Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

On the second Sunday in July and for the first time since 2019, singers gathered in the old hall in Way’s Mills for the Eastern Townships Sacred Harp All-Day Singing. The class was called to order by Anabel Gravel Chabot and Virginia Neville leading 47t. The opening prayer was offered by Ruth Dörfler.

Leaders: Philippe Doyle-Gosselin 81t; névé dumas 270; Colleen Hayes 217; Patrick Friesen 176b; Anne Evers 491; Crispin Youngberg 378t; Klara Longfellow 159; Chuck Crawford 480; Elizabeth Stoddard 144; Félix 89; Sara Sandberg 39t; Kerry Cullinan 340; Meredith Browne 371.

RECESS

The class was called back by Ariane Roberge leading 318. Leaders: Tom Evers 385t; Sage Chaser-Dempsey 65; Eric Sandberg 299; Pleasance Crawford 283; Evan Landon 162; Margaret Youngberg 282; Alec Collins 198.

Chaplain Ruth Dörfler conducted the memorial lesson and led 68b for the following sick and shut-ins: Mary McIllwraith, Dan Coppock, Lucille Bastien, Bobbie Goodell, Chuck Neville, Ferne Cristal, Joan Frankel, Ron Trial, Jane Trial, Pat Callahan, Cindy Bean, Jim Bean, Coronne Bryant, and Ruth Ann Bryant.

Ruth Dörfler then read the following list of names of the deceased: Wanda Pilié, Réal Tardif, and Gratien Chabot—Quebec, Canada; Jackie Levington—British Columbia, Canada; Pippa Hall—Ontario, Canada; Eva Striebeck—Germany; =186,=000—Palestine; Lydia Lewallen—North Carolina, USA; Henry Guthery, Earl Ballinger, Tommie Spurlock, Richard Mauldin, Pearl Guier, and Gaston White—Alabama, USA; Martha Ann Stegar—Georgia, USA; Dan Brittain—Arkansas, USA; Becky Browne—Missouri, USA; Charlotte Ehrman—New York, USA; Melanie Hauff—Illinois, USA; Tom Tucker—Pennsylvania, USA; Joan Sheldon—Maine, USA; Larry Gordon, Elka Schumann, Steve Crevoshay, Linda Wells, Leonard Spencer, Aimée Richmond—Vermont, USA. Ruth then led 448t in their memory.

Leaders: Sunny Doyle 215; Édouard Beaudry 181; Rachel Farber 312t; Chris Holley 83t; Mishi 185; Janet Ross Snyder 547; Jesse Vear 76b; Cecilia Neville 146; philou 421. Ruth Dörfler offered a prayer before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Cecilia Neville and friends called the first afternoon session to order leading 312b. Leaders: Indigo Micciche 383; Anabel Gravel Chabot and Hazel 445; David Brodeur 200; Esther Wade 384; Robert Stoddard 222; Michaela Natal 278b; Ben Sachs-Hamilton 302; Em Ekelund 269; Marie Brandis 534; Lari Jalbert 349; Nicole Collins 107; Sue Dwelle 503; Molly-Claire Gillett 430; Elizabeth Stoddard 422; Philippe Doyle-Gosselin 234; Andy Ditzler 542; névé dumas 372; Robin Luckwaldt 344.

RECESS

Patrick Friesen called the class back leading 138b. Leaders: Erica Martinez 273; Annie-Lou Chester 401; Dimitri Côté and Marie Brandis 300; Christopher Wesolowski 143; Steph Meunier 569b; Sage Chase-Dempsey 29t; Colleen Hayes 100; Édouard Beaudry 245; Anne Evers 148; Crispin Youngberg 513; Ruth Dörfler 178; Kerry Cullinan 122; Jesse Vear 426b; Lari Jalbert 444.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Esther Wade leading 111b.

Leaders: Ben Sachs-Hamilton 192; Michaela Natal 35; David Brodeur and Andy Ditzler 232; Em Ekelund 447; Robert Stoddard 500; Marie Brandis 549; Margaret Youngberg 297; Sunny Doyle 453; Tom Evers 501; Laurence 131t; Erica Martinez and Treasure 38b; Christopher Wesolowski 86; Rachel

Farber 60; Molly-Claire Gillett 58.

A business meeting was opened to receive the day’s reports. Arranger philou announced that seventy-six singers had travelled from four Canadian provinces, seven American states, and the Netherlands.

Eighty-one lessons were led by forty-six leaders. Virginia Neville reported that expenses had been met. Anabel Gravel Chabot thanked the Neville family and everyone for contributing and joining this special day.

Following announcements, Anabel Gravel Chabot and philou led 62 as singers took the parting hand. Chaplain Ruth Dörfler offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairpersons—Anabel Gravel Chabot and Virginia Neville; Secretaries—Ariane Roberge and névé dumas