Holt Collier/Mississippi Bear Hunt Convention

Old Courthouse Museum
Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi
Saturday, May 30, 2009 and Sunday, May 31, 2009

Saturday, May 30

The 3nd annual Holt Collier/Mississippi Bear Hunt Singing Convention was called to order by John Merritt leading 59 (CB), Lord, Revive Us (Holy Manna).
Arlon Gardner 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).

Leaders:
138t (CB), Song to the Lamb - Henry Guthery
450 (CB), Leaning on Jesus' Breast
155 (AL), Solemn Call - Arlon Gardner
277 (SH), Antioch
39b (SH), Sharpsburg - Juanita Beasley
61 (SH), Sweet Rivers
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Robert Vaughn
340 (SH), Odem (Second)
175 (CB), Star in the East - Marilyn Burchett
72 (CB), Firm Foundation (Bellevue)
34b (SH), St. Thomas - Vic Whisman
84 (SH), Amsterdam
171 (AL), Sessions - Sandie Scott
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands.

RECESS

John Merritt brought the class to order by leading 120 (AL), Home in the Sky.
Leaders:
53 (SH), Jerusalem - Carolyn Thompson
442 (SH), New Jordan
180 (AL), The Sinless Summerland - Luke Daniel
328 (SH), Praise God - Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr.
472 (SH), Akin
216 (SH), Delight - Elene Stovall
534 (SH), New Georgia
87 (SH), Sweet Canaan - Kurt Davis
155 (SH), Northfield
281 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Gary Smith
142 (AL), The Solid Rock
44 (SH), The Converted Thief - Will Gilman
268 (SH), David's Lamentation.

RECESS

Henry Guthery brought the class to order leading 204b (AL), Evening Bells.
Leaders:
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain - Hans Guttmann
270 (CB), Confidence
354b (SH), Happy Land - Natalie Davis
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There
143 (AL), Farther Along - David Daniel
178 (SH), Africa - Sr. Susan Dickey OP
128 (SH), The Promised Land
63t (AL), Condescension - Robert DuPree
293 (AL), Lenox
209 (SH), Evening Shade - Drew McGuire
240 (SH), Christian Song
513 (SH), Joyful - Ken Sundberg
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson
369 (AL), Easter Anthem - John Merritt and Ken Kelley.

LUNCH

Gaylon Powell brought the class to order leading 248 (AL), Twilight is Falling.
203 (AL), Cumberland.
Leaders:
168 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - John Van Horn
133 (AL), Juniata
354t (AL), Summer - Danny Creel
172 (AL), The Grand Highway
511t (CB), Brown - Alice Sundberg
518 (CB), Love At Home
574 (CB), Sweet Peace - Greg Howard
448t (SH), Consecration
264 (AL), Harwell - Martha Beverly (for Ruth Wyers)
258 (AL), Thorny Desert (with John Merritt)
55 (CB), Shall We Know Each Other There? - Ron Ryan
550 (CB), Gone Home
140 (CB), Chicago - Emily Creel
86 (CB), Guiding Spirit
41t (AL), Mediation - Mark Davis
101 (AL), An Address for All.

RECESS

Henry Schuman brought the class to order by leading 32t (SH), Corinth.
Leaders:
392 (CB), Little Pilgrim - John Merritt
137 (CB), Liberty - Marlin Beasley
500 (CB), Sweet By and By
64 (AL), Youthful Blessings - Tammy Powell
250 (AL), Realms of the Blest
214 (AL), Hosanna - Robert Walker
171 (SH), Exhortation (First)
279 (AL), Lecil - Sarah Smith
40t (AL), Mamie
547 (SH), Granville - Bill Beverly
86 (SH), Poland (with John Merritt)
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
188t (AL), He Loves Me
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Henry McGuire
411 (CB), The Finest Flower.

John Merritt led 23b (AL), Evening Hymn, as the closing song.
Robert Vaughn offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, May 31

The Sunday session was called to order by John Merritt leading 569 (CB), He Leads Me All the Way.
Arlon Gardner offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
316 (AL), This Heavy Load - Henry Guthery
19 (AL), The Day of Days
56t (SH), Columbiana - Juanita Beasley
63 (SH), Coronation
497 (CB), The Bitter Cup - Arlon Gardner
380t (CB), Nettie
345t (SH), Jesus Is My Friend - Natalie Davis
79 (SH), The Old Ship of Zion
210b (AL), Contented Soldier - Ron Ryan
333 (SH), Family Circle
109 (AL), Not Made with Hands - Luke Daniel and Gabe Sonnier
176t (CB), Ragan - Sandra Melscheimer and John Merritt
96 (CB), Mercy Seat.

RECESS

John Merritt brought the class back together by leading    “Higher Ground”.
Leaders:
468 (CB), Sweet Thought - Robert Vaughn
521 (CB), A Golden Crown to Wear
57 (AL), Salvation's Rock - Emily Creel
352 (AL), My Home on High
191 (AL), Oh! Turn, Sinner - Bill Beverly
81t (AL), Maitland (with John Merritt)
170 (AL), On My Way - Ann Jett
180 (AL), The Sinless Summerland
51 (AL), Lonsdale - Robert Walker
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet
59 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Sarah Smith
117 (AL), Angel Band.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Vic Whisman leading 106 (SH), Ecstasy.
Leaders:
503 (SH), Lloyd - Vic Whisman
547 (SH), Granville
89 (SH), The Church's Desolation - Yancey Jett
108b (SH), The Traveler.

Emily Creel and Elene Stovall conducted the memorial lesson.
Emily Creel spoke of the sick and home bound and led 68b (SH), Ortonville, on behalf of the following:
W.M. Allen, Harrison Creel, Clayton Ezell, Paul Figura, Shirley Figura, Hobbs Freeman, Marsha Headrick, Colvin Mann, Ester Mann, Ophelia Matthews, Clarence McCool, Brenda Merritt, Thurman Nall, Lou Nall, Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, Leland Owen, Myra Palmer, Sue Smith, and Ruth Wyers.

Elene Stovall spoke on behalf of the deceased and led 440 (SH), North Salem, in memory of the following:
564 (SH), Zion, in memory of the following:
Frank Hataway, Denson Hinton, Mattie Townsel, and Gertha Wooten Parker, known as Aunt Gee—Alabama;
John Etheridge—Florida;
Kathryn Benefield, Frank Block, and Lee Rogers—Georgia;
Pauline Creel Childers—Michigan;
Dr. William Reynolds—Tennessee;
Monnie Ross and Dick Steil—Texas.

LUNCH

John Merritt called the afternoon session to order leading 111b (SH), To Die No More (for Harrison Creel).
Leaders:
464 (CB), Hocutt - Sandie Scott
134 (SH), The Christian's Hope
133 (CB), John 4:14 - Danny Creel
186 (AL), Lord Remember Me
82t (AL), Lady Touch Thy Harp Again - Martha Beverly
82b (AL), Gospel Waves
263 (CB), Beautiful Home - John Van Horn
465 (CB), Trusting
313t (SH), Concord - Greg Howard
488b (CB), Nearer, My God, To Thee (Bethany)
504 (SH), Wood Street - Carolyn Thompson
383 (SH), Eternal Day
232 (CB), The Crucifixion - Gaylon Powell
235 (CB), The Resurrection (Easter Anthem)
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - Elene Stovall
542 (SH), I'll Seek His Blessings - Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr.
196 (SH), Alabama
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Darlene Reynolds
145t (SH), Warrenton
38b (SH), Windham - Hans Guttmann
393t (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro - Marilyn Burchett
229 (CB), The Great Roll Call
77t (SH), The Child of Grace - Marlin Beasley
406 (SH), New Harmony
163b (SH), China - Tammy Powell
46t (AL), The Hill of Zion - Gary Smith
30b (AL), Dennis
255 (AL), Watchman (Second) - Mark Davis
52 (AL), Newburg.

Announcements were made. John Merritt and Ken Sundberg led 323t (CB), Mullins, as the closing song.
Robert Vaughn dismissed the class with prayer.

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