the most popular writer of Sunday school hymns in
America. Her name always calls to mind a host of songs precious to all
Christians. "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" is generally regarded as one of
the best and most enduring of the thousands of hymns she left for posterity. In
its second stanza, she sang of her own conversion:

"Near the Cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning Star
Shed its beams around me."

Fanny Crosby has been called America's greatest woman hymnist (sic). In
England, Frances Ridley Havergal holds similar honors. The two women
lived and wrote about the same time and, though they never met, Miss
Havergal always admired the American singer and on one occasion she wrote
three verses to show her affection:

"Sweet blind singer over the sae
Tuneful and jubilant, how can it be
That the songs of gladness which float so far,
As if they fell from an evening star,
Are the notes of one who may never see
`Visible Music' of flower and tree?

"How can she sing in the dark like this?
What is her fountain of light and bliss?
Her heart can see! Her heart can see!
Well may she sing so joyously!
For the King Himself, in His tender grace,
Hath shown her the brightness of His face.

"Dear blind sister over the sea!
An English heart foes out to thee,
We are linked by a cable of faith and song,
Flashing bright sympathy swift along,
One in the east and one in the west,
Singing for Him whom our love best!
Sister, what will our meeting be
When our hearts shall sing, and our eyes shall see!"

And, here are Fanny's original lyrics, which were included in a box next to
the article:

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
Fanny Crosby

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.