Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-24
4 mIssINa MINlsrER.
strange Disnppcarance o. tle

strange Disappearance of the SON
Ol the Rev. J. III. 14ightDOurn.
Formerly Of This CitYs
The disappearance Of A. W. Light
honrn, o brilliant young Congregation
alist Clergyman from Pottchester, West
chester county, Nav York, has caused
great commOtion among his parishioners
there and his friends at other places. He
is the son of the Rev. j. Ii. Lightbourn,
who il we'll known Methodist clergy
man, who was Rt one time stationed st
Union NJ T.. Church. this city. Young
Mr.. Lightbourn is about 30 Years OF age,
and has been located in Fortchester for
about two years having organized the
church over which he now presides.
There is no further clew to his present
whereabouts than that he wrote to o
friend few days before his disappear
ance that he WAS going so some quiet
place whore he corid find rest for his
aching heat" Dactorc Hammond and
Mu!sord or EeR York recently examined
Mr.. Li9htbCurn aud declared that he
was suffering from mental alteration, the
resnit of nervous prostitution.
! Mr.. Lightboufn ID said TO have always
shown marked fondness for smoking,
! horse-racing and other worldly diver
aions, and when ii became known that he
| was In poor health some OF his fellow
townsmen whispered among themselves
that 1t was due TO his habits. These
freshly tendencies wera the cause of an
investigation ia the FIRST church to which
he mnniRterel. tie was originally a
Methodist and was located in parish in
Easton, Nd. Here his alleged free in
diligence in cigars and fast horses, and
more especially his reported persistent
attendance Ut citeuses, causeh quite q
scandal, and he was summoned to appear
before committee appointed by the pre-
siding elder Of the district. lie was nc
quilted Of the charges preferred against
him, and soon after saw fl. to reaign IN
charge.
About this time he eyinced o leAninI
toward UongTegationalism and for Will
filled the pulpit of the Madison Ayenn
congregational Tabernacle, New Yorl
city, where he was enthusiastically re
ceiyed From here he went 70 the Con
gfegallonRl Church Of Sound Beach
, where lie cut notable figure skurryip
through the country with horse tia
trotted at rnce-ttack speed. A little late
! he removed to Portchaster.
= The Rev. Enoeh Stubbs of Pniladel
, phia formerly OF this city, vas intimgt
with the elder Lightbourn and remember
, the son as boy. lie says ne was pale
delicate, and deformed, having snllere
from spine disease all his life. AS he bt
came older lie seemed to outgrow til
trouble, and to develop traits and talent
! which were quite foreign 10 him as
: child. To PuIiadelphia Record reporte
MIR. Stubbs said on Tuesday night: wa
thoroughly astonished when | learna
: tina. the puny, misshapen boy had dc
! yeIoped into sturdy, eloquent, brilliar
1 preacher. It Is my impression that /
!, was hea6strong and fond OF display IN
: flattery, and that it was a Numbering fe
distinction rather than matter OF cree
I that enticed him away from the Methos
i. list flock"
!, The Rev. j. II. Lightbnarn was st
. toned at Union Church, this city, fro
1865 to 1871 apd was recognized as OF
? OF the most powerful preachers IN Il
, Wilmington Conference. His son, Il
- mis- sing minister, is we'll remembered
| many Of the older members of Union.