John Newton Merritt Memorial Singing Convention

Old Courthouse Museum
Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi
Saturday, May 24, 2014 and Sunday, May 25, 2014

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 24

The 3rd annual John N. Merritt Memorial Singing Convention was called to order by Henry McGuire, Drew McGuire, and Will McGuire leading 42 (SH), Clamanda.
John Van Horn offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
34b (SH), St. Thomas - Henry McGuire
29t (SH), Fairfield - Mark Davis
472 (SH), Akin
40 (SH), Lenox - Carole Watts
46 (SH), Let Us Sing
384 (SH), Panting for Heaven - Michael Carney
476 (SH), The Throne of Grace
63 (CB), Coronation - Nanette Olivier
393 (CB), I'm Wandering To and Fro
189 (CH10), One by One - Henry Schuman and Linda Hellerich
142 (CH10), The Solid Rock
448t (SH), Consecration - Arlon Gardner
67 (SH), Columbus
178 (SH), Africa - Sister Susan Dickey
128 (SH), The Promised Land
63 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - John Van Horn
64 (CH10), Youthful Blessings.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Henry McGuire; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Secretary/Arranging Officer—Henry Schuman.

RECESS

Hugh McGuire brought the class to order by leading 258 (CH10), Thorny Desert.
465 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?).
Leaders:
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Robert DuPree
86 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?)
180 (CH10), The Sinless Summerland - Mary Ellen Schrock
82b (CH10), Gospel Waves
121 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Drew McGuire
134 (SH), The Christian's Hope
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart - Amber Davis
192 (SH), Schenectady
282 (SH), I'm Going Home - Michael Carney
486 (CB), No Night on That Golden Shore - Sonya Kirkham
475 (CB), Lover of the Lord
186 (CH10), Lord Remember Me - Erica Martinez
85 (CH10), Mercy Seat
548 (WB), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Robert Vaughn
543t (WB), Alone
200 (CH10), Parting Hand - Mallory Oliver
142 (CB), Stratfield.

LUNCH

Henry McGuire brought the class to order by leading 316 (CH10), This Heavy Load.
Leaders:
133 (CH10), Juniata - Nancy Van Den Akker
168t (CH10), Rest
183 (CB), Arbacoochee - Charity Vaughn
392 (CB), Little Pilgrim
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings - Larry Ballinger
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me?
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway - Henry Schuman
484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - Darlene Reynolds
410 (CB), Willie
336 (WB), Woodville - Hugh McGuire
540 (WB), It is Well with My Soul
273 (SH), Milford - Lisa Geist
269 (SH), Bear Creek
176b (SH), Blooming Youth - Warren Steel
203 (CH10), Cumberland
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Sarah Tidwell
72b (SH), Bellevue
480 (SH), Redemption - Wilma Ann Mitchell
49t (SH), Old Hundred
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Drew McGuire and Henry McGuire
490 (SH), My Shepherd Guides - Robert Vaughn
56t (SH), Columbiana - Lisa Geist and Larry Ballinger
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Sister Susan Dickey
563 (CB), Jesus Is Mine - John Van Horn
391 (SH), Sounding Joy - Amber Davis
400 (SH), Struggle On - Warren Steel
465 (CB), Trusting - Henry McGuire and Hugh McGuire and Sarah Tidwell.

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

Sunday, May 25

The Sunday session of the John Newton Merritt Memorial Singing Convention was called to order by Henry McGuire leading 52b (SH), Charlestown.
Arlon Gardner offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
32t (SH), Corinth - Henry McGuire
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners - Drew McGuire
111b (SH), To Die No More
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Darlene Reynolds
281b (CH10), Palmetto
41t (CH10), Mediation - Mark Davis
102 (SH), Fulfillment
159 (CB), Wondrous Love - Nanette Olivier
155 (CH10), Solemn Call - Arlon Gardner
455 (SH), Soar Away
344 (SH), Rainbow - Natalie Davis
345b (SH), I'm On My Journey Home
168 (CB), Cowper - Nancy Van Den Akker
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus
571 (CB), Not Made With Hands - Carole Watts
587 (CB), Nearer, My God, To Thee (Bethany)
40 (SH), Lenox - Robert DuPree
565 (SH), The Hill of Zion.

RECESS

Hugh McGuire brought the class back together by leading 168b (CH10), Sunrise.
130 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?).
Leaders:
268t (CB), Restoration - Nanette Olivier
71 (SH), Leander
278t (SH), Love Shall Never Die - Arlon Gardner
106 (SH), Ecstasy
408 (SH), Weeping Mary - Christine Murphy
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me? - Henry Schuman and Linda Hellerich
149 (CH10), A Good Time Coming
179 (CH10), Traveling On - Mary Ellen Schrock
253 (CH10), Is It Far?
108t (SH), Weeping Sinners - Charity Vaughn
186 (SH), Sherburne - Mary Ellen Schrock.

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:
Roy (R. M.) Davis, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Stites Gardner, Jr.

Charity spoke on behalf of the deceased and read the following list of names:
Josie Hyde—Alabama;
W.M. Allen, Emily Boswell, Jean Gray, and Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr.—Mississippi;
Sharon Kellam—North Carolina;
Junior Smith and Lawson Smith—Texas.
She led 327 (CB), Hatfield, in their memory.

Charity then conducted a remembrance of our veterans. She led 137 (CB), Liberty, for them.
Mark Davis offered prayer to close the memorial service.

Leaders:
410 (SH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Regina Derstine
497 (CB), The Bitter Cup
189 (SH), Montgomery - Erica Martinez
279 (SH), The Shepherd's Flock.

LUNCH

Henry McGuire brought the afternoon session to order by leading 492 (WB), Love at Home.
Leaders:
248 (CH10), Twilight is Falling - Wilma Ann Mitchell
204 (SH), Mission
184 (CH10), Where We'll Never Grow Old - Henry Schuman
183 (SH), Greenwich - Kate Paxton
318 (SH), Present Joys - Lisa Leming
155 (SH), Northfield
319 (SH), Religion is a Fortune - Carole Watts
470 (CH10), Duke Street - Nancy Van Den Akker
264 (CH10), Harwell - Robert DuPree
521 (CB), A Golden Crown to Wear - Charity Vaughn
58 (SH), Pisgah - Erica Martinez
65 (SH), Sweet Prospect - Drew McGuire
189 (CH10), One by One - Mary Ellen Schrock
188 (CH10), He Loves Me - Hugh McGuire
355 (CH10), Homeward Bound - Darlene Reynolds
85 (CH10), Mercy Seat - Sandra Melsheimer and Linda Hellerich
101 (CH10), An Address for All - Mark Davis
313 (CH10), Bruce's Address - Regina Derstine
63 (SH), Coronation - Natalie Davis
76 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Hugh McGuire and Henry McGuire (in memory of Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr.
547 (CH10), Higher Ground (in memory of John Newton Merritt).

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.