– 3 Min Read
The beloved hymn, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!” was written in 1779 by Rev. Edward Perronet (1726-1792). The music was composed later by Oliver Holden (1765-1844). This hymn has sometimes been hailed as the “National Anthem of Christendom” and has been translated into almost all known languages.
In 1970, I was a brand-new Christian attending my first church, an Assembly of God church in Boise, Idaho. My close friend, who was also the pastor’s son, introduced me to a radio program called “Revivaltime,” featuring Pastor C.M. Ward. As a recent convert, I enjoyed his weekly program, which came on the radio —remember radio?— at 10:00 P.M. on Sunday nights in Boise. The program began with the Revivaltime choir singing the first verse of the great hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!”
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!”
I grew to love listening to this Assembly of God ordained preacher who regularly presented the gospel message to the listeners. I remember one night he was preaching about the prodigal son and pleading with the hearers not to go the way of the younger son who ended up feeding the swine in a foreign land in order to survive. “Hogs need slop,” Rev Ward proclaimed. “You need a Savior.” At the end of his program, the choir would sing the last verse of the hymn, and he would finish with a recitation of Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
The following story can be found on numerous websites today, including those of many Baptist churches. Some years ago, missionary E. P. Scott went to India. He set out to visit a remote mountain tribe that had never heard the name of Christ. As he neared their land, a savage band of warriors suddenly surrounded him, all pointing their spears straight at his heart. Expecting a quick death, the missionary pulled out his violin (which he always carried with him) and began playing and singing in their native language the hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” He reached the stanza that reads:
“Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball;
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all!”
The natives lowered their weapons, and some were in tears. E. P. Scott spent the rest of his life ministering to these primitive people, and many were converted to Christ. I am thankful that we sing this majestic hymn at Heritage Baptist Church. I love all the lyrics, but my favorite verse is probably the last one.
“O that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall;
We’ll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all!”