2nd Rotunda Singing

Alabama Department of Archives & History
Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama
Saturday, February 6, 1999

The second session of the Rotunda Singing was held on Saturday before the first Sunday in February in the Rotunda of the State Capitol located in Montgomery, Alabama. Four different books are used: 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, with 30 minute sessions from each book. A very warm welcome was extended to all present from a representative of the State of Alabama and from Chairman Jim Carnes. Art Deason led the morning prayer.

A business session was held with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Jim Carnes; Vice Chairman—Joey Brackner; Secretary—Shelbie Sheppard; Arranging Committee— Art Deason, H.J. Jackson, John Etheridge, and Linda Thomas.

The first session was held from “The Sacred Harp, 1991 Revision”.
Leaders:
81t, Beach Spring - Jonathan Blakeley
31b, Webster - Linda Thomas
129, Heavenly Armor - Jeff Sheppard
276, Bridgewater - Amanda Denson
475, A Thankful Heart - Judy Mincey
510, Corley - Hugh McGraw
142, Stratfield - Shelbie Sheppard
39b, Sharpsburg - Bud Oliver
39t, Detroit - David Lee
373, Homeward Bound - Steven Levine
540, Nidrah - Judy Caudle
212, Sharon - Regina Glass.

The second session was from the “Colored Sacred Harp”.
Leaders:
24, The Signs of the Judgement - H.J. Jackson
9, Rejoice and Sing - H.J. Jackson
4, Prosperity - Ed Snell
65, (No song at that page no.) - Bernice Harvey
65b, Call Upon the Lord - Joyce Belcher
19, My Mother's Gone - Janice Johnson
46, Jackson - H.J. Jackson.

RECESS

The singing resumed with songs from the “Christian Harmony”.
Leaders:
157, Hallelujah - Art Deason
130t, Sacred Love - George Cox
109, Not Made with Hands - Shannon Clark
289, Happy Land - Billy Thompson
204t, What a Day - Tish Crocker
135, Raymond - Ola Meadows
117, Angel Band - Tim Cook
105b, Hamburg - Cecile Cox
110, Volunteers - John Etheridge.

The next session was from the “Cooper Revision Book”.
Leaders:
563, Jesus Is Mine - Clarke Lee
478, March On - David Lee
505, Cleansing Fountain - Milton Oliver
73b, Soldiers of Christ (Arlington) - John Etheridge (for A.C. Carter)
176t, Ragan - Jim Pfau
164, Duane Street - Gene Wakefield
323b, Soft Music - Frances Jones.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with songs from the “Christian Harmony”.
Leaders:
64, Youthful Blessings - Art Deason
216, (No song at that page no.) - Jonathan Blakeley
342, Blest Morn - Billy Thompson
87, The Promised Land - Clara D. Smith and Ernestine Thompson and Mrs. Elvin Morris and Cecile Cox and Ola Meadows (all sisters)
19, The Day of Days - Durward Scarborough
281, (No song at that page no.) - Jean Gray and Junie McNeal
215, In That Morning - Donald Smith.

The next session began with songs from the “Colored Sacred Harp”.
Leaders:
18, Alone - H.J. Jackson
25, Jesus Rose - Ed Snell
62, My Friend - Bernice Harvey
87, Florida Storm - Joyce Belcher
3, Am I a Soldier of the Cross - Janice Johnson.

Songs from the “Cooper Revision Book” were used in the next session.
Leaders:
497, The Bitter Cup - Regina Glass
559, Will You Meet Me? - Paul Wyatt
500, Sweet By and By - Chita Blakeley
336t, Hester - Don Bowen
282, I'm Going Home - J.A. Mosley
498, The Living Stone - John Plunkett
229, The Great Roll Call - Charlotte Bishop
411, The Finest Flower - Clarke Lee.

The final session was songs from “The Sacred Harp, 1991 Revision”.
Leaders:
146, Hallelujah - Jim Carnes
79, The Old Ship of Zion - Buell Cobb
480, Redemption - Freeman Wootten and Jewel Wootten
543, Thou Art God - J.L. Hopper
384, Panting for Heaven - Rene Greene
569b, Sacred Throne - Wayne Morgan
454, The Better Land - Lee Rogers
137, Liberty - Jimmy Cates
426b, Jasper - Eloise Watkins
268, David's Lamentation - Buckley Hopper
196, Alabama - Joey Brackner
77t, The Child of Grace - Waylon Blakeley and Lacey Presley
218, Mount Pleasant - Dennise Burleson
329, Vain World Adieu - Ozella Blackmon
358, Murillo's Lesson - Carla Smith.

Announcements were made. Jim Carnes and Joey Brackner led song on page 40, Lenox, as the closing song.
Jonathan Blakeley dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Jim Carnes Vice Chairman—Joey Brackner; Secretary—Shelbie Sheppard.