rselves and our own obstinate wills, which are apparently the chief
cause of our contention in these things, and condescend (at least) so
far one to the other as to keep time, _i.e._ to begin and end the lines
all together, which if we did, there would not in most of the tunes
commonly sung be so wide a difference as is by some imagined, many of
the lines being near alike; if we all sincerely endeavour to exercise
grace in Singing, and to perform the vocal part in the best manner we
could, our service would be accepted of God. And I doubt not but
regular singing would have a better relish with the most of our people
and be comply'd with, and so our differences would end in a good and
lasting union, and our jars and discords in a sweet and delightful
concord and harmony. So let it be: Amen."

At last harmony was restored, and a serious effort was made to introduce
better singing, in which the college at Cambridge took a leading part. In
1712, Rev. John Tufts, of Newbury, issued a book of twenty-eight tunes,
so arranged by appending letters to the notes, as F for Fa, S for Sol,
etc., "that the learner may attain the skill of singing them with the
greatest ease and speed imaginable." These tunes were reprinted in three
parts from Playford's "Book of Psalms." In 1721, Rev. Thomas Walter, of
Roxbury, Mass., issued a new book, also compiled from Playford, which was
highly commended by the clergy. The English singing-books by Tansur and
Williams were reprinted by Thomas Bailey, at Newburyport, Mass., and had
a large circulation. In 1761, James Lyon, of Philadelphia, published a
very ambitious work, called "Urania, or a choice collection of Psalm
Tunes, Anthems, and Hymns," which was compiled from the English books.
The edition, however, was a small one, and was issued in such an
expensive manner that it ruined the unfortunate author. In 1764 appeared
another collection, made by Josiah Flagg, who was a composer himself as
well as band-master. Its title reads: "A Collection of the best Psalm
Tunes in two, three, and four parts, from the most approved authors,
fitted to all measures and approved by the best masters in Boston, New
England; the greater part of them never before printed in America.
Engraved by Paul Revere, printed and sold by him and Jos. Flagg." About
the same time Daniel Bailey, of Newburyport, Mass., published "A new and
complete Introduction to the Grounds and Rules of Music, in two Books;"