Hymn Story: The Nail-Pierced Hands

The Nail-Scarred Hand was written by Baylus B. McKinney in 1924. He was born on July 22, 1886 in Heflin, Louisiana, attended the Bush Conservatory of Music and awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree by Oklahoma Baptist University in 1942.

McKinney served as music editor for the Robert H. Coleman company from 1918-1935 and served on the faculty of the School of Sacred Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from the time he returned from military service in 1919 until 1932. From there he served as pastor and in 1935, became music editor for the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tennessee.

He wrote over 150 songs (lyrics, music, or both). He died on September 7, 1952 in Bryson City, North Carolina.