Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-07-16
PREACHER DIED A PAUPEH
Career Of ths Author Of There's
. Light In the Window for Thee"

PhEhCHEn DiEO ~ FNOFG 1T
Career Of the Author Of There's
. Light In the Window for Thee"
The Rev. Edward Dunbar. who wrote
the OLD Sunday school song. There's
a Light in the window for Thee.
Brother" sleeps In a pauper's grave
At Coneyville. Kan, where he died a
tramp In the town jail two years ago.
His name became a byword In the
plac. where he was known. and from a
prison cell he went forth a vagabond
upon the face OF the earth. In 1897
Dunbar was arrested AZ Leavenwortn
while engaged in holding a series OF
revival meetings. and taken 20 Mime
apoiis. MINI. where he was tried Tor
blgamy, convicted. and sent 20 the pen
itentlary for three years and eight
months.
One night in the spring Of 1886 Dun
bar applied at the Ccieyyllle Jail for
lodging. lie was IN. and the authofi-
ties took him In. He died the next
day. Papers in his pockets revealed
his Identity. and showed that he had
tramped all over the country. Sons
church people have erected a marble
slab over his grave. on which these
words are inscribed.
Here lies Edward Dunbar. who
wrote There's a Light in the Window
Tor Thee. Brother"
When Dunbar was a small boy be
lived in New Bedford, Mass, and work.
ed In a factory. His mother lived at
the foot OF the street on which the fac
tory was located. and as the lads work
kept him away till after dark. she al
ways placed a light In the window TO
guide his footsteps homeward. One
day the boy took a notion TO 20 TO sea.
and OF he went for a three years
cruise. During his absence his mother
fell III. and was AZ deaths door. She
talked necessarily about her boy and
every night she asked those around
her 10 place a light in the window in
anticipation OF his return. When she
realized that the end had come. she
said: Tell Edward that will set
a light in the window Of heaven for
him" These were her last words.
The lad had grown to manhood ere
he returned home, and his mothers
dying message had such an effect upon
him that he reformed and became a
preacher. In the course OF his refor-
nation he wrote the song. There's a
Light In the Window for Thee. Broth
en-"
The Rev. Edward Dunbar married a
young lady OF New Bedford and several
children were the result Of the union.
The young divine soon made a reputa-
ton AZ brilliant pulpit orator. and the
psblic was. therefore. greatly surprised
when one Sunday morning he skipped
the country. leaving bis wife and chill
dren behind He came 20 Kansas
and after snatchlng brands from the
burning In different parts OF the State
he swooped down upon the city OF
Minneapolis. MINI. and began to show
the people the error OF their way.
4 great revival followed and hun.
dreds were converted. Miss Eunics
Been Lewis. a handsome young heir.
ess OF Minneapolis. was one OF the con.
verts. She fell In love with the evan.
gellst and married him against the
wishes OF her friends.
Shortly after the wedding Dunbar re-
turned to Kansas TO fll an engagement
at Leavenworth. While he was ava,
the friends OF the bride. who had mis-
trusted the evangelist all along. lais
their suspicious before W. d. Webb
! lately Judge OF the Second judicial dis
! trict OF Kansas. and Judge Austin II
. Young. who were law partners In Min
I. neapoiis. and they took the case. TIL
, result was that they soon found evi
dence sufficient to warrant an arrest
and Dunbar's ministerial career wa
brought 90 a sudden close.
After Dunbar's Incarceration Judg
- Young secured a divorce FOR Mrs. Dun
bar and married her himself The
= now live happily together In Mime
apolis