and in 1769, "the American Harmony," reprinted from English collections.

Up to this period, or, more strictly, to the year 1770, no American
composers had contributed to New England psalmody. Though numerous
singing-books had appeared, they were compiled from the English
collections and reprinted. The first composer of church music in America
was William Billings, born at Boston, Oct. 7, 1747. He was the son of
poor parents, and followed tanning for an occupation. Gould, in his
"History of Church Music," says of him:--

"Billings was somewhat deformed in person, blind in one eye, one leg
shorter than the other, one arm somewhat withered, with a mind as
eccentric as his person was deformed. To say nothing of the deformity
of his habits, suffice it, he had a propensity for taking snuff that
may seem almost incredible, when in these days those who use it are not
very much inclined to expose the article. He used to carry it in his
coat-pocket, which was made of leather; and every few minutes, instead
of taking it in the usual manner, with thumb and finger, would take out
a handful and snuff it from between his thumb and clenched hand. We
might infer from this circumstance that his voice could not have been
very pleasant and delicate."

This uncouth and eccentric tanner was the father of American church
music, and of American choirs, concerts, and singing-schools as well. He
wrote his first tunes on the boards of the tannery as he tended the
bark-mill. He was a zealous patriot; and as Governor Samuel Adams was not
only a still more zealous patriot, but devotedly attached to music, the
two became warm friends and at one time sang together in a choir,
evidently much to the distress of Adams, as his companion had a
stentorian voice. His association with Adams led him to the composition
of songs of a patriotic and religious character, one of which, set to the
tune known as "Chester," played an important part in rousing the martial
spirit of the colonists. It runs as follows:--

"Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And slavery clank her galling chains;
We'll fear them not, we'll trust in God;
New England's God forever reigns.

"The foe comes on with haughty stride,
Our troops advance with martial noise;
Their veterans flee before our arms,
And generals yield to beardless boys."

That the tanner had a sly humor of his own is demonstrated by the
following instruct