You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

[I was drifting far from the "Beacon Star"]

[I was drifting far from the "Beacon Star"]

Composer: B. B. McKinney (1924)
Published in 9 hymnals


Composer: B. B. McKinney

Pseudonyms-- Martha Annis (his mother’s maiden name was Martha Annis Heflin) Otto Nellen Gene Routh (his wife’s maiden name was Leila Irene Routh) ----- Son of James Calvin McKinney and Martha Annis Heflin McKinney, B . B. attended Mount Lebanon Academy, Louisiana; Louisiana College, Pineville, Louisiana; the Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; the Siegel-Myers Correspondence School of Music, Chicago, Illinois (BM.1922); and the Bush Conservatory of Music, Chicago. Oklahoma Baptist University awarded him an honorary MusD degree in 1942. McKinney served as music editor at the Robert H. Coleman company in Dallas, Texas (1918–35). In 1919, after several months in the army, McKinney returned to Fort Wor… Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: [I was drifting far from the "Beacon Star"]
Composer: B. B. McKinney (1924)
Incipit: 34533 21161 76511
Key: A♭ Major
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 9 of 9)
Page Scan

Best Revival Songs #21

Page Scan

Evangel Bells #22

Himnos de Gloria #274

Page Scan

Himnos de Gloria #274

Page Scan

Jehovah's Praise #66

Page Scan

Pilot Hymns #113

Service Songs #14

Page Scan

The American Hymnal #356

TextAudioPage Scan

The Modern Hymnal #341

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.