Sacred Harp Singing at New Court House, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/chsinging.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= November 2001 TOWN AND COUNTY NEWS ---------------------------- There will be an all day singing at the Court House next Sunday, notice of which should have been given earlier, but was neglected by those having the matter in hand. We learn, however, that notice has been sent out pretty generally over the county, and it is expected a large crowd of singers and spectators will be in attendance. Mr. A. J. KENT informs us that the Sacred Harp and Crowning Day, Nos. 1 and 2, will be used, and the proper way to bring them is to put the basket full of rations and then lay the books in on top to hold them down. He says the books were made long and flat on purpose to cover up the rations and hold them in place. ---------------------------- Haywood Happenings [Excerpt] [Haywood community, Randolph county] ---------------------------- All-day singings have started, I see. Oh! what a glorious time “us” young folks will have. I guess we will all go to Wedowee next Sunday. All-day singing up there. Ha! Ha! [Both from The Randolph Toiler (Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama), 20 May 1898, p.3] ---------------------------- Singing at the New Court House ---------------------------- Sunday, May 22nd, 1898, the singers of Randolph county assembled in the new Court House at Wedowee for the purpose of dedicating the same with an all-day singing. The house was called to order by Mr. A. J. KENT. After singing “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” and prayer by J. D. KIRBY, the following proceedings were had: On motion, A. J. KENT was elected chairman and R. H. FORD secretary. On motion, the chair appointed the following committee to arrange the programme [sic] of proceedure [sic]: C. M. PRESCOTT, [?]. L. GREGG and Tom KIRBY. First lesson by A. J. KENT, J. D. KIRBY and Professor E. T. POUND, 15 minutes each, after which a recess of 10 minutes. Second lesson by Mitchell CAMP, R. L. BRUMBELOE, N. M. HORNSBY and Rufus CANADY, 15 minutes each, then adjourned to 1 o’clock P. M. Third lesson, Thos. BAILEY, Jas. ADAMSON, Nathan CAUSEY and Jeff HARRIS, 15 minutes each. Fourth lesson, John HINES, Frank BELL, Jas. EVANS and E. T. POUND, 15 minutes each. The class then sang “The Unclouded Day” and “Nearer My God to Thee,” led by the Chairman, A. J. KENT, and adjourned “sine die.” A. J. KENT, Chairman. R. H. FORD, Secretary. This occasion will be memorable in the annals of Wedowee. The crowd came from all directions and nearly all could sing. And they were not bashful or timid about it. They opened their mouths and poured out their souls in a volume of melody that attuned all hearts and lifted us out of ourselves and brought us closer to heaven and the angelic hosts. The beautiful girls, arrayed in bright Spring costumes, with the blush of the roses on their cheeks, and the stalwart manly youths, all attentive and polite, mingled with the more staid and sedate citizens, formed a picture we shall like to see often in the future. [From The Randolph Toiler (Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama), 27 May 1898, p.3] ----------- The former county court house burned in 1896, with a loss of all county records. Mr. A. J. KENT offered a bit of humor, imploring those in attendance to bring plenty of “rations” in order to spread a bountiful midday meal on the court house grounds, with the oblong singing books useful to hold the food in place while traveling to Wedowee. ----------- Sacred Harp singings were important community social events that had their origin in colonial America. Despite the name, Sacred Harp singings were strictly “a cappella” events. The original “Sacred Harp” songbook was published in 1844 by B. F. WHITE and E. J. KING, with music printed in “patent” or “shape” notes. Sacred Harp singing remained strong through the Great Depression and has endured into the twenty-first century in parts of the rural South.