The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-09
PULPIT TO PRIZE RING.
puerLIsT BILLY FRAzIER's Pr
CULIAR CAREER.


If the fight at New Bedford recently be-
,rsen Billy Frazier and Jimmy Murrry for
800 purse and theIlight-weight champion
.binot New England was the first appear
,ncs of the former In finish contest.
william 3. Frazier. better known as
nBuly FJssisr. tue ex-champion light
,,eiobt O. tbs world" is of Scotch descent.
Hs springs from an ancient Scotch clan,
chose men were famous for great bravery
IN war. intense zeal in religion and pre-,
a-,inence in intellectual attachments.
These characteristics Of bis ancestors
seem 70 have played no small part in
Trszier's career and furnish to the student
N hsredity an interesting study.
Frszer'S first real experience In life was
.sa sailor, and the rough treatment be
Tsceiyed aboard ship prompted him, as it
Aid the celebrated Winship, to take lessons
n snarring merely for self-defense.
Ha however, soon developed such sur
nrising ability as boxer that, almost be-
tore he knew 1t, he had become q profess
sional.
4 score or more of battles with the best
man in his class in due time followed, with
an occasional contest by way of variety
with such famous middle-weights as the re-
doubtable Jack Dempsey, La Blanche, "the
Marine" and others.
And vet Frazier is a small man standing
only feet inches in his stockings, and
weighing when in condition only about 126
pounds.
and became professor of boxing and phys
zeal culture in several institutions of learn
ing. The students Of Williston Seminary at
Easthamptou, Exeter and Audover acade-
mics, Amherst, Williams and Wesleyan coll
leges and Harvard University have all had
the benefit OF Frazier's experience and in
sruction.
Close and familiar relations with students
and men of culture had marked influence
on Frazier, and another characteristic Of
his ancestors-the tntellectual-began to
manifest itself. He began course of men-
tai discipline, and worked away as faith.
fully at it as he had ever trained for ply
sical contest.
Assisted by both students and professors
Frazier's progress was rapid and thorough
Tie inherited instinct for battle and trial
at arms with his fellow man, so largely
Characteristic of the Scotch and Irish races,
having been satisfied. fell into the back
ground and were displaced by the intellect
usl faculties.
Frazier was becoming a scholar.
9Frazier's studies assumed a religious ten
soon afame. As, however, he was still
practically a teacher Of sparrtna and ath-
lstics, and liable at any time to be matched
against some opponent anxious for puRilistic
honors and emoiuments, he was In guam
dairy as to the course he ought to pursue.
ITO spar or not to spar, shat was the
question.
Frazier's experience during the time he
was coming to decision as to whether OF
~ Oh xol,n - ~
the professional boxer for the carefully pre-
pared sermon Of the preacher Is interesting
His sleep went from him." and night
after night he paced the floor of his room
till daylight His appetite left him, and he
grew thin and haggard; but by desperate
effort the question was settled.
Cost what it may" said he, ST will
abandon the ring. No more of it for mel''
The decision once made, the transition TO
religious life was easy and natural. The
religious zeal OF his Scotch ancestors broke
out in him with great power. He became
absorbed in the study Of theology and the
kindred sciences.
Everything in any way related to his
career as pugilist was repudiated and put
away. Not vestige was allowed to remain.
Hundreds of dollars worth Of jewelry, val
liable trophies and mementoes-everything
indeed, but watch presented to him by
the students OF Wesleyan Colleagues
either sold or given away.
Frazier's career as professional boxer
and athlete had, for the time being. ended.
In finally determining to enter the minis
try Frazier was powerfully influenced by a
sermon on the "Prodigal Son." which he
heard at revival meeting in Ssco, Me-,
when boy of Is, the impression of which.
be says, will never leave him. That sermon
became to him the voice of God calling him
to become preacher.
Every spare moment was now given to
study. The midnight oil was recklessly
burned. and his health threatened by over
application, but 1t was impossible to re-
strain him.
In the course Of time carefully selected
library of 1000 volumes grew up around
him. While sitting In Frazier's study re-
Gently, the writer glanced over the neatly
arranged volumes of his library and noted
the following works:
Full editions of the Encyclopedias Britain
nlca and the international Encyclopedia.
several standard commentaries and diotion-
aries on the Old and New Testaments;
transations Of most of the early church
fathers; Hume's, Guizot's. Knights and
Macaulay's histories of England; Carlyle's
and Theirs histories of the French reyolu-
ugn. Hallam's middle Ages" Motley's
Netherlands, "Milman's works, transiations
o. all the principal Latin authors and poets
hawlinson's "Ancient Monarchies and
Ancient Egypt" Mosheim's, Miners and
Neander's church histories Prescott's works:
Standard histories of Germany, Austria,
Italy, Turkey. Russia and Greece; BAN
Crott's history of the United States, the
Syriac New Testament In English, Douay
blole, edition of 1909, besides a sprinkling
biographies and books of travel.
Keeping out from the tops of nearly every
volume OF his library are narrow strips of
white wnlte paper. tell-rale evidences of Frazier's
u4gence as student.
As a preacher Frazier was success. He
aad identified himself with the Second
Aaventists and was a member of a church
that faith In Somerville. Although he
go1e e1temporaneously, Frazier prepared
vs. sermons with great care.
could, no doubt, have filed almost
tuy church on my reputation as an ex-
flgilist, said Frazier to the writer. "but I
Saew very well that could not fill their
alaos ard hearts to their edification with
'st, so | studied hard"
rfazler's Bible is almost as badly marked
" as Moody's and there can be no doubt
rua. while he was preaching he had the
EO0d Of the people at heart
FRAZIER has preached acceptably at Sea-
tS.ooK, N H., Plymouth, Somerville, and,
~ W Tue past year and half, was pastor of
ue church at fremont, in this state It ives
That Frazier preached his last sermon.
Durlng the course of his ministry at Ire
MMont' Frazier greatly endeared himself to
ue people, and still has many near and dear
MMiehus among them. 1t was the dread OF
So shock he felt sure it would be to his
;e.uoht parishioners that caused Frazier