Ira has a story on how he got his name so hear it is.
ILL
- THE STORY OF IRA SANKIE
I want to tell you a story about a man named Sankie. Ira Sankie was his name. That may not ring a bell to you, but in the late 1800's nearly everyone would have known who he was. He was the great singer for the evangelist D.L. Moody. Moody, of course, traveled thousands of miles and spoke to literally millions of people, and was responsible for a great revival that occurred in that past century.
But the year is 1875, it's Christmas Eve, he's on a boat in the Delaware River headed for his home town, but he's angry. He's frustrated. You see, every father was home with his family on Christmas Eve, but Sankie was compelled to stay with Moody. He wouldn't release him.
“”You need to stay for the end of the meetings," Moody told him.
An so, ticked off with the Lord for this family time he was missing, and angry with Moody for his apparent unconcern for him and his family's welfare, he sat in a corner sulking. A lot of people were around him, but he wanted to fade into the woodwork-into the shadows.
Suddenly two women came up to him and said, "Why, you're Ira Sankie, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"Oh, Mr. Sankie, it's Christmas Eve, won't you sing us a song?"
"Gee, I'd really r-ather not. I just don't feel like singing tonight if it's okay with you."
"Hey everyone, here's the great Ira Sankie! I think if we coerce him he'll Sing us a song!"
So, under the peer pressure, Ira Sankie stood and sang a song. And he sang his favorite, Saviour like a Shepherd Lead Us. When he was done, the people were moved by his voice and congratulated him. And the applause came in.
After things had quieted down he went back and once again assumed his position in the corner, only to be confronted by an older gentleman who came up to him and said, "You're Ira Sankie."
"Yeah", Ira replied.
"Tell me Mr. Sankie, did you fight in the Great War?" (Of course in 1875, the Great War would have been the civil war.)
"Why, yes I did."
"And did you fight with the Union?"
"Yes, I did."
"Were you stationed in Maryland?"
"Yes."
"In 1864?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Well, I fought with the Confederacy. One night in 1864 on a reconnaissance
mission, I looked down the scope of my barrel and had in my sights a young union
officer. Just as I began to pull the trigger, the gun was wrenched from me. I
looked around and could not see anything. Once again, I lowered my rifle and
bore down the sights when the man began to sing, "Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead
Us." I began to cry, then I ran away, and I didn't know until tonight who it
was. It was you, wasn't it"
According to Fred Crowe, it was at a revival meeting that our great grandfather (Charles Crowe) came to know the Lord and named his next son after the man who so inspired him. This information was related by I.B. Crowe prior to his death. This Ira Sankey article was given to Fred by his pastor after Fred discovered a song written by him in a song book.
- THE STORY OF IRA SANKIE
I want to tell you a story about a man named Sankie. Ira Sankie was his name. That may not ring a bell to you, but in the late 1800's nearly everyone would have known who he was. He was the great singer for the evangelist D.L. Moody. Moody, of course, traveled thousands of miles and spoke to literally millions of people, and was responsible for a great revival that occurred in that past century.
But the year is 1875, it's Christmas Eve, he's on a boat in the Delaware River headed for his home town, but he's angry. He's frustrated. You see, every father was home with his family on Christmas Eve, but Sankie was compelled to stay with Moody. He wouldn't release him.
“”You need to stay for the end of the meetings," Moody told him.
An so, ticked off with the Lord for this family time he was missing, and angry with Moody for his apparent unconcern for him and his family's welfare, he sat in a corner sulking. A lot of people were around him, but he wanted to fade into the woodwork-into the shadows.
Suddenly two women came up to him and said, "Why, you're Ira Sankie, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"Oh, Mr. Sankie, it's Christmas Eve, won't you sing us a song?"
"Gee, I'd really r-ather not. I just don't feel like singing tonight if it's okay with you."
"Hey everyone, here's the great Ira Sankie! I think if we coerce him he'll Sing us a song!"
So, under the peer pressure, Ira Sankie stood and sang a song. And he sang his favorite, Saviour like a Shepherd Lead Us. When he was done, the people were moved by his voice and congratulated him. And the applause came in.
After things had quieted down he went back and once again assumed his position in the corner, only to be confronted by an older gentleman who came up to him and said, "You're Ira Sankie."
"Yeah", Ira replied.
"Tell me Mr. Sankie, did you fight in the Great War?" (Of course in 1875, the Great War would have been the civil war.)
"Why, yes I did."
"And did you fight with the Union?"
"Yes, I did."
"Were you stationed in Maryland?"
"Yes."
"In 1864?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Well, I fought with the Confederacy. One night in 1864 on a reconnaissance
mission, I looked down the scope of my barrel and had in my sights a young union
officer. Just as I began to pull the trigger, the gun was wrenched from me. I
looked around and could not see anything. Once again, I lowered my rifle and
bore down the sights when the man began to sing, "Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead
Us." I began to cry, then I ran away, and I didn't know until tonight who it
was. It was you, wasn't it"
According to Fred Crowe, it was at a revival meeting that our great grandfather (Charles Crowe) came to know the Lord and named his next son after the man who so inspired him. This information was related by I.B. Crowe prior to his death. This Ira Sankey article was given to Fred by his pastor after Fred discovered a song written by him in a song book.