This website is dedicated to the Glory of God

and to the memory of Rev. Frank Hughes, Jr.,

Pastor Emeritus, South Norfolk Baptist Church,

1101 Chesapeake Avenue,  Chesapeake, Virginia

“Since Jesus Came Into My Heart”

Words: Rufus H. McDaniel (who wrote these words after the death of his son.)

Music: Charles H. Gabriel

This hymn was the instrument used by the Holy Spirit in the conversion of Policeman Fowler during the Billy Sunday Philadelphia revival meeting. What the apostolic preaching of the great evangelist failed to do, this song of personal testimony did—brought about Fowler’s conversion. More than a hundred policemen were led to Christ by the change wrought in the life of one man by this song.

(Source: Sanville, George W. Forty Gospel Hymn Stories. Winona Lake, Indiana: The Rodeheaver-Hall Mack Company, 1943.)

“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”

 Based on Psalm 103

Words: Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847,  Music: John Goss, 1800-1880

Based on the 103rd Psalm, Henry Lyte's stately hymn of praise has probably begun more solemn ceremonies than any hymn in the English language. Lyte himself is of course more immediately connected with his hymn "Abide With Me" but the story of his hymn-writing goes back to the time when he was a curate at Marazion in Cornwall where he had come after his college days in Dublin. There, when he was twenty-five, he had a deep religious experience caused by the illness and death of a brother clergyman.

This experience turned Lyte from being a conventional and formal clergyman, with a gift for versifying, into a poet with a religious message. He says that the death of his friend 'who died happy in the thought that there was One who would atone for his delinquencies' made him 'study my Bible and preach in another manner than I had previously done'.

This free paraphrase of Psalm 103 was published in his book “Spirit of the Psalms” in 1834, when he was in his ministry at Brixham, the Devon fishing port. The Brixham fishermen are famous for their gallantry and daring in the stormy waters of the Atlantic fishing grounds, and Lyte's hymn has something of the tenderness of strong men in dangerous places, as illustrated in this verse from the hymn:

“Father-like He tends and spares us;

Well our feeble frame He knows:

In His hands He gently bears us,

Rescues us from all our foes:”

The hymn was chosen by Queen Elizabeth for her wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh on November 20,1947 - also the day of the centenary of Lyte's death.

Lyte captures the measure of the Psalm in unforgettable verses. It has time, eternity, God and man all locked in its embrace, and its last verse has the soaring quality of high religion. In one grand sweep the writer brings the whole created universe into the act of praise.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me his praise should sing?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely as his mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore him;
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
Dwellers all in time and space:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.