Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 22, 2009 and Sunday, August 23, 2009

Four books were used during the weekend:
The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 2002 printing),
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2006 Revision,
The Sacred Harp, J. L. White 4th Edition with Supplement, 1911, republished 2007, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Saturday, August 22

The 81st annual session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention convened at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, Forest, Mississippi, on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in August, for two days of worship in song service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. President Mark Davis called the meeting to order by leading 37b (SH), Liverpool.
He welcomed everyone to the convention. Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Leaders:
36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth - Mark Davis
200 (SH), Edom - John L. Van Horn
209 (SH), Evening Shade
67 (SH), Columbus - Arlon Gardner
82t (SH), Bound For Canaan - Jean Gray
63 (SH), Coronation
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
248 (AL), Twilight is Falling (for Marsha Hedrick and Bruce).

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John L. Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Assistant Secretary—Darlene Reynolds; Chaplains—Arlon Gardner and W.M. Allen; Arranging Committee—Junie McNeil and Nancy Van Den Akker; Business and Credentials Committee—Hugh McGuire, Henry McGuire, and Tim Gray; Memorial Committee—John Hollingsworth and Wanda Gregg.

Leaders:
268 (SH), David's Lamentation - Baron Powers
85 (SH), The Morning Trumpet
460 (SH), Sardis - Wanda Gregg
40 (SH), Lenox
171 (SH), Exhortation (First) - Jeanette Nelson
455 (SH), Soar Away
75 (AL), Sprague - Elizabeth Murleisen
503 (SH), Lloyd
38b (CB), The Road to Life and Death (Windham) - Hans Gutterman
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain
316 (AL), This Heavy Load - Velton Chafin
308 (AL), The Happy Time.

RECESS

Leaders:
124 (SH), Lover of the Lord - Hugh McGuire
276 (SH), Bridgewater
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There - Sarah Smith
182 (SH), Newburgh - John Hollingsworth
176t (SH), Ragan
232 (CB), The Crucifixion - Bill Hollingsworth
235 (CB), The Resurrection (Easter Anthem)
216t (AL), O, Save - Bobby Caldwell
55b (AL), Idumea
354b (SH), Happy Land - Madeline Freeman and Will Freeman and Haley Gray and Heidi Gray
45t (CB), Amazing Grace (New Britain)
378b (SH), Never Turn Back - Ann Steel
318 (SH), Present Joys
270 (CB), Confidence - Ross Brand
380t (CB), Nettie.
The blessing for the noon meal was offered by Arlon Gardner.

LUNCH

After a bountiful and delicious lunch, John Van Horn brought the class to order by leading 358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson.
President Davis thanked Mr. Alfred Bailey and the people of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for their hospitality and led 117 (AL), Angel Band.
Leaders:
354t (AL), Summer - Danny Creel
82b (AL), Gospel Waves
214 (AL), Hosanna - Renee Eady
54 (AL), My Trust - Ken Tate
64 (AL), Youthful Blessings
442 (SH), New Jordan - Henry McGuire
240 (SH), Christian Song - Henry McGuire and Tim Gray (in memory of Durward Scarborough)
212 (SH), Sharon - Warren Steel
213t (SH), The Good Old Way
184 (AL), Where We'll Never Grow Old - Emily Mayes Massey
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - John Merritt (for Brenda Merritt)
138t (CB), Song to the Lamb
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - T.J. Funderburk
569b (SH), Sacred Throne
133 (AL), Juniata - Nancy Van Den Akker
142 (AL), The Solid Rock
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands - Seth Holloway
388 (CB), The Happy Sailor.

RECESS

Mark Davis brought the class together leading 384 (SH), Panting for Heaven.
Leaders:
323 (AL), Holy Manna - Tim Gray and Haley Gray and Heidi Gray and Madelyn Freeman and Will Freeman
500 (CB), Sweet By and By
51 (AL), Lonsdale - Hugh Bill McGuire and Hugh McGuire and Henry McGuire
472 (SH), Akin
361 (SH), Loving Jesus - Linda Funderburk
290 (SH), Victoria
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Mike McNeil
172 (AL), The Grand Highway
127 (SH), Green Fields - John Todd
172 (SH), Harmony
147t (SH), Boylston - Wilma Mitchell
204t (AL), What a Day - Wilma Mitchell and Mike McNeil (in memory of Bennie Rigdon)
43 (AL), The Heavenly Throng - Junie McNeil
253 (AL), Is It Far?.

Announcements were made. President Davis dismissed the class until 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.    “The Drone” was sung, and the class was dismissed with prayer offered by Chaplain Gardner.

Sunday, August 23

President Mark Davis opened the Sunday morning session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Convention by leading 176b (SH), Blooming Youth.
He welcomed everyone back to the convention. Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer. President Davis appointed Mike McNeil and Hans Gutterman to the Resolutions Committee.

Leaders:
106 (SH), Ecstasy - Mark Davis
120 (SH), Chambers - John Van Horn
215 (SH), New Topia
277 (SH), Antioch - Arlon Gardner and Peth Gardner
272 (SH), Exhortation (Second)
143 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Jean Gray
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners
335 (SH), Return Again - Darlene Reynolds
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides
344 (SH), Rainbow - Jeanette Nelson
482 (SH), Mulberry Grove
119 (SH), Heaven's My Home - Baron Powers
79 (SH), The Old Ship of Zion
281b (AL), Palmetto - Gary Smith
30b (AL), Dennis.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by John Van Horn leading 355 (AL), Homeward Bound.
Leaders:
339 (AL), Samanthra - Nancy Van Den Akker
251 (AL), Disciple
372 (AL), I Won't Turn Back - Hans Gutterman
511t (CB), Brown
85b (AL), Mercy Seat - Sarah Smith
101 (AL), An Address for All
186 (SH), Sherburne - Wanda Gregg
288 (SH), White
234 (SH), Reverential Anthem - Hugh McGuire
350 (AL), The Rock
225t (CB), Newry - Bill Hollingsworth
225t (AL), Kenan.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was opened by Arlon Gardner leading 155 (SH), Northfield.
Leaders:
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There - Natalie Davis
354b (SH), Happy Land
354t (SH), Lebanon - John Hollingsworth
515 (SH), Federal Street - Elizabeth Murliesen
64 (SH), Nashville
176 (AL), Heavenly Treasures - Mike McNeil
322 (AL), Among that Band
68b (SH), Ortonville - Wilma Mitchell
480 (SH), Redemption (in memory of Janice Nelson)
65 (SH), Sweet Prospect - Hugh Bill McGuire
196 (SH), Alabama
503 (CB), That Beautiful Land On High - Junie McNeil
344 (SH), Rainbow
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon - Henry McGuire
269 (SH), Bear Creek.

A business meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. The Business and Credentials Committee reported 3 county conventions represented, and sufficient donations to cover expenses.

The Memorial Committee conducted the memorial lesson. The following list of names of sick and shut-ins was read:
Marsha Hedrick, W.M. Allen, Charles Porter, and Clarence McCool. Wanda Gregg offered an uplifting prayer for all the sick and shut-ins. John Hollingsworth and Wanda Gregg led 95b (CB), The Christian's Love, in their honor.

The following list of names of deceased members was read:
Joe Cobb—Mississippi; Dr. William Reynolds—Tennessee; Art Deason—Alabama; John Etheridge—Florida. Wanda Gregg offered a prayer of blessing for these people and for their families, and led 347 (SH), Christian's Farewell, in their memory.

The Resolutions Committee reported the following: Thanks to our Heavenly Father for this weekend of singing and fellowship; a special thank you to Antioch Church, all of the visitors (some who traveled a great distance), and for two wonderful days of delicious food. All committee reports were accepted. President Davis appointed the following to serve as the Location Committee: Mark Davis, Henry McGuire, and John Van Horn.

RECESS

Leaders:
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - Hugh McGuire
507b (CB), The Glory of the Cross - Bill Hollingsworth
171 (SH), Exhortation (First) - Gary Smith
488b (CB), Nearer, My God, To Thee (Bethany) - Jeanette Nelson
81t (SH), Beach Spring - Baron Powers
149 (AL), A Good Time Coming - Sarah Smith
178 (SH), Africa - Nancy Van Den Akker
38t (CB), Sessions - Hans Gutterman
393t (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro - John Hollingsworth
294 (SH), Rocky Road - Seth Holloway.

Announcements were made. A motion and second were made to close the convention.    “The Drone” was the closing song, and John Van Horn offered the closing prayer.

President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John L. Van Horn; Secretaries—Jean Gray.