"The Old Rugged Cross"

"The Old Rugged Cross". . Most popular and widely accepted Christian hymn "The Old Rugged Cross" completed by Rev. George Bennard during Evangelistic meetings here Dec. 29, 1912 - Jan. 12, 1913, First sung as a quartet in the Friends Church Parlors and as a duet at the last service from penciled words and notes, "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., Oh, 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., In that 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., To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; , Its shame and reproach gladly bear; , Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, , Where His glory forever I’ll share., Chorus , 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.