Mississippi State Convention, 80th session

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 23, 2008 and Sunday, August 24, 2008

The following books were used during the weekend:
The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 2002 printing),
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2006 Revision,
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition and
one from Old School Hymnal, 11th edition.

Saturday, August 23

The 80th session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention convened at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in August, for two days of worship in song service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when and where the following proceedings were had, to wit:

President Mark Davis called the meeting to order and led 101t (SH), Canaan's Land.
Chaplain Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer. Appreciation and thanks were extended to Bro. Alfred Bailey and to the people of Antioch Church for hosting the singing. Bro. Alfred Bailey extended a welcome to all.

Leaders:
74b (SH), King of Peace - Mark Davis
270 (SH), Confidence - John L. Van Horn
215 (SH), New Topia
277 (SH), Antioch - Arlon Gardner
163t (SH), Morning
63 (SH), Coronation - Jean Gray and Haley Gray
82t (SH), Bound For Canaan
83t (SH), Vale of Sorrow - Hugh Bill McGuire
39t (SH), Detroit.

Hugh McGuire, Tim Gray, and Mike McNeil were appointed as Business and Credentials Committee.

Leaders:
488b (CB), Nearer, My God, To Thee (Bethany) - John Merritt and Bruce Hedrick
81t (AL), Maitland
225t (CB), Newry - Robert Kelley
178 (SH), Africa
28t (AL), Mocksville - John Plunkett
32b (SH), Distress
424 (SH), Sweet Union - Hugh McGuire
40 (SH), Lenox
507b (CB), The Glory of the Cross - Bill Hollingsworth
319 (AL), Weary Pilgrim.

RECESS

The class resumed singing when Mark Davis led 176b (SH), Blooming Youth.
Leaders:
47b (SH), Idumea - T. J. Funderburk
569b (SH), Sacred Throne
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - Mike McNeil
522 (CB), Shades of Night
384 (SH), Panting for Heaven - John Hollingsworth
460 (SH), Sardis
117 (AL), Angel Band - Mark Davis (by request from Alfred Bailey)
157 (AL), Hallelujah - Bobby Caldwell and Mark Davis
58t (AL), Liverpool
171 (SH), Exhortation (First) - Renee Eady
480 (SH), Redemption
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There - Natalie Davis
79 (SH), The Old Ship of Zion
284 (AL), Don't Grieve Your Mother - Haley Gray and Tim Gray
142 (AL), The Solid Rock.
Arlon Gardner offered the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Mark Davis leading 268 (SH), David's Lamentation (requested by Chuck Howell).
Leaders:
393t (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro - Linda Funderburk and Mark Davis
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet
38b (SH), Windham
323 (AL), Holy Manna - Bruce Hedrick
303 (SH), Heavenly Land
214 (AL), Hosanna - Karen Swenson
131 (AL), Will You Meet Me?
34b (SH), St. Thomas - George Easley
523 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (Second)
117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen - Tim Gray
200 (SH), Edom
440 (SH), North Salem - Regina Derstine
322 (AL), Among that Band
310t (AL), Our Journey Home - Drew McGuire
355 (AL), Homeward Bound
43 (AL), The Heavenly Throng - Junie McNeil
64 (AL), Youthful Blessings
442 (SH), New Jordan - Henry McGuire
430 (SH), Arbacoochee (requested by taxi driver in San Francisco)
365 (SH), Southwell.

On motion, seconded and carried, the current officers were re-elected: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Lee Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Assistant Secretary—Darlene Reynolds; Chaplains—W. M. Allen and Arlon Gardner.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Mark Davis leading 155 (SH), Northfield.

Esther Mann and Marsha Hedrick were appointed as the Memorial Committee by President Mark Davis.

Leaders:
324 (AL), Fair Fields of Eden - John Plunkett
16 (AL), The Finest Flower - Karen Swenson
172 (AL), The Grand Highway - Robert Kelley
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands - John Merritt and Brandon Melsoncon
39b (SH), Sharpsburg - Bill Hollingsworth
204 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Mike McNeil (in memory of Bennie Rigdon)
62 (SH), Parting Hand - Henry McGuire and Luke Laird
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson - Hugh McGuire.

Motion was made and carried to adjourn until Sunday morning.    “The Drone” was sung as the closing song.
The convention was dismissed with prayer offered by Chaplain Arlon Gardner.

Sunday, August 24

Mark Davis opened the Sunday morning session by leading 30t (SH), Love Divine.
W. M. Allen offered the opening prayer. Mark Davis led 42 (SH), Clamanda, and then reminded everyone on committees about reports.

Leaders:
179 (SH), The Christian Warfare - John Van Horn
67 (SH), Columbus
143 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Jean Gray
288 (SH), White
75 (SH), I Would See Jesus - W. M. Allen
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides
201 (SH), Pilgrim - Arlon Gardner
76b (SH), Desire for Piety
274t (SH), The Golden Harp - Hugh Bill McGuire
209 (SH), Evening Shade
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners - Drew McGuire
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus
117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen - Mark Davis.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by John Van Horn leading 564 (SH), Zion.
Leaders:
145t (SH), Warrenton - Junie McNeil
319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune
78b (AL), New Britain - Bruce Hedrick
248 (AL), Twilight is Falling
137 (SH), Liberty - Hugh McGuire
344 (CB), We'll Meet Beyond the Grave
264 (AL), Harwell - Karen Swenson
299 (SH), New Jerusalem
163b (SH), China
163t (SH), Morning
269 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Drew McGuire
184 (SH), Enfield.
W. M. Allen offered prayer before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The singing resumed Sunday afternoon with Hugh McGuire leading 470 (OSH).
Leaders:
234 (SH), Reverential Anthem - Mark Davis
354b (SH), Happy Land - Natalie Davis
345t (AL), Glad Tidings
179 (SH), The Christian Warfare - Ester Mann
188 (SH), Spring
178 (SH), Africa - Susan Duckie
128 (SH), The Promised Land
139 (SH), Elysian - Brian Harrison
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger
78 (CB), Calvary - Henry McGuire
229 (SH), Irwinton
129 (SH), Heavenly Armor - Mark Davis
281b (AL), Palmetto - John Van Horn
454 (SH), The Better Land - Arlon Gardner
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - W. M. Allen
503 (SH), Lloyd - Junie McNeil
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - Mark Davis
128b (AL), Ninety-Fifth.
The memorial lesson was conducted by Marsha Hedrick and Ester Mann leading 155 (SH), Northfield, in memory of the deceased.
235 (SH), Long Sought Home, in memory of the deceased.

Hugh McGuire presented the Resolutions Committee Report thanking Antioch Church, the singers, and those who brought food.

RECESS

Leaders:
68b (SH), Ortonville - John Van Horn
313 (AL), Bruce's Address - Hugh Bill McGuire
111b (SH), To Die No More - Hugh McGuire
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Susan Duckie
343 (SH), Happy Home - Natalie Davis
284 (SH), Garden Hymn - Brian Harrison (requested by his mother, Judy Harrison, and grandmother, Mrs. W. M. Allen)
85 (SH), The Morning Trumpet - Marsha Hedrick
206 (SH), Christian's Hope (for Emma Lou Rigdon)
117 (AL), Angel Band - Alfred Bailey (by request of daughter and son-in-law).

Announcements were made. President Davis led    “The Drone” was sung as the closing song.
The class was dismissed with prayer offered by Chaplain W. M. Allen.

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