Rev. Wm. H. Frazer, D.D.
Story by David Shaw
Since coming to Charlotte a year ago, this Southern gentleman has engendered a popularity in Mecklenburg that evidences the fact that here is an unselfish citizen of forceful character and lofty ideals. Equipped with a cultured big brain and blessed with a warm, generous heart, he is welcomed here as a vital force in the development of Christian young women and Christian young men who characterize the type of womanhood and manhood that distinguished the state of North Carolina.
Rev. William Henry Frazer, D.D., president of Queens college, was born at LaFayette, Ala., September `6, 1873, and received his early training in the school system of that town.
Dr. Frazer was graduated from the Southwestern Presbyterian university, Clarksville, Tenn., in 1897, and from Union Theological seminary, Richmond, in 1899. Before his graduation at the seminary he had several flattering calls and accepted one form the Georgia Avenue Presbyterian church, Atlanta, remaining with this church until November 1901, when he entered upon the pastorate of the Tatnail Square Presbyterian church, Macon, Ga., which had been made vacant by the resignation of Dr. ?? L. Morris, secretary of home missions for the Southern Presbyterian church with headquarters at Atlanta. He served this church for five years, and left it for the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church, Anderson, S.C., in 1906. In this field he found a large opportunity for the enlistment of his gifts and entered into all of the activities of the community, as well as the duties of the pastorate of his church. He was in great demand as a lecturer and after-dinner speaker and wrote frequently for the religious press, making special contributions on the race question and gaining distinction for his articles on “The Afro-American, His Past, Present and Future,” “the Social Separation of the Races,” and so on. He organized in 1912 the Frazer Fitting School for Boys at Anderson and was the headmaster of this institution until his departure in 1917 to accept the presidency of Belhaven college at Jackson, Miss., at the urgent call of the synod of Mississippi. The progress of the work at Belhaven under his administration was remarkable and strong pressure was brought to bear upon him to remain with the institution, but he was greatly impressed with the opportunities presented at Queens college and accepted the call to this institution in 1921, beginning his work with the college June 1 of last year. The past session has been one of uncommon success, and the outlook for the next session is very good, indeed.
In 1909 the Presbyterian college of South Carolina conferred upon Dr. Frazer the degree of doctor of divinity, just 10 years after his graduation from Union seminary in Virginia, with a degree of B.D.
He is a Mason, having taken both the Scottish Rite and York Rite degrees, and also is a Shriner and Knight of Pythias. In 1917 he was elected grand chaplain of the grand chapter and the grand council of South Carolina and was occupying those offices when he was called from the state to Mississippi. He is also a very enthusiastic Kiwanian and was at one time governor of the Kiwanis district of Louisiana-Mississippi.
Dr. Frazer has many calls made upon him for preaching and public speaking and never refuses an invitation if it is at all possible for him to render the service requested. His motto is “better to wear out than to rust out.” His friends declare that he is living up to it consistently. His great life purpose is, of course, to put Queens college in the front ranks of the educational institutions of the south, and he is sparing no pains to accomplish this great end. In this effort he is rendering a peculiar service to the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina.
As a Builder in the finest sense, we should come to attention and salute Rev. Dr. Wm. H. Frazer!
From the front page of The Charlotte Sunday Observer, July 2, 1922
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