Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 22, 2015 and Sunday, August 23, 2015

Four books were used during the weekend:
The Christian Harmony, 2010 edition,
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2012 Revision,
The Sacred Harp, J. L. White 4th Edition with Supplement, 1911, republished 2007, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Saturday, August 22

The 86th session of the Mississippi State Convention was called to order by Mark Davis leading 316 (SH), New Hope.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer. Mark Davis welcomed everyone and thanked Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for hosting the convention again.

Leaders:
155 (SH), Northfield - John Van Horn
188 (CH10), He Loves Me - Darlene Reynolds and Olivia Way
95b (CB), The Christian's Love - Arlon Gardner
472 (SH), Akin - Judy Whiting
459t (CH10), All-Saints - Chris Brown
142 (CH10), The Solid Rock - Nancy Van den Akker
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway - Mike McNeil
163b (SH), China - Elizabeth Muhleisen
352 (SH), Swanton - Nathan Stewart
85 (SH), The Morning Trumpet - Linda Funderburg
205 (CH10), The Watchman's Call - Hugh McGuire
346 (CH10), Star in the East - Warren Steel
1 (CH10), Weary Rest - Danny Creel
149 (CH10), A Good Time Coming - Ann Jett
540 (WB), It is Well with My Soul - Joe Jones
138 (CH10), Rest in the Kingdom - Allison Brown
322 (CH10), Among that Band - Michael Walker.
President Davis appointed Henry McGuire, Hugh McGuire, and Drew McGuire to the Business and Credentials Committee.

RECESS

Mark Davis and Sandra Jager called the class back to order leading 145b (CB), The Child's Prayer (Sweet Affliction).
Leaders:
489t (WB), All Hail the Power (Miles Lane) - Robert Vaughn
543t (WB), Alone - Henry McGuire
486t (WB), Trusting - Will McGuire
102 (CH10), Missionary's Adieu - Todd Derstine and Regina Derstine
333 (CH10), Night is Coming
552 (CB), And Live Through Endless Day - Drew McGuire
69 (CB), Minister's Farewell - Ryan Bowman
518 (CB), Love At Home - John Hollingsworth
140 (CH10), Edom - Tim Gray
168b (CH10), Sunrise - Bill Hollingsworth
354 (CH10), Summer - Yancey Jett
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus - Amy Wells
527 (SH), My Life and Breath - Lisa Geist.

RECESS

Leaders:
146 (SH), Hallelujah - John Van Horn
535 (WB), Holy! Lord God of Sabaoth - John Plunkett
204t (CH10), What a Day - Wilma Mitchell and Mike McNeil
82 (CB), Bound for Canaan - Bobby Caldwell
121t (CH10), Prosperity - Susannah Gill
464 (CB), Hocutt - Nancy Hogan
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Bill Hogan
49t (SH), Old Hundred - Sarah McGuire
89 (SH), The Church's Desolation - Anders Wells
280 (SH), Westford - John Van Horn
70b (SH), Save, Mighty Lord - Arlon Gardner.

LUNCH

Darlene Reynolds, Hugh McGuire, and Henry McGuire brought the class back together by leading 511 (WB), Willie.
Leaders:
492 (SH), Invocation (Second) - Judy Whiting
95t (WB), Ganges - Chris Brown
454 (SH), The Better Land - Nancy Van den Akker
239 (CB), David's Lamentation - Elizabeth Muhleisen
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There - Nathan Stewart
47b (SH), Idumea - Linda Funderburg
84 (SH), Amsterdam - Natalie Davis
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings - Lisa Davis
442 (SH), New Jordan - Warren Steel
54 (CH10), My Trust - Danny Creel
170 (CH10), On My Way - Ann Jett
258 (CH10), Thorny Desert - Yancey Jett
280 (CH10), Zion - Regina Derstine
384 (SH), Panting for Heaven - Amy Wells
63 (SH), Coronation - Sarah McGuire
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Mark Davis (for the people of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church)
320 (CB), The Lost City - John Plunkett
456 (SH), Sacred Mount - Lisa Geist
499t (WB), My Jesus, I Love Thee - Joe Jones
430 (SH), Arbacoochee - Alison Brown.

A business meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. for the purpose of electing officers. A motion and a second was made to keep the same officers as follows: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Chaplain—Arlon Gardner; Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.

Warren Steel announced new business concerning a trophy cup dating from 1924. It was first presented to the Webster County Old Harp Singers for their performance in the Community Singing Contest at the North Mississippi Fair, Grenada, in October, 1924. The winners presented the trophy to W.T. Gwin in appreciation of forty years of faithful service as Director. Gwin was the first president of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention when it was organized in 1929. The trophy has been preserved by Mr. Gwin's granddaughter. Warren suggested we send the trophy to the Sacred Harp Museum in Carrollton, Georgia. John Hollingsworth suggested we wait until Sunday to vote so we could all think about what to do.

Leaders:
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Mark Davis
411 (SH), Morning Prayer - Michael Walker
432 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Alison Brown
114b (CB), Fallen by the Way - Nancy Hogan
186 (CH10), Lord Remember Me - Bill Hogan
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet - Anders Wells
487t (WB), Manoah - Hugh McGuire
11 (CH10), Minister's Farewell - Bill Hollingsworth
312t (SH), Sing to Me of Heaven - Drew McGuire.

Announcements were made. Mark Davis, Drew McGuire, and Henry McGuire led    “The Drone”.
Mike McNeil offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, August 23

The Sunday session of the Mississippi State Convention was called to order by Mark Davis leading 101b (SH), Holy City.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Leaders:
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus - John Van Horn
142 (CB), Stratfield
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds and Bentley Rose and Olivia Way
189 (CH10), One by One
96 (CB), Mercy Seat - Arlon Gardner
455 (SH), Soar Away
196 (SH), Alabama - Hugh McGuire
354t (SH), Lebanon - Judy Whiting
174 (SH), Petersburg
50 (CH10), Cranbrook - Chris Brown
51 (CH10), Lonsdale
77t (SH), The Child of Grace - Jane Armstrong
159 (SH), Wondrous Love
128 (SH), The Promised Land - Anders Wells
110 (SH), Mount Vernon
393 (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro - Amy Wells
76b (CB), Desire for Piety.
Mark Davis appointed Wilma Mitchell and Mike McNeil to the Memorial Committee.

RECESS

Leaders:
448t (SH), Consecration - Mark Davis
178 (SH), Africa - Nancy Hogan
392 (CB), Little Pilgrim
98 (CB), Glory Shone Around - Bill Hogan
156 (CB), San Diego
77b (SH), Holcombe - Nancy Van den Akker
228 (SH), Marlborough
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me? - Dorothea Maynard
361 (SH), Loving Jesus
189 (SH), Montgomery - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine
86 (SH), Poland
208 (SH), Traveling On
462t (CH10), Lotha - John Plunkett
493b (CH10), Day-Star
107 (CH10), Resignation (First) - Nathan Stewart
172 (SH), Harmony.

Mark Davis appointed Nathan Stewart and Bill Hogan to the Resolutions Committee and Henry McGuire, Hugh McGuire, and Drew McGuire to the Finance Committee.

RECESS

Leaders:
136 (SH), Morality - Mark Davis
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Wilma Mitchell
480 (SH), Redemption
216 (SH), Delight - Amber Davis
142 (SH), Stratfield
518 (CB), Love At Home - Henry McGuire
98 (CH10), Christian Soldier
55t (WB), Paris - Drew McGuire
446t (WB), Sharon's Lovely Rose.
Arlon Gardner offered prayer before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Leaders:
61t (CH10), North Carolina - Drew McGuire
119 (SH), Heaven's My Home - Will McGuire
45t (SH), New Britain
286 (SH), Heavenly Home - Mike McNeil
372 (CH10), I Won't Turn Back
198 (CB), Jesus Saves (Raymond) - Ryan Bowman
199 (CB), City of Light
63 (SH), Coronation - Helen Tester and Nathan Stewart
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Mr. and Mrs. McLeod
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus
273 (SH), Milford - Natalie Davis
442 (SH), New Jordan
362 (CH10), Shining Light - Erica Martinez
421 (SH), Sweet Morning
410t (SH), The Dying Californian - Logan Hollarsmith
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon - Andy Davis
198 (SH), Green Street
200 (SH), Edom - Lisa Davis
504 (SH), Wood Street
209 (SH), Evening Shade - Carey Armstrong and Jane Armstrong
59 (SH), Holy Manna.

Mike McNeil and Wilma Mitchell conducted the memorial lesson. The following sick and shut-ins were honored:
Stites Gardner, Billie Gardner, Henry Reynolds, Elsie Moon, Amacia Cooper Smith, Mark A. Davis, Cath Tyler, Merle Jones, Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, and Phillip Springfield.

The following deceased were remembered:
George Easley—Mississippi; Jimmie Ruth Hawkins Melvin and Lora Cargo—Alabama; Kate Davis—Ireland; Raymond Hamrick—Georgia. They led 239t (CH10), Soft Music.

In a business session, it was decided to loan the trophy cup to the Sacred Harp Museum in Carrollton, Georgia. The convention retains ownership.

The report from the Business and Credentials Committee is as follows: Total money collected—$610.00; $350.00 to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church; $84.00 to minutes; $40.00 to WCPC Radio Broadcast, Houston, MS.

The report from the Resolutions Committee follows: Be it resolved that the class would like to show our appreciation and thank God for the following: The members of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for the use of their church; all those who brought food and supported this singing in their own various ways; for all the preparation put into making this a successful singing by the officers; and for the beautiful weather, and God's great spirit of communion in this joyful praise and worship. The business meeting was closed.

Judy Whiting led 521 (SH), Parting Friends (Third) and Chris Brown led 28b (SH), Wells.
Announcements were made. Mark Davis, Hugh McGuire, Henry McGuire, and Drew McGuire led    “The Drone”.
The closing prayer was offered by Mike McNeil.

President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.