In 1814 Francis Scott Key had been negotiating the release of an American from the British Fleet. While Key was successful, he was only allowed to return to his ship but not leave the fleet since he had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and their intention to launch an attack upon Baltimore. That night he was unable to do anything but watch the bombardment of Ft McHenry. He would write a poem about his experiences that night that was printed in local newspapers. Those words would be set to the tune of an existing song called Anacreon in Heaven , and from that would come our national anthem. Because of this, we are very familiar with the first stanza of the song but it actually has three verses. Let me share with you the last verse: O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d...
The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.