"THE OLD RUGGED CROSS" MOST LOVED HYMN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Hymnal committees and hymn pollsters tell us that "The Old Rugged Cross" was by far the most-mentioned and most-requested hymn of the Twentieth Century. Actually it is a "gospel song" but we use the word "hymn" in the all-inclusive sense.

Both words and music of the song are ascribed to George Bennard (1873-1958); he was a Methodist evangelist/song leader. He is said to have had assistance on the harmonics of the tune, by Charles H. Gabriel, a noted musician of the time. The song was completed in 1912 and first performed in 1913 by a five voice choir accompanied by a guitar.

As in most gospel songs, this one speaks of the singer's personal experience and feelings, rather than his adoration of God. A "hymn" in the strictest sense of the word is usually more poetic, more stately, and directed toward the Heavenly Father in praise and worship.

TORC has been enormously popular, as we have noted, through all these past decades. It has been recorded by several dozen of the leading entertainers of the time. That is all well and good, but this writer tends to prefer good choral music, and not so much the crooning-type treatment of pop singers. (However, yes I know: "De gustibus non est disputandum") Please note however, that we have included a very nice rendition by Gordon Macrae and Jo Stafford, and also a very worshipful arrangement (listen to all of it) by
Cathedral Methodist Choir. But I am getting ahead....

For the author, the song was not written to become the great success which it in fact did, but in answer to a deep personal need in his own life. Perhaps this is the reason it has meant so much to others as well. He loved the verse in Galatians 6:14, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified unto me and I unto the world." (St. Paul)

This hymn is well-known to all my readers so I am quoting the third stanza here:

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

It is written that at age 85 George Bennard "exchanged his cross for a crown.". A twelve foot
cross stands in Reed, Michigan, his hometown, and on it a plaque reads: "The Old Rugged
Cross--- Home of George Bennard, Composer of the Beautiful Hymn."
--30--


Jo Stafford/Gordon McCrae:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR3ys-XbJpA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Cathedral Choir of Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN0uv4G9Rug&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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