Mississippi State Convention, 76th session

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 21, 2004 and Sunday, August 22, 2004

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), 2000 Revision, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Saturday, August 21

The Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention convened at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for the seventy-sixth session on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in August. President Mark Davis called the class to order, thanked the members of Antioch Church for hosting the Convention, and led 37b (SH), Liverpool.
Chaplain Arlon Gardner led in prayer. Mark Davis led 47b (SH), Idumea.
Mr. Alfred Bailey welcomed everyone.

Various committees were appointed through-out the proceedings: Arranging Committee—Junie McNeil and Nancy Van Den Akker; Business Committee—Hugh McGuire, Tim Gray, and T.J. Funderburk; Memorial Committee—John Hollingsworth and Ester Mann; Location Committee—Henry McGuire, W.M. Allen, and Arlon Gardner.

Leaders:
209 (SH), Evening Shade - President Mark Davis
201 (SH), Pilgrim - Vice President John Van Horn
189 (SH), Montgomery
63 (SH), Coronation - Secretary Jean Gray
31t (SH), Ninety-Third Psalm
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Chaplain W.M. Allen
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners
65 (SH), Sweet Prospect - Chaplain Arlon Gardner
448b (SH), The Grieved Soul
73b (AL), Downs - Tim Cook
322 (AL), Among that Band
496t (CB), We Shall Meet Again - Andrew Albers
269 (SH), Bear Creek
261b (AL), Alone - John Merritt
386 (CB), Carry Me Home
40 (SH), Lenox - Wanda Gregg
460 (SH), Sardis.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with President Mark Davis leading 160b (SH), Turn, Sinner, Turn.
Leaders:
200 (SH), Edom - Hugh Bill McGuire and Henry McGuire and Hugh McGuire and Drew McGuire
198 (SH), Green Street
37 (AL), Heaven's My Home - Nancy Van Den Akker
133 (SH), Hebrew Children
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Mike McNeil
573 (SH), Harpeth Valley
428 (SH), World Unknown - Warren Steel
53 (CB), Jerusalem
128 (SH), The Promised Land - Linda Funderburk
373 (SH), Homeward Bound
28b (SH), Wells - Joe Cobb
38b (SH), Windham.
Chaplain W. M. Allen returned thanks for the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by President Mark Davis leading 291 (SH), Majesty.
Leaders:
86 (SH), Poland - Eric Schedler
455 (SH), Soar Away
45t (SH), New Britain - Ann Fox
123b (SH), Cross of Christ
122 (SH), All Is Well - Anne Steel
318 (SH), Present Joys
182 (SH), Newburgh - Tim Gray
220 (SH), Mount Zion
51 (AL), Lonsdale - Mako Cook
30b (SH), Prospect
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - John Hollingsworth and Hugh Bill McGuire
127 (SH), Green Fields - Ester Mann
171 (SH), Exhortation (First)
572 (SH), The Lamb of God - Natalie Davis
43 (AL), The Heavenly Throng - Junie McNeil
64 (SH), Nashville
67 (SH), Columbus - Hugh McGuire
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain
355 (AL), Homeward Bound - Darlene Reynolds
184 (SH), Enfield - Darlene Reynolds and John Hollingsworth.

A business session was held to elect officers. A motion was made and seconded to retain the same officers: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Chaplains—W.M. Allen and Arlon Gardner.

President Mark Davis led 240 (SH), Christian Song, in memory of Durward Scarborough.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Vice President John Van Horn leading 137 (SH), Liberty.
Leaders:
87 (CB), Sweet Canaan - Hannah Albers and Andrew Albers
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction
281 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Bobby Caldwell and Hugh McGuire
216 (SH), Delight
504 (SH), Wood Street - Katie Zukof and Eric Schedler
372 (AL), I Won't Turn Back
139 (AL), The Wanderer's Grave - John Plunkett
67b (AL), Dundee
183 (SH), Greenwich - Henry McGuire
442 (SH), New Jordan
196 (SH), Alabama - Eric Schedler (by request)
117 (AL), Angel Band - Alfred Bailey (by request).

After announcements were made, President Mark Davis led    “The Drone”, as the closing song.
W. M. Allen offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, August 22

President Mark Davis opened the Sunday morning session with 30t (SH), Love Divine.
Chaplain W. M. Allen offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
123t (SH), The Dying Christian - President Mark Davis
129 (SH), Heavenly Armor
120 (SH), Chambers - Vice President John Van Horn
106 (SH), Ecstasy
203 (SH), Florida
418 (SH), Reese - Secretary Jean Gray
297 (SH), Conversion
75 (SH), I Would See Jesus - Chaplain W.M. Allen
282 (SH), I'm Going Home
39t (SH), Detroit - Chaplain Arlon Gardner
316 (AL), This Heavy Load
155 (AL), Solemn Call
147t (SH), Boylston - Junie McNeil
179 (SH), The Christian Warfare
145t (SH), Warrenton
318 (CB), Morning Meditation - Andrew Albers
268b (CB), Texas
472 (CB), The Sinner's Friend.

RECESS

Vice President John Van Horn brought the class to order with 119 (SH), Heaven's My Home.
Leaders:
354b (SH), Happy Land - Natalie Davis
345t (SH), Jesus Is My Friend
114 (SH), Saint's Delight - Drew McGuire
40 (SH), Lenox
155 (SH), Northfield
32t (SH), Corinth - Terre Schill
168 (SH), Cowper
224 (SH), Save, Lord, or We Perish
444 (SH), All Saints New - Hannah Albers and Rhoda Albers
180 (CB), A Place for Children
45t (SH), New Britain - Kurt Davis
274t (SH), The Golden Harp
126 (SH), Babel's Streams.
Chaplain Arlon Gardner returned thanks for the noon meal.

LUNCH

President Mark Davis brought the afternoon session to order leading 61 (SH), Sweet Rivers.
Leaders:
53 (SH), Jerusalem - Hugh McGuire
82t (SH), Bound For Canaan
83b (SH), The Dying Minister
138t (SH), Adoration - John Hollingsworth
506 (CB), The Orphan Girl
36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth - Bobby Caldwell
68b (SH), Ortonville
565 (SH), The Hill of Zion
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Ester Mann
355 (SH), Anthem on the Savior
480 (SH), Redemption
78 (SH), Stafford - Henry McGuire
300 (SH), Calvary
269 (SH), Bear Creek
188t (AL), He Loves Me - Darlene Reynolds
264 (AL), Harwell
128t (AL), Hester
393t (CB), I'm Wandering to and Fro - Hugh Bill McGuire
344 (CB), We'll Meet Beyond the Grave
563 (CB), Jesus is Mine.

The 2:00 p.m. committee reports were given.

The Memorial Committee, John Hollingsworth and Ester Mann, led 127 (SH), Green Fields, and 117 (AL), Angel Band, in memory of Alma Allen of Enon Church in Chickasaw County, Mississippi; and in honor of Martha Sellers of Collins, Mississippi who is sick and shut-in. Arlon Gardner closed the memorial with prayer.

The Business and Credentials Committee, Hugh McGuire, Colvin Mann, and Tim Gray, submitted their report: Several counties and states are represented at the convention with delegates and visitors. We find a quorum present. We recommend $200.00 be given to Antioch Church to offset expenses.

The Resolutions Committee, Andrew Albers and Alice McGuire, submitted their report: We, the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Convention hereby resolve to thank:

The Location Committee, Henry McGuire, W.M. Allen, and Arlon Gardner, submitted their report: We recommend that next year's 77th Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention be held at Enon Primitive Baptist Church, near Houston, Mississippi.

A move was made and seconded to accept all reports.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with President Mark Davis leading 175 (SH), Highlands of Heaven.
Leaders:
49 (AL), Forever with the Lord - Vice President John Van Horn
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - Secretary Jean Gray and Hugh McGuire
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Chaplain W.M. Allen
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die - Chaplain Arlon Gardner
121 (SH), Florence - Terre Schill
209 (CB), Sing His Praise - Andrew Albers
258 (AL), Thorny Desert - Ester Mann.

A motion was made to adjourn. Announcements were made, and special thanks were extended to Alfred Bailey and Antioch Primitive Baptist Church.

President Mark Davis led 46 (SH), Let Us Sing, as the closing song.
Chaplain W. M. Allen offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

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