Newton County Christian Harmony Convention

Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church
Newton County, Mississippi
Saturday, June 25, 1994 and Sunday, June 26, 1994

All selections from The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 1994 printing), unless otherwise noted.

These minutes follow a letter/report from Mark Davis that he sent to Christian Harmony Notes, No. 8, August 9, 1994, from which it was extracted, and massaged into the present form.

The following is a rough copy of minutes I took from a Christian Harmony convention this past weekend. This is the only convention remaining in Mississippi. It takes place about 7 or 8 miles north of I-20 between Tuscaloosa, AL and Jackson, MS. The church is located southwest of Decatur, MS and north of Newton, MS.

Saturday, June 25th

President Mike McNeil opened with 323, Holy Manna.
The morning prayer was given by Binnie Rigdon. Mike McNeil then led 95, Canaan's Land.
Vice-President Tim Gray followed with 131, Will You Meet Me? and 322, Among that Band.
Secretary Junie McNeil compiled a list of leaders and they led the following songs:
134, Liberty - Binnie Rigdon
135, Raymond
136, Sherburne - Hugh Bill McGuire
51, Lonsdale
111t, Fleeting Days - George Cox
130t, Sacred Love
281b, Palmetto - John Lee Vanhorn
208b, French Broad
96, Mighty Love - Elvin Morris
149, A Good Time Coming
350, The Rock - Paula Gray
258, Thorny Desert - Mark Davis
16, The Finest Flower
44b, Dunlap's Creek - Cecile Cox
261t (CHw), The Good Shepherd

RECESS

Mike McNeil and Tim Gray called the class back together with the following: 204t, What a Day, and 128t, Hester.
19, The Day of Days - Durwood Scarbrough
52, Newburg
248, Twilight is Falling - Bertha Deason
255, Watchman (Second)
117, Angel Band - Walterine Bartlett, in memory of Paul Gray who passed away on June 15
35b, Boylston
78b, New Britain - Barbara McNeil
175, O How I Love Jesus
326, Royal Proclamation - Janice Nelson
86t, Ortonville
262, Collins - Williford Wakefield
276, Worlds Beyond the Sky

DINNER TIME

After lunch, a handful of singers usually gather back a little early to sing a few songs from The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.
Today was no exception. Selections from that book were:
480 (SH), Redemption
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson
288 (SH), White
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners
75 (SH), I Would See Jesus.

Singing from the Christian Harmony resumed:
43, The Heavenly Throng - Junie McNeil
64, Youthful Blessings
151, Sweet Prospect - Arlon Gardner
110, Volunteers - Tom Gray
168b, Sunrise
201, Mission - Bobby Caldwell
281b, Palmetto
140, Edom - Hugh Bill McGuire
55b, Idumea - George Cax
54, My Trust - John Lee Vanhorn
109, Not Made with Hands - Elvin Morris
74, God's Helping Hand - Mark Davis
68, Bright Mansions - Cecille Cox
77, How Beautiful Heaven Must Be - Durwood Scarbrough

RECESS

139, The Wanderer's Grave - Mike McNeil
206, Prayer Meeting - Tim Gray
179, Traveling On - Walterine Bartlett
303, The Unclouded Day - Barbara McNeil
225t, Kenan - Binnie Rigdon
225b, Martin
369, Easter Anthem - Mark Davis
372, I Won't Turn Back - Arlon Gardner

President Mike McNeil dismissed with prayer.

Sunday, June 26th

On Sunday, Lisa and Kurt went with me. While helping to see after a little boy it is hard to take notes.
However, I did want to list some of the songs that were sung. Here they are:
21, Webster
30b, Dennis
47, Panting for Heaven
58t, Liverpool
58b, Primrose
59t, Mear
63t, Condescension
76b, Night
78b, New Britain
82b, Gospel Waves
82t, Lady Touch Thy Harp Again
84, Homeland
85b, Mercy Seat
101, An Address for All
105t, Tender Care
106, Sweet Rivers
118, Campbell
126, Ocean
128t, Hester
138, Rest in the Kingdom
149, A Good Time Coming
151, Sweet Prospect
159t, Devotion (First)
162, Redeemed Singers
172, The Grand Highway
176, Heavenly Treasures
184, Where We'll Never Grow Old
185, Corinth
186, Lord Remember Me
201, Mission
214, Hosanna
217, Jerusalem
235, Faithful Soldier
253, Is It Far?
276, Worlds Beyond the Sky
287, Indian Convert
308, The Happy Time
309t, Singing School
316, This Heavy Load
341, The Lone Pilgrim
347, Portuguese Hymn
355, Homeward Bound
380, Christian Song
These are all from Sunday that I remember.

After lunch on Sunday, The crowd gathered back a little early to sing a few from The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 1992 Revision.
Sung from that book were:
522 (CB), Shades of Night
572 (CB), We Will Sing With the Angels There
518 (CB), Love at Home
497 (CB), The Bitter Cup
470 (CB), There We Our Jesus Shall Adore (Sardis).

Keep in mind that both Sacred Harp books and the Christian Harmony were all widely used in Mississippi at one time. Cooper Book singings no longer exist. They once existed just south of Newton in Smith, Jasper, Jones, Clarke, Covington, and Simpson counties. The only time these folks sing out of the Cooper Book is at a time like this. However, at this convention, which has always been Christian Harmony, it is not uncommon to gather back in a little early after lunch to sing a few from one of the "other" books.

The Closing song of the Newton County Convention is always    “We're Travelling to the Grave”.
This year was no exception. I'll have to elaborate on that one.