USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > History of Pawtucket Church and Society : with reminiscences of pastors and founders, sketches of Congregational churches in Lowell, and a brief outline of Congregationalism > Part 11
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
On the 10th of April, 1826, a meeting was held at the house of Mr. Davidson, No. 14 Merrimack Corporation, of those who wished to form a Congre- gational Church, and adjourned to meet on the 17th of the same month, at the house of David H. Mason, No. 38 Merrimack Corporation, which meeting was duly held. There were present William Davidson, D. H. Mason, Joshua Tucker, F. Van Doorn, J. M. King, Jesse Fox, Theodore Abbott, Samuel Wood, J. V. Atkinson and A. B. Eaton ; also, John Fisher and Henry Richardson, not professors.
William Davidson, D. H. Mason and A. B. Eaton were chosen a committee to prepare articles of faith for the signatures of those who were desirous of forming a Congregational Church. Adjourned to Monday evening, the 24th of the same month, at which time the committee reported, and the meeting adopted as the substance of their belief, the articles as received by the Congregational Church in Leices- ter, Mass., and Candia and Chester, N. H. Adjourned to May 8th, when the committee reported sixty-six names to the articles of faith, and William David- son, D. H. Mason, J. M. King and A. B. Eaton were chosen a committee to call a council of ministers and churches for the purpose of organizing a Con- gregational Church. Voted, that Tuesday, June 6th, be the day assigned for the formation of the church.
Tuesday, June 6, 1826, an ecclesiastical council met at the house of William Davidson, No. 14 Mer- rimack Corporation, at 9 o'clock, A. M. The council was composed of the following pastors and delegates :
The Church in Pelham, N. H .: Rev. Dr. I. H. Church, pastor; Bro. Nehemiah Hutchinson, dele-
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gate. Church in Andover, Mass .: Rev. Justin Ed- wards, pastor ; Bro. Mark Newman, delegate. Church in Methuen : Rev. Jacob M. Eastman, pastor ; Dea. John Pettingell, delegate. First Church in Dracut : Rev. Joseph Merrill, pastor. Church in Tewksbury : Rev. Jacob Coggin, pastor ; Dea. John Spaulding, delegate. Dr. Church was moderator of the council and Rev. Mr. Coggin scribe.
The church was organized with a membership of forty-eight persons by letter from other churches- fifteen males and thirty-three females.
The public services of the church were held in the Merrimack Manufacturing Company's school- house, which stood where the Green school-house now is.
At an informal meeting of the brethren, about this time (date not given) a vote was passed, that a petition be prepared and signed by as many individ- uals as would like, with their associates, to become proprietors of a meeting-house, to be called "The Proprietors of the First Congregational Meeting- house in Lowell," to be rented, when built, to the First Congregational Church in Lowell. This peti- tion to the Legislature was granted on the 20th day of June, 1826 ; and on the 12th day of July, 1826, the petitioners were duly organized.
The house was built by shares, thus (as the record says) giving all those out of town as well as those in town, male and female, an opportunity to invest. As nearly all were limited in means and poor in this world's goods, it was no small work to build a suita- ble meeting-house ; but with characteristic zeal and faith, they united their hearts and hands, and the
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work was done. On the 25th of December, 1827, the new brick meeting-house was dedicated to the worship of God. It was three times repaired, and to some extent remodeled. The stock ownership was all eventually taken up by the society.
Soon after the organization of the church, August 29, 1826, Joshua Tucker and William Davidson were chosen deacons, and with Bro. A. B. Eaton were appointed a committee to examine candidates for membership. It was one year, one month and twelve days before a pastor was secured, during which time one hundred and twenty-four members were received into its communion.
July 18, 1827, Mr. George C. Beckworth, having received and accepted a call from the church, was ordained and installed its pastor. Prof. N. Porter, of Andover, preached the sermon; Dr. Church, of Pelham, offered the consecrating prayer; Dr. Dana, of Newburyport, gave the charge to the pastor ; Rev. Edward Beecher, of Boston, the right-hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Wisner, of Boston, made the address to the people. Mr. Beckworth's pastor- ate continued till March 3, 1829-a period of one year, seven months and fifteen days-when, because of failing health, he resigned. After leaving Lowell he became one of the secretaries of the American Peace Society, which position he held till his death, which occurred in Boston, May 12, 1870.
On December 25, 1829, Mr. Amos Blanchard, of Yale College, was ordained and installed as pastor. Professor Stuart, of Andover, preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Coggin offered the ordaining prayer ; Rev. Dr. Church gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Winslow the
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right-hand of fellowship, and Rev. Dr. Beecher the address to the people. The pastorate of Dr. Blanch- ard continued till May 21, 1845-a period of fifteen years, four months and twenty-six days-when, at his own request, he was dismissed, to become pastor of the fourth (called the Kirk Street) Congrega- tional Church, in this city. Dr. Blanchard died January 14, 1870.
October 1, 1845, the Rev. Willard Child, of Nor- wich, Conn., was installed as pastor. Rev. Parsons Cook preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Burnap offered the installing prayer; Rev. Mr. Merrill gave the charge ; Rev. Mr. Blanchard the right-hand of fel- lowship, and Rev. Mr. Jackson the address to the people. Mr. Child's ministry continued till January 31, 1855-a period of nine years, three months and ten days.
The fourth pastor was the Rev. J. L. Jenkins, called from Andover Theological Seminary and ordained and installed as pastor of the church Octo- ber 17, 1855. Rev. Joseph Merrill was moderator of the council and Rev. S. W. Hanks scribe. Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon preached the sermon ; Rev. E. B. Foster made the ordaining prayer; Rev. Amos Blanchard gave the charge to the pastor; Rev. W. B. Clark the right-hand of fellowship, and Rev. J. P. Cleaveland the charge to the people. The pastorate of Mr. Jenkins continued till January 15, 1862, when he resigned to enter the services of the Amer- ican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The length of his ministry was six years and three months, during which time an unusual amount of progressive work was done.
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The fifth pastor was the Rev. George N. Webber, who was installed September 17, 1862. Rev. B. F. Clark was moderator of the council and Rev. C. E. Fisher scribe. Rev. Prof. A. Phillips preached the sermon ; Rev. Dr. Blanchard offered the installing prayer; Rev. O. Street gave the right-hand of fel- lowship; Rev. J. L. Jenkins the address to the peo- ple. Mr. Webber's ministry continued four years and six months. March, 1867, he resigned, having been called to a professorship in Middlebury College, Vermont.
The sixth pastor was the Rev. Horace James, who was installed October 31, 1867. Rev. Dr. Blanchard was moderator and Rev. O. Street scribe of the council. Rev. Dr. Quint preached the ser- mon; Rev. Dr. Blanchard offered the installing prayer; Rev. Dr. Foster gave the charge ; Rev. Mr. Street the right-hand of fellowship ; Rev. Mr. Strat- ton the address to the people. Mr. James' pastor- ate was three years, one month and twelve days. December 13, 1870, he was dismissed to accept the secretaryship of the American and Foreign Christian Union, in New York.
The seventh and present pastor, the Rev. Smith Baker, was installed September 13, 1871. Rev. O. Street was moderator and Rev. Daniel Phillips scribe of the council. Prof. W. M. Barbour, D. D., preached the sermon; Rev. Mr. Street offered the prayer ; Rev. E. B. Foster gave the charge; Rev. B. A. Robie the right-hand of fellowship; Rev. Horace James the address to the people.
Rev. Hanford M. Burr was ordained assistant pastor of this church October 24, 1888. The ordain-
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ing prayer was offered by Rev. Smith Baker, D. D .; sermon by Rev. E. F. Burr, father of the candidate, of Lyme, Conn .; charge to the pastor was given by Rev. J. M. Greene, D. D., of the Eliot Church, Low- ell; the right-hand of fellowship was extended by Rev. C. H. Willcox of the Pawtucket Church, Low- ell; and Mr. T. A. McMaster delivered an address of welcome.
In 1830 the audience-room not being large enough to accommodate those who wished for seats, the church, at a meeting held November 16th, voted that a committee be chosen to select and designate such members of the church as, in their judgment, were suitable persons, to form a second Congrega- tional church ; and on the 26th the committee re- ported the names of one hundred and fifty-one per- sons whom they recommended as being of good and regular standing and in their judgment suitable per- sons to compose a new church. These persons were dismissed and organized into the second Congrega- tional church, afterwards known as the Appleton Street Church, and now as the Eliot Congregational Church of Lowell.
In 1832 the meeting-house becoming full once more, one hundred and twenty-five persons were dismissed, in connection with several others from the second church, to form a third Congregational church, which after struggling in financial embarras- ments for several months, thought best to disband, and the members found religious homes in the sev- eral other christian churches of the city, but very few returning to the mother church.
May 7, 1839, the meeting-house becoming once
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more too small to accommodate all who wished for seats, one hundred and six persons were dismissed and recommended as in good and regular standing to unite in forming what is the third Congregational church, and which organization was completed, tak- ing the name of the John Street Congregational Church of Lowell.
Again, on the 21st of May, 1845, another and the fourth Congregational church was formed, finally taking the name of the Kirk Street Church, remov- ing from this church one hundred and forty of its members, as many more of the congregation and also the pastor, the Rev. Amos Blanchard.
The High Street Church was afterwards formed by persons going mainly from the John Street Church, which of course constitutes the High Street Church a kind of grand-daughter of the First Church.
In looking over the records we find that aside from these special dismissions to form new churches, the number of single dismissions of persons who have gone out from this church to unite with other churches in the city has been three hundred and sixty, which, added to those dismissed when the other churches were formed, make seven hundred and fifty-seven, while those received by this church from the other churches has been about sixty-five ; hence it is with modest, maternal pride that the First Church looks upon the other Congregational churches in the city as her children, and congratulates them upon their varied success and gifts, feeling that their prosperity has been her prosperity. She assures them to-day that she is thankful they went out, re- joices in their prosperity, and her prayer shall ever
ELIOT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
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be that peace, plenty and fruitfulness in the Lord may be theirs.
The present membership of this church is eight hundred and nineteen. The money received for benevolent and home expenses, in 1887, amounted to over $10,000. The Sunday School now numbers nine hundred and seventeen, including officers, teachers and scholars.
This society in 1884 took the initiatory steps for building a new church edifice. It was completed and dedicated with appropriate services June 18, 1885. It is a handsome building, substantially built, with a seating capacity of about fifteen hundred people, at an expense, including furniture, carpets, organ, etc., of $57,390. The organ, which is said to be a very fine one, cost, including case and motor, $5.965.
ELIOT CHURCH.
This church was organized December 2, 1830, with one hundred and fifty members, under the name of the Second Congregational Church. It re- tained this name until January 3, 1839, when it was changed to the Appleton Street Church. Their first house of worship was built in the summer and autumn of 1830. Regular religious meetings were begun in the vestry of their new building April 10, 1831. The house was dedicated July 10, 1831. Rev. Amos Blanchard, of the First Congregational Church, preached the dedicatory sermon. The original cost of the house was $10,000 " besides not a little labor and material which was voluntarily
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contributed." It was repaired in 1837 at an expense of $800, and again in 1852 at a cost of $3500. The first pulpit was of the old half-hogshead style. The second was a small reading-desk built by one of the pastors, Rev. U. C. Burnap. The third was built in 1852.
The original members of the church were set off by a committee appointed for that purpose, from the First Congregational Church, because it was thought that the needs of that part of the town where it was established demanded a church. It had its origin in no spirit of faction, no feud or disagreement with the mother church.
The first pastor was Rev. William Twining. Mr. Twining was a graduate of Yale in 1825 and of the Andover Theological Seminary in 1828, and was in- stalled over this church October 4, 1831. Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher preached the sermon on the occa- sion. Mr. Twining resigned and was dismissed August 25, 1835.
Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap was the second pastor. He was graduated at Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1821, and studied theology at Andover. He re- mained over this church until February 6, 1852, a period of over fourteen years. He died in Lowell, August 12, 1854, at the age of sixty years.
The third pastor was Rev. George Darling. He was a graduate of Union College, New York, in 1846, and of Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, in 1849. He was installed December 30, 1852, and resigned and was dismissed December 26, 1854.
John P. Cleaveland, D. D., was the fourth pastor.
-
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Dr. Cleaveland graduated at Bowdoin College, Maine, in 1821, and was settled over this church October 2, 1855, and was dismissed January 15, 1862, to accept the chaplaincy of the Thirtieth Massachusetts Regi- ment. His death occurred March 7; 1873.
The fifth pastor was Rev. J. E. Rankin. He graduated at Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1848, and at Andover in 1854. Mr. Rankin was installed here December 17, 1862, and was dismissed October 29, 1864.
The sixth pastor was Rev. Addison P. Foster. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1863 and at Andover in 1866, and was ordained here October 3, 1866, and was dismissed October 17, 1868.
The seventh and present pastor is Rev. J. M. Greene, D. D. Dr. Greene graduated at Amherst College in 1853, and studied theology at Bangor Theological Seminary. He was installed over this church July 20, 1870.
The Sabbath School was established April 10, 1831, on the day that worship was begun in their vestry .* The last service was held in this house September 28, 1873, and the next day the property passed into the hands of the First Presbyterian Church and Society, which paid $15,000 for the house, organ, settees and carpets.
The corner stone of the present house of worship, an elegant edifice at the corner of Summer and Favor Streets, was laid with appropriate ceremonies July 1, 1874. The house was not dedicated until free of debt, which took place on the fiftieth anni- versary of the organization of the church, December
* Historical Discourse preached by Rev. Dr. Greene, September 28, 1873.
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2, 1880. The first religious service was held in the new church January 1, 1875, and the name Eliot was adopted January 31st of the same year. It is supposed that the log chapel in which Rev. John Eliot preached to the Indians, was located on or near the spot on which Eliot Church now stands, hence the appropriateness of the name .*
KIRK STREET CHURCH.
This church and society was organized May 21, 1845. On April 22, 1845, a petition was signed by James Buncher and thirty-three other men and twenty-two women, members of the First Congre- gational Church, requesting that they might be dis- missed for the purpose of forming a new church.
On May 2, 1845, the petitioners were granted letters, the number being then one hundred and thirty-two persons. They immediately appointed committees to procure a place of worship and to form a creed. A call was extended Rev. Amos Blanchard, May 12th, to become their pastor at $1000 per year, and Mr. Blanchard's acceptance was dated May 17th. A council was called for the 21st, to form a new church, to dismiss Mr. Blanchard from the First Church, and to install him over the Fourth Church.
There were from the First Church one hundred and forty persons ; from the John Street Church, six ; from the Appleton Street Church, six; from the church in Lowell, Vt., two; from the First Church in
* Lowell Illustrated, by Frank P. Hill.
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Nashua, N. H., one ; from the church in Woodstock, Vt., one ; from the church in Westmoreland, N. H., one; total, one hundred and fifty-seven who pre- sented letters and were organized as the Fourth Con- gregational Church.
The first service was held at Mechanics' Hall on May 25, 1845. This hall, which would seat four hundred and sixty-six persons, was secured at a rental of two hundred dollars per annum, lighted and heated for Sundays.
At the close of the first morning service the Sabbath School was held, Samuel W. Stickney hav- ing been previously elected superintendent.
On May 28th John Aiken and Sewall G. Mack were elected deacons. John Aiken and James Buncher, who was subsequently elected, having declined, Samuel W. Stickney was elected.
The church continued to worship in Mechanics' Hall till December, when it became necessary to find a larger place and City Hall was secured, where services were held till December, 1846.
The subject of building a house of worship was early agitated. A lot was secured on Kirk Street and the building completed and dedicated December 17, 1846. The first services in the new house were held in the vestry December 22d, and regular serv- ices began with the new year, 1847.
The expense of land and building was $20,018.27; furniture and incidentals, $860.85; organ, $1,800.00; total amount, $22,679.12.
July 29, 1846, the name was changed from Fourth Congregational Church to Kirk Street Church.
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DR. DANA INSTALLED.
Letters-missive from the Kirk Street Church, dated September 27, 1888, relating to the choice of Rev. M. M. Dana as pastor, having been duly issued, a council of the following-named churches, as repre- sented by pastor and delegates, convened in the vestry of the church, Thursday afternoon, October 11, 1888, at half-past three o'clock : Trinity Church, Lawrence, G. E. Hood; Lawrence Street Church, Lawrence, Rev. W. E. Walcott; Free Christian Congregational Church, Andover, Rev. W. B. Make- peace ; South Church, Andover, Rev. J. J. Blair and George Ripley ; Congregational Church, North Andover, Rev. H. H. Leavitt; Rerkely Temple, Bos- ton, Rev. C. A. Dickinson and George S. Avery ; Immanuel Church, Boston, Maj. G. W. Baird ; Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D .; Congregational Church, North Chelmsford, Rev. H. L. Hutchins ; Congregational Church, Dracut, Dea. Thomas Boynton; Congrega- tional Church, Tewksbury, Rev. James Alexander and John E. Foster; Pawtucket Church, Lowell, Rev. C. H. Willcox and Dea. Abel Coburn ; First Church, Lowell, Rev. Smith Baker and F. A. Mc- Master ; Eliot Church, Lowell, Rev. J. M. Greene, D. D., and Dea. George F. Willey ; John Street Church, Lowell, Rev. H. T. Rose and Dea. B. C. Benner; High Street Church, Lowell, Rev. C. W. Huntington and H. H. Barnes; Highland Church, Lowell, Rev. S. W. Adriance and Frank S. Hart ; Swedish Church, Lowell, Rev. Fritz Errickson and Adolph Grahm; also Profs. William J. Tucker, J. W.
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Churchill, John Phelps Taylor and J. P. Gulliver of Andover.
The council was called to order by Rev. J. M. Greene, D. D., and Rev. Smith Baker, D. D., was chosen moderator and Rev. Charles A. Dickinson scribe.
The various records relating to the call, Dr. Dana's response, the action of the Plymouth Church in St. Paul, Minn., his former pastorate, and of the ecclesiastical council called in that city, reluctantly accepting his resignation, were read, after which the pastor-elect gave an account of his christian expe- rience and read a paper giving some outlines of his christian faith. At the conclusion of the statement an opportunity was given the council to question the candidate. As none desired to make further in- quiry, the council, after consultation by themselves, voted unanimously to recommend the installation of the candidate.
The installation exercises, which transpired in the evening, at seven o'clock, were attended by a large audience, and were as follows:
Prayer, by Rev. W. E. Walcott, of Lawrence. Sermon, by Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Right-hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Henry T. Rose, of Lowell. Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. J. P. Gulliver, of Andover. Address to the People, by Rev. Charles A. Dickinson, of Boston. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. James Alexander, of Tewksbury. Benediction, by the Pastor.
PASTORS OF KIRK STREET CHURCH.
Amos Blanchard, installed May 21, 1845; died January 14, 1870.
Charles D. Barrows, ordained July 13, 1871 ; dismissed October 28, 1881. Charles A. Dickinson, installed January 3, 1883; dismissed March 26, 1888, having accepted a call to the Berkeley Street Congregational Church in Boston, where he was installed March 29, of the same year.
Rev. M. M. Dana, installed October 11, 1888.
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DEACONS.
John Aiken, elected May 28, 1845, but declined serving.
Sewall G. Mack, elected May 28, 1845.
James Buncher, elected June 4, 1845, but declined serving.
Samuel W. Stickney, elected June 11, 1845; died March 24, 1875.
James Buncher, elected January, 1847 ; resigned May, 1864 ; died October 8, 1883, at Dartmouth, N. Y.
Nathaniel Bartlett, elected January, 1847; resigned May, 1864.
William S. Southworth, elected May 20, 1864; resigned April 16, 1866; died July, 1875.
Sullivan L. Ward, elected May 20, 1864.
Charles F. Battles, elected May 4, 1866; died November 16, 1870.
Philetus Burnham, elected January 10, 1871.
Samuel Fay, elected December 31, 1875; died April 14, 1880.
Horace B. Shattuck, elected December 31, 1875.
Alexander G. Cumnock, elected December 31, I875.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
Samuel W. Stickney, May, 1845. T. L. P. Lamson, January, 1849. Aaron Walker, March, 1850. Wm. S. Southworth, July, 1851 .*
Josiah G. Coburn, August, 1851.
Samuel Fay, January, 1853 .*
Andrew Moody, January, 1853.
Samuel W. Stickney, June, 1853 .*
Samuel W. Stickney, July, 1853. David Ilyde, June, 1853 .*
George W. Ripley, January, 1862. Julian V. Keyes, January, 1865. Moses A. Johnson, June, 1865. Philetus Burnham, January, 1872.
Alex. G. Cumnock, January, 1874. Albert W. Burnham, January, 1881.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.
Mrs. Caleb G. Weaver,
Mrs. F. F. Battles,
Miss Eliza S. Heald,
Miss Annie Mack,
Miss Sarah B. Simonds,
Mrs. H. B. Shattuck,
Mr. Julian V. Keyes,
Mrs. P. M. Jefferson.
Miss Sarah H. Stickney,
MEMBERSHIP (1884).
Commencing with one hundred and fifty-seven there have been added to that number four hundred and seventy-two by profession and four hundred and forty-six by letter, making a total of ten hun- dred and seventy-five.
* Declined serving.
==.
JOHN STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
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JOHN STREET CHURCH.
The John Street Church was organized May 9, 1839; the Society was incorporated February 22, 1839; and its house of worship was dedicated Jan- uary 24, 1840. It came into existence in response to the call of an imperative religious necessity. The First and Appleton Street Churches, which alone had preceded it, were finding opportunities for christian work multiplying on every hand, and were them- selves strong enough to justify and almost necessi- tate the formation of a third church. They, there- fore, united to furnish the one hundred and forty- three members of the John Street Church, and so great was the enthusiasm that public worship was begun, a Sabbath school of four hundred and twenty- five members was organized, and a house of worship costing $17,884 was erected in less than a year after the act of incorporation was secured.
The first pastor, Rev. S. W. Hanks, was installed March 20, 1840, and the church entered at once upon a period of great usefulness and success. In the twelve years of Mr. Hanks' pastorate six hun- dred and twenty-seven joined the church, three hundred and fifty-seven by profession. Mr. Hanks resigned October 3, 1852, and was succeeded, November 14th of the same year, by Rev. E. B. Foster, who remained until ill health forced him to retire, July 23, 1861. During this time the church had come to hold a position of honor in the com- munity second to none in the city. The next pastor, Rev. J. W. Backus, was installed September 24, 1862, and closed a successful pastorate February 21, 1866.
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