The Old Rugged Cross Hymn Story

Mieras from chicago to sturgeon bay wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the friends church from december 29 1912.

The old rugged cross hymn story.

The old rugged cross during the early years of his ministry rev. Today that same church building originally a hops barn is owned by the non profit old rugged cross foundation and welcomes thousands of visitors annually. George s coal miner father died when george. The old rugged cross is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song leader george bennard.

The cross he pictured was no gold covered icon. Back in 1913 george bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. 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. This was the heart of the gospel.

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. His mind went back again and again to christ s anguish on the cross. Hymn story the old rugged cross hymn lists by book of bible george bennard 1873 1958 was born in youngstown ohio but his family moved to iowa where he accepted christ as his savior at a revival meeting sponsored by the salvation army.