Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 26, 2023 and Sunday, August 27, 2023

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

President Mark Davis welcomed everyone to the 93rd annual session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention, held on the fourth weekend in August. Mark Davis led 37b (SH), Liverpool, to bring the class to order.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Leaders:
203 (SH), Florida - Mark Davis
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Darlene Reynolds
454 (SH), The Better Land
565 (SH), The Hill of Zion - Arlon Gardner
542 (SH), I'll Seek His Blessings.

Mark Davis appointed the following members to the Business and Credentials Committee: Henry McGuire, Charlie McGuire, and Will Gatewood.

Leaders:
34b (SH), St. Thomas - Amy Armstrong Wells
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus
548 (CH10), Macedonia - Ken Tate
168b (CH10), Sunrise
50 (CH10), Cranbrook - Jeff Jones
51 (CH10), Lonsdale
64 (CB), Refreshing Showers (Nashville) - Sonya Kirkham
335 (CB), Return Again
178 (SH), Africa - Dennis Cranford
277 (SH), Antioch
179 (SH), The Christian Warfare - Ann Steel
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet.

RECESS

Arlon Gardner brought the class back together by leading 270 (SH), Confidence.
Leaders:
89 (SH), The Church's Desolation - Anders Wells
76b (SH), Desire for Piety
385t (SH), Fight On - Gary Ryan
271t (SH), Arkansas
181 (SH), Exit - Charlie McGuire
398 (SH), The Dying Boy
39t (SH), Detroit - Wilma Mitchell
117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen
142 (CH10), The Solid Rock - Samantha Gardner and Sophia Gardner
148 (SH), Jefferson - Luke Addison
503 (SH), Lloyd
128 (SH), The Promised Land - Amy Armstrong Wells and Helen Wells
120 (SH), Chambers - Regina Derstine
215 (SH), New Topia
54 (CH10), My Trust - Danny Creel
121t (CH10), Prosperity
30t (SH), Love Divine - Jane Armstrong
279 (SH), The Shepherd's Flock
163t (SH), Morning - Will Gatewood
478 (WB), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?)
189 (CH10), One by One - Warren Steel
203 (CH10), Cumberland.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Mark Davis leading 155 (SH), Northfield.
Leaders:
100 (SH), The Bower of Prayer - John Pyles
101b (SH), Holy City
47b (SH), Idumea - Kim Funderburk
119 (SH), Heaven's My Home
272 (SH), Exhortation (Second) - Lisa Geist
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings
212 (CB), Sharon - Chris Nicholson and Charity Vaughn
425 (CB), Golden Streets
515 (CB), When the Lord Shall Come for Me
261t (CH10), Come Thou Fount - Joseph McClatchy
410t (CH10), Weeping Saviour
142 (SH), Stratfield - Amber Davis
411 (SH), Morning Prayer - Nicholas Thompson
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me?
258 (CH10), Thorny Desert - Allison Pyles
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain
507b (CB), The Glory of the Cross - Mark Davis (for Esther Mann)
155 (CH10), Solemn Call - Henry McGuire
43 (CH10), The Heavenly Throng.

In a business meeting, the following officers were elected to serve: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—Henry McGuire; Secretary/Treasurer—Darlene Reynolds; Chaplain—Arlon Gardner.

Mark Davis led 240 (SH), Christian Song.
Leaders:
432b (CH10), Fish Pond - Ken Tate
138 (CH10), Rest in the Kingdom - Jeff James
166 (CH10), What Can I Do? - Danny Creel
380 (SH), Lawrenceburg - Nicholas Thompson and Amber Davis
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Mark Davis (for Alfred Bailey).

Mark Davis and Henry McGuire led    “The Drone”, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, August 27

Mark Davis welcomed everyone to the Sunday session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention. He led 81t (SH), Beach Spring.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Mark Davis appointed Chris Nicholson and Charity Vaughn to serve as the Memorial Committee and Lisa Geist and Nicholas Thompson to serve as the Resolutions Committee.

Leaders:
183 (SH), Greenwich - Mark Davis
196 (WB), Alabama - Henry McGuire
511 (WB), Willie
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Darlene Reynolds
282 (SH), I'm Going Home
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die - Arlon Gardner
448t (SH), Consecration
124 (SH), Lover of the Lord - Sonya Kirkham
40 (SH), Lenox
110 (CH10), Volunteers - Nicholas Thompson
364 (CH10), Redemption (Second)
48t (SH), Devotion - Amy Armstrong Wells
546 (SH), My Brightest Days
63 (SH), Coronation - David Jackson
235 (SH), Long Sought Home.

RECESS

Mark Davis brought the class back to order by leading 88b (SH), Mount Zion.
Leaders:
296 (CH10), He's Holding My Hand - Jane Armstrong
226t (CH10), Rock of Ages
38t (CB), Sessions - Lisa Geist
472 (SH), Akin
71 (SH), Leander - Anders Wells
110 (SH), Mount Vernon
272 (CB), Exhortation - Regina Derstine
98 (CB), Glory Shone Around.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Chris Nicholson and Charity Vaughn led 54t (CB), Palmetto, in honor of the following sick and shut-ins:
Liz Van Horn, Ozella Blackmon, Betty Shepherd, Richard Mauldin, Alice McGuire, John Lee Van Horn, Bruce Ray, Peggy Ray, Erselle Jackson, Estes Jackson, Judith Gatewood, Lucy Heidorn, and Leon Ballinger.

Lisa Geist and Nicholas Thompson led 76b (CH10), Night, in memory of the following deceased: Elder J.L. Hopper, Norma Green, Marlon Wootten, Boyd Scott, Doug Ivey, Juanita Beasley, Chita Blakeley, Jerry Kitchens—Alabama; Becky Browne—Missouri; Sue Bunch—Florida; Josh Martin, Charlotte Powell, Cheryl Foreman—Texas; Janice Hollingsworth—Mississippi; George Burnette, Philip Denney—Georgia; Eva Striebeck—Germany; Melanie Hauff—Illinois. David Jackson closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

LUNCH

The Resolutions Committee thanked everyone for coming, especially visitors and thanked everyone that helped prepare the food for both days. They remarked on the wonderful fellowship with one another, and agreed to meet back here at the same place on the fourth weekend in August, 2024. <> Leaders:
29t (SH), Fairfield - Mark Davis
111t (SH), Journey Home - Will McGuire
300 (SH), Calvary
528 (WB), Holy is the Lord - Will Gatewood
546t (WB), Abide with Me
422t (WB), A Song of Texas - Chris Nicholson and Charity Vaughn
422b (WB), The Grieved Soul
159 (SH), Wondrous Love - Nicholas Thompson (for Esther Mann)
147t (SH), Boylston
216t (CH10), O, Save - Arlon Gardner.

The Business and Credentials Committee gave the financial report, listing the following expenses: $103.76 spent for chicken for lunch, Antioch Primitive Baptist Church $400; Minutes publication $30; WCPC Houston MS Radio station $100, and Camp Fasola $250. The business meeting was closed.

Henry McGuire and Mark Davis led    “The Drone”, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

President—Mark Davis; Vice President—Drew McGuire; Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.