USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 86
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534
IIISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
THE FIRST BRETHREN CHURCH OF HAGERSTOWN -* Was organized in January 1894. The first impulse which led to the estab- lishment of the congregation was a series of meet- ings conducted by Rev. J. C. Mackey in the early fall of 1893. The first services were held in the Western Enterprise Engine House in West Frank- lin street. The Western Enterprise Hall remained the meeting place of the congregation until the completion of the church which they at once pro- ceded to erect.
Articles of incorporation were issued and the church became fully organized on the sixteenth day of January. 1894, with Rev. Dr. John Craw- ford Mackey as pastor. The members of the Board of Trustees were: Joseph S. Emmert, Ben- jamin Fahrney. Henry F. Emmert, Henry A. Pof- fenberger, John C. Bentz, Benjamin N. Emmert and Theodore W. Fahrney.
A building lot was purchased on the south east corner of Antietam and Mulberry Sts., and a frame building was erected. The members of the building committee being Benj. Fahrncy, Benj. Emmert, Benj. Schindel, John Bentz and Jos. Emmert. The church was completed and dedicat- ed in May of the same year, Rev. Mackey preach- ing the dedicatory sermon.
The membership of the new organization numbered thirty-eight, and its first Deacons were : Benjamin Emmert and John C. Bentz. This num- ber was afterward increased to seven by the se- lection of the following additional members : Jos- eph S. Emmert, Benjamin Fahrney, Benjamin Schindel, Henry A. Poffenberger and IIenry F. Emmert. Dr. Mackey remained pastor of the congregation for one year when he resigned to ac- cept a call from a congregation in Myersdale. Pa., Rev. E. B. Shaver then became pastor and served the congregation for a year. The third pastor was Rev. Zed N. Copp, who continued in charge of the congregation till the fall of 1897. The present pastor, Rev. J. M. Tombaugh, D. D., was installed April 1st. 1898. The membership of the congre- gation has increased from thirty-eight in 1894, to two hundred and thirty in 1906.
JACOB'S LUTHERAN CHURCH OF LEITERSBURG DISTRICT *was founded many
years before the village of Leitersburg was estab)- lished. The Lutheran congregation was partly made up by those who worshipped on the banks of Antietam in 1754. Others came from St. John's at Hagerstown, organized before 1769 ; still others come from the Grindstone Hill Church in Franklin County, Pa., which existed as early as 1763; and others from Zion Lutheran Church at Greencastle, Pa.
It is not definitely known when Jacob's Church was organized, but it was about the year 1791. Rev. Gunther Wingardt was pastor from 1791 to 1195. He was succeeded by Rev. John Ruthrauff in 1795, at which time accurate records begin. The first officers were Christian Lantz, Sr., elder; Anthony Bell, elder; John Hafner, deacon ; Henry Jacobs, deacon.
The cornerstone of the new church was laid Sept. 10, 1841, at which Revs. Bomberger and Hoffmeyer of the German Reformed Church, and Revs. Sohn, E. Keller, Conrad and John P. Cline, were present.
The building was enlarged in 1859 a Sunday- School was organized at an early day but it was not a permanent thing until about 1835, when Rev. Jeremiah Harpel became pastor. It has been conducted ever since. John Jacobs and Fred- erick Bell were the first superintendents, elected in 1837. A young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1892. The first offi- cers were Ernest E. Bell, president ; C. L. Walter, vice-president ; Ida M. Bell, recording secretary; Meta Walter, corresponding secretary ; Otho Kahl, treasurer.
The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized in 1893 with these officers : Mrs. Joseph M. Bell, president ; Mrs. Samuel Cook, vice-president ; Mary Cook, recording secretary ; Meta Walter, corresponding secretary; Mrs. C. L. Walter, treasurer.
In the early days the church was known as Friedens Church, and a Church Education and Missionary Society was in existence in 1830. The following are the early pastors: Guenther Win- gardt, John Ruthrauff, Jeremiah Harpel, Jacob Martin, Peter Sohn, D. D., F. W. Conrad, D. D., John Heck, J. F. Campbell, Edwin Dorsey, Al- fred Buhrman, C. L. Keedy, P. Bergstresser, D. D., H. S. Cook. In the carly history of this church, the following persons gave moncy to the
*From Dell's History, Leitersburg District.
Scott
Old German Reformed Church, Hagerstown.
Christ Reformed Church, Hagerstown.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
building committee : Christopher Burkhart, John Ritter, Adam Lyday, Christian Pfeiffer, Carl Goll, George Baker, Christian Burkhart, Jr., Jacob Hu- ber, George Augenstein, Ludwig Emerick, George Baker, Jr., John Bell, David Scholl, Johannes Dornwart, Jacob May, Herman Stoltz, David Be- sore, Jacob Busch, David Ritter, Martin Jacobs, Philip Ripple, Felix Wagner, Jacob Leiter, Sr., George Lantz, George Burkhart, Michacl Sumn- miers, John Wesenman, Andrew . Bell, Jacob Ritter, Mr. Fruhlig, Christian Lantz, Jr., Frederick Nic- odemus, Michael Altig, Henry Jirb, Henry Mil- ler, John Mentzer, Alexander Duncan, John Dor- bart, Jacob Grove, David Sittro, Frederick Mero, William Ebrad, George Leiter, Sr., Simon Fog- ler, Frederick Wagner, Michael Wolfinger, Mat- thias Summers. Rev. C. H. Rockey, Waynesboro, is pastor.
ST. JAMES REFORMED CHURCH OF LEITERSBURG DISTRICT is one of the influ- ential churches. Among the early adherents of the Reformed Church in this section of the Coun- ty, were the Lamberts, Hartlcs, Schrivers, Lec- rons, and of these who located in the district later, were Felix Beck, George Zeigler, Stephen Martin, Christian Russell, John Harbaugh. After the erection of Bcard's Church the the Reformed ad- herents worshipped there until 1826, when the first church was built at Leitersburg. Through the efforts of Rev. Henry Kroh, two Reformed church- cs were organized and he became pastor in 1826. These churches were at Lcitersburg and Cavetown. In 1829 Rev. J. C. Bricker became pastor and one year later he resigned. In 1831 the Leitersburg and Cavetown churches were attached to the Waynesboro charge, then being served by Rev. G. W. Glessner, who was succeeded by Rev. J. II. A. Bomberger and Rev. Theodore Appel. In 1847 the Waynesboro charge was divided and the Cave- town charge was ctsablished, its congregations be- ing Leitersburg, Cavetown, Harbaugh's in Frank- lin County, Pa., and Wolfsville, Frederick County, Md. Dr. Appel was the first pastor of the new charge and served until 1850. Rev. J. W. Santee succeded him in 1851, and continued pastor at Lcitersburg for forty-one and a half years. His successor was Rev. Charles A. Santee and served from 1892 to 1896, and was followed by Rev. S. H. Dietzel. The Harbaugh's Church was de- tached several years ago.
In 1826 Rev. Henry Kroh preached in a grove near the village school house, on the farm of George II. Wolfinger, formerly owned by Solomon Hartle. For a period of nearly forty years, clos- ing in 1866, the Reformed congregations worship- ped in the Lutheran Church. For a short time in 1867, there were no services held by the Re- formed adherents in Leitersburg, but the use of the United Brethren Church was secured and services held there until 1879. A successful ef- fort to erect its own church was made in 1787, and the building committee was Peter Middle- kauff, Jacob) Hartle, Solomon Hartle, John H. Miller, J. Freeland Leiter, John Middlekauff and Rev. J. W. Santee. An acre of ground was pur- chased from Joseph Barkdoll. The corner-stone was -Jaid Sept. 19, 1878, when a sermon was de- livered by Rev. J. O. Miller, of York, Pa., and Rev. Santee and S. S. Miller were present. Ser- vices were held the next week, when Revs. J. Spangler Kieffer, J. N. Motter, and F. F. Bahner, were present. A Sunday-school was organized in 1884. J. D. Lambert was superintendent, as- sisted by B. F. Spessard; Emma Barnhart, secre- tary; J. D. Middlekauff, treasurer. The first teachers were Emma Barnhart, J. A. Strite, J. D. Lambert, Alice Ziegler, Abigail Ziegler, Mrs. Catharine Miller, and Mrs. Rebecca Bowers. Rev. J. P. Harner is the present pastor. He resides in Cavetown.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SMITHSBURG was built in 1873, the corner- stone being laid July 11th of that year, when a number of prominent clergymen from Baltimore city were present : Rev. Rankin, Rev. Lecds, Rev. Leakin and Rev. Dudley, of Christ's Church. The services were conducted by Rev. Mitchell. A melodian was used in the attractive music. The corner-stone was laid by the rector of the Parish, Rev. Mitchell. Rev. Leeds made an address in which he said it was very sweet that a church should be erected in this beautiful spot; in the place where was lately the sound of war now ariscs the anthem of praise. We are creatures of associ- ations, and need our churches for the worship of God. The Christian delights in the Cross which was once the most ignoble object. A church is often looked upon as a place of worship merely, and not of itself a shrine. There was a large number of people present from Hagerstown.
538
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, LEITERSBURG, was organized in 1826. The building committee was, Christopher Burkhart, Frederick Bell, Frederick Zeigler, Lewis Zeig- ler, Joshua Grimes and Jacob Tanner, con- tractor. The ministers were John Ruthrauff, Frederick Ruthrauff, Henry Kroh, Jacob Medtart. Among the carly members are these: Daniel Beard. Mary Beckman, Andrew Bell, Elizabeth Bell, Jacob E. Bell, John Bell, Jr., Mary Bell, Catharine Bigham, David Brant. Caroline Burk- hart. Henrietta Burkhart, Mary A. Burkhart, Phoebe Burkhart, Elizabeth Byer, John Byer, Su- san Cole, Barbara Cook, Mary Cook, Elizabeth Fletcher, Louisa Frey, Susanna Hartle, Mary, Hays. Catherine Hoover, John D. Kieffer, Sam- uel Lahm, Christian Lantz, Elizabeth Lantz, Sam- uel Lantz, Ann Maria Leiter, Barbara Leiter, Catharine Leiter, Elizabeth Leiter, Isabella Leiter, Samuel Leiter, Susan Leiter, Christian Lepley, Catharine Lowman, Jacob Mangle, Catharine Martin, John Martin, C'atharine Metz, James P. Mayhew. Mary Mayhew, Elizabeth Miller, Eliz- abeth Mort, John Nofford. Joseph G. Protzman, Sarah Protzman, Catharine Repp, John Repp, Michael Repp. Peter Repp. Mary Ritter, Jacob Ritter, David Rook, Joseph Ross, Henry Ruthrauff, Jacob Ruthrauff, Susan Ruthrauff, Mary A. Sheetz, John Sheetz, Frederick Schilling, Julia A. Schilling. John Shook Catharine Snider, Hen- ry Snider, Elizabeth Spitzer, Maria Stoff, Cath- arine Tritle. Lewis Tritle, David Wolfinger, Eliz- abeth Wolfinger, Jacob Wolfinger, Michael Wol- finger. Sarah Wolfinger, Henry Yesler, Catharine Ziegler, Frederick Ziegler, George W. Ziegler, Lewis Ziegler, Magdalene Ziegler.
From 1835 to 1845. these persons made up the church council: Frederick Ziegler, Lewis Ziegler, John Byer, Jacob E. Bell, Samuel Lantz, Abner Hays. Henry H. Snider, Lewis Tritle, Samuel Creager, John Bowers. John Kissell, Ja- cob Wolfinger, Frederick Bell, George Bell, Jonas Bell, Samuel Etnyer, James P. Mayhew, Jacob Kissell, Thomas Atkinson.
The following pastors have served this chruch : John Ruthrauff, Jacob Medtart, Benjamin Kurtz, Samuel II. Hoshour, John Reck, John P. C'line, Jolın J. Reimensnyder, Daniel H. Bittle, J. F. Probst. M. C. Horine, Samuel McHenry, X. J. Richardson, Victor Miller. The congregation was a part of the IIagerstown charge before 1828, and from this year to 1880 it was a part of the
Smithsburg charge, the Leitersburg charge being formed in the latter year.
A charter for the incorporation of the church was adopted in 1864. The first trustees were Jacob E. Bell, Jonas Bell, John G. Garver, George Bell, Jacob Hoover and James P. Mayhew. A Sunday-school was organized and after the erection of the church and has been conducted without in- terruption to the present time. In 1887 a Woman's Home Missionary Society was organized. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1892. The church is an element of great good to the community.
METHODIST CHURCH, LEITERSBURG. -The village school house was the place of wor- ship for the Methodist adherents until 1841 when a brick church was built by Alexander Hamilton and Henry Smith of Waynesboro. The house is now a residence. The pastors of the Waynesboro circuit preached here until 1857, after which ser- vices were occasionally conducted by Rev. Henry Stonehouse of that place until the society disband- ed. Among the early members of this church were Edward Smith, who afterward entered the ministry. John Johnson the local class-leader, Jon- athan Humphreys and John Brown.
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SMITHSBURG was organized in 1822. The building committee consisted of Chris- topher Flory, Peter Mong, Jacob Little, John Flory. and John Etnoyer, John Welty and John Sigler collected subscriptions. John Slessinger was secretary and Peter Hammaker, treasurer. John Welty and Peter Hammaker, as the eom- mitter purchased the lot on which to erect the building. The corner-stone was laid May 27, 1822. The ministers present were Revs. Benjamin Kurtz, Jacob Schnure, Jacob Medtart and Peter Reck- sicker, the latter of the German Reformed Church.
In the corner-stone were deposited a Bible, a German and English Catechism. a memorandum with the names of the committees, builders, etc., and a proclamation indicating the purpose of the building and the name "Trinity," by which it was to be known. The church was dedicated June 7, 1824. The ministers who took part in the ser-
539
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
viecs were, Revs. Benjamin Kurtz, John Lind, of Greencastle, Pa .; John Herbst, from Gettysburg, Pa., and Jaeob Sehnurc, from Middletown. The elders were Frederiek Fishack, Conrad Mentzer, Peter Flory and Conrad Flory. The deaeons were Samuel Mackin, Jacob Castle, George Fogler, and George Sigler. The parsonage was built in 1829. The first infant baptized was a child of Jaeob and Catherine Sensebach, the ceremony being perform- cd April 17, 1729, by Rev. S. K. Hoshour. The first communion was held in 1825, there being one hundred and one eommunieants.
The original members mostly eame from . Beard's or St. Peter's Church. Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Hagerstown, served St. Peter's Church as well as other churelics in the County.
The first church was of stone, but being di- lapidated was taken down about 1851, to be re- placed by a new one. Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, af- terwards and for a long time editor of the "Luth- eran Observer," was the first pastor of this church, but resigned soon after the dedication. Rev. S. K. Hoshour succeeded him from 1828 to 1830; he was followed by Rev. John Beck, who served two years. After him came Rev. J. P. Cline, who served from 1833 to 1846. His successor was Rev. J. J. Reimensnyder, who remained until 1851. Rev. L. H. Bittle preached for eighteen months. Rev. J. F. Probst took charge in 1853 and re- mained until 1856. Rev. John Heek became pas- tor in 1857 and died March 11, 1861. Rev. W. F. Eyster followed him and remained until 1865. Rev. M. C. Horine followed and was there until 1869. On May 1, 1870, Rev. S. McHenry beeame pastor and continued until May 1, 1872. He was succeeded Sept. 1., 1872 by Rev. X. J. Richard- son, who served until June 30, 1887; he died Sept. 29, 1889, aged 68 years, 3 months and 15 days. Rev. J. B. Keller took eharge May 1, 1888, and continued until Oct. 25, 1896.He was succeeded by Rev. J. Melvin Killian, who was elected to the office of pastor July 4, 1897, and began his duties August 1, 1897, being installed January 16, 1898. He closed his labor here July 31, 1901. Rev. Dan- iel S. Kurtz, the present pastor, began his official duties December 16, 1901, and was installed as pastor of the "Smithsburg charge," February 22, 1902.
Until 1880, this ehureh was one of a charge of four, the others being St. Peter's (or Beards), St. Paul's at Leitersburg, and Mount Moriah.
The last named was organized in 1831. The church is an active and influential oue, having among its members many of the best families of the neighborhood.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, LEI- TERSBURG, had its origin at religious serviees at the house of Peter Stotler, on the little Antietam ncar Lcitersburg.
Here prayer and elass meeting were regular- ly held, with preaching at intervals by the itin- erant ministers of the denomination. Among the first members were Peter Stotler, Henry Yesler, John Miller, Jacob Dayhoff, Adam Bovcy, and their families, who were succeeded at a later date by Henry Boertner, John D. Eakle, John and Peter Yessler and John Dayhoff. About the year 1835 a church edifice was built at Leitersburg; a parsonage was also sccured and for some years the church prospered. Its membership was grad- ually reduced by death and removal, and finally the church building was sold and the congregation disbanded.
THE METHODIST CHURCH OF SMITHS- BURG was organized in 1831, and the corner- stone was laid in the same year. The church was consecrated in 1835. The first pastor was Rev. Robert S. Winton, who was succeeded by Rev. Henry Smith. The church was rebuilt in 1868 and consecrated in the same year. A Sun- day-school was organized in 1840 and still exists.
CHURCH OF GOD IN SHARPSBURG .- The corner-stone of the Church of God in Sharps- burg was laid on Saturday, May 5, 1879. The ceremony was performed by La Grange Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F. of Boonsboro, Md., assisted by Cherokee Tribe No. 21, I. O. R. M., of Sharps- burg. A procession was formed by the two orders, headed by the Sharpsburg Cornet Band, Josiah F. Staubs, leader, and marched to the Lutheran Church, where an able discourse was delivered by Elder Jones of the Church of God, at Harrisburg, Pa., from the Gospel of St. John 17th chapter and 17th verse: "Sanetify them through thy truth, Thy word is Truth." The speaker dwelt
540
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
principally on the latter clause of the verse, "Thy word is truth."
The line of march was again resumed, and proceeded to the site of the new church. Arriving at the spot, Henry S. Beard, Noble Grand of La Grange Lodge of Odd Fellows, read the service. John P. Smith aeted as Chaplain in the ceremon- ies, after which the silver vessels containing wheat, flowers and water were poured upon the stone, water denoting friendship; flowers, love, and wheat truth, after which the Noble Grand struck the stone three times with the gavel exclaiming : "In the name of Benevolence and Charity, as pro- fessed universally by the order of Odd Fellows; I lay this stone and fix it in the solid wall, whenee may it be no more removed forever."
The documents placed in the stone was a copy of the Holy Bible, Church Advocate and a copy of the By-Lawe of La Grange Lodge No. 36, I. O. O. F. This concluded the exercises. l'he preacher in charge at that time was Elder Samuel W. Naille. The Elders officiating at that church from the dedieation to the present time are the following elders, Naille. Spurrer, Amy, Gist, Kipe, Lookingbill, Cross, Staubs, Philhower, Montgomery, Gerringer, Poisal, Craft. The church was dedicated in October of that year, the eldership meeting and holding conference was in the new church.
The present membership of this church in good and regular standing is 50. The Sharpsburg charge of the Church of God comprises the church- es of Sharpsburg, Fairplay, Antietam, Samples Manor and Pleasantville. Elder Samuel W. Naille, (now deceased) organized this branch of the church at Sharpsburg.
BEARD'S LUTHERAN CONGREGA- TION, LEITERSBURG DISTRICT .-* The earliest history of the present Beard's or St. Pe- ters, Lutheran congregation is not clearly known ; its oldest known congregational records bear date of 1290, tho' the first church building on its pres- ent site was erected 1787 and present one in 1860. Reliable church history shows a church building and congregation on banks of the Antietam, two miles west, existing in 1756, in statement of Rev. J. G. Young in 1786, then pastor of St. John's
congregation, Hagerstown, who says eoneerning this congregation: "1756, about thirteen families of our church united, purchased ten acres of land and built a sort of church, as their eircumstances allowed, about four miles from Hagerstown on the Antietam Creek ; they were served first for several years by Pastor Haushihl from Fredrick and then for a short time by Pastor Schwerdtfeger ; finally, after I received a eall from Hagerstown I was also called there and served them every four weeks until, on account of other pressing duties, I was compelled last year (1785) to relinquish this part of the field; they consist now of from fifty- five to sixty families, many of whom with respeet to their spiritual welfare were thoroughly ruined by the late war, so that little improvement is to be expected; from this congregation four others have originated viz: Hagerstown, Funkstown, Manorland and Conococheague.
County records however place its origin and church building earlier than 1754. In the will of Robt. Downing executed 1st Nov. 1754, a elause referring to this church reads thus: "I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Esther Downing, all that tract or parcel of land, part of the second resurvey on Downings lot, beginning at the most easternmost corner of the first resurvey on Down- ings Lot and running thenee south forty-five de- greees west six perches across the second resurvey and all the land on the most southernmost side of the before mentioned line, containing by esti- mation 113 acres of land, excepting ten acres, to be laid out for and convenient to the meeting house, provided the people that resort to the said meeting house pay for it." On the 9th June 1787, Martin Ridenour and John Beard "by and with the consent of the Lutheran congregation belong- ing to Antietam Church for and in consideration of the sumn of £42." executed a deed to Wm. Shan- afield for 9 1-2 acres of land, part of a tract of 10 acres called God Save the Church, subject to the following reservation : one-half acre thereof, where- on there stands a church and church yard, two perches added on west side and two perehes on south side of said church yard together with the church yard will contain one-half acre of land, the same to be exempted forever; the wagon road from Rohrer's mill to said Shanafield's house, thro' said 10 acres of land is to be kept open, free and clear, that there may be a clear passage to
*Contributed by Rev. Victor Miller.
541
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
said church and the yard forever." Rohrer's Mill is now owned by Joseph Trovinger; the church site and burial ground are embraced in the farm now owned by Dan'l Doub, midway between his farmhouse and the mill, at a distance of about 200 yards from the creck; this reserved half acre and roadway were gradually neglected and en- croached upon. In 1887 when Rev. V. Miller, pas- tor of Beard's congregation was preparing a me- morial sermon he visited the spot and found in an open field, unenclosed, the old burial ground about 12 by 35 feet; half dozen old sand grave- stones lying on ground one of which showed a burial in 1763; one was to the memory of Catlı- arine Hebel born 13th June 1752. Another of Geo. Hertel, born 10th May, 1722, died 13th Sept. 1770; Jacob Hertel died in 1782. Part of anoth- er stone was broken off and only three letters of name remained, Rin, born 19th Sept. 1724; died 27th Aug. 1763. Some years previous many of the grave stones were removed and used in the construction of a culvert along the road and a few years after the remainder were used in making a stone wall; that a spot hallowed by Christian wor- ship and burial for at least 40 years the oldest church site in the valley of the Antietam, the last resting place of many of the pioneers and doubtless of some who rendered loyal service in the French and Indian War and in the Revolution should be thus desecrated is unspeakably sad. Unquestionably this was the site of the original Beard's church, erected perhaps long before 1754; we have recorded in the journal of Rev. Mr. Schlat- ter, a missionary of the Reformed Church the statement of his preaching in a churchi on the west bank of the Conococheague in 1747. This congre- gation was the original of the present St. Paul's Lutheran and Reformed congregation 10 or 12 miles west of this and as all settlements went westward, tis probable that Beard's organization was earlier than 1747, tho' Mr. Downing's will record of 1754, speaking familiarly of a church already built and of a burial ground, as tho' ex- isting for years, is the only authentic evidence of such a probability. Owing to the want of church records previous to 1790, we can but im- perfectly give the pastoral supply of that period : From Rev. J. G. Young, pastor at Hagerstown, 1773 to 1791, we have a statement made in 1786, that the Beard congregation was first served for several years, from Frederick, Md., by Pastors Haushihl and Schwerdtfeger, but whether as pas-
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