Episcopal Press and News
Bishop Hobson Dies at 91, Founded Forward Movement
Episcopal News Service. February 24, 1983 [83038]
CINCINNATI (DPS, Feb. 24) -- The Rt. Rev. Henry Wise Hobson, the senior member of the Episcopal Church House of Bishops, died at his home near here in early February.
Hobson served as Bishop of Southern Ohio from 1931 until 1959. When he was consecrated as bishop coadjutor in 1930 at the age of 38 he was the youngest bishop in the Church.
The bishop was known throughout the Church as the founding chairman of Forward Movement Publications; an activity that was an outgrowth of the missionary zeal that characterized his episcopate. He was responsible for new churches near universities and colleges in the diocese, instituted a traveling cathedral to reach people in remote areas of the then largely rural see and saw the opening of new diocesan headquarters near the end of his tenure.
In a biography of its founder that Forward Movement published in June last year, Hobson described his motives: "I think there is nothing more important than the spread of the Christian religion to the world. I think that ultimate solutions to so many of the problems that we have will come only through the spread of the Gospel."
After graduating from Yale University, Hobson went overseas in World War I, was wounded twice and received the Distinguished Service Cross. Upon his return to the U.S., he attended the Episcopal Theological School and began his ordained ministry in 1920. He served parishes in Connecticut and Massachusetts before he was called to the episcopate in 1930.
During his career, he received many academic, civic and interfaith honors.
The bishop is survived by his widow and three children.