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Rev. L. M. Powers, who was the successful pastor of the church from 1892 to 1898, was born in
Bethel, Me., March 21, 1864.
He was educated in the schools of his native town, and, at the age of fourteen, he decided to enter college.
He attended
Gould's Academy at
Bethel, and after graduating, he entered the
Wesleyan Academy at
Kent's Hill, Me., with the idea of becoming a Methodist minister.
He read the works of
Channing and
Emerson, and became deeply interested.
Early in life he heard
Rev. Henry Blanchard preach, and the sermon proved to be the turning point in
Mr. Powers' career.
He decided to become a member of the Universalist Church and a preacher of its doctrines.
He entered Tufts Theological School and took the regular two-years' course, devoting his time to hard study.
Lacking the necessary funds to complete his education, he taught school for the purpose of securing money, and a year later obtained a position as city editor of the
Atlantic City Times, of
Atlantic City, N. J. He returned to
Tufts in 1888 and finished his course, graduating with honors in 1890.
He was at once called to pastorates at
Mansfield and
Foxboro, from which he came to
Somerville.
Rev. Mr. Powers resigned his pastorate in this city to accept a call to Grace Church,
Buffalo.
