Clay County AlArchives News.....Sacred Harp Singers Hold Convention in Ashland August 22, 1929
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Sharon Boling mrsbee1951@aol.com and Gloria McGhee gmcghee@charter.net July 21, 2006, 10:11 pm

The Ashland Progress August 22, 1929
The Boiling Springs Sacred Harp Singing Convention met in its sixty-third 
annual session in the court house in Ashland, last Friday, August 16, and 
continued three days.

The session was opened at 10:30 a.m. by song and prayer.  The introductory 
lesson was led by J. B. Dean, who had been chosen at the last convention.  The 
following officers were elected:  R. M. Ray, chairman; J. B. Dean, vice-
chairman; W. E. Campbell, secretary.  The following committee on arrangements 
was appointed:  J. W. Parsons, A. J. McGlon, J. B. Watts, J. T. Cofield, A. W. 
Morris.

Committee on entertainment:  W. I. Lowe, J. W. Parsons, A. J. McGlon, J. L. 
Gaither, J. W. Stewart.

A welcome address was delivered by Judge E. J. Garrison

The following leaders were called and led the singining during the morning 
session:  J. L. Gaither, J. M. Blankenship, R. V. Hurst, A. W. Morris, L. T. 
Campbell, G. F. Hunt, Barto Wallace, W. A. Hall, and M. F. Sparks.  Noon recess 
for one hour.

Friday afternoon the leaders were:  G. M. Green, Horace Finley, W. A. Yats, A. 
J. Griffin, Riley Caloway, T. M. Summerlin, R. M. Hornsby, John Patterson, J. 
R. Johnson, H. M. Crawford, C. R. Morris, J. N. Parsons, W. Z. Jones, W. L. 
Runyan and the chairman R. M. Ray.

The convention opened at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with a song led by the chairman, 
after which J. N. Parsons led in prayer.  Song leaders for the mroning session 
were Ben Parsons, Bud Johnson, C. R. Stone, A. J. McGlon, M. B. ___ of 
Daviston, J. W. ___ of Montgomery; R. D. ___ from Sand Mountain, T. J. Shivers 
of Daviston; J. W. Bolt, J. W. Elkins of Gadsden; W. L. Holly of White Plains, 
G. A. Summerlin, Dock Owens from Sand Mountain; O. L. Thomaston  of 
Monroeville; Miss Pauline Cox of Talladega; Mrs. J. T. McGhee of Montgomery; 
and Mose Yates.

Saturday afternoon a business session was held at which time Providence church 
was chosen as the home for the next convention.  Besides the opening song by 
the chairman, lessons were led during the afternnon by D. E. Williams, C. T. 
McCain, F. M. Cofield, of Boaz; Holley brothers, of White Plains; H. J. E. 
Hill, J. E. Headrick, Miss Attis Thomason, Dewey Hurst, Dr. W. A. Campbell, W. 
J. Shaddix, Garland Goodman, J. H. Rogers of Talladega; Marshall Wallace, 
Thurman Morrison, G. T. Wright, and W. A. Yates.  J. R. Morris was chosen to 
lead the introductory lesson at next convention.

Night Session

Beginning at 7:45 p.m. a night session of the convention was held.  After two 
songs led by the chairman, the following leaders had charger of teh class, Ben 
Parsons, R. M. Hornsby, C. C. Cox, E. E. McCollough, Mack Sparks of Florida; J. 
L. London of Talladega; J. A. Lecroy of Montgomery; O. L. Thomaston of 
Monroeville; J. H. Roberts, T. M. Summerlin, W. I. Lowe.

Sunday

The Sunday morning session was opened at 8:30 by song and prayer.  Leaders 
during the morning besides the chairman were:  E. A. Ray, J. T. Townsend, of 
Talladega; Revie Burroughs, W. I. Lowe, J. B. Watts, Grover Johnson, E. E. 
McCollough of Alexander City; S. M. Denson of North Alabama; Mrs. S. M. 
Cockrell of Anniston; Mrs. J. C. Brown of Gadsden; A. L. Hanks of Talladega; 
Whit Denson of Gadsden; W. H. Reynolds, of Anniston; J. C. Brown, of Gadsden; 
Mack Sparks from Florida; Mrs. Webb of Cleburne county; Louis Duffey of Gadsden 
and J. A. Brown.  Memorial songs, led by W. C. Morrison and J. __ London, were 
sung in memory of E. M. Gay and W. W. McMath, deceased.

The following leaders directed the singing Sunday afternoon:  J. H. Hodges of 
Montgomery; F. M. Whitley of LaGrange, Ga.; O. J. Cruise, R. H. Shivers, S. M. 
Cockrell of Anniston; W. K. McCollough, Mrs. Burnham of Jacksonville; J. W. 
Parsons, R. G. Morrison of Talladega; W. M. Evans of Cleburne county; J. B. 
Dean, J. W. Cox, W. O. Shivers, S. M. Denson, W. E. Campbell, Whit Densons and 
Messrs. Brown and Reynolds.

Announcements. A vote of thanks for hospitality shown the convention.  Closing 
song led by the chairman.  Prayer by S. M. Denson.

The convention was attended by large crowds each day, especially on Saturday 
and Sunday. There were many visiting singers from adjoining counties and other 
parts of the state, among them some excellent talent.  A fine spirit of harmony 
prevailed throughout the convention.

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