Gospel Hymns No. 3 as used by them in Gospel Meetings

Ira Sankey met Dwight L. Moody in June of 1870 and soon joined Moody's evangelistic team. Sankey sang at Moody's meetings and revivals of the 1870s in the United states and joined Moody in the great Moody Revivals of Great Britain. Sankey's hymns were promoted by Charles Spurgeon and Sankey worked frequently with his friend and music-making partner, Fanny Crosby. James McGranahan co-writer with Sankey, was a prolific hymn-writer. The author of several well-known hymns, McGranahan was also involved in the Hawaiian Missionary movement. George Coles Stebbins was the musical director of Chicago's First Baptist Church in 1870-74. During his residence in Chicago he became acquainted with Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey and also with Philip Paul Bliss and Major D. W. Whittle, both of whom early joined the great evangelistic movement inaugurated by Moody. During the nearly 25 years of his association with Moody and Sankey, Stebbins assisted them in their work both in the United States and abroad - besides working with other evangelists, among whom were Dr. George F. Pentecost and Major Whittle. - The Gospel Hymns books 1-6 by Ira D. Sankey, James McGranahan and George C. Stebbins are classics of the 19th century. They were some of the first highly popular 'modern' hymnals.The Gospel Hymns Series included the full musical score with verses printed within the score (for most songs) and the vertical book format (which became the rule rather than the exception in the 1890s). These beloved hymnals were generally used until they fell apart so first editions in decent shape are hard to come by and highly sought after by collectors.