EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the undersigned, hereby severally constitute and appoint John F.
O'Brien, John F. Kelly and Edward J. Parry III, and each of them singly, our
true and lawful attorneys, with full power in each of them, sign for and in each
of our names and in any and all capacities, Form 10-K of Allmerica Financial
Corporation (the "Company") and any other filings made on behalf of said Company
pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to file
the same with all exhibits and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys and each of
them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing requisite or necessary to be done, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof. Witness our hands and common seal on the date set forth below.

                 Signature                     Title                     Date
                 ---------                     -----                     ----

    /s/ John F. O'Brien
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      John F. O'Brien            Director, President and CEO            2/22/99


  /s/ Edward J. Parry III
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    Edward J. Parry III            Vice President, CFO, Treasurer       2/22/99
                                  and Principal Accounting Officer

  /s/ Michael P. Angelini
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    Michael P. Angelini          Director                               2/22/99


     /s/ E. Gordon Gee           Director                               2/22/99
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       E. Gordon Gee

                                 Director                               2/22/99
    /s/ Samuel J. Gerson
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      Samuel J. Gerson


    /s/ Gail L. Harrison
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      Gail L. Harrison           Director                               2/22/99


 
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    Robert P. Henderson          Director                               2/22/99


   /s/ M Howard Jacobson
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     M Howard Jacobson           Director                               2/22/99

   /s/ J. Terrence Murray
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     J. Terrence Murray          Director                               2/22/99

 
    /s/ Robert J. Murray
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      Robert J. Murray           Director                               2/22/99


    /s/ John L. Sprague
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      John L. Sprague            Director                               2/22/99


   /s/ Robert G. Stachler
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     Robert G. Stachler          Director                               2/22/99


   /s/ Herbert M. Varnum
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     Herbert M. Varnum           Director                               2/22/99


  /s/ Richard Manning Wall
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    Richard Manning Wall         Director                               2/22/99