During the early part of his ministry, he wrote all his sermons in full. He possessed such a remarkable memory that after a sermon had been read to him twice, he was able to repeat it perfectly. After he had followed this practice for twelve years, he suffered a complete collapse of memory one Sunday in the midst of a sermon. Unable to proceed, he calmly announced a hymn and sat down. At the conclusion of the singing he told the congregation what had happened, and then preached a sermon of great appeal from another text. After a ministry at Innellan lasting for eighteen years, he was called as pastor of St. Bernard's church in Edinburgh. Here he remained for thirteen years, attracting large multitudes by his preaching. The later years of his life were spent in literary work. He was the author of several volumes in prose, among them a very fine devotional book called "Moments on the Mount." He fell asleep August 28, 1906, to await the break of eternity's dawn, confident in the assurance that ... the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be. PART V AMERICAN HYMNODY The First American Hymn I love Thy Zion, Lord, The house of Thine abode; The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood. I love Thy Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand. For her my tears shall fall; For her my prayers ascend: To her my cares and toil be given, Till toils and cares shall end. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise. Jesus, Thou Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring. Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven. Timothy Dwight, 1800. THE BEGINNINGS OF HYMNODY IN AMERICA The rise of hymnody in America ran parallel with the development of hymn-singing in England. The Puritans who came from Holland in the Mayflower in 1620 were "separatists" from the Church of England, hence they used a psalm-book of their own, published by Henry Ainsworth at Amsterdam in 1612. This was the book that cheered their souls on the perilous crossing of the Atlantic and during the hard and trying years that followed their landing at Plymouth. Amid the storm they sang, And the stars heard and the sea; And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang With the anthems of the free. This was also the book that comforted Priscilla, when John Alden stole in and found that Open wide on her lap lay the well-worn psalm-book of Ainsworth.