The Old Rugged Cross Story

This was the heart of the gospel.

The old rugged cross story.

Back in 1913 george bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. The story behind the old rugged cross. The old rugged cross during the early years of his ministry rev. George s coal miner father died when george.

This song was written as a result of his spiritual searching and realizing the importance of the scripture john 3 16. The old rugged cross is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song leader george bennard 1873 1958. Lyrics to the old rugged cross on a hill far away stood an old rugged cross the emblem of suff ring and shame and i love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. And i love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Mieras from chicago to sturgeon bay wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the friends church from december 29 1912. After his conversion in a salvation army meeting he and his wife became brigade leaders before. The old rugged cross hymn and the story behind it. The old rugged cross by george bennard the united methodist hymnal no.

So i ll cherish the old rugged cross till my trophies at last i lay down i will cling to the old rugged cross and. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross the emblem of suffering and shame. His mind went back again and again to christ s anguish on the cross. The old rugged cross is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song leader george bennard.

I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown george bennard lived his retirement years in reed city michigan and passed away there in 1958. As a methodist evangelist george bennard wrote the first verse of the old rugged cross in albion michigan in the fall of 1912 as a response to ridicule that he had received at a revival meeting bennard traveled with ed e. Story behind the hymn when polls are taken to determine the most popular american hymns invariably near the top of the list is the old rugged cross it has been the most favored of the approximate 300 songs written by george bennard. The cross he pictured was no gold covered icon.

George bennard was praying for a full understanding of the cross and its plan in christianity consequently he spent many hours in study prayer and meditation until he could say i saw the christ of the cross as if i were seeing john 3 16 leave the printed page take. So i ll cherish the old rugged cross.