Song Anchor, The / White, James Edson / Paperback

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. This is a facsimile reprint of the second edition.

Author James Edson White was the second 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 showed 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.

Some of the songs in the book include the following:

• Above the Clouds
• Always be on Time
• A Cheerful Song
• Always Speak the Truth
• Blessing by the Way
• Behold, He Cometh
• Coming By and By
• Come to Jesus
• Evening Prayer
• Father, now the Day is Past
• God Our Commander
• Gone to the Grave
• Heirs of an Immortal Crown
• Hark! Hark! My Soul
• Infant Praises
• Joyful Greetings
• Little Children
• Like refreshing Showers
• Never Yield
• O come, Let us Sing
• Pull for the Shore
• Sing Praises
• Sabbath Welcome
• The Song Anchor
• There is a Gate that Standa Ajar
• We Shall Sing
• White Robes