Holt Collier/Mississippi Bear Hunt Convention

Old Courthouse Museum
Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi
Saturday, June 28, 2008 and Sunday, June 29, 2008

Saturday, June 28

The 2nd annual Holt Collier/Mississippi Bear Hunt Singing Convention was called to order by John Merritt leading 59 (CB), Lord, Revive Us (Holy Manna).
Robert Vaughn offered the morning prayer.

John Merritt explained that the class could sing from The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition,
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2006 Revision, or
The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 2002 printing). One song was led from Old School Hymnal, 11th edition.

A business meeting was held and the following officers were elected or appointed:
Chairman—John Merritt; Vice Chairman—Henry Guthery; Secretary and Arranging Committee—Henry Schuman; Memorial Committee—Emily Creel and Paul Figura.

Leaders:
176t (CB), Ragan - John Merritt and Shirley Figura
52t (SH), Albion - Henry Schuman
64 (AL), Youthful Blessings - Henry Guthery
316 (AL), This Heavy Load - Velton Chafin
322 (AL), Among that Band - Elsie Moon
87 (SH), Sweet Canaan - B.J. Schnorenberg
248 (AL), Twilight is Falling - Bruce Hedrick
527 (SH), My Life and Breath - Emily Thompson
280 (SH), Westford - Robert Vaughn
61 (SH), Sweet Rivers - Juanita Beasley
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands - Randy McCollum
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction - Ann Fox
86 (SH), Poland - Bill Beverly
383 (SH), Eternal Day - Carolyn Thompson.

RECESS

Henry Schuman brought the class back together leading 32t (SH), Corinth.
Leaders:
162 (SH), Plenary - Stephanie Fida
205 (SH), Pleasant Hill - Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr.
340 (SH), Odem (Second) - Sarah Smith
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Lewis Oswalt
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
547 (SH), Granville - Greg Howard
38 (AL), God Is Our Refuge - Tim Cook
192 (SH), Schenectady - Kathy Robinson
34b (SH), St. Thomas - Vic Whisman
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - Nancy Van Den Akker
159 (SH), Wondrous Love - Wendell Rinehart
91 (AL), There is a Fountain - Mako Cook
140 (CB), Chicago - John Van Horn.

RECESS

Henry Guthery brought the class back to order leading 149 (AL), A Good Time Coming.
Leaders:
171 (SH), Exhortation (First) - Darrell Swarens (in memory of Amanda Denson)
565 (SH), The Hill of Zion - Shirley Figura
107 (CB), Rock of Ages - Mike Myhal
264 (AL), Harwell - Ruth Wyers
218 (SH), Mount Pleasant - Martha Beverly
110 (SH), Mount Vernon - Harrison Creel
   “Munfordville” - Alice Sundberg and John Merritt.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Henry Guthery leading 258 (AL), Thorny Desert.
Leaders:
501 (CB), That Beautiful Land - Bea Carnathan
128t (AL), Hester - Gary Smith
338b (AL), Davis - Emily Creel
272 (AL), Felicity - Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr.
170 (AL), On My Way - Wanda Capps
308 (AL), The Happy Time - Danny Creel
96 (CB), Mercy Seat - John Merritt
   “Higher Ground”
168b (AL), Sunrise - Cindy Tanner
355 (AL), Homeward Bound - Robert Vaughn
117 (AL), Angel Band - Marlin Beasley
410 (CB), Willie - Ken Sundberg
180 (AL), The Sinless Summerland - Ann Jett
393 (CB), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - John Van Horn
264b (CB), Hebron - Alice Sundberg
108b (SH), The Traveler - Paul Figura
332 (SH), Sons of Sorrow - Randy McCollum
546 (SH), My Brightest Days - Martha Beverly
445 (SH), Passing Away - Wendell Rinehart
38t (CB), Sessions - Greg Howard
318 (SH), Present Joys - Henry Schuman (for Pauline Childers).

John Merritt, Henry Guthery, and Robert Vaughn led 95b (CB), The Christian's Love, as the closing song.
Robert Vaughn offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, July 29

The Sunday session was called to order by John Merritt and David Daniel leading 258 (CB), (No song at that page no.).
Arlon Gardner offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
59 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Henry Guthery
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - B.J. Schnorenberg
336 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Stephanie Fida
120 (AL), Home in the Sky - Velton Chafin
228 (SH), Marlborough - Emily Thompson
111t (SH), Journey Home - Arlon Gardner
270 (SH), Confidence - Juanita Beasley
317 (SH), Jackson - Harrison Creel
106 (AL), Sweet Rivers - Deborah Feaster and Ruth Wyers
107 (AL), Resignation - Darrell Swarens
438 (SH), The Marriage in the Skies - Bea Carnathan
268 (SH), David's Lamentation - William W. Gilman.

RECESS

Henry Guthery brought the class back together leading 522 (CB), Shades of Night.
Leaders:
239 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Sarah Smith
172 (AL), The Grand Highway - Danny Creel
51 (AL), Lonsdale - Mako Cook
117 (AL), Angel Band - Henry Schuman and Denver Rigdon
228 (AL), Pass Me Not - Nancy Van Den Akker
39 (CB), Eden of Love - Paul Figura
19 (AL), The Day of Days - Emily Creel
47b (CB), Idumea - Ken Sundberg
404 (CB), He Died on the Cross - Elsie Moon and Emily Creel
109 (AL), Not Made with Hands - David Daniel
45t (SH), New Britain - Ann Fox.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Danny Creel leading 76b (CB), Desire for Piety.
Leaders:
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Kathy Robinson
85 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Wanda Capps
436 (SH), Morning Sun - Cindy Tanner and Ainslie Allen.

Paul Figura and Emily Creel conducted the memorial lesson.
Paul Figura read the names of the deceased as follows:
LaRue Allen, Delores Beasley, Amanda Denson Brady, Wilton Donaldson, Marie Guthery, B.J. Harris, Dick Mauldin, Milton Oliver, and Edith Tate—Alabama;
Homer Benefield, Felton Denney, and Loy Garrison—Georgia;
Minja Lausevic—Massachusetts;
Jeanette Lowry—Missouri.
Emily Creel spoke on their behalf and led 546 (SH), My Brightest Days, in their memory.

Paul Figura read the names of the sick and shut-ins: Kathleen Robbins, Nancy Yeager, Walter Swearingen, Pauline Childers, Nellie Davis, Wilma Mitchell, Bill Ellason, Kirby Sweatt, Kirby Sweatt, Jr., and Johanna Fabke. Paul and Emily spoke on their behalf. Paul led 490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides, in their honor.

LUNCH

John Merritt called the afternoon session to order leading 81 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?).
Leaders:
511 (OSH) - John Merritt and Ruth Wyers
478 (CB), March On - Bill Beverly
255 (AL), Watchman (Second) - Ann Jett
184 (AL), Where We'll Never Grow Old - Bruce Hedrick
131 (AL), Will You Meet Me? - Henry McGuire
268t (AL), (No song at that page no.) - Alice Sundberg
66 (SH), Jordan (First) - Gary Smith
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart - Martha Beverly
497 (CB), The Bitter Cup - John Van Horn
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Darlene Reynolds
55 (CB), Shall We Know Each Other There? - Tim Cook
39t (SH), Detroit - Shirley Figura
101 (AL), An Address for All - Mark Davis
349 (AL), Redemption (First) - Ruth Wyers
10 (AL), Zion's Dove - Marlin Beasley
504 (SH), Wood Street - Carolyn Thompson
365 (SH), Southwell - Henry Guthery and Henry McGuire and Henry Schuman and John Van Horn
568 (SH), I Want to Go to Heaven - Bea Carnathan
535 (CB), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - John Merritt and Ken Kelley and Steve Talbert.

Announcements were made. John Merritt, Henry Guthery, Bruce Hedrick, and Kristen Kelley led 392 (CB), Little Pilgrim, as the closing song.
Mark Davis dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—John Merritt; Vice Chairman—Henry Guthery; Secretary—Henry Schuman.