George Bernard was born in Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.A. but his parents soon moved to Albia, Iowa, and later to the town of Lucas in the same State when George was still a child. It was in Lucas that he made his personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour while a young man. Following the death of his father before he was sixteen years of age, he entered the ranks of the Salvation Army with his wife, where they served for some time as officers. Later, Bernard was ordained by the Methodist Episcopal Church, where his devoted ministry was highly esteemed. He was, most of the time, busy organising revival programmes, especially through the States of Michigan and New York. He believed his most exciting time was for him to release people from the dominion of satan.
One day, after returning to Michigan, he passed through a trying experience which caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and what the Apostle Paul meant when he spoke of entering into the fellowship of Christ?s suffering. As Bernard contemplated these truths, he became convinced that the cross was more than just a religious symbol but rather the very heart of the gospel.. George Bernard has left the following accounts regarding the writing of the hymn.
?The inspiration came to me one day in 1913 when I was staying in Albion, Michigan. I began to write ?The Old Rugged Cross?. I composed the melody first, The words that I first wrote were perfect. The words of the finished hymn were put into my heart in an answer to my own need. Shortly thereafter, it was introduced at special meetings in Pokagon, Michigan, on June 7, 1913. The first occasion where it was heard outside of the church at Pokagon was at the Chicago Evangelistic Institute. There, it was introduced before a large convention and soon it became extremely popular throughout the country?
Shortly after writing this hymn, George Bernard sent a manuscript copy to Charles Gabriel, one of the leading gospel hymn composers of that era. Gabriel?s prophecy was, ?You will certainly hear from this song? The prophecy was soon fulfilled as The Old Rugged Cross became one of the most widely published songs, either sacred or non?secular. in the world. Bernard continued his evangelistic ministries for additional years following the writing of this hymn. He wrote other favourite gospel hymns, but none ever achieved the response of The Old Rugged Cross. Source de l'extrait biographique : Wikipedia (Retracter)...(lire la suite)
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