The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-28

DIES SUDDENLY.
Or. [. N. Powers Passes Away
"a Hours After Filling Uni
versalist Pulpit.

Less than twenty-four hours after
he had preached forceful sermon
on the topic, "A Man Too Great to
Die" the Rev. DR.. Levi Moore Pow
ers, pastor of the Universalist
Church of Our Father, died yester-
day morning at his home, 43l Ran
dolph street northwest. Heart dis
ease was the cause of death.
HAD STRENUOUS SUNDAY.
DR.. Powers had had a strenuous day
Sunday. Special Christmas services
were held in the morning, and 81
night he presided at the weekly
forum at which THE Non-Partisan
League" was discussed by Walter w.
Liggett.
He came home Sunday night remark
ing to his wife that he did not feel
well. He was restless, and a phy3i-
clan was called in the morning. At
$50 o'clock, with his wife at his be l.
side, he passed away.
Arrangements for the funeral have
not been completed. Services prob
ably will be held at his home tomor-
row afternoon at o'clock. At his
request the body will be cremated.
LIBERAL SLENu MAN.
DR.. Powers was one of the most lib
eral clergymen in Washington. While
his radical views were attacked In
some quarters, nevertheless he had a
big following. His Sunday night
forums. instituted about two months
ago. were attended by some of the
leading lights in the literary religious
and scientific world.
l. frA
quently contributed articles on cur
rent topics to the newspapers and
magazines. His last article was writ
ten for The Washington Times and
printed just before Thanksgiving Day
In this article. he threw light on some
OF the Inside" history OF the early
Puritans and their observance Of the
day OF thanks and feasting.
EsPOUsED IRISH CAUSE.
DR.. Powers was an ardent exponent
OF freedom for Ireland, India, Egypt
and. in fact, all small nations. He
frequently addressed mass meetings
under the auspices OF the PadrAic
Pearse branch of the (then) Friends
of Irish Freedom. He was one Of the
Lord Mayor McSwiney, held recently
DR., Powers was born in Newry
Maine. March 81, 1864. He was the
son OF c. II. l.. and Sarahette Moore
Powers. During the years lSS1-lSS3
he attended the Maine Wesleyan
Seminary at kcnt's Hill, Maine. fol-
lowing which he matriculated at
Tufts College and Theological school
graduating in 1890. He was awarded
the degree of bachelor of Divinity in
1890, and received his doctor OF
Divinity degree from Tufts College
in 1908. He also attended summer
courses at Harvard and the University
of Michigan.
On June ), 1901. he married Miss
Emma Florence Tufts, of Somerville
Mass. They had no children.
He was ordained to the Universalist
ministry in 1890. and accepted his
first charge in Foxboro. Mass, the
same year. He had charges in Somer-
VILE, Buffalo, N. Y; Haverhill, Mass.
and Gloucester, Mass.
DR.. Powers came to the Church OF
Our Father in September, 1919. sue.
ceeding the Rev. DR.. John Van
Setback. jr.. and the Rev william
Couden. He preached his first ser.
mon in Washington on September
Of that year.
ASKED TENT PERMIT.
Coming to Washington during the
height of the housing shortage DR.
Powers was forced to resort 20 ex-
traordinary measures in order to OBJ
tain living quarters for himself and
wife. In letter addressed to the
Honorable Park Commissioners OF
the District, he asked permission t.
pitch a tent In Rock Creek park. lr
his letter he related how he tried
every means in his power to obtain
place to live and the bitter disap.
pointment of his efforts.
"As my church has for some time
been without PASTOR his letter
read, I'D like to stay here awhile and
see what 1 can do. Nowhere else are
houses and tenements SO high. 1 don,
want to speak i'll Of the landlords, for
oppressed as wslD that only landlords
can afford to be religious In Washing
ton"
LOVED NEW ENGLAND.
DR.. Powers eventually found house
at 431 Randolph street, where he lived
to the time Of his death.
He was a lover of New England
scenery and spent his summers motor
ing through that section of the coun-
try.
About a week ago, he was ad-
mitted to the Washington City Club
iIe was a trustee OF tho UnivGrsaiist
Publishing House, and was a Mason
and Knight Templar. He WAS a
member of the Twentieth Century
Club of Boston, and frequently lee
tured on social and economic topics
Besides his wife. he is survived
by his father, and one sister. Mrs