Hymns and Christian Music

The Old Rugged Cross

Vocal Track: The Old Rugged Cross

Accompaniment Track: The Old Rugged Cross

Hymn Author: George Bennard (1873- 1958)

The author of the hymn: "The Old Rugged Cross", was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the son of a coal miner. George Bennard soon moved to Albia, Iowa, and then, Lucas, Iowa. It was there that young George made his personal acceptance of Christ as his Savior.

He wrote about 300 hymns in his life time.

He and his first wife served for a period of time as officers in the Salvation Army.

Mr. and Mrs. George Bennard in Downey, CA

In 1913, George Bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. His mind was focused on Christ's anguish at the cross. It was in Albion, Michigan, that he started to write this song, but he struggled for weeks with the words and melody that he wrote. Initially the only words that would come to him were: "I'll cherish the old rugged cross." He was planning church sermons for engagements in New York when he found that the message of the cross was growing stronger and stronger for him. Then he made a second attempt to complete the song. Finally, he finished, then excitedly called his wife and played and sang the completed song over the telephone.

On June 7, 1913 George Bennard introduced the new hymn at the church house in Pokagon, Michigan. "The Old Rugged Cross," soon became one of the most popular hymns of the century. He then continued to travel to churches for forty years. The last years of his life were spent just north of Reed City, Michigan. Today near his home, there still stands a twelve foot high cross bearing the words, "The Old Rugged Cross, Home Of George Bennard, Composer Of This Beloved Hymn".

He died on October 9, 1958. in Reed City, Michigan, at the age of eighty-five, George Bennard's burial and resting place is at the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California in Los Angeles County, USA.

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Lyrics to The Old Rugged Cross

1) On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
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CHORUS
And I cherish that old rugged cross
And my trophies at last I lay down
I do cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it To day for a crown
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2) To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach He did bear
Then He'll call me some day to a home far away
Where His glory forever I'll share (repeat chorus)
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ENDING:
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it To day for a crown
And exchange it To day for a crown
And exchange it To day for a crown

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Original Lyrics to The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

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 exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

There were also two other verses written.