The Old Rugged Cross

© Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

   The cross of Jesus Christ is not the cross of a martyr, but the door whereby God keeps open house for the universe.  Anyone can go in through that door.
-          Oswald Chambers.

  This song has been so instrumental to my walk in the faith that I can hardly imagine life without it.  I have heard it sung many times over the years, not only during congregational singing but also by great soloists, quartets and choirs.  As a youth I particularly liked and often listened to Rex Allen's rendition, but the most moving I've heard it being sung, specifically from my perspective and in my particular situation, was by the South African evangelist and pastor, Peter Snyman (1919-2005) with his powerful baritone in South Africa in 1976 during the delivering (and incidental tape recording) of his testimony on how he had gotten saved as a World War II veteran, after he had been marooned at sea for three days off the east-coast of Africa in 1942. 

   According to Reader’s Digest, it was one of the most horrendous tales of suffering and hardship ever to emerge from the Second World War.  The passengers, which comprised the crew, Allied soldiers on leave and a large number of Italian prisoners-of-war, were sailing from North Africa (Massawa) to South Africa when the ship, the British troop carrier the Nova Scotia, was torpedoed by the crack German submarine commander, Robert Gysae of U-boat U177, a few hundred miles off the coast from Lourenco Marques (now Maputo).  

   After three or four harrowing days at sea of drifting aimlessly about in the Indian Ocean on 'banana-rafts' and other pieces of flotsam and jetsam, the survivors were preparing for the worst ... when the delirious Peter and his marooned 'colleagues' at last noticed the unthinkable miracle of a ‘cross’ appearing in the distance on the horizon.  Maybe it was only a mirage ... was it a mirage?  The CROSS eventually turned out to be not a mirage after all, but the radio masts of the Portuguese rescue-vessel, the Alfonso de Albuquerque.  According to the website uboat.net the ship was struck at 07:15 a.m., 28 November 1942. There were 858 that died, with 194 survivors.       

     During WWII, Peter Snyman survived such famous battles and/or skirmishes as El Gumu; Mega; Addis Abeba; Mersa Matruh; El Quasc (at Tobruk); Sidi Rezegh and Suez, and, of course, the sinking of the Nova Scotia.  Adventure-buffs will love Peter Snyman's story and it may be downloaded in English (pdf) at http://www.fad.co.za/Resources/Nova/pieter-syman-english.pdf. (AFRIKAANSE lesers: Die verhaal van Pieter Snyman kan gratis afgelaai word by ww.tekkieraces.co.za/springbok/2008/inhoud/pieter_snyman.pdf.).
   Back in South Africa, Peter went on to become one of the most dynamic of evangelists ever to emerge on the South African Church scene, and was widely loved and respected as the pastor of his large congregation at Klerksdorp (South Africa).  He continued preaching deep into retirement and literally (almost!) died with his boots on in 2005, just preaching the evergreen gospel of Jesus Christ.  This gospel classic was one of his favourites (I quote from two verses only): 

YouTube

The Old Rugged Cross

(George Bennard, 1873-1958)

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

It’s shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away

Where His glory forever Ill 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 someday for a crown.

Piet Stassen

eLiterature/eLiteratuur:

1. Scribd Publishing Site:  www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
2. eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)  
3. eBook:  'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
4. eBook: 'Meditations & Contemplations: A Reader For Both Atheists And Creationists' (ENGLISH)
5. eBook: 'Conservation, Rhino Poaching And Hypocrisy' (ENGLISH)
6. eBook: 'Why Darwinism ('Evolution') Does Not Make Sense' (ENGLISH)
7. eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
8. eBoek:  'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
9. eBoek:  'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
10. eBoek:  'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
11. eTracts, Christian (Free, Downloadable):  Free, downloadable Christian eTracts for free distribution (ENGLISH)
12. eTraktate, Christelik (Gratis, Aflaaibaar): Gratis, aflaaibabre Christelike Traktate vir gratis verspreiding (AFRIKAANS)

Bibliography

1.  Hymnary.  Accessed At <http://www.hymnary.org/person/Bennard_G.> [online] 2013.
2.  McCasland, David. (2008) The Quotable Oswald Chambers. Discovery House Publishers.Grand Rapids, Michigan.

3.  Peterson, John V. (1968) Great Hymns Of The Faith.  ‘The Old Rugged Cross’. Singspiration^® Inc. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
4.  TekkieRaces. 'Pieter Snyman'. Accessed at www.tekkieraces.co.za/springbok/2008/inhoud/pieter_snyman.pdf.) [online] 2013.

5.  Uboat.net. ‘Sinking Of The Nova Scotia’. Accessed At <http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2476.html.> [online] 2013.
6.  Wikipedia. 'Robert Gysae'. Accessed At <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gysae> [online] 2013.