Mississippi State Convention, 67th session

Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church
Decatur, Newton County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 26, 1995 and Sunday, August 27, 1995

The following books were used during the weekend:
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 1992 Revision, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Saturday, August 26

The sixty-seventh annual session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held at Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church, Decatur (Newton County), Mississippi, on August 26 and 27, 1995.

The Convention opened with the President, Mark Davis, leading song on page 37b (SH), Liverpool.
Elder Charles Porter led in prayer. Mark Davis appointed Junie McNeil and Tim Gray as the Arrangements Committee. Jean Gray was appointed as Interim Secretary.

President Davis led songs on pages 81t (SH), Beach Spring, 229 (SH), Irwinton, and then presented the following program:
Leaders:
77t (SH), The Child of Grace - Vice President John Van Horn
384 (SH), Panting for Heaven
192 (SH), Schenectady - John Hollingsworth
196 (SH), Alabama
155 (SH), Northfield - Elder Charles Porter
137 (SH), Liberty
66 (SH), Jordan (First) - Sharona Nelson
47t (SH), Primrose
82t (SH), Bound For Canaan - Hugh McGuire
89 (SH), The Church's Desolation
276 (SH), Bridgewater - Paula McGray
101t (SH), Canaan's Land
67 (SH), Columbus - Hugh Bill McGuire, for Ms. Bernice Embrey
146 (SH), Hallelujah, for Ms. Ruby Easley
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson - Angela Benton
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction
313 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - George Easley
299 (SH), New Jerusalem.

President Davis appointed the Business and Credentials Committee as follows: Arlon Gardner, Durward Scarborough, and George Easley. Singing was resumed as follows:
288 (SH), White - Janice Nelson
460 (SH), Sardis.
President Davis welcomed those from far and near and called for a 10 minute recess.

RECESS

President Davis called the convention back together leading song on page 74b (SH), King of Peace.
Singing was resumed as follows:
45t (SH), New Britain - Durward Scarborough
339 (SH), When I Am Gone
63 (SH), Coronation - Dr. Wilma Mitchell
147t (SH), Boylston
129 (SH), Heavenly Armor - Arlon Gardner
448b (SH), The Grieved Soul
40 (SH), Lenox - Tim Gray
200 (SH), Edom
222 (SH), Ocean - Mike McNeil and Christine McNeil
268 (SH), David's Lamentation
117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen - Tiffany Harrison
108 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Jean Gray
203 (SH), Florida
207 (SH), Louisiana - Chaplain W. M. Allen
75 (SH), I Would See Jesus.

President Davis appointed Mae Ola Nelson, H. B. McGuire, and Mike McNeil to the Locations Committee. President Davis then led song on page 180 (SH), Vermont, followed by a move and second to dismiss for lunch.

LUNCH

The Convention was blessed with a bountiful lunch from 12:00 to 1:00. After lunch, President Davis began the afternoon session leading songs on pages 36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth.
189 (SH), Montgomery.
He was followed by:
480 (SH), Redemption - John Merritt
300 (SH), Calvary
119 (SH), Heaven's My Home - Junie McNeil
32t (SH), Corinth
354b (SH), Happy Land - Bill Hollingsworth
49t (SH), Old Hundred
142 (SH), Stratfield - Henry McGuire
380 (SH), Lawrenceburg
350 (SH), Nativity - Lisa Davis
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings
42 (SH), Clamanda - Sarah Tidwell
72b (SH), Bellevue
297 (SH), Conversion - Judy Harrison
104 (SH), The Lovely Story
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Jimmy Smith
565 (SH), The Hill of Zion
426t (SH), Kelley - Ester Mann
85 (SH), The Morning Trumpet.

President Davis opened the floor for the business of electing officers for the coming year. A motion was made and carried to retain the present officers with the exception of Jean Gray being elected as secretary. Singing was resumed with President Davis leading, by request, 236 (SH), Easter Anthem.
Convention adjourned for a 10 minute recess.

RECESS

Singing was resumed as follows:
454 (SH), The Better Land - President Mark Davis
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Vice President John Van Horn
569 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - John Merritt
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - John Hollingsworth, remembering Ms. Ottis Matthews
136 (SH), Morality - Charles Porter
344 (CB), We'll Meet Beyond the Grave - Hugh McGuire
452 (SH), Martin - Sharona Nelson
327 (SH), Invitation - Paula McGray
442 (SH), New Jordan - Hugh Bill McGuire
49b (SH), Mear - Arlon Gardner
378t (SH), Heavenly Port - Janice Nelson
240 (SH), Christian Song - Durward Scarborough
39t (SH), Detroit - Dr. Wilma Mitchell
434 (SH), Fillmore - Tim Gray
215 (SH), New Topia - Jean Gray.
President Davis appointed Janice Nelson and John Hollingsworth as the Memorial Committee. After announcements, the convention was adjourned by singing    “The Drone” and prayer by Chaplain W. M. Allen. Afterwards, the Convention was treated to watermelon, courtesy of the folks from Calhoun County.

Sunday, August 27

The Vice President, John Van Horn, opened the second day of the convention leading songs on pages 39b (SH), Sharpsburg.
64 (SH), Nashville.
The Chaplain, W. M. Allen, led in prayer, and then led songs on pages 59 (SH), Holy Manna.
144 (SH), Jubilee.
Singing then continued as follows:
143 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Secretary Jean Gray
418 (SH), Reese
123b (SH), Cross of Christ - Hugh McGuire
124 (SH), Lover of the Lord
48t (SH), Devotion - Paula McGray
341 (SH), The Lone Pilgrim
36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth - John Hollingsworth
36t (SH), America
274 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Dr. Wilma Mitchell
68b (SH), Ortonville
61 (SH), Sweet Rivers - Tim Gray
31b (SH), Webster
572 (CB), We Will Sing With the Angels There - Hugh Bill McGuire
563 (CB), Jesus is Mine
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson - Angela Benton
147t (SH), Boylston.

President Davis called for the committees to be ready to report at 2:00 p.m. Hugh McGuire and Ester Mann were appointed to the Resolution Committee.

Leaders:
176b (SH), Blooming Youth - President Davis
171 (SH), Exhortation (First)
172 (SH), Harmony
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus - Mike McNeil
182 (SH), Newburgh
100 (SH), The Bower of Prayer - Janice Nelson
223 (SH), Portuguese Hymn
354 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Durward Scarborough
345b (SH), I'm On My Journey Home
186 (SH), Sherburne - Bill Hollingsworth
323b (SH), Soft Music
438 (SH), The Marriage in the Skies - Ester Mann
445 (SH), Passing Away
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Paula Freeman
200 (SH), Edom.
President Mark Davis dismissed the singing for lunch.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was resumed as follows:
441 (SH), Raymond - President Mark Davis
345 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Kurt Davis
530 (SH), A Glad New Song - Arlon Gardner
430 (SH), Arbacoochee
63 (SH), Coronation - Sharona Nelson
497 (SH), Natick
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus - Henry McGuire
78 (SH), Stafford
496 (SH), The Rock That is Higher Than I - Christine McNeil
330b (SH), Fellowship
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction - Neva Dee Mayes and Eva Dee Wyatt
319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune - Junie McNeil
97 (SH), We'll Soon Be There
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - President Mark Davis, by request from Mae Ola Nelson
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Hugh McGuire and Henry McGuire, by request from the Arrangements Committee.

The business session was opened by President Mark Davis calling for reports from all committees.

Resolution Committee Report: “We wish to thank Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church and the singers of Newton and surrounding counties and state for entertaining the 1995 Mississippi State Singing Convention. Respectfully, Hugh McGuire and Ester Mann.”

Locating Committee Report: “We recommend that the 1996 session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention be held at a location to be determined later. Respectfully, H. B. McGuire, Mae Ola Nelson, and Mike McNeil.”

Business and Credentials Committee Report: “We have several counties and states represented at the Convention, with delegates and visitors. We find a quorum present. We have collected a total of $120.00 as follows: Calhoun County—$25.00, Chickasaw County—$32.00, and Newton County—$63.00. Respectfully, Arlon Gardner and Durward Scarborough.”

Memorial Committee Report: “We have the following members reported passed away since last session, 1994, to wit: Bennie Rigdon, Lilian Burt, T. T. Fortenberry, Lamar Caldwell, Myrtis Pritchett, Lessie Cates, and Blanche Pace Bailey.” John Hollingsworth and Janice Nelson led songs on pages 339 (SH), When I Am Gone, in memory of all.
235 (SH), Long Sought Home, in memory of all.

All reports were accepted and committees dissolved, except the Locations Committee. President Davis called for a 10 minute recess.

RECESS

Singing resumed as follows:
175 (SH), Highlands of Heaven - President Mark Davis
220 (SH), Mount Zion
306 (SH), Oxford - Vice President Van Horn
218 (SH), Mount Pleasant - President Mark Davis, by request from Secretary Jean Gray
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Chaplain W. M. Allen
503 (CB), That Beautiful Land of High - Hugh McGuire
373 (SH), Homeward Bound - Paula McGray
46 (SH), Let Us Sing - Tim Gray
515 (SH), Federal Street - Hugh Bill McGuire
290 (SH), Victoria - John Hollingsworth
111t (SH), Journey Home - Durward Scarborough
160b (SH), Turn, Sinner, Turn - Ester Mann
47b (SH), Idumea - Arlon Gardner
163 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Sharona Nelson
269 (SH), Bear Creek - Henry McGuire
424 (SH), Sweet Union, by request.

President Mark Davis called for announcements, then dismissed by singing    “The Drone” and prayer by Chaplain, W. M. Allen.

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