H. J. M. Hope

Hope, Henry Joy McCracken, a bookbinder, son of James Hope, was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1809; was in the employ of Messrs. Chambers, Dublin, for many years, and died at Shanemagowston, Dunadry, County Antrim, Ireland, Jan. 19, 1872. His hymn, "Now I have found a Friend" (Jesus the Friend) was privately printed in 1852. It seems to have been suggested by Mrs. Bonar's "Pass away, earthly joy" (p. 162, i.), stanza iv. of which is sometimes associated with it.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)