1st State Capitol Rotunda Singing

Alabama Department of Archives & History
Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama
Saturday, January 31, 1998

The first session of the State Capitol Rotunda Singing was held on Saturday before the first Sunday in February in the rotunda of the State Capitol located in Montgomery, Alabama. It was announced that this would be an annual event on this date, and that four books would be used with 30 minute sessions from each book. The books to be used are: The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition; The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 1994 printing); The Colored Sacred Harp; and The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 1992 Revision. Everyone should bring a sack lunch.

The first session was held from “The Sacred Harp, 1991 Revision”.
Leaders:
216, Delight - Shelbie Sheppard
217, Ballstown - S. T. Reed
474, Mount Desert - Tim Cook
475, A Thankful Heart - Christie Allen
480, Redemption - Bud Oliver
384, Panting for Heaven - Liz Bryant
218, Mount Pleasant - Lee Rogers
145t, Warrenton - Don Bowen
321, Newnan - Milton Oliver
189, Montgomery - Chita Blakeley and Jonathan Blakeley and Kyle Blakeley and Gavin Blakeley.

The second session was from the “Christian Harmony” with Art Deason giving a warm welcome to everyone.
Leaders:
109, Not Made with Hands - Shannon Clark
289, Happy Land - Ann Kinezey
287, Indian Convert - Tish Crocker
134, Liberty - Elvin Morris
64, Youthful Blessings - Stanley Smith
111, (No song at that page no.) - Art Deason
307, True Happiness - Bill Hogan.

RECESS

The singing resumed with singing from the “Colored Sacred Harp”.
Leaders:
4, Prosperity - H. J. Jackson
9, Rejoice and Sing - Ed Snell
65, (No song at that page no.) - Bernice Harvey
19, My Mother's Gone - Barney Roberson
20, He Leads Me - Stanley Smith
87, Florida Storm - John Etheridge
24, The Signs of the Judgement - Ed Snell
25, Jesus Rose.

The next session was from the “Cooper Revision Book” with Stanley Smith in charge.
Leaders:
447t, Boylston - John Etheridge
569, He Leads Me All the Way - Emmie Lou Grayson
410, Willie - Agnes Farris
559, Will You Meet Me? - Ioabelle Green
401, Cuba - Bill Farris
575, Davis (Lonsdale) - Kathy Lee
500, Sweet By and By - David Lee
572, We Will Sing with Angels There - Steve Grauberger
442t, Blooming Youth - Bernice Harvey
497, The Bitter Cup - Regina Glass
220, Mount Zion - Bill Hogan
171, Exhortation - Barney Roberson
470, There We Our Jesus Shall Adore (Sardis) - Ed Snell
400, Struggle On - H. J. Jackson
44, The Converted Thief - J. C. Hardin.

LUNCH The afternoon session resumed with songs from “The Sacred Harp, 1991 Revision” being used.
Leaders:
155, Northfield - Jeff Sheppard
146, Hallelujah - Celia Carnes
142, Stratfield - Amanda Denson
546, My Brightest Days - Bradley Allen and Chris Bell
276, Bridgewater - Margaret Keeton and Travis Keeton
31b, Webster - Buell Cobb
361, Loving Jesus - Pam Nunn
299, New Jerusalem - Linda Thomas
31t, Ninety-Third Psalm - Wayne Morgan
112, The Last Words of Copernicus - Joe Sutton and Penny Weaver and Jim Carnes
335, Return Again - Don Smith
310, Weeping Savior - J. L. Hopper
489, The Savior's Call - Judy Caudle.

The next session used songs from the “Christian Harmony”.
Leaders:
369, Easter Anthem - Art Deason
303, The Unclouded Day - Don Clark
142, The Solid Rock - Margie Simmons
184, Where We'll Never Grow Old - Regina Clark
78b, New Britain - Stanley Smith and Venus Scann
110, Volunteers - Retha Deason
204t, What a Day - Tish Crocker
85b, Mercy Seat - David Lee
87, The Promised Land - Don Smith.

The session from the “Colored Sacred Harp” began with the following leaders:
74, Doris - H. J. Jackson
3, Am I a Soldier of the Cross - Janice Johnson
59, It Is Finished - Ed Snell
62, My Friend - Bernice Harvey
65b, Call Upon the Lord - H. J. Jackson.
92, Eternal Truth Thy Word - H. J. Jackson.
95, Shout and Sing - H. J. Jackson.

The final session was from the “Cooper Revision Book”.
Leaders:
140, Chicago - Judy Mincey
563, Jesus Is Mine - Jean Gray
507t, Jackson - Odie Horton
319, Religion Is a Fortune - Junie McNeil
358, Murillo's Lesson - Ercyl Vidrine
240, The Christian's Song - Durwood Scarbrough
72, Firm Foundation (Bellevue) - Paula Cobbs and Buell Cobb
104, The Lovely Story - A. C. Carter
170, Exhilaration - Chita Blakeley
86, Guiding Spirit - Regina Clark
229, The Great Roll Call - Jonathan Blakeley
264b, Hebron - Kathy Lee.

Announcements were made. Jim Carnes, Joey Brackner, and Shelbie Sheppard led song on page 87, Sweet Canaan, as the closing song.
The class was dismissed with prayer by Don Smith.

Chairmen—Jim Carnes and Joey Brackner; Secretary—Shelbie Sheppard.