John P. Hobson

Hobson, John Philip, M.A., son of John Hobson, M.A., sometime Consular Chaplain at Shanghai, was born at Shanghai, China, Sept. 3, 1849, and educated at the Blackheath Proprietary School and Worcester College, Oxford (B.A. 1872). On taking Holy Orders he became Curate of Greenwich, 1873, and Vicar of Stanstead Abbotts, Herts, 1878. Mr. Hobson has published:—
(1) Scenes in the Life of David: a Service of Song, 1877; (2) Scripture Echoes in our Church's Collects, 1881; (3) Twenty Hymns . .. with Tunes; and others.
Mr. Hobson's hymns in common use are:—
1. Hail, Son of Man! Hail, mighty Lord. Ascension. Written for and first published in his Scripture Echoes , &c, 1881; in the Twenty Hymns and the Universal Hymn Book, 1885.
2. It is an unknown way. New Year. Written in 1877, and published in the Twenty Hymns. and the Universal Hymn Book, 1885.
3. O Lord, the bishop of our souls. Ember Days. Written for a special Ember service held at Ware, 1878, and published in the Twenty Hymnsand the Universal Hymn Book, 1885!
4. Saviour Divine, Thou art my King. Jesus, the King. Suggested by Miss Havergal's "My King," &c. Written in 1876, and 1st printed in the Fireside Magazine, 1876, and again in the Twenty Hymns., &c. It is the best known of the author's hymns.
5. We thank Thee that the glorious sound. Missions. Appeared in Life and Work, 1884.
In the Twenty Hymns (Novello) there are others of special merit, and worthy of the attention of compilers.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology