Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour -Fanny Crosby

The words for this song of invitation were written in 1868, and it first appeared in 1870 in “Songs of Devotion,” a collection compiled by William H. Doane. The prolific and much-admired hymn writer Fanny Crosby, was blind since she was six weeks old. She didn’t begin writing hymns until she was in her forties, and yet she wrote more than 8,000 songs before her death at ninety-five years old.

When she was sixty years old, Fanny began participating in home-mission ministries. Because of her glowing testimony, she would often be invited to speak at these meetings. One time, after she spoke in a mission service at a prison, she heard a prisoner pleading, “Lord, do not pass me by.” With the sounds of the man’s pleading still in her ears, Fanny went home and composed this gospel hymn. She then sent it to William Doane, a businessman and musician who wrote gospel music, and he set her poem to music. This was the first of many hymn collaborations that they did.

Some critics say that Fanny Crosby’s texts aren’t of a high literary quality, and she would have probably agreed with them since she wasn’t writing for literary critics. She prayed that her hymns would be used to bring many souls to Christ. They were written to be understood by common people, many of whom wouldn’t have listened to preaching. Many of her hymns were written for poor people, among whom she lived most of her life. Doane was surprised to find her living in a run-down tenement building in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Gospel hymns are sometimes criticized for their lack of clear theology. In this hymn, the words “Do not pass me by” don’t mean that God might pass by those who seek him. Fanny believed in a “whosoever will” salvation and was aware that God’s grace is given to all. This is evident in her hymn, “To God Be the Glory,” where she ended the first stanza, “Who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in.” The words of “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour” express the plea of one who’s asking for help. The prisoners had been forgotten by society, but this man didn’t want to be forgotten by God.

The song emphasizes the humility and contrition a lost soul who’s seeking forgiveness and healing must have. Contrition is sincere remorse over one’s sin and desire to ask God to be transformed by His grace. The humble seeker won’t be passed by, but God’s grace will give hope and heal hearts when they’re broken. The provision for salvation was completed on the cross and was proven by the resurrection. God has promised to hear the prayer of every sinner who seeks Him. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Hymnologist Carlton R. Young said that Fanny Crosby “set the standard for the successful writing of gospel hymns.” Within six years after “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour” was published, it received wide recognition as the favorite song in the Moody-Sankey meetings in London.  Since many churches are no longer using hymnals and hymns of this nature, believers should be encouraged to have their own hymnals. The study of such songs can be a great blessing since many of them are just as relevant today as they were when they were written.

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