The Song Anchor for Sabbath School and Praise Service is known as the first Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School songbook. Compiled in the late 1800's, it was used extensively in Sabbath School congregations across the country for years. Author james Edson White was the seconf son of James and Ellen White. Born into a world of printing, Edson began his career at the age of 15 working at the Review and Herald Publishing Plant in Battle Creek, where he mastered the printing trade. After marrying Emma McDearmon, Edson worked extensively with his brother-in-law, Frank Belden, on compiling and composing hymns for church. Both Edson and Frank were musicians and showd talent as composers. Their… work eventually led to the General Conference commissioning Edson's Company, J.E. White Publishing Company, to create a hymnal for church service. Their work was later published as the original SDA Hymnal known as Hymns and Tunes.