Background
Clair, Matthew Wesley was born on October 21, 1865 in Union, West Virginia, United States. Son of Anthony and Ollie (Green) Clair.
Clair, Matthew Wesley was born on October 21, 1865 in Union, West Virginia, United States. Son of Anthony and Ollie (Green) Clair.
Graduate classics and theology, Morgan College, Baltimore, Maryland., 1889. Bachelor of Philosophy, Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1897, Doctor of Philosophy, 1901. Doctor of Divinity, Howard, 1911, Morgan, 1918, Doctor of Laws, 1920.
Doctor of Laws Wilberforce University, 1928.
Ordained Mechanical Engineering ministry, 1889. Pastor, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 1889-1893, Stuanton, Virginia, 1893-1896, Ebenezer Church, Washington, District of Columbia, 1896-1897. Presiding elder of Washington District, 1897-1902.
Pastor Asbury Church, Washington, 1902-1919 (built $80,000 church edifice).
District superintendent, Washington, 1919-1920. Elected bishop, 1920, and was assigned to Monrovia, Liberia.
Former member American advisory committee Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute, Liberia. Former member Board of Education, Republic of Liberia, appointed by President C.D.B. King.
Member Federal Council of Churches.
Member General Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church Church, 1904, 16, 20. Trustee Morgan College, Philander Smith College.
Member American Geography Society, Alpha Phi Alpha, Pi Gamma Museum. Mason, Odd.
Married Fannie M. Walker, November 12, 1889 (died February 27, 1925). Married second, Eva F. Wilson, November 2, 1926.