History of the First Universalist Church in Somerville, Mass. Illustrated; a souvenir of the fiftieth anniversary celebrated February 15-21, 1904

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The men's Club

Fred L. Coburn

The suggestion of Rev. L. M. Powers that the social life of the membership in the church could be greatly strengthened by the organization of a men's club, whose work should aim to quicken a spirit of human brotherhood, and to advocate a deeper feeling of Christian kindness toward each other within the church circle, and to many without, led to the first meeting, which was held in the vestry on the evening of March 3, 1898.

Its first president was John F. Mills, and the board of officers was completed by the choice of Frank M. Russell as vice-president; Fred L. Coburn as secretary; F. M. Wilson as treasurer; and Charles S. Soule, Frank M. Hawes, and I. H. Wiley as executive committee.

The meetings were frequently held, and the attendance was very gratifying, for the programmes offered for the consideration of the members were invariably of a high order. Within a month from its first meeting, thirty-eight new members were enrolled, many of whom were in no other way connected with the church.

It has been the policy of the executive committee to secure talent of a wide range, of good reputation, and of abundant worth for entertainment and instruction. The labor performed by the board of officers along these lines has been wonderfully successful from the beginning, as a brief recital of some of the names of our entertainers will indicate: Rev. J. M. Pullman, D. D., Dr. E. H. Capen, D. D., Rev. George W. Bicknell, D. D., General Bancroft, Rev. C. W. Biddle, D. D., Frederick G. Pettigrove, Rev. R. Perry Bush, George W. Wilson, Judge W. H. H. Emmons, Mayor Edward Glines, Rev. A. E,