Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 23

The 4th annual Central Ontario Sacred Harp Convention was held on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in August, at the Friends House and Detweiler Meeting House, Toronto, Ontario. Anne Evers and Frank Griggs called the class to order leading 47t. Murray Hibbard offered the opening prayer. Anne Evers provided a land acknowledgement.

Leaders: Frank Griggs 497, 220; Grace MacCaskill 268, 203; Molly Claire Gillet and Shaney Herman 146, 503; Sharon Klassen and Anne Evers 415, 121; Max Kelly 181, 532; Jen Davies 39t, 282; Naomi Duguid 344, 287; Bess Fitzgerald 208, 448t.

RECESS

Molly Claire Gillet called the class to order by leading 29t. Leaders: Barney Griggs 452, 128; Majorie Harrington 159, 277; Tom Evers 385t, 312b; Bard Swallow 155, 504; Chris Taylor 198, 300; Lloy Cook 178, 49b; Max Kelly 528; Nicoletta Rogers 434, 33b; Murray Hibbard 457, 276; Pleasance Crawford 524, 389; Spencer Stuart and Jonathon 163b, 74b; Brian C. Harris 215, 269; Chuck Crawford 546, 114. Murray Hibbard offered Grace before lunch.

LUNCH

Grace MacCaskill led 32t to bring the class to order. Leaders: Becca Harrington 126, 274t; Jan May 489, 474; Kristine Villeneuve and Jen Davies 313b, 34b; Hugh Thomas 371, 501; Patrick Friesen 55, 36b; Barbara Swetman 468, 484; Seth Rutledge 163t, 70b; Sam Adioetomo and Adelaide Leo 182, 183; Will Fitzgerald 117, 130; Jon Adler 564, 475; Anabel Gravel Chabot 454, 212.

RECESS

Brian C. Harris called the class to order leading 116. Leaders: Joseph Kwiatkowski 494, 87; Douglas Fower 445, 455; Gillian Inksetter 227, 112; Bess Fitzgerald 131t; Majorie Harrington 360; Chris Taylor 47b; Nicoletta Rogers 68b (for Steve Rogers); Spencer Stuart and Jonathon 56b; Becca Harrington 168; Hugh Thomas 523; Patrick Friesen 189; Sam Adioetomo and Shaney Herman 270; Seth Rutledge 294; Will Fitzgerald 323t; Anabel Gravel Chabot 271t; Douglas Fower 472; Barbara Swetman 542; Jon Adler 365. Announcements were made. Singers came from three provinces (ON, QC, BC) and four states (NY, MI, PA, NC). The class sang 347 as the closing song, led by Anne Evers and Frank Griggs. The closing prayer was offered by Murray Hibbard, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, August 24

The Sunday session of the Central Ontario Sacred Harp Convention took place at Detweiler Meetinghouse in Roseville, Ontario. The class was brought to order by Frank Griggs and Anne Evers leading 48t. The opening prayer was offered by Murray Hibbard, followed by a welcome by Frank Griggs and Anne Evers, and a land acknowledgement read by Anne Evers.

Leaders: Anne Evers 421; Brian Harris 42; Chuck Crawford 72b; Idy Kiser and Nancy Spates 47t; Kristine Villeneuve and Chris Taylor 148; Naomi Duguid 280; Becca Harrington 87; Joe Kwiatkowski and Anne Evers 313b; Max Kelly 318; Murray Hibbard 59; Jen Davies 47b; Bess Fitzgerald 447; Grace MacCaskill and Isaiah Chadney 128.

RECESS

Sam Adioetomo and Marjorie Harrington brought the class back to order leading 335. Anne Evers made a Chair Announcement, including Detweiler House housekeeping arrangements and community guidelines. Naomi Duguid gave a preliminary lunch announcement. Leaders: Tom Evers 547; Nicoletta Rogers 299; Seth Rutledge 410t; Meredith Browne and Anabel Gravel Chabot 497; Pleasance Crawford 391; Will Fitzgerald 254; Brian Harris 56b; Barbara Sweatman 513; Marjorie Harrington 338.

The memorial lesson was given by Greg Jenkins who led 330b in honour of the following sick and homebound: Karen McLellan, Nancy Thibault, Bobbie Goodell, Michael Armstrong, David Shepherd, Susan Slottow, and Steve Rogers.

Greg Jenkins led 288 in memory of the following deceased: Eschol Hughes—Georgia; Ken Browne—Ontario; Buell Cobb—Alabama; Dan Phemayotin—New Jersey; Dorothy Huebner—Manitoba; Mike Hinton—Texas; Ruth Ann Bryant—Florida; Corrone Bryant—Florida; Ginette Lavoie—Quebec; Joe Hickerson—Washington; Anna Reesor—Ontario; Meredith Holch—Vermont.

Leaders: Sam Adioetomo 569b; Spencer Stewart 324; Claire Ellis 383; Chris Taylor 99; Anne Missavage 430. Murray Hibbard led the Lutheran Table Grace.

LUNCH

Chuck Crawford began the afternoon session by leading 32t. Leaders: Martha Beverly 532; Anabel Gravel Chabot 480; Patrick Friesen 176b; Frank Griggs 377; Bess Fitzgerald 34t; Gillian Inksetter 349; Will Fitzgerald 549; Becca Harrington 146; Anne Evers 196; Marjorie Harrington 348t; Pleasance Crawford 283; Barbara Sweatman 323b; Sam Adioetomo 142; Spencer Stewart 445; Ann Missavage 276; Pleasance Crawford and Chuck Crawford “Geneva C. M.” (to honour Detweiler Meetinghouse); Naomi Duguid 269; Brian Harris 536; Nicoletta Rogers 436.

RECESS

Grace MacCaskill brought the class together by leading 29t. Leaders: Martha Beverly 504; Anabel Gravel Chabot 231; Patric Friesen 426t; Chris Taylor 268; Max Kelly 217; Jen Davies 344; Will Fitzgerald and Bess Fitzgerald 84; Marjorie Harrington and Becca Harrington 277; Sam Adioetomo and Sam Bailey 38b; Anne Massavage 71; Barbara Sweatman 334; Martha Beverly 368; Anabel Gravel Chabot 500; Patrick Friesen 83b.

A business meeting was held to hear reports. Brian Harris (Treasurer) reported that expenses had been met. Lloy Cook (Secretary) reported that thirty-four leaders representing three provinces and three states led sixty-seven songs. Gillian Inksetter and Tom Evers were named as next year’s co-chairs. Murray Hibbard offered the closing prayer. Anne Evers led 347 as the closing song, and the class was dismissed.

Chairs—Frank Griggs and Anne Evers; Secretaries—Grace McCaskill and Lloy Cook