While exploring the earliest publication of a Fanny Crosby song (Never Give Up - https://hymnary.org/text/never_be_sad_or_desponding), I may have discovered an earlier instance than is shown in the link above.
The link seems to point to pg 216 of “Church Hymns and Gospel Songs” in 1903.
At https://archive.org/details/churchhymnsgospe0000unse/page/n219/mode/2up, published in 1898, there is a version with only 3 stanzas where the link above shows 4 stanzas.
An instance of the hymnal from 1903 also shows only 3 stanzas.
https://archive.org/details/churchhymnsgospe03sank/page/n221/mode/2up
I don't know if the above makes any difference to anyone. Please ignore this if no one cares.
Just an old guy roaming the Fanny Crosby oeuvre.