USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 87
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In the summer of 1863 the Rev. A. M. Wylie was called to the rectorship. His resignation was ten- dered Nov. 1, 1868, and took effect in December fol- lowing. The Rev. John Hewitt succeeded Mr. Wylie, remaining only until January, 1871. The Rev. Henry E. Hovey became rector about Easter of this year, and resigned in November, 1872. The Rev. William McGlathery assumed charge in August, 1873, and re-
signed in the fall of 1875. In 1876 the Rev. William T. Fitch was elected rector. His resignation took effect in May, 1881. On the 15th of May, 1881, the present incumbent, the Rev. A. St. John Chambre, D.D., assumed charge of the parish.
The history of the parish has been that of struggle from the beginning, but of steady advancement, not- withstanding all and every difficulty. In 1875 the parish moved into its large, costly, and elegant stone church, erected upon Rock Street. Its financial con- dition is second to that of no parish in the city. Its congregations are large, and it is blessed with a spirit of great harmony and of commendable zeal in all good works. The magnificent stained-glass window in the front of the church, representing in life-size the Saviour and the four evangelists, is a memorial of the late Bishop Randall, of Colorado, the first rector. It was erected by the contributions of the Sunday-school.
From this parish, as the growth of Fall River de- manded, has sprung the flourishing parish of St. John, on South Main Street, now independent of its parent, but holding pleasant relations with the mother- church. The Church of the Ascension has a mission by the name of St. Mark in the eastern part of the city, and it is contemplating other movements for the good of the community, the advancement of the church, and (above all other considerations) to the glory of God.
St. John's Church1 is located near the Park, on the Main Street, about a mile and a half south of the Ascension, of which it was once a mission. '
Between thirty and forty families connected with the old parish, residing at "the Globe" and farther south towards the Rhode Island line, found it incon- venient because of the distance to attend the parish church regularly ; it was also too far for the children to walk to Sunday-school, hence the desire for a mission.
Services were first held in "Connell's Hall," di- rectly opposite the present church building, the fourth Sunday in September, 1878, by the Rev. W. T. Fitch, rector of the Ascension.
The church, a plain wooden building, seating three hundred and fifty, with a Sunday-school room in the basement, was used for the first time Sunday, Ang. 15, 1880, the Rev. Arthur T. Barrington, assistant at the Ascension, officiating. It was built on leased land. The land has since been purchased and fully paid for. The parish was generously aided, both in erecting the building and in the subsequent purchas- ing of the land, by churchmen in Boston and else- where.
The mission was organized into an independent parish Easter Monday, 1881, with Nathaniel Lewis and George Walters, wardens. The Rev. Samnel S. Spear, then at St. John's, Taunton, was soon elected
1 By Rev. Samuel S. Spear.
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rector, and took charge of the infant parish Sunday, July 3, 1881.
The list of communicants, Easter, 1883, numbered one hundred and twenty-five, and there is a pros- perous Sunday-school of about three hundred officers and scholars.
Parish officers: Rector, the Rev. Samuel S. Spear ; Wardens, George Walters, Oliver HI. P. Howard ; Treasurer, John Taylor; Clerk, Enoch Horsfield ; Vestrymen, Nathan Crabtree, George Porteus, George Hanson, Richard Fleet, William Wild, William Wooley, Sr., Alpheus Burdick.
The church property, valued at seven thousand dollars, is entirely free from debt, and is held for the parish by the "Trustees of Donations."
The building has not yet been consecrated, as it is deemed desirable to make several needed improve- ments and additions before consecration.
Christian Church, Franklin Street .- This church was organized in April, 1829, and in the following year the society was organized and the first church edifice erected. This church was destroyed in the great fire of 1843, and in the following year the pres- ent church edifice on Franklin Street was erected.
The first pastor was Rev. Joshua V. Hines, who was succeeded by Benjamin Taylor, H. Taylor, James Taylor, Simon Clough, M. Lane, A. G. Cummings, Jonathan Thompson, previous to 1840; Revs. P. R. Russell, 1841; A. M. Averill, 1843; Elijah Shaw, 1845 ; Charles Morgridge, 1847 ; Stephen Fellows, 1848; David E. Millard, 1852; B. S. Fanton, 1855 ; Thomas Holmes, 1863; Hiram J. Gordon, 1865 ; S. Wright Butler, 1866. Present pastor, Rev. M. Sum- merbell.
The North Christian Church was organized in 1842, and is located on North Main Street, at Steep Brook. The pastors of the church have been as fol- lows: Revs. Wm. Shurtleff, 1861 ; Moses P. Favor, 1866; Chas. T. Camp, 1872; O. P. Bessey, 1874; O. O. Wright, 1876.
Church of the New Jerusalem.1-The Fall River Society of the New Jerusalem was organized in 1854. It consisted of seven members. Thirty-one have been added since, making thirty-eight in all. Ten have died, two have been transferred to other soci- eties. The number now belonging to it is twenty-six, nine of whom reside out of the city. Four of the original members are still living. Its church on Rock Street, between Cherry and Locust, was built in 1869. The services were conducted by lay readers, except upon the communion Sabbath, when a minis- ter officiated ; but in 1877 the present pastor, Rev. John Westall, was ordained and invited to devote all his time to the service of the society.
The Sabbath-school consists of forty-four scholars and teachers. The library contains three hundred and fifty-seven volumes. The expenses of the society
are met by voluntary subscription. All the seats of the church are free.
Society of Friends .- The first meetings of the Society of Friends in Fall River were held about the year 1812, the attendants coming mostly over the river from Swansea and Somerset. They commenced public worship here in 1819, and in 1821 erected a house of worship, which was subsequently removed, and the present edifice on North Main Street, between Pine and Cherry, was erected in 1836. The present overseer is Nathan Chace.
The United Presbyterian Church, Pearl Street corner of American, was organized in 1846, and the church edifice was erected in 1851. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. David A. Wallace, 1851-53; William Maclaren, 1854-67 ; Joshua R. Kyle, 1869- 75; James H. Turnbull, 1876.
Hebrew Worship .- The Jewish or Hebrew resi- dents of this city number some fifty to sixty men, many having families. Of these six are German Jews, so called, but as they do not 'affiliate with the Polish Israelites, they have no organized synagogue. The other class have pushed ahead, organized a syna- gogue by themselves, employed a leader, and have kept up worship for several months on Pleasant Street.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was estab- lished in 1836, under the name of St. John Baptist, which was changed upon the occupation of the church edifice in 1855. The pastors of this church have been as follows: Revs. John Corry, Richard Hardy, and Edward Murphy. Rev. John O'Connell and Corne- lius McSweeney were assistant pastors in 1875. The present assistant pastors are Revs. Louis Dady and James A. Gleason.
Church of the Sacred Heart was organized in 1873. The present pastor is Rev. Matthew McCabe, assisted by Rev. James Masterson. Church on Linden Street.
St. Ann's Church (French Catholic) was organ- ized in 1873 by Rev. A. de Montanbrieg. It is located on Hunter Street corner of William. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas F. Briscoe, assisted by Rev. O. F. Clark.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church was organized in 1874, by Rev. William H. Bric. The present pastor is Rev. Andrew J. Brady, assisted by Rev. J. F. Roach. Location, North Main Street.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church was organized in 1874, by Rev. J. Kelly, who has since continued as pastor. Location, Slade Street.
Notre Dame Church was organized in 1874, by Rev. P. J. B. Bedard, who has since remained as pastor. Location, Notre Dame corner Ashton Street.
St. Peter's and Paul's parish is of recent organiza- tion, and a church edifice is soon to be erected. The pastor is Rev. Father Doyle.
The Immaculate Conception is also a new parish, with Father Kiernan as pastor. Of the one hundred and eighty thousand attendants upon Catholic wor-
1 By Rev. John Westall.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ship in the Providence district, about eighty-eight thousand reside in Bristol, Barnstable, Dnkes, and Nantucket Counties of Massachusetts, and some twenty-eight thousand in this city. In the proposal to establish three new dioceses in this State, it is con- fidently expected that the above counties will be set off as one of them, and Fall River be constituted the cathedral city.
There is also a French mission (Baptist) on Pleas- ant Street, Eusibe Leger, missionary.
CHAPTER XXIX.
FALL RIVER .- (Continued.)
Mount Hope Lodge, F. and A. M.1 -- " Dec. 8, 5824. The petition of Andrew Harris and others, praying for a charter for a new lodge in the village of Fall River and town of Troy, to be called ' Mount Hope,' was read and referred to W. Joseph G. Sprague, Rev. Joseph Richardson, and Abra Haskell.
"The committee appointed to consider the applica- tion of Andrew Harris and others for a charter for a lodge in the town of Troy have heard the represen- tations on the subject, and would report that the prayer of the petitioners ought to be granted.
" By order, J. S. SPRAGUE, Chairman.
" Read and accepted.
" Agreeably to a commission from the M. W. John Abbot, Grand Master, dated Aug. 3, 5825, directed and given to R. W. Thomas Talman, D. D. G. Master for the Fourth Masonic District, authorizing and em- powering him to constitute Mount Hope Lodge, holden at Troy, village of Fall River, and to install its officers, the 1st of September, 5825, was agreed on and appointed the day for installation.
" On the evening preceding, to wit, on the 31st day of August, a lodge of Past Masters assembled at the hall of Mount Hope Lodge, the R. W. D. D. G. Master in the chair, assisted by R. W. Lemuel Gay and R. W. Asa Wood as Wardens, when the degree of Past Master was conferred on R. W. Brother Leander P. Lovell, the Master elect of Mount Hope Lodge. On the 1st day of September, A.L. 5825, a Deputy Grand Lodge, consisting wholly of Worthy Present or Past Masters of lodges, assembled at Fall River, and was opened in due and ancient form. Present, R. W. Thomas Talman, G. M. pro tem .; R. W. Benjamin Huntoon, Dep. G. M .; R. W. James L. Hodges, S. G. W .; R. W. James W. Crossman, G. Treas. ; R. W. Asa Wood, G. Sec .; R. W. George Randall, G. Mar- shal; R. W. Rev. Luther Hamilton, G. Chap .; R. W. Samuel Caswell, Jr., S. G. D .; R. W. Jonathan Reynolds, J. G. D .; R. W. Nathaniel Blake, 1st G. S .; R. W. Simeon Presbury, 2d G. S .; R. W. Anthony
D. Richmond, G. S. B .; R. W. Thomas Cole, R. W. Ephriam Kempton, G. P .; R. W. Thomas Shepherd, G. Tyler ; R. W. Caleb Earle, Bearer of the Book of Constitutions ; R. W. John Carlisle, Bearer of the Holy Writings.
" A committee, consisting of R. W. Brothers Hun- toon and Gay, were appointed to examine the officers of Mount Hope Lodge as to their knowledge of the lectures and work, and to inspect their records and by-laws. The committee having attended to the duty of their appointment, reported that they found the officers well skilled in the lectures and mysteries of Masonry ; that they found their records and by-laws in conformity to the regulations of the Grand Lodge, fairly kept and duly entered, and that they cheer- fully recommended said lodge for constitution and installation.
"This report having been unanimously accepted by the Deputy Grand Lodge, they were escorted to the hall of Mount Hope Lodge, where a very large procession was formed, consisting of brethren and companions of the several Masonic degrees.
"Several officers of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island and other distinguished members of the fra- ternity were present, and united in the procession on the occasion.
" The whole procession, accompanied by an excel- lent band of music, then moved to the Baptist Church, where a very appropriate and truly Masonic address was delivered by R. W. Rev. Paul Dean, of Boston.
"Mount Hope Lodge was then solemnly conse- crated and dedicated according to ancient custom. The acting Grand Master then proceeded to consti- tute the brethren into a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, after which the officers elect were publicly installed into their respective offices. Their names are as follows :
"R. W. Leander P. Lovell, M .; W. Benjamin An- thony, S. W .; W. Joseph Rice, J. W .; Joseph E. Reed, Treas. ; James Ford, Sec. ; Augustus B. Reed, Chap .; Richard Chase, S. D .; Lucius Smith, J. D .; Pierce Allen, Marshal ; John Norris, Oliver Mason, Stewards ; Calvin Seaver, Tyler.
" After the services at the church, the Deputy Grand Lodge having completed the business for which it was assembled, was escorted back to the room which had been provided for that accommoda- tion, and closed in due and ancient form. A sump- tuous repast having been provided by Mount Hope Lodge, the brethren proceeded to the place of re- freshment, and united in the social festivities of the occasion.
" A true record of the proceedings. Attest : "ASA WOOD, Dep. G. Secretary."
The Masters of Mount Hope Lodge from Dec. 8, 1824, have been as follows : 1825-26, Leander P. Lov- ell; 1827-28, Benjamin Anthony ; 1829, Daniel Leon- ard; 1830, Peleg H. Earl; 1831-32, Thomas D.
1 Copied from records of the Grand Lodge.
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FALL RIVER.
Chaloner; 1833, Ebenezer Andrews; 1834-35,1 Seth Darling; 1845-46, Joshua Remington ; 1847, Thomas D. Chaloner; 1848-49, Daniel Leonard ; 1850, James M. Morton : 1851-54, Joshua Remington ; 1855, Gardner D. Cook; 1856-58, Robert C. Brown ; 1859, Joshua Remington ; 1860-61, James Davenport ; 1862, Josiah C. Blaisdell; 1863, Robert Henry ; 1864- 65, Charles A. Holmes ; 1866, Robert C. Brown ; 1867, Charles A. Holmes ; 1868-70, Henry Paddock ; 1871- 73, A. G. Hart; 1874-75, Henry Waring; 1876, Wil- liam J. Burt ; John T. Graham, two years; Nathan Everett, one year ; Charles E. Spencer, still in office.
The charter members of the lodge were Joshua Remington, Thomas D. Chaloner, Daniel Leonard, John P. Winchester, Thomas Driver, Samuel B. Gardner, Thomas Killer, James D. Burt, William B. Canady, Francis Eddy, Gideon Hatch, Sabin Blake, William A. Waite, Jesse Eddy, Edward Thompson, Jonathan T. Lincoln, John Eddy, and B. W. Miller.
King Philip Lodge, F. and A. M., was chartered Dec. 12, 1866, the "precedence" to begin Jan. 16, 1866. The charter members were Joshua Reming- ton, James F. Davenport, Daniel Stillwell, George A. Ballard, E. P. Buffinton, Francis W. Eddy, Joseph Brady, Mason Fisher, William M. Almy. Charles A. Bassett, George A. Borden, George A. Tower, Silas Williams, Alexander Forbes, D. S. Brigham, T. An- drew Francis, Robert A. Brown, George E. Hoar, J. C. Blaisdell, James Henry, James B. Brayton, Par- ker Borden, George W. Billings, William G. Bennett, L. F. Pease, William Davenport, Thomas L. Brayton, Arthur R. Borden, M. Tootle, Jr., Alden Gilbert, George W. Gibbs, A. D. Easton, Edwin Shaw, E. P. Haskins, John P. Slade, Perry Gifford, and James Buffinton.
The following is a list of Masters : James F. Daven - port, 1865 to October, 1868; George A. Ballard, 1868 to October, 1869; Charles E. Gifford, 1869 to October, 1870; Daniel Stillwell, 1870 to October, 1871; Wil- liam Davenport, 1871 to October, 1872; Thomas G. Estes, 1872 to October, 1873; John S. Henry, 1873 to October, 1875; Horatio N. Durfee, 1875 to October, 1876; Charles E. Vickery, 1876 to October, 1877; Edward T. Marvell, 1877 to October, 1878; Joseph L. Buffinton, 1878 to October, 1879; Charles A. Ben- nett, 1879 to October, 1880; Enoch J. French, 1880 to October, 1881 ; Judson C. Mckenzie, 1881 (now in office).
Narragansett Lodge, F. and A. M., was char- tered Dec. 13, 1876, the precedence to commence
1 In consequence of the depressed condition of Mount Hope Lodge, and of Freemasonry generally, at a regular meeting held Nov. 3, 1835, it was Voted, " To raise a committee to sell all the furniture of the lodge as they may deem proper for the interest of the lodge." The meetings were then discontinued until 1845, when the brethren desiring to revive the interest in Freemasonry and resume their meetings as a lodge, find- ing that the original charter, with other furniture, had been destroyed by the great fire of July 2, 1843, obtained a new charter, which declares the precedeuce of the lodge to date from Dec. 8, 1824, that being the date of the original charter.
Dec. 30, 1875. The charter members were James Davis, Daniel Stevens, William Roderick Robertson, George Leonard Walker, William Henry Brow, Edwin Jackson Dyer, Robert Macfarlane, Charles Sil- vester Norman, John McKean, Mark Phillips, Chaun- cey Howe Sears, Bennett Cook, James Henry Mini- ken, John Whitaker, Jeremiah Rodgers Elsbree, Aimie Benjamin Bruneau, James Barney Chace, Rob- ert Hampson, Alexander Jefferson Wilcox, John Adams Tourtellot, Edmund Whitehead, Edwin Cush- ing Phillips, Leon Eugene Sweet, Robert Hammer- ton, Thomas Francis Vickery, David Smith, Abner Luther. Howard, Asa Wilson Gifford, James Francis Davis, Everett Bemis Dyer, Rodney Augustus Moore, Joseph Harrison, Samuel Mark Standing, Philip Roberts, Charles Frederick Tripp, Robert Johnston Adams, Joseph Hyde, Walter Thackery.
The Fall River Royal Arch Chapter was char- tered Jan. 9, 1865, "to take rank, date, and prece- dence from the 7th day of June, 1864." The follow- ing were the charter members : Thomas D. Chaloner, Joshua Remington, Robert C. Brown, Abner L. West- gate, Charles A. Holmes, Daniel Stillwell, James C. Stafford, James Davenport, Robert Henry, Silas Williams, James B. Brayton, Jonathan E. Morrill, Alden Gilbert, Williams A. Burt, Lemuel Hall, George A. Tower, William Preston, Eber Slade, Jona- than T. Lincoln, John Whitaker, John Shepley, John B. Whitaker, Joseph Brady, John G. Tinkham, Charles F. Langford, James Davis, Samuel Root, William G. Bennett, George E. Hoar, Mason Fisher, John P. Slade, Joel Wood, William Davenport, Jireh B. Pettey, Humphrey A. Francis, and Silas P. Rich- mond.
Robert C. Brown was first High Priest, Robert Henry first King, and Joshua Remington first Seribe. The Grand Chapter officers at this time were Solon Thornton, Grand High Priest; Caleb Rand, Deputy Grand High Priest; Albert E. Foth, Grand King; Wanton T. Drew, Grand Scribe; Thomas Waterman, Grand Secretary.
The Past High Priests are as follows: Robert C. Brown, Robert Henry, George A. Ballard, Henry Paddock, Hiram C. Harrington, Gideon FF. Tomp- kins, Alfred H. Ilartley.
Godfrey De Bouillon Commandery was chartered Oct. 13, 1868, " to take rank and precedence from May 9, 1868." The charter members were Robert Car- ver Brown, Robert Henry, James Franklin Daven- port, James Henry, John Palmer Slade, Silas Wil- liams, William Davenport, Charles Edwin Case, Jo- seph Brady, Henry Paddock, John Shepley, John Birtwistle Whitaker, George Andros Borden, Mason Fisher, James Davis, Edward Shove Anthony, Wil- liam Preston, Leander Davenport Wilbur, Charles Ellis Gifford, Daniel Edson Chace, James Crosby Ramsay, Perry Gifford, Francis Wilmarth Eddy, William Macomber Almy, Daniel W. Baldwin, James Barney Chace, George Alvan Ballard, Thomas Lyn-
364
HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
don Brayton, James Buffinton, Abner Lewis West- gate, Frederick William Macomber, Elisha Cook Hathaway, John Whitaker, George Edward Hoar, Josiah Coleman Blaisdell, Alfred Henry Hartley, Thomas Francis Vickery, William Gray Bennett, Thomas Durfee Chaloner, William Wait Stewart, Joel Wood.
Robert Henry was first Commander, James F. Davenport first Generallissimo, and Henry Paddock first Captain-General.
The Eminent Commanders have been as follows : Robert Henry, R. C. Brown, S. W. Butler, John B. Whitaker, George A. Ballard, Charles E. Gifford, A. H. Hartley, Albert F. Dow, and Henry Waring.
Military Record, 1861-65 .- Fall River responded promptly to the call of her imperiled country during the war of the Rebellion, and only six days after the firing upon Fort Sumter, April 19, 1861, a " war meeting" was held at the City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Hon. N. B. Borden, who read : the call, was chosen chairman, and made the opening - address. Speeches were also made by David Anthony, James Ford, Hon. James Buffinton, Dr. Foster Hooper, John Collins, John Westall, J. C. Blaisdell, R. T. Davis, and Walter C. Durfee. Dr. Hooper offered the following resolutions, which were adopted by acclamation :
" Resolved, That the government of the Union shall be sustained.
" That the city government be requested to appropriate ten thousand dollars in aid of those who may volunteer, and for the support of their families.
" That each volunteer be paid the sum of twenty dollars per month from the city treasury, in addition to what is paid by the government."
On April 24th the committee of the City Council to whom these resolutions were referred reported as follows :
" Whereas, etc., in the southern section of our country public law is disregarded, the authority of the United States set at defiance, and armed forces have been and are organizing, with the avowed purpose of over- throwing the government as formed by our Revolutionary fathers, and of establishing a new government, in which freedom of the press, of speech, and of the individual man shall be more restricted,-in a word, a government for the perpetuation of slavery ; and
" Whereas, etc., for the repelling of such forces, the standing army being inadequate, the President of the United States has made requisi- tion on the several States for militia : therefore, to the end that said requisition may be more readily answered,
" Ordered, That to each of our citizens who may join a militia com- pany of our city, organized according to law, pledged to render military service whenever and wherever required, whether by authority of the State or the United States government, there be paid from the city treasury the sum of fifteen dollars for outfit, when such company shall be mustered into service; and thereafter, for a term not exceeding three months, fifteen dollars a month, the latter to be applied for the support of the family or dependents. as the soldier may direct ; and if, at the ex- piration of the service, a balance or the whole shall remain unpaid, then payment to be made to the soldier in person or his legal represen- tatives; these payments to be made in addition to compensation that may be realized from the United States government."
The order was adopted by the City Council, and ten thousand dollars were appropriated in accord- ance therewith. Meanwhile enlistments were rapidly going on. A company was already partly formed under Lieut. Cushing, who had seen service in the |
Mexican war, and a rifle company, composed of some of the best young men in the town, was being or- ganized under Capt. (afterwards Lieut .- Col.) C. W. Greene. Fall River was the third in the list of ap- plicants in the commonwealth to Governor Andrew for permission to raise military companies. April 29th the mayor was requested to apply to the State authorities to furnish two hundred muskets for the two companies organized in the city. These were mustered into the United States service June 11, 1861, and formed companies A and B of the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, commanded by Col. (afterwards Gen.) D. N. Couch, of Taun- ton, and by Lieut .- Col. Chester W. Greene, of this city. Besides the above-mentioned companies, a third was formed, composed mainly of "adopted citi- zens." It was not deemed expedient, however, for them to be mustered into service at the time, and June 5, 1861, the city government voted that twelve dollars be paid to each member, and they were dis- banded. In September, 1861, a bounty of fifteen dollars was authorized to be paid to each volunteer who should join a company then forming, which was afterwards mustered into active service.
The first Fall River soldier who fell in the struggle for the nation's life was Nathaniel S. Gerry, a private in Company A, Seventh Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and the first commissioned officer was Lieut. Jesse D. Bullock, of the same regiment, who died June 25, 1862, from wounds received at the battle of Fair Oaks.
During the war the city furnished eighteen hundred and forty-five men, thirty-seven of whom were com- missioned officers. The roll of one hundred and sixty-three names of fallen heroes on the soldiers' monument in Oak Grove Cemetery shows in part only the sacrifice in human life made by Fall River in the struggle for national existence.
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