Mississippi State Convention, 69th session

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 23, 1997 and Sunday, August 24, 1997

The following books were used during the weekend:
The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 1994 printing),
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 1992 Revision, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Saturday, August 23

The sixty-ninth session of the Mississippi State Sacred Singing Convention was called to order by President Mark Davis leading song on page 37b (SH), Liverpool.
After welcoming everyone, President Mark Davis led song on page 36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth.
The morning prayer was led by Elder Charles Porter. Mark Davis led song on page 209 (SH), Evening Shade.
Vice President John Van Horn led songs on pages 378b (SH), Never Turn Back.
412 (SH), New Hosanna.

President Mark Davis appointed June McNeil, Christine McNeil, and Regina Glass as the Arranging Committee.

Secretary Jean Gray led songs on pages 108t (SH), Weeping Sinners.
82t (SH), Bound For Canaan.

President Mark Davis appointed Arlon Gardner, Lydia Hamby, and Hugh McGuire as the Business and Credentials Committee.

President Mark Davis finding a quorum present, stated by the Committee on Credentials that more than ten members were present, officially opened the convention welcoming everyone present, especially out of state visitors.

Leaders:
516 (CB), The Gates of Paradise - Hugh McGuire
498 (SH), The Resurrection Day
27 (SH), Bethel - Warren Steel
411 (SH), Morning Prayer
155 (SH), Northfield - Elder Charles Porter
379 (SH), Span of Life
192 (SH), Schenectady - John Hollingsworth
196 (SH), Alabama
68b (SH), Ortonville - Charles Franklin
176t (SH), Ragan
28b (SH), Wells - Joe Cobb
38b (SH), Windham
40 (SH), Lenox - Wanda Gregg
515 (SH), Federal Street.

RECESS

Vice President John Van Horn called the class to order leading song on page 72b (SH), Bellevue.
Leaders:
313 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - George Easley
299 (SH), New Jerusalem
507t (CB), Jackson - Andrew Albers
507b (CB), The Glory of the Cross
312b (SH), Restoration (First) - Dennis Cranford
200 (SH), Edom
452 (SH), Martin - Sharona Nelson
203 (SH), Florida
178 (SH), Africa - Ben Burroughs
63 (SH), Coronation
147t (SH), Boylston - Angela Benton
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson
378t (SH), Heavenly Port - Arlon Gardner
39t (SH), Detroit.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Mark Davis leading song on page 47t (SH), Primrose.
Leaders:
186 (SH), Sherburne - Bill Hollingsworth
236 (SH), Easter Anthem
571 (SH), Penitence - John Kanode
229 (CB), The Great Roll Call
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger - Jimmy Smith
569b (SH), Sacred Throne
503 (SH), Lloyd - Elizabeth Muhleisen
64 (SH), Nashville
127 (SH), Green Fields - Floyd Bennett
300 (SH), Calvary - Bill Hogan
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet
38t (SH), Winter - Nancy Van Den Akker
78 (CB), Calvary
163b (SH), China - Regina Glass
142 (SH), Stratfield
298 (SH), Providence - Henry McGuire
183 (SH), Greenwich
58 (SH), Pisgah - L. V. Smith
61 (SH), Sweet Rivers.

The convention entered into the business session at 2:00 p.m. A motion was made and carried to elect the following officers: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Chaplain—Arlon Gardner.

RECESS

The singing resumed with Mark Davis leading song on page 270 (SH), Confidence.
Leaders:
501 (SH), O'Leary - Mike McNeil
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus
426 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Ester Mann
480 (SH), Redemption
395 (SH), New Bethel - Georgia Kanode
143 (CB), Pleyel's Hymn Second
339 (SH), When I Am Gone - Durward Scarborough
240 (SH), Christian Song.

President Mark Davis appointed Mae Ola Nelson, Hugh Bill McGuire, and Elder Charles Porter as the Locations Committee; John Hollingsworth and Wanda Gregg were appointed as the Memorial Committee.

Mark Davis thanked everyone for coming, and those from out of state, and counties in Mississippi were recognized.

Junie McNeil led songs on pages 319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune
119 (SH), Heaven's My Home
Hugh Bill McGuire led 563 (CB), Jesus is Mine and 522 (CB), Shades of Night.

Announcements were made after a motion to adjourn was received. The convention closed with    “The Drone” led by Mark Davis.
The class was dismissed with prayer led by Chaplain Arlon Gardner to meet Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, August 24

The Sunday morning session was called to order at 10:00 a.m. with a welcome extended to all by President Mark Davis. Mark Davis led songs on pages 101t (SH), Canaan's Land.
123t (SH), The Dying Christian.
The morning prayer was led by Chaplain Arlon Gardner.

The officers led as follows:
274t (SH), The Golden Harp - President Mark Davis
217 (SH), Ballstown - Vice President John Van Horn
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Vice President John Van Horn
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Secretary Jean Gray
418 (SH), Reese - Secretary Jean Gray
130t (AL), Sacred Love - Chaplain Arlon Gardner
410t (SH), The Dying Californian
131 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Arrangement Committee Chairperson Christine McNeil
204t (AL), What a Day.

Leaders:
39 (CB), Eden of Love - Hugh McGuire
216 (SH), Delight
460 (SH), Sardis - Wanda Gregg
339 (SH), When I Am Gone
72t (CB), Firm Foundation (Bellevue) - Floyd Bennett
47t (SH), Primrose - Dr. Wilma Mitchell
39t (SH), Detroit.

RECESS

The singing resumed with Vice President John Van Horn leading song on page 111t (SH), Journey Home.
Leaders:
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart - Nancy Van Den Akker
361 (CB), Loving Jesus
82t (AL), Lady Touch Thy Harp Again - George Easley
438 (SH), The Marriage in the Skies
143 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Sharona Nelson
36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth
162 (SH), Plenary - Bill Hollingsworth
372 (AL), I Won't Turn Back
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus - John Kanode
63 (SH), Coronation
87 (SH), Sweet Canaan - Elizabeth Muhleisen
269 (SH), Bear Creek
518 (CB), Love at Home - Charles Franklin
47b (SH), Idumea.

LUNCH

Mark Davis brought the class to order leading song on page 448t (SH), Consecration.
Leaders:
434 (SH), Fillmore - John Hollingsworth
282 (SH), I'm Going Home
332 (SH), Sons of Sorrow - Regina Glass
215 (SH), New Topia
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart - Bill Hogan
53 (SH), Jerusalem
268 (SH), David's Lamentation - Angela Benton
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon
308 (SH), Parting Friends (Second) - Mike McNeil
316 (AL), This Heavy Load
176t (SH), Ragan - Neva Dee Mayes and Eva Dee Wyatt
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction
32t (SH), Corinth - Ester Mann
34b (SH), St. Thomas
297 (SH), Conversion.

President Mark Davis appointed Dr. Wilma Mitchell and Ester Mann as Resolutions and Hospitality Committee.

Leaders:
354 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Kurt Davis and Cayla McGuire
345t (SH), Jesus Is My Friend
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson - John Merritt (in memory of his mother)
138 (CB), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?).

Reports were given from each committee with thanks for a job well done. A motion and second was given with vote to approve the reports of the committees.

Memorial Committee members John Hollingsworth and Wanda Gregg led song on page 235 (SH), Long Sought Home, in memory of Janice Nelson.

An expression of thoughtfulness was read by President Mark Davis from Mae Ola Nelson, mother of Janice Nelson, and her family.

From the family of Janice Nelson (April 24, 1947–September 16, 1996). “Thank you for the beautiful flowers you sent. Janice loved this singing convention and all of these good old songs. She had a special place in her heart for all of you, too. Also, thank you to the ones that took the time out of their busy schedule to come and sing those songs she loved so much one last time for her. The singing was beautiful.” Mae Ola Nelson and family.

Thanks was given to Billy Margaret Gardner from President Mark Davis for arranging the lunch both days. Motion was made to accept and approve the reports given.

Singing resumed with Chaplain Arlon Gardner leading song on page 117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen.
Leaders:
192 (SH), Schenectady - Brenda Merritt
336 (SH), Eternal Home
442 (SH), New Jordan - Henry McGuire
430 (SH), Arbacoochee
500 (CB), Sweet By and By - Durward Scarborough
45 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?)
218 (SH), Mount Pleasant - Hugh Bill McGuire
220 (SH), Mount Zion
572 (CB), We Will Sing With the Angels There - John Merritt
393 (CB), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Hugh McGuire
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands - Nancy Van Den Akker
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - Wanda Gregg
255 (AL), Watchman (Second) - Bill Hogan
503 (CB), That Beautiful Land of High - Elizabeth Muhleisen.

After announcements were given, President Mark Davis again thanked everyone for making the convention a success, and led song on page 62 (SH), Parting Hand, as the closing song.
Chaplain Arlon Gardner dismissed the class with prayer.

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