The Old Rugged Cross, Historical Links to Sturgeon Bay

These are snippets from a few sites online. Just thought it was interesting, as my friend Bev posted part of the lyrics today.

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
Bernard was a Methodist evangelist involved in a series of revivals
from Wisconsin to New York State while carrying with him the words of
this poem of the cross. During the travels he worked on the hymn with
friends. It is said to have been completed on December 29, 1912,
while in a revival in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. A well known Gospel
composer helped him touch up the music and harmony while Billy Sunday's
great song leader used it first and made it widely used well known.
The Old Rugged Cross is probably the most beloved of the old hymns of
the 19th century.
http://www.ministrytoday.org/pastors/p-hymns.htm

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
Most popular Christian hymn, completed by Rev. George Bennard during evangelistic meetings Dec. 29, 1912, to Jan. 12, 1913, at the Friends Church, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. First sung the last day as a quartet in the church parlors and as a duet at the final service that night from penciled words and notes.
http://www.cardcow.com/69212/memorial-to-the-old-rugged-cross-sturgeon-bay-wisconsin-sturgeon-bay/

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
From Marc De Bruyn (emdebe@village.uunet.be) - September 7, 2003
"The Old Rugged Cross" was composed by Rev. George Bennard (1873-1958), a Methodist minister, in 1913. It was written in Albion, Michigan (where he conducted evangelistic services and operated a music company and tract society), or Pokagon, Michigan (where the hymn was first sung publicly at a revival meeting), or Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; all three towns claim to be the birthplace of this hymn, that has become an all-time favorite.

"The Old Rugged Cross" became an instant hit, but it did not make Bennard rich: he sold the rights to the Rodeheaver Company of Winona Lake, Indiana for $500, and the copyright was renewed for about $5,000 years later. Bennard also wrote numerous other gospel songs, but none matched the quality of "The Old Rugged Cross", which has stood the test of time and is one of the most famous hymns ever written.

"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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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"
http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/songs/Old_Rugged_Cross.html