This Edison Diamond Disc phonograph record showcases two church hymns performed by notable artists. The first song, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought", is sung by opera singer Thomas H. Chalmers (1884 – 1966) while the second song, "Lead, Kindly Light", is performed by the Metropolitan Quartet. Originally composed as church hymns, these songs hold significant religious and poetic value. During the nineteenth century, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" was written by American poet Phoebe Cary (1824 – 1871) and was often sung at funerals, while "Lead, Kindly Light" began as a poem by John Henry Newman (1801 – 1890) and was later transformed into a church hymn by British clergymen, John B. Dyker (1823 – 1876).

Between 1912 and 1929, Diamond Disc were manufactured by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. to be used with the Edison Disc Phonograph, or record player. Diamond Discs have a thickness of ¼ inch, a diameter of 10 inches, and weigh close to 1 pound. The name Diamond Disc originated from its association with the Edison Disc Phonograph, which featured a permanent conical stylus made of diamond. The stylus, or needle, is responsible for making contact with the disc and transmitting the vibrations produced by the record’s grooves. The diamond stylus made the phonograph unique, while other phonographs used steel styluses which required regular replacement, the Edison Disc Phonograph used a durable and long-lasting diamond stylus. However, this unique feature made Diamond Discs incompatible with phonographs that used steel styluses because a steel stylus had the potential to damage the Diamond Discs while providing low sound quality. Diamond Discs experienced commercial success during the mid-1910s and into the early 1920s