Hymn Story, on ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME, by William Petersen

E. P. Scott, a missionary to India, saw an unusual-looking tribesman on the street, and he asked where the man came from. He was told that the man was from a mountain tribe and came only once a year to the major city to trade. Scott also discovered that the gospel had never been taken to that tribe.

After praying about it, he packed up his bags and violin and started in the direction of the mountain village. When Scott told senior missionaries where he was going, they told him, “We will never see you again. It is madness for you to go.” But he went anyway.  

He traveled for two days and finally found himself in the mountains. Suddenly he was surrounded by spear-carrying tribesmen, and every spear was pointed at him. Not knowing what else to do, Scott got out his violin and sang and played “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” including the verse, “Let every kindred, ev’ry tribe, / On this terrestrial ball, / To Him all majesty ascribe, / And crown Him Lord of all.”

The spears had now dropped from the men’s hands, and he could see tears in their eyes. He spent the next two-and-a-half years telling them about Jesus and his love for them. When Scott had to leave them because of his health, the tribespeople escorted him forty miles to where he could get other transportation.  

Scriptures: Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Revelation 5:11-13; Revelation 19:11-13, 16
Themes: Praise, Jesus as Lord, God’s Majesty  

Lyrics of the Song:

All hail the pow’r 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! 

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry 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!

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! 

By EDWARD PERRONET (1726–1792) Altered by John Rippon (1751–1836)

 Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 6-7). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.