Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 24, 2013 and Sunday, August 25, 2013

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

Saturday, August 24

The 85th annual session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention began with President Mark Davis calling the meeting to order and leading 37b (SH), Liverpool.
The opening prayer was offered by Chaplain Arlon Gardner. President Davis welcomed everyone to the convention and thanked Brother Alfred Bailey and Bro. Rogers for having us at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church.

President Mark Davis appointed Darlene Reynolds and John Van Horn to the Arranging Committee. Other officers are as follows: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Assistant Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.

Leaders:
203 (SH), Florida - Mark Davis
379 (SH), Span of Life - John Van Horn
297 (SH), Conversion - Jean Gray
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
277 (SH), Antioch - Arlon Gardner
180 (CH10), The Sinless Summerland - Mary Ellen Schrock
551 (SH), Jacob's Vision - Sister Susan Dickey
269 (SH), Bear Creek - Matthew Dawson
462t (CH10), Lotha - John Plunkett
80 (CH10), The Blind Girl - Robert Vaughn
480 (SH), Redemption - Anne Steel
318 (CH10), The Martial Trumpet - Bill Hollingsworth
378t (SH), Heavenly Port - Stanley Smith
546 (SH), My Brightest Days - Drew McGuire
142 (SH), Stratfield - Amber Davis
298 (SH), Providence - Hugh Bill McGuire
82 (CB), Bound for Canaan - Bobby Caldwell.
President Mark Davis appointed Henry McGuire, Drew McGuire, and Hugh McGuire to the Business and Credentials Committee.

RECESS

The singing continued with John Van Horn leading 430 (SH), Arbacoochee.
Leaders:
195 (SH), Worcester - Warren Steel
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings - Lisa Geist
440 (SH), North Salem - Amy Armstrong
188 (CH10), He Loves Me - William Savell
204t (CH10), What a Day - Wilma Mitchell
12 (CH10), Gate of Home - Hugh McGuire
405 (SH), The Marcellas - Jane Armstrong
30b (CH10), Dennis - John Hollingsworth and Madison Busby
349 (SH), A Cross for Me - Regina Derstine
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - Mike McNeil
64 (CH10), Youthful Blessings - Henry McGuire
214 (SH), Repentance - John Cash
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Mark Davis (for the people at Antioch Church)
51 (CH10), Lonsdale - Barbara McNeil
303 (CH10), The Unclouded Day - Bruce Smith
143 (CH10), Farther Along - Leona Smith.
President Mark Davis appointed John Hollingsworth and Billy Hollingsworth to the Memorial Committee.

Arlon Gardner offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

After a delicious lunch and fellowship, singing continued with Mark Davis leading 106 (SH), Ecstasy.
Leaders:
354b (SH), Happy Land - Madison Busby
109 (CH10), Not Made with Hands - Lynn Dennis
175 (CH10), O How I Love Jesus - Gay Beth Kelley
300 (SH), Calvary - John Van Horn
196 (SH), Alabama - Jean Gray and Warren Steel
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Darlene Reynolds and Henry McGuire
507 (SH), Sermon on the Mount - Arlon Gardner
189 (CH10), One by One - Mary Ellen Schrock
128 (SH), The Promised Land - Sister Susan Dickey
558 (CB), I'll Praise My Master - Kim Vaughn
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon - Matthew Dawson
504 (WB), The Love of God - John Plunkett
334 (WB), O Come Away! - Robert Vaughn
209 (SH), Evening Shade - Anne Steel
111b (CH10), Judkins - Bill Hollingsworth
567 (CB), Child of Thine - Stanley Smith.

In a business session held at 2:00 p.m., the following business was attended: President Davis suggested we add Henry McGuire and Darlene Reynolds to the checking account, along with Jean Gray, and remove Junie McNeil (deceased). Motion and second to keep the same officers. Mark Davis led 236 (SH), Easter Anthem.

RECESS

Mark Davis led 126 (SH), Babel's Streams.
Leaders:
270 (SH), Confidence - Drew McGuire
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - Amber Davis
273 (SH), Milford - Hugh Bill McGuire
129 (CH10), Coronation - Bobby Caldwell
268 (CH10), Come Ye to the Waters - Warren Steele
391 (SH), Sounding Joy - Lisa Geist
112 (SH), The Last Words of Copernicus - Amy Armstrong
365 (CH10), The Indian's Petition - Hugh McGuire
335 (SH), Return Again - Jane Armstrong
206 (CH10), Prayer Meeting - Mike McNeil and Sharon McNeil
522 (CB), Shades of Night - Mike McNeil
140 (CB), Chicago - Regina Derstine
492 (WB), Love at Home - Henry McGuire
184 (CH10), Where We'll Never Grow Old - John Cash
460 (SH), Sardis - Lynn Dennis.
President Mark Davis thanked everyone who brought lunch.

Announcements were made. The class sang    “The Drone”, led by Mark Davis, Henry McGuire, and Hugh McGuire.
John Van Horn offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, August 25

President Mark Davis opened the Sunday session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention by leading 101t (SH), Canaan's Land.
Prayer was offered by Arlon Gardner. Leaders:
107 (SH), Russia - Mark Davis
200 (SH), Edom - John Van Horn
448t (SH), Consecration
68b (SH), Ortonville - Jean Gray
264 (CH10), Harwell - Darlene Reynolds
511 (WB), Willie
454 (SH), The Better Land - Arlon Gardner
163t (SH), Morning
455 (SH), Soar Away - Matthew Dawson
350 (SH), Nativity
103 (CH10), Derrick - Bill Hollingsworth
133 (CH10), Juniata
180 (CH10), The Sinless Summerland - Mary Ellen Schrock
432b (CH10), Fish Pond
339 (SH), When I Am Gone - Nick Pappas
99 (SH), Gospel Trumpet
434 (SH), Fillmore - Jackson Fleder
400 (SH), Struggle On.

RECESS

Singing continued with John Van Horn leading 155 (SH), Northfield.
Leaders:
358 (SH), Murillo's Lesson - Tom Gray
268 (SH), David's Lamentation
168b (CH10), Sunrise - Ken Tate
497b (CH10), Horton
145b (SH), Sweet Affliction - Natalie Davis
146 (SH), Hallelujah
43 (CH10), The Heavenly Throng - Ann Jett
149 (CH10), A Good Time Coming
76b (CH10), Night - Sarah Beasley
45b (CH10), Lofty Sky.
John Hollingsworth and Billy Hollingsworth conducted the memorial lesson. John spoke on behalf of the sick and shut-ins. He said it was important to not only remember them, but to go by and see them. He read the following list of names:
W.M. Allen, Charles Porter, Emma Lou Rigdon, Ruth Wyers, Velton Chafin, Johnnie Chafin, Elsie Moon, and Fred Buesser.

Billy Hollingsworth said it is an important tradition to remember these people that are no longer with us. These people taught us to sing. We paused to reflect on the ones who passed away this year and also the ones in years past. He led 347 (SH), Christian's Farewell, in memory of the following:
Nellie Davis, Norman Hollingsworth, Mary Frances Jones, Emily Boswell, Virginia Carter—Mississippi; Charles Creel, Bud Oliver, Lessie Reed, Jeff Sheppard—Alabama; Evelyn Steinruck—Pennsylvania. Arlon Gardner closed the memorial service with prayer.

Leaders:
258 (CH10), Thorny Desert - Drew McGuire
345b (SH), I'm On My Journey Home
179 (CH10), Traveling On - Madison Busby
277 (SH), Antioch.

President Mark appointed Tim Gray and Mike McNeil to the Resolutions Committee. Mike McNeil offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Mark Davis leading 430 (SH), Arbacoochee.
Leaders:
505 (WB), Roll On, Dark Stream - Hugh Bill McGuire and Hugh McGuire and Henry McGuire
155 (CH10), Solemn Call
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway - Wanda Capps
216 (SH), Delight
524 (CB), My Home Above - Erica Martinez
450 (CB), Leaning on Jesus' Breast
512 (WB), Pray On - Hugh McGuire
240 (SH), Christian Song
503 (WB), Poyner - Stanley Smith
54 (CH10), My Trust
182 (CB), Newburgh - Amy Armstrong
393 (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro
318 (SH), Present Joys - Andy Davis
254 (SH), Rose of Sharon.

A business meeting was held for the purpose of hearing reports. The Business and Credentials Committee presented the financial report. There was a motion and second for donation of money as follows: $250.00 to the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association for Camp Fasola Scholarship; $40.00 to WCPC Sacred Harp Hour Radio Program; $60.00 to Sacred Harp Minutes; $65.00 for flowers in honor of Nellie Davis; and $300.00 to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church. Motion and second to accept financial report.

The Resolutions Committee submitted the following: We, the eighty-fifth meeting of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention, thank God for the ability and willingness to come together to sing. Thank you to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for extending their hospitality and the use of this wonderful building. Thanks to people who came from near and far to sing together. Thank you to all who helped provide a graceful and bountiful lunch both days. We resolve to gather again a year from now to once again sing praises to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The report was accepted, and the business meeting was closed.

Leaders:
460 (SH), Sardis - Lynn Dennis
341 (SH), The Lone Pilgrim
273 (SH), Milford - Regina Derstine
272 (SH), Exhortation (Second)
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Seth Holloway
85 (CH10), Mercy Seat
40 (CB), Blow Ye the Trumpet (Lenox) - Henry McGuire
465 (CB), Trusting
222 (SH), Ocean - Tim Gray
319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune
186 (CH10), Lord Remember Me - Mike McNeil
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus.
Announcements were made.

Mark Davis, Hugh McGuire, and Henry McGuire led    “The Drone”.
The closing prayer was offered by Tim Gray.

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