Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 12

The one hundred thirty-second session of the East Texas Sacred Harp Singing Convention met at the Henderson Community Center in Henderson, Texas, and was called to order by John Morris leading song on page 119. B.E. Matthews offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Emmie Morris 171; Marion Grant 230; Sam Craig 145t; Robert Handel 511t; John Etheridge 138; Doris Hanks 384; Tim McClain 40; Leon Ballinger 332; Myrl Jones 183; Tommie Spurlock 140; Scott Curran 189; David Ivey 540; Josh Rogan 240; Frank Hataway 58; Olivia Powell 235; Paul Gailiunas 211; Avon Miller 165; Allison Ivey 559.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Mike Moseley leading song on page 376. Leaders: Genny Whitworth and Nate Green “Nettie” (written by their brother, William Green); Ophelia Matthews 563; Margaret Spurlock 112; Myra Palmer 522; Karen Ivey 410; Dale Redmon, Jr. 507b; Kelly Beard 304; Victoria Aplin 87; Katie Moseley 203; Gary Rogan 330t; H.P. O’Mary 335; Tom Owen 543b; Ernestine Pipkin 110; Kevin Powell 133; James Moseley 300; Neil Vaught 127; Stuart Ivey 222; Vivian Rogan 282; Albano Alban 145b; Gaylon Powell 365.

LUNCH

The class was called to order by Tom Owen leading song on page 176t. Leaders: Beverly Coates 155; David Moseley 186; Bill Aplin 568; Donald Ross 116; Gaylon Powell 363 (by request); Dan Brittain 434; Jo Redmon 393t; Baron Powers 239; Bruce Coates 336t; Richard Ivey 270; Amanda Owen 200; Monnie Ross 108b; Michelle Rogan 196; Edith Owen 489; Regina Foster 552.

RECESS

John Morris brought the class to order by leading song on page 345. Leaders: Cheryl Foreman 132; Reed Coates 212; Diane Ross 299; B.E. Matthews 578; Curtis Owen 198; Robert Vaughn 47b; Cissy Moseley 447t; Liz Rogan 98; Pauline Willis 572; Jeb Owen 450; Catherine Rogan 276; Margaret Rounsavall 137; Susan Hanson 427; Dustin Rounsavall 128; Mary Bachmann 280; Terre Schill 331b; David Rousseau 179.

The day of singing was closed in prayer led by Tom Owen.

Sunday, August 13

The Sunday morning session was opened by John Morris leading song on page 170. Curtis Owen offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Dale Redmon, Jr. 274t; Liz Rogan 215; Sue Hanson 571; Ophelia Matthews 511b; Kelly Beard 99; John Etheridge 408; Cissy Moseley 142; Diane Ross 524; Beverly Coates 106; Myra Palmer 497; Katie Moseley 222; Richard Ivey 101t; Leon Ballinger 470; Jeb Owen 522; Neil Vaught 492; Mary Bachmann 400; Pauline Willis 573; Morris Nelms 68t; Doris Hanks 422b; Monnie Ross 49t; Charlie Vaughn 549.

RECESS

John Morris brought the class to order leading song on page 275b. Leaders: Sam Craig 120; Curtis Owen 278b; Nate Green and Norma Green 399; Sarah Coates 112; Myrl Jones 229; D.J. Hatfield 419; Donald Ross 36t; Kevin Powell 214; Amanda Owen 182; Stuart Ivey 189; Regina Foster 272; Josh Rogan 163t; Scott Curran 553b; David Ivey 216; Dustin Rounsavall 299; Zach Rogan 282; Edith Owen 505; Robert Gholson 564; Robert Handel 536; Annie Kinzer 470; Reed Coates 196.

Memorial Lesson: Robert Vaughn read the list of names of those who had passed away since last year, and also the list of the sick and shut-ins. Sam Craig led song on page 430 for the deceased: Horace Batchelor, Marie Aldridge, Rosa Hughes, Virgil Phillips, and Willie Mosley—Alabama; Don Wilkerson—Oklahoma; Ed Craig, Emory Matthews, Era Porta, Mark Maines, Jack Benoit, John Willis, Haven Willis, and Don Denton—Texas; Dollie Hudgins—Georgia; Karen House—Massachusetts; David Terry Davis—Virginia; Jeff Hamon—Illinois.

Mary Craig gave a moving devotional in which she asked the singers to participate by naming those singers who were near and dear to them that had passed away over the years.

Memorial Moment 2000, by Mary Craig

Our Loved Ones Are Gathering Yonder

(And Sacred Harp has never been so sacred!)

A great convention is underway around the Great White Throne. The “four and twenty elders” have relinquished their prescribed places around the altar to devotees of Sacred Harp. The hollow square is clearly defined as singers take their place.

No problem with acoustics there. No need for tuning forks. No glasses (specs) nor hearing aids are needed. “Miss Lizzie” is there without a crutch, and Herbert is right by her side. Ed Craig is in charge of arrangements and Mr. Dale Redmon is assisting. No hymnbooks are visible in singers’ hands, but as they begin to vocalize, the notes float right past their eyes. Singing is effortless and the melody is purer than pure on the rarefied air. Now and then they pause and lean over to listen to the convention in Henderson.

As favorite songs are sung here, they lovingly lend their voices in accompaniment. They nod their approval of young leaders. Their songs are “Praise” and “Exultation”. The Psalmist David has leaned his harp against the throne and joined in the praise.

Our loved ones are enjoying total freedom with no restrictions of time or space. Physical handicaps are no more. A new body, a new life is theirs in which to fully live, learn, and serve. If we but keep them in our thoughts, reliving precious moments, they are more with us in the spiritual than in the physical.

Earthly friends are wonderful. They help us in many ways within their physical limitation. Our loved ones are not limited. They can minister to us unawares. They can perceive our needs, watch over us, even plead our cause with Christ.

We do well to remember them, to allow them to help. We are surrounded by a ‘Cloud of Witnesses’. They are not here without purpose or design. When our time comes to go, they can make our passage gentler.

Through knowledge of Christ our loved ones there become NEAR and DEAR. And, this is LIFE ETERNAL that we may know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent.” Amen!

Diane Ross led song on page 146 to close the memorial lesson.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Gaylon Powell leading song on page 218. Leaders: Tim McClain 36b; Olivia Powell 240; David Rousseau 159; Paul Gailiunas 217; Karen Ivey 500; Frank Hataway 283; Terre Schill 402; Mike Moseley 76b; Joshua McClain 40; Allison Ivey 371; Ernestine Pipkin 276; Vivian Rogan 508; Cheryl Foreman 53;

David Moseley 192; Gary Rogan 100; B.E. Matthews 414; Genny Whitworth 436t; Bruce Coates 39; Catherine Rogan 358; Albano Alban 507b; Tom Owen 244; James Moseley 63; Michelle Rogan 434; Robert Vaughn 122; Regina Foster 373; Richard Ivey and Allison Ivey 377t.

David Ivey, Karen Ivey, and Stuart Ivey led song on page 444t as the closing song. Gary Rogan dismissed the class with prayer.

Co-Chairpersons—John Morris and Emmie Morris; Secretary/Treasurer—Marion Grant.