Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 26, 2017 and Sunday, August 27, 2017

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 26

The 88th session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was called to order by Mark Davis leading 36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer. Mark Davis welcomed everyone, and thanked Alfred Bailey and Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for hosting the convention.

Leaders:
209 (SH), Evening Shade - Mark Davis
110 (SH), Mount Vernon - Nathan Stewart
203 (SH), Florida
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
188 (CH10), He Loves Me
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die - Arlon Gardner
481 (SH), Novakoski
129 (SH), Heavenly Armor - Dennis Cranford
107 (SH), Russia
84 (SH), Amsterdam - Jane Armstrong
314 (SH), Cleburne
507b (CB), The Glory of the Cross - Sister Susan Dickey
383 (CH10), Azmon
390 (SH), New Prospect - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine
35 (SH), Saints Bound for Heaven
168 (SH), Cowper - Jamira Jackson
455 (SH), Soar Away
181 (SH), Exit - Will McGuire
338 (SH), Sawyer's Exit.

RECESS

Mark Davis called the class back to order leading 340 (SH), Odem (Second).
Leaders:
212 (SH), Sharon - Amy Armstrong Wells
546 (SH), My Brightest Days
300 (SH), Calvary - Amber Davis
440 (SH), North Salem
203 (CH10), Cumberland - Warren Steel
442 (SH), New Jordan
196 (SH), Alabama - Hugh McGuire (for John Hollingsworth)
201 (SH), Pilgrim
439 (SH), Jordan (Second) - Nicholas Thompson
336 (SH), Eternal Home
64 (CH10), Youthful Blessings - Henry McGuire
168b (CH10), Sunrise
204t (CH10), What a Day - Mike McNeil and Cheryl McElhenney
117 (CH10), Angel Band
273 (SH), Milford - Lisa Geist
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings
34b (SH), St. Thomas - Chris Nicholson
473 (SH), Carmarthen.
Drew McGuire offered the prayer to bless the food.

LUNCH

Mark Davis appointed Hugh McGuire, Drew McGuire, and Henry McGuire to the Business and Credentials Committee, and named Jane Armstrong and Amy Wells to serve as the Memorial Committee.

Leaders:
222 (SH), Ocean - Nathan Stewart
327 (SH), Invitation - Drew McGuire
216 (SH), Delight
354b (SH), Happy Land - Bentley Rose
282 (SH), I'm Going Home
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction - Cheryl McElhenney and Mike McNeil
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway
404 (SH), Youth Will Soon Be Gone - Nicholas Thompson
511 (WB), Willie - Henry McGuire and Hugh McGuire
372 (CH10), I Won't Turn Back - Arlon Gardner
411 (SH), Morning Prayer - Amy Armstrong Wells
269 (SH), Bear Creek - Lisa Geist
515 (CB), When the Lord Shall Come for Me - Drew McGuire
379 (SH), Span of Life - Warren Steel
392 (CB), Little Pilgrim - Sister Susan Dickie
57 (SH), Christian Soldier - Regina Derstine
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Mike McNeil
264t (CB), Great God, Attend (Duke Street) - Chris Nicholson
72b (SH), Bellevue - Jane Armstrong.

A business meeting was held to elect the following officers. President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Darlene Reynolds; Chaplain—Arlon Gardner.

Leaders:
240 (SH), Christian Song - Mark Davis
109 (CH10), Not Made with Hands - Jamira Jackson
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me? - Darlene Reynolds and Nicholas Thompson
143 (CB), Pleyel's Hymn Second - Cheryl McNeil and Mike McNeil
82 (CB), Bound for Canaan - Bobby Caldwell and Mark Davis
159 (CB), Wondrous Love - Arlon Gardner.

Announcements were made. Hugh McGuire, Henry McGuire, and Mark Davis led    “The Drone”, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner offered prayer to dismiss the class.

Sunday, August 27

The Sunday session of the Mississippi State Convention was called to order by Mark Davis welcoming everyone back. Mark led 74b (SH), King of Peace.
432 (SH), Cheves.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Leaders:
480 (SH), Redemption - Darlene Reynolds and Nicholas Thompson
176t (SH), Ragan
313b (SH), Cobb - Arlon Gardner
454 (SH), The Better Land
58 (SH), Pisgah - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine
123b (SH), Cross of Christ
452 (SH), Martin - Jane Armstrong
361 (SH), Loving Jesus
217 (SH), Ballstown - Nicholas Thompson
542 (SH), I'll Seek His Blessings
558 (CB), I'll Praise My Master - Chris Nicholson
95t (CB), Farewell, Vain World
111b (CH10), Judkins - Hugh McGuire
155 (SH), Northfield
187 (SH), Protection - Amber Davis
391 (SH), Sounding Joy.

RECESS

Mark Davis brought the class back together by leading 97 (SH), We'll Soon Be There.
Leaders:
281b (CH10), Palmetto - Drew McGuire
486 (SH), Beneficence
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There - Natalie Davis
273 (SH), Milford
188 (CH10), He Loves Me - Will McGuire
281t (CH10), Am I Born to Die?
222 (SH), Ocean - Amy Armstrong Wells
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus
267 (SH), Parting Friends (First) - Regina Derstine
193 (CH10), Kay.

RECESS

Mark Davis led 448b (SH), The Grieved Soul.
Leaders:
567 (CB), Child of Thine - Henry McGuire
515 (CB), When the Lord Shall Come for Me
228 (SH), Marlborough - Lisa Geist
527 (SH), My Life and Breath
96 (CB), Mercy Seat - Chris Nicholson
95b (CB), The Christian's Love
137 (CB), Liberty - Nicholas Thompson
540 (CB), She Is Sleeping
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Stephen McLeod and Anne McLeod
131b (SH), Invocation (First).
Drew McGuire asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Henry McGuire called the class back to order by leading 512 (SH), The Spirit Shall Return.
Leaders:
491t (WB), Just for a Day - Hugh McGuire
448b (WB), Festival Day
500 (CB), Sweet By and By - Jane Armstrong and Carey Armstrong
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger
430 (SH), Arbacoochee - Amber Davis
500 (SH), Living Hope
215 (SH), New Topia - Amy Armstrong Wells
383 (SH), Eternal Day.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Jane Armstrong and Amy Armstrong Wells. The following sick and shut-ins were remembered:
Eva Maynor, Velton Chafin, Ozella Blackmon, Betty Shepherd, Ester Mann, Alice McGuire, Roy Davis, John Van Horn, George Gardner, Catherine Gardner, Pace Guthrie, Helen Guthrie, Ms. Asa Putnum, and Curtis Owen. They led 540 (WB), It is Well with My Soul.

Jane and Amy led 285 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?), in memory of the following deceased:
Billie Margaret Gardner and Stites Gardner—Mississippi; Hugh McGraw and Johnny Lee—Georgia; Gravis Ballinger, Eloise Wootten, and Johnnie Chafin—Alabama; Edith Owen and Jane Goforth—Texas; Peewee Rogers.

In a business meeting, the Business and Credentials Committee gave the financial report. The collections and disbursements were itemized and approved. The business meeting was closed.

Leaders:
200 (SH), Edom - Natalie Davis
318 (SH), Present Joys
145t (SH), Warrenton - Drew McGuire
102 (SH), Fulfillment
67 (SH), Columbus - Arlon Gardner
76b (SH), Desire for Piety
10 (CH10), Zion's Dove - Henry McGuire
196 (WB), Alabama
280 (CH10), Zion - Regina Derstine and Anne McLeod and Stephen McLeod
81t (CH10), Maitland
472 (SH), Akin - Lisa Geist.

Announcements were made. Mark Davis, Henry McGuire, and Hugh McGuire led    “The Drone”.
The closing prayer was offered by Arlon Gardner.

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