Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 27, 2011 and Sunday, August 28, 2011

Four books were used during the weekend:
The Christian Harmony, 2010 edition,
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2006 Revision,
The Sacred Harp, J. L. White 4th Edition with Supplement, 1911, republished 2007, and
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.

Saturday, August 27

The 83rd annual session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention convened at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church 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: the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention began with President Mark Davis calling the meeting to order and leading 37b (SH), Liverpool.

He welcomed everyone to the singing, and thanked Brother Alfred Bailey and the people of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for having us there. Chaplain Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer. President Davis appointed Warren Steel and Bill Hogan as the Arranging Committee.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Assistant Secretary—Darlene Reynolds; Chaplain—Arlon Gardner.

Leaders:
203 (SH), Florida - Mark Davis
300 (SH), Calvary - John Van Horn
82t (SH), Bound For Canaan - Gene Gray
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
277 (SH), Antioch - Arlon Gardner and Samantha Gardner
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me? - Morgan Bunch
142 (CH10), The Solid Rock - Sue Bunch
547 (CH10), Higher Ground - Robert Vaughn
464 (CB), Hocutt - Bill Hogan
82t (CH10), Lady, Touch Thy Harp Again - John Hollingsworth
59b (CH10), Dove of Peace - Sarah Beasley
237 (CH10), Remember Thy Creator - Eddie Mash
40 (SH), Lenox - Amy Armstrong
95b (CB), The Christian's Love - Nancy Hogan
129 (SH), Heavenly Armor - Cliff Hall
56b (SH), Villulia - Elizabeth Muhleisen.

President Davis appointed Hugh McGuire, Henry McGuire, and Tim Gray to the Business and Credentials Committee.

RECESS

Leaders:
72b (SH), Bellevue - John Van Horn
155 (SH), Northfield - Hugh McGuire
206 (CH10), Prayer Meeting - Nancy Van Den Akker
269 (SH), Bear Creek - Matthew Dawson
281b (CH10), Palmetto - Gary Smith
276 (CH10), Worlds Beyond the Sky - Bill Hollingsworth
63 (SH), Coronation - Jane Armstrong
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Seth Holloway
479 (SH), Chester - Bobby Davis
460 (SH), Sardis - Wanda Greg
171 (SH), Exhortation (First) - Mary Ellen Schrock
117 (SH), Babylon is Fallen - Vicky Neyman
189 (SH), Montgomery - Regina Derstine
200 (SH), Edom - Tim Gray
199 (CB), City of Light - Henry McGuire.

President Davis appointed Wanda Gregg and John Hollingsworth to the Memorial Committee. There was a motion and second to adjourn for lunch. The blessing before the noon meal was offered by Arlon Gardner.

LUNCH

Mark Davis led 137 (SH), Liberty, to bring the class to order.
Leaders:
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway - Mike McNeil
181 (SH), Exit - Warren Steel
204t (CH10), What a Day - Wilma Mitchell
216t (CH10), O, Save - Bobby Caldwell
31t (SH), Ninety-Third Psalm - Patti Monroe and Lyndy Berryhill
39t (SH), Detroit - Lyndy Berryhill
288 (SH), White - Linda Funderburk
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - Hannah Monroe
77t (SH), The Child of Grace - Betsy Berryhill
64 (CH10), Youthful Blessings - Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr. and Hugh McGuire and Henry McGuire
43 (CH10), The Heavenly Throng - Junie McNeil and Mike McNeil
258 (CH10), Thorny Desert - Mark Davis
208b (CH10), French Broad - Warren Steel
299 (SH), New Jerusalem - Jean Gray
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Darlene Reynolds
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Mark Davis.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by John Van Horn leading 332 (SH), Sons of Sorrow.
Leaders:
465 (CB), Trusting - Morgan Bunch
547 (SH), Granville - Sue Bunch
167b (CH10), Come Along - Robert Vaughn
214 (CH10), Hosanna - Bill Hogan
487t (WB), Manoah - Eddie Mash and Bill Hollingsworth
56b (CH10), Sing to Me of Heaven - Sarah Beasley
159 (SH), Wondrous Love - Amy Armstrong and Carey Armstrong
432b (CH10), Fish Pond - Nancy Hogan
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain - Mary Ellen Schrock
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger - Mark Davis.

Announcements were made. On motion and second, the class was dismissed by President Mark Davis until 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.    “The Drone” was sung, and prayer was offered by Mike McNeil.

Sunday, August 28

President Mark Davis opened the Sunday morning session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention by leading 123t (SH), The Dying Christian, and welcomed everyone back to the singing convention. Chaplain Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.

Leaders:
101b (SH), Holy City - Mark Davis
204b (CH10), Evening Bells - John Van Horn
133 (SH), Hebrew Children
143 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Jean Gray
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Darlene Reynolds
486t (CH10), Retreat - Darlene Reynolds and Bill Hollingsworth
455 (SH), Soar Away - Arlon Gardner
67 (SH), Columbus
140 (CB), Chicago - Morgan Bunch
392 (SH), Manchester
544 (CH10), Life's Troubles - Ken Tate
372 (CH10), I Won't Turn Back
280 (CH10), Zion - Sue Bunch
107 (SH), Russia
308 (CH10), The Happy Time - Danny Creel
354 (CH10), Summer.
President Mark Davis appointed Billy Hollingsworth and Gary Smith to the Resolutions Committee.

RECESS

Leaders:
76b (CH10), Night - John Van Horn
19 (CH10), The Day of Days - Bill Hollingsworth
546t (CH10), The Holy Spirit
333 (CH10), Night is Coming - Sarah Beasley and Bill Hogan
106 (CH10), Sweet Rivers - Sarah Beasley
128 (SH), The Promised Land - Susan Dickey
154 (SH), Rest For the Weary
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Mark Davis (for all the folks at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church)
543 (CB), Consecration - Nancy Hogan
149 (CH10), A Good Time Coming
339 (CH10), Samanthra - Nancy Van Den Akker
50 (CH10), Cranbrook
186 (CH10), Lord Remember Me - Bill Hogan
168b (CH10), Sunrise.
Arlon Gardner offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was opened by Mark Davis leading 176b (SH), Blooming Youth.
Leaders:
128t (CH10), Hester - Gary Smith
46t (CH10), The Hill of Zion
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus - Mary Ellen Schrock
572 (CB), We Will Sing with Angels There
182 (SH), Newburgh - John Hollingsworth
51 (CH10), Lonsdale
212 (SH), Sharon - Matthew Dawson
436 (SH), Morning Sun
186 (SH), Sherburne - Wanda Gregg
408 (SH), Weeping Mary
258 (CH10), Thorny Desert - Seth Holloway
109 (CH10), Not Made with Hands
365 (SH), Southwell - Hugh McGuire
240 (SH), Christian Song
47b (SH), Idumea - Cliff Hall
268 (SH), David's Lamentation
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Mike McNeil
176 (CH10), Heavenly Treasures.

A business meeting was held. The Business and Credentials Committee reported the amount of collection. Motion and second for donation of money as follows: $250.00 Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association for Camp Fasola Scholarship; $40.00 to WCPC Sacred Harp Hour Radio Program; $300.00 to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, and $85.00 to minutes.

The Memorial Committee (John Hollingsworth and Wanda Gregg) conducted the memorial lesson. John Hollingsworth named the members who have passed away this past year as follows:
Bernice Embry—Mississippi; Pat (Deason) Rigdon, Ernestine Pipkin, and Clarence McCool—Alabama. He led 548 (CH10), Macedonia.

Wanda Gregg read the names of the following sick and shut-ins:
W.M. Allen, Billie Arnold, John Merritt, and Travis Keeton. She led 50b (SH), Humility.

The Resolutions Committee offered the following report: The members of the 83rd meeting of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention wish to thank God for the ability and willingness to come together to sing. We thank Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for extending their hospitality, and the use of this wonderful building. We thank the people who came from near and far to sing praises to God. We thank all who helped provide a bountiful lunch both days. We resolve to meet again next year to join our hearts and voices. Motion and second to accept all committee reports and dispense the committees.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Mark Davis leading 36b (SH), Ninety-Fifth.
Leaders:
270 (SH), Confidence - Regina Derstine and Todd Derstine
492 (WB), Love at Home - Henry McGuire
254 (WB), Rose of Sharon
215 (SH), New Topia - Amy Armstrong
312b (SH), Restoration (First) - Jane Armstrong
319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune - Junie McNeil
145t (SH), Warrenton
393t (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro - Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr. and Henry McGuire and Hugh McGuire.

Announcements were made. Motion and second to adjourn, and close the convention.    “The Drone” was the closing song.
John Hollingsworth offered the closing prayer.

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