John Newton Merritt Memorial Singing Convention

Old Courthouse Museum
Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi
Saturday, May 23, 2015 and Sunday, May 24, 2015

The following books were used:
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition,
The Sacred Harp, J. L. White 4th Edition with Supplement, 1911, republished 2007,
The Christian Harmony, 2010 edition, and
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2012 Revision.

Saturday, May 23

The 4th annual John Newton Merritt Memorial Singing Convention was called to order by Henry McGuire leading 31b (SH), Webster.
Arlon Gardner offered the morning prayer. Leaders:
100 (SH), The Bower of Prayer - Henry McGuire
67 (SH), Columbus - Mark Davis
270 (SH), Confidence
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die - Arlon Gardner
313t (SH), Concord
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds and Hugh McGuire
410 (CB), Willie.

A business meeting was held and the following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Henry McGuire; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Arranging Officer and Secretary—Henry Schuman.

Leaders:
189 (CH10), One by One - Henry Schuman and Linda Hellerich
85 (CH10), Mercy Seat
159 (CB), Wondrous Love - Nanette Olivier
71 (CB), My Soul Forsakes Her Vain Delight (Leander)
551 (SH), Jacob's Vision - Sister Susan Dickey
59 (SH), Holy Manna
186 (SH), Sherburne - Shelby Castillo and Lisa Geist
273 (SH), Milford
227 (CB), Baptismal Anthem - Hugh McGuire
138t (CB), Song to the Lamb.

RECESS

Henry McGuire brought the class to order by leading 522 (CB), Shades of Night.
Leaders:
40 (CB), Blow Ye the Trumpet (Lenox) - Carole Watts
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus
98 (CB), Glory Shone Around - Erica Martinez
417 (CB), Weeping Pilgrim
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine (for Nancy Van Den Akker)
100 (SH), The Bower of Prayer
117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen - Judy Leatherwood
183 (SH), Greenwich
504 (SH), Wood Street - Lisa Leming
155 (SH), Northfield
143 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Peggy Ray
64 (SH), Nashville
117 (CB), Timmons - Robert Vaughn
338 (CB), Rise to the Mansions of Glory
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings - Lisa Geist
228 (SH), Marlborough.

LUNCH

Henry McGuire led 316 (CH10), This Heavy Load, to bring the class to order.
Leaders:
372 (CH10), I Won't Turn Back - Henry Schuman and Arlon Gardner
475 (CB), Lover of the Lord - Sonya Kirkham
54t (CB), Palmetto
391 (SH), Sounding Joy - Amber Davis
192 (SH), Schenectady
147t (SH), Boylston - Wilma Ann Mitchell
274t (SH), The Golden Harp
108b (CB), The Traveler - Charity Vaughn
212 (CB), Sharon
72b (SH), Bellevue - Sarah Tidwell
146 (SH), Hallelujah
486t (WB), Trusting - Hugh McGuire and Henry McGuire and Sarah Tidwell
492 (SH), Invocation (Second) - Drew McGuire
563 (CB), Jesus Is Mine.

RECESS

Robert Vaughn brought the class to order by leading 286 (SH), Heavenly Home.
Leaders:
344 (SH), Rainbow - Robert Vaughn
178 (SH), Africa - Jason Cole and Henry McGuire
542 (SH), I'll Seek His Blessings - Erica Martinez
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands - Carole Watts
299 (SH), New Jerusalem - Shelby Castillo and Lisa Geist
176t (SH), Ragan - Logan Hollarsmith
268t (CB), Restoration - Nanette Olivier
336t (CB), Hester - Peggy Ray
65 (SH), Sweet Prospect - Lisa Leming
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Robert Vaughn
229 (CB), The Great Roll Call - Amber Davis
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - Sonya Kirkham
514 (CB), Wiley - Charity Vaughn
546 (SH), My Brightest Days - Lisa Geist.

Announcements were made. Henry McGuire, Hugh McGuire, and Mark Davis led 549b (CH10), The Drone, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, May 24

The Sunday session was called to order by Henry McGuire leading 32t (SH), Corinth.
Arlon Gardner offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
120 (SH), Chambers - Henry McGuire
102 (SH), Fulfillment - Mark Davis
91 (SH), Assurance
216t (CH10), O, Save - Arlon Gardner
155 (CH10), Solemn Call
142 (CH10), The Solid Rock - Henry Schuman
149 (CH10), A Good Time Coming
204t (CH10), What a Day - Darlene Reynolds
291 (CH10), Warrenton
107 (SH), Russia - Logan Hollarsmith
388 (SH), The Happy Sailor
63 (SH), Coronation - Sarah Tidwell
42 (SH), Clamanda
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Nanette Olivier
109 (CH10), Not Made with Hands
200 (SH), Edom - John Van Horn
300 (SH), Calvary
272 (SH), Exhortation (Second) - Lisa Geist
527 (SH), My Life and Breath.

RECESS

Henry McGuire and Will McGuire brought the class back together by leading 392 (CB), Little Pilgrim.
Leaders:
584 (CB), I Love to Sing of Jesus - Carole Watts
549 (CB), That Sweet Home
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet - Lisa Davis
542 (SH), I'll Seek His Blessings
512 (WB), Pray On - Hugh McGuire
264b (WB), Noah's Dove
95 (SH), Vernon - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine
297 (SH), Conversion
142 (SH), Stratfield - Natalie Davis
172 (SH), Harmony
40 (SH), Lenox - Robert DuPree
84 (SH), Amsterdam
411 (CB), The Finest Flower - Sonya Kirkham
54t (CB), Palmetto
436 (SH), Morning Sun - Amber Davis
380 (SH), Lawrenceburg
140 (CB), Chicago - Charity Vaughn
468 (CB), Sweet Thought
383 (SH), Eternal Day - Drew McGuire
30b (SH), Prospect
198 (SH), Green Street - Lisa Leming
288 (SH), White
203 (CH10), Cumberland - Warren Steel
442 (SH), New Jordan.

Charity Vaughn and Carole Watts conducted the memorial lesson.
Carole spoke on behalf of the sick and shut-ins. She read the following list of names, and led 340 (SH), Odem (Second), on their behalf:
Nancy Van Den Akker, Gravis Ballinger, Gordon Cotton, Roy (R.M.) Davis, Stites Gardner, Jr., Mrs. Billie Margaret Gardner, Phillip Springfield, and Paula Springfield.

Charity spoke on behalf of the deceased and led 547 (CH10), Higher Ground, in memory of the following:
Jean Ballinger, Johnny Humber, and Rene Humber—Alabama;
John Dennis—Ohio;
Jerry Tidwell—Mississippi;
Rachel Etheridge—Tennessee;
Thierry Carrell—Virginia.

Charity then conducted a remembrance of our veterans. She led 480 (CB), Leaning on Jesus' Breast No. 2, for them.
Mark Davis led the class in prayer.

Leaders:
208 (SH), Traveling On - Shelby Castillo
318 (SH), Present Joys
498 (SH), The Resurrection Day - Erica Martinez
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus.

LUNCH

Henry McGuire brought the class to order by leading 108t (SH), Weeping Sinners.
Leaders:
180 (CH10), The Sinless Summerland - Henry McGuire
486 (CB), No Night on That Golden Shore - Sonya Kirkham
29b (SH), Tribulation - Logan Hollarsmith
276 (SH), Bridgewater - Amber Davis
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Robert DuPree
319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune - Carole Watts
45t (SH), New Britain - Steve Kelly and Mark Davis
210 (SH), Lena - Lisa Leming
296 (SH), Sardinia - John Van Horn
96 (CB), Mercy Seat - Regina Derstine and Sandra Melsheimer and Virginia Monsour
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart - Drew McGuire
532 (SH), Peace and Joy - Henry Schuman
270 (SH), Confidence - Natalie Davis
196 (SH), Alabama - Hugh McGuire
188 (CH10), He Loves Me - Darlene Reynolds
176t (CB), Ragan - Warren Steel
38t (CB), Sessions - Erica Martinez
76b (CB), Desire for Piety - Charity Vaughn
101 (CH10), An Address for All - Mark Davis
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Drew McGuire
543t (WB), Alone - Henry McGuire.

Announcements were made. Henry McGuire, Hugh McGuire, and Mark Davis led 549b (CH10), The Drone, as the closing song.
Drew McGuire dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Henry McGuire; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Secretary—Henry Schuman.