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Show HIS LIFE A FAILURE SAD HISTORY OF A FAMOUS EVANQELI8T. Rev. Edward Dunbar, Author of "There' a Light In the Window for Thee," Died In Poverty and Disgrace Dis-grace at Coffeyvlle, Kan. The body of Rey. Edward Dunbar, author of the Sunday school song, "There's a Light In the Window for Thee," will be taken from tho paupers' pau-pers' graveyard at Coffeyvllle, Kan., and burled by the side of the mother of the deceased in New Bedford, Mass. Relatives of the dead preacher-poet lately have communicated with the Coffeyvllle authorities on the subject After serving a term in the Minnesota Minne-sota penitentiary for bigamy In tbo early '70s, Dunbar became a wanderer and nothing was heard of him till three yoars ago In the Coffoyvlllo city Jail, whero he applied for food and lodging. It was a stormy night, and none knew from whence ho came. Ho was given succor, but death came to him bofore morning. Letters ln his pockets told who he was, but as no kin could bo located by wire, tho authorities au-thorities burled him. Dunbar was a rising young preacher In Now Bedford, with a wife and four children. Apparently without cause ho left his family and came to Kansas, engaging In evangelistic work. Ho conducted revivals In many towns with marvelous success. Ho went from Kansas to Minneapolis, Minn., to conduct a scries of revival meetings. meet-ings. While there he fell in love with a young woman who attended his revival re-vival and married her against the wishes of her folks, who were suspicious suspi-cious that all was not right with the evangelist Judge W. D. Webb, now of Atchison, Kan., lived in Minneapolis at the tlmo, and the girl's family employed him to investigate Dunbar's past It didn't take long to ascertain the facts. Dunbar Dun-bar was arrested at Leavenworth, whore he had been called to conduct a revival, and Webb prosecuted the bigamist and convicted him, his New Bedford wlfo appearing against him. Dunbar was sentenced to four years In prison. "When Dunbar was a boy," says Judge Webb, "ho worked ln a factory In Now Bedford, living with his aged mothor. Tho boy worked till Into at night, and his mother always kept a light ln the window fcr him. "At the ago of 17 Dunbar doclded to go to sea, and shipped for a three years' cruise. His mother, howevor, kept tbo light burning ln the window for him. Sho died before his return home. Her last words were, 'Tell my boy that I will keep a light burning ln tho window of heaven for htm"; waiting wait-ing for bis coming. "When Dunbai returned home and received his mother's dying message ho was deeply Impressed, and shortly thereafter repented of his sins, united with a church, and began to'study for tho ministry. Soon he began to preach and write religious songs. He wrote 'There's a Light In the Window for Thee' In memory of his mother's tender ten-der love for him." Kansas City (Mo.) World. |