History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Volume I, Part 32

Author: Musgrove, Richard Watson, 1840-
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Bristol, N.H., Printed by R. W. Musgrove
Number of Pages: 731


USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bristol > History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 32


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Class-meetings were for many years the spiritual barometers of the church. Every member possessed of spiritual life and power was a weekly attendant at the class-meeting, and an absence of a few months or even weeks was thought to indicate that the person was not fit to be continued as a member of the church. There were large classes at Hill, Alexandria, Hebron, and Bridgewater and in various neighborhoods in town. Benj. Locke was class-leader for many years in the Locke neighbor- hood,2 and was succeeded by Jonathan Emmons. Mr. Emmons


I See Genealogies.


2 For many years, meetings were held about as regularly in the school- house in the Locke neighborhood as at Bristol village. Benj. Locke was a leader. These were the days of the "noisy Methodists," and those who remembered these meetings asserted that the shouting of Mr. Locke and others could be heard at New Hampton village, a mile and a half distant.


REV. WALTER SLEEPER


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ECCLESIASTICAL -METHODIST CHURCH


frequently walked five miles to meet his class, while many of the female members walked three and even four miles to attend. Even as late as 1871, there were seven well-sustained classes in connection with this church, in different parts of the charge. In June of that year, the average attendance of the two classes in Bristol village was over forty each. This meeting has greatly declined in favor among Methodists.


In 1824, Sunday-schools were first established in Bristol by N. S. Berry, Wm. Lewis, and Jonathan Emmons. They were neighborhood schools and undenominational. Mr. Lewis had charge of the school in this village, Mr. Berry of one at the foot of the lake, and Jonathan Emmons one in the Locke neighbor- hood. Later in this village each church had its school, while neighborhood schools were continued for many years in the out- districts.


Previous to the summer of 1874, the usual Sunday services of the church were, preaching in the morning at 10: 30 o'clock; Sunday-school at 12 m .; preaching at I o'clock, and prayer- meeting at 5 o'clock or later. In July of this year, in keeping with the trend of the times, the afternoon preaching service was dispensed with in the Methodist and Congregational churches.


The centennial of organized Methodism in Bristol was ob- served Oct. 22-24, 1901, in connection with a Concord District preachers' meeting. An historical address was given by R. W. Musgrove, and reminiscences by Mrs. Myra S. Judkins. Rev. S. S. Cummings, of Boston; Rev. H. H. Hartwell, Suncook ; Rev. Josiah Hooper, Mill Village; Rev. Otis Cole, Haverhill, Mass .; Rev. R. T. Wolcott, Suncook, all former pastors, and Miss Clara Cushman, daughter of Rev. Lewis P. Cushman, a former pastor, were present and had prominent places on the program.


The papers presented at the preachers' meeting were large- ly of an historical nature. Those who took part, not named above, were Rev. O. S. Baketel, D.D., of Manchester, presid- ing elder ; Rev. A. P. Reynolds, West Thornton ; Rev. Wm. Warren, Tilton ; Rev. C. U. Dunning, Franklin Falls ; Rev. W. M. Cleaveland, Plymouth ; Rev. A. L. Smith, Penacook ; Rev. R. E. Thompson, Gilford; Rev. Joseph Simpson, Concord ; Rev. C. D. Hills, Laconia ; Rev. E. C. Strout, Concord ; Rev. E. C. E. Dorion, Ashland. The pastor, Rev. L. D. Bragg, had charge of the services. Mrs. L. D. Bragg spoke in behalf of the Woman's Home Missionary society, and Miss Cushman for the Woman's Foreign Missionary society. Rev. J. W. Savage of the Congregational church and Rev. T. J. Winslade of the Free Baptist church also made addresses.


SALARIES


The early itinerant preachers had no stipulated salary.


19


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HISTORY OF BRISTOL


Rev. Elijah Hedding received for the first ten years of his minis- try, $45 per year. Rev. Solomon Sias received for his services in 1811, $1.04 above his traveling expenses. Rev. David Kil- burn, speaking of four years previous to 1818, said "neither preacher nor presiding elder received $100 per year for his ser- vices." In 1838, Rev. Holman Drew was paid as senior preacher on the Bridgewater circuit, $286.50, and Rev. Moody Marshall, junior preacher, $103.53. In 1840, Rev. Reuben Dearborn was paid $320, and his assistant, $106. When Bristol became a station, in 1843, the salary paid was $312. One year later it was $375 ; in 1852, it was $400; in 1859, it was $500; in 1865, it was increased to $750, and three years later advanced to $850 ; in 1870, to $950. In 1873, the church paid the largest salary in its history -$1,250. The next three years the salary was $1,200, and then for two years it was $1,000; then for a few years the amount paid was $950. In 1884, it dropped to $850, and three years later was raised to $900, where it remained for nine years. In 1896, it again went up to $1,000, but, in 1901, dropped to $900. These figures include the use of the parson- age, for which from $100 to $200 was charged per year.


MEMBERSHIP


The statistics of the early year-books are not entirely relia- ble, but they furnish the only available source of information concerning the membership of this church. According to this authority, at the end of the first year after the organization of the first class at Bridgewater village, the membership was ten ; in 1810, 205 ; 1820, 1 145 ; 1830, 275 ; 1840, 2 313; 1850, 181 ; 1860, 222; 1870, 240; 1880, 305; 1890, 266; 1900, 223; 1902, 204.


ROLL OF PASTORS


New York Conference - New London District Asher Smith


1801


Vershire District - Bridgewater Circuit


1802 Reuben Jones


Vermont District 1803 Elijah Hedding


1 In 1819, the membership was reported as 261. The decrease is evi- dently accounted for by a transfer of membership to the Canaan circuit.


2 In 1843, the membership of the Bristol church was reported as 490; the next year, as only 275. As there was a corresponding decrease throughout the conference, where the total loss reported was 3,451, the difference is only to be accounted for on the ground of a change in the method of enumeration.


ECCLESIASTICAL - METHODIST CHURCH


291


New England Conference - New Hampshire District


I 804 Caleb Dustin


1817


Job Pratt


Lewis Bates


1818


Orin Roberts


1805 Martin Ruter


Benjamin Bishop


1819


Amasa Cowles


1807 Joseph Farrar


I821


Wallace Locke


1808


William Hunt


1809


Leonard Frost


1810 Warren Bannister


Joseph Lull


1824


James Templeton


18II


Abner Clark


1825


Joseph Kellum


1812


John W. Hardy


1826


Amasa Buck


1813 John Payne


1827


Matthew Newhall


John Lewis


Richard Newhall


1814 John Wilkinson


1828 William Kimball


1815


Jonathan Worthen


Sereno Fisk


Hezekiah Davis


1829


John Adams


1816


Leonard Frost


Caleb S. Beede


New Hampshire and Vermont Conference - Plymouth District


1830 James B. H. Norris


1831 James B. H. Norris Samuel Hackett


New Hampshire Conference - Plymouth District


1832


Nathaniel Ladd


1836


Matthew Newhall E. Pettingill


1833 Warren Wilbur 1837 James Dow A. H. Worthing


Salmon Gleason


1834 Salmon Gleason 1838-39 Holman Drew


Loren H. Gordon


Moody P. Marshall


1835


Matthew Newhall Philo Bronson


1840


Reuben Dearborn John English


Haverhill District


1841 Reuben Dearborn 1847-48 Converse L. McCurdy Henry H. Hartwell 1849-50 Albert C. Manson William Nelson 1851-52 Calvin Holman


1842 Joseph C. Cromack 1853 Samuel Kelley


Jesse Boyden 1854 Silas S. Cummings


1843-44 Nath'1 W. Aspenwall 1855 Lewis P. Cushman


1845-46 Lewis Howard


Concord District


1856


Lewis P. Cushman


1857-58 Josiah Hooper


Damon Young


1806 Joel Winch


1820 Charles Baker


Bristol Circuit


1822-23 Caleb Dustin


Leonard Bennett


David Stickney


Richard Emery


Moses Sanderson


Sylvester P. Williams


S. P. Williams


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HISTORY OF BRISTOL


Concord District


1859-60 Newell Culver


1861-62 John Currier


1863 George N. Bryant I869 Albert E. Drew


1864 J. W. Guernsey


Claremont District


1870 Albert E. Drew


1887-90 Otis Cole


1871-73 George W. Norris 1891-92 Robert T. Wolcott


1874-76 Jesse M. Durrell 1893-97 James D. LeGro


1877-78 Harvey Woodward 1898 Joseph L. Felt


1879-81 Henry S. Thompson


1899-00 Daniel Onstott


1882-83 James Pike, D.D.


1901-02 Lyman D. Bragg


1884-86 John A. Bowler


Presiding Elders


1801-02 John Brodhead


1803 Joseph Crawford


1804-06 John Brodhead


1807-08 Elijah Hedding


1809-10 Martin Ruter


1811-14 Solomon Sias 1863-66 Elisha Adams


1815-18 David Kilburn


1819-22 Jacob Sanborn


1823-26 Benjamin R. Hoyt


1827-29 John F. Adams


1873-76 Moses T. Cilley


1877-80 George J. Judkins


1881-84 Orlando H. Jasper 1885-89 Joseph E. Robins


1890 George W. Norris


1891-95 Samuel C. Keeler 1896 George M. Curl


1897-02 Oliver S. Baketel


1850-51 Reuben Dearborn


1852-55 William D. Cass


1856-59 Lewis Howard


1860-62 James Pike till Nov.


'62, William D. Cass balance of year


1867-69 Lorenzo D. Barrows


1870 Silas G. Kellogg


1871-72 James Pike


1830-31 J. W. Hardy


1832-35 Eleazer Wells 1836-39 B. R. Hoyt 1840-43 C. D. Cahoon 1844 Justin Spalding


1845-46 Russell H. Spalding


1847-49 Justin Spalding


1865 William H. Jones


1866-68 James Thurston


REV. NEWELL CULVER REV. ALBERT E. DREW REV. JESSE M. DURRELL


REV. JAMES THURSTON REV. GEORGE W. NORRIS REV. OTIS COLE


CHAPTER XXIV


ECCLESIASTICAL-CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY


Hear the tolling of the bells - Iron bells ! What a world of solemn thought their monody compels.


- Poe.


It has been shown in previous pages that ministers of the Congregational order held services in Bristol before the dawn of the nineteenth century, coming largely from adjoining towns with messages of love to the people. The attention of the New Hampshire Missionary society connected with the Congrega- tional church was early called to the spiritual needs of this section of the state. In 1813, "Rev. Mr. Sawyer" was employed "to spend eight weeks on the highlands between Salisbury and Haverhill " from the middle of July till the middle of September. He visited New Chester, Alexandria, Danbury, Bridgewater, Dorchester, Wentworth, Warren, Piermont, Canaan, Orange, and Springfield ; preached forty times; made one hundred and sixty calls ; visited schools, and distributed religious literature. In 1815, a missionary of this society reported that Bridgewater village was "much improved "; that it had a "Reading society, a Catachetical society and a Praying society," "all of which met encouragement." Peter Hazelton, who kept tavern in what is now known as the Fisk block, was paid, in 1817, $23 for boarding missionaries while laboring here. Rev. Thomas Holt labored ten weeks, in 1820, in Bristol, Alexandria, and Bridge- water. He reported that he was kindly received in Bristol village, and that a Congregational church might be formed here of ten or twelve members. The next year, he labored thirty- three weeks in this section, for the Missionary society, dividing his time among Bristol, Hebron, Alexandria, Salisbury, and Northfield. He was followed by Rev. Amos W. Burnham who labored eighteen weeks in Bristol village that year, and several months in 1822. In 1824, Rev. Jacob C. Goss labored here five weeks.


In 1821, Hon. Thomas W. Thompson, of Concord, died. Mr. Thompson was a large owner of real estate in Bristol, and one of the trustees of the New Hampshire Missionary society. He was much interested in missionary work in this section. In his will he made the following bequest to the town of Bristol :


Iga


294


HISTORY OF BRISTOL


I give and devise to the town of Bristol in the county of Grafton, the following tracts of land, to wit : lot No. 5 in the second division, as laid out by the proprietors of New Chester, but which now lies within the jurisdictional lines of the said town of Bristol; also the Point lot,1 so called, in the said town of Bristol, as laid out by the proprietors of New Chester ; also a lot of land, numbered 7 in the Ist division in Alexandria, in the county of Grafton, to hold to the said town of Bristol and their assigns in fee simple forever, under the following limitations and con- ditions, to wit : that those lands or the avails of them to be appropriated to the building and completing of a meeting house in said Bristol, about the size and value of the meeting house in Salisbury village; commonly called Eastman's village, and after the general model of said meeting house, the pews to be slips and the seats fastened down, so that there shall not be a seat in the meeting house lifted up or lowered down during public wor- ship ; the pulpit to be built after the model of the pulpit in the Presbyte- rian meeting house at Saratoga Springs in the state of New York. This devise is on the condition that the said meeting house be built and completed by said town of Bristol within six years from the time of my decease, and upon the further conditions that the taxes of every descrip- tion upon said devised lands be in the meantime paid by said town of Bristol, and on the further condition that the pews in said meeting house be sold at auction in the customary manner, and that such a part of the avails of the sale of pews as the amount contributed by this devise bears to the whole expense of the building and completing said meeting house shall constitute a fund forever in the hands of the said town of Bristol, the interest of which shall be forever appropriated to the support of the gospel ministry in said meeting house after the Congregational order and shall be subject to the order or draft and expenditure of a majority of the Congregational part of the proprietors of said meeting house.


At its annual meeting in 1822, the town voted to accept the lands devised, but did nothing towards carrying out the pro- visions of the will. Thus matters drifted till the annual meet- ing in 1826, when the town voted "not to build a meeting house as a town" but to "relinquish its rights to any society that would give a sufficient bond of indemnity" to the town. A bond signed by Richard H. Sawyer and others was presented and accepted. At that time, Rev. Samuel Arnold was laboring here under a commission from the Missionary society to devote a year to the work in Bristol, Alexandria, and Hebron. Under his influence and the stimulus of the above vote the same month, a paper was circulated in Bristol that read as follows :


The undersigned individuals propose to form themselves into a society for the purpose of preserving for the benefit of the town of Bristol and its vicinity the donations of the late Thomas W. Thompson in the manner prescribed by his will. The first meeting of said society to be holden at the hall of Capt. Ones. Page 2 in Bristol village, Saturday, the 25th of March, inst., at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of


I This was one of the original parsonage lots, described as " a point of land on westerly side of Newfound pond and a small island opposite." 2 In the Fisk block.


295


ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH


organizing said society, assuming a suitable corporate name, and transact- ing such other business as may then be thought proper.


Names of Subscribers


Ichabod C. Bartlett


Fry Holt


Jacob Gurdy


N. G. Upham


Elijah Butrick


David Sleeper


A. L. Webster


Isaiah Emerson


Gilman Ingalls, Jr.


Solomon Cavis


Joshua T. Page


Joseph Moore


Philip Webster


Samuel C. Brown


Benjamin Kidder


R. H. Sawyer


Moses H. Bradley


Robert Smith


Jerahmeel Bowers


Joseph B. Eastman


Amos Brown


John McClary


Samuel Smith


David Cheney


Reuben Hosmer


Daniel Sanborn


George W. Truel


Ones. Page


Abbott Lovejoy


Aaron Sleeper


Jesse Sanborn


William L. Chase


John Little


J. T. Sanborn


The first meeting of the subscribers was held at the hall desig- nated, on Saturday, Mar. 25, 1826, and at that time a society was organized. Moses H. Bradley, Esq., was chosen chairman, and Dr. Samuel Smith, secretary. It was voted to assume the name and title of "The First Congregational Society of Bristol." At a meeting held Apr. 26, a committee, consisting of Hon. Moses H. Bradley, Philip Webster, and N. G. Upham, Esq., was elected to take necessary steps looking to the erection of a house of worship, and to procure plans of the Salisbury meeting-house. This meeting adjourned to May 13, and then from time to time till Dec. 2, 1826, when N. G. Upham, Philip Webster, John Little, Ebenezer Kendall, and R. H. Sawyer were elected a committee to draft plans, select a lot, and receive proposals for building. Dec. 11, this committee reported that John Mason and James Gordon, of New Hampton, had offered to build a house of one story after a model furnished, for the lands devised and $600 in money ; or one like the Salisbury meeting-house for the land and $750. Both these offers were rejected. Finally Messrs. Mason and Gordon were offered the lands and $595 in money for a church after the model of that at Salisbury ; and this offer was accepted. The site selected for the church was "Fry Holt's garden," and here the church was erected. The committee on plans was made a building committee.


The Congregational church of Bristol was organized in the Methodist chapel, Nov. 15, 1826, under the name of the " First Congregational Church of Christ of Bristol." The following clergymen were present: Rev. Jonathan Ward, Rev. Andrew Rankin, and Rev. Samuel Arnold. Prayers were offered by Mr. Rankin and Mr. Ward ; a sermon was preached by Mr. Rankin, and an address given to the church by Mr. Ward. The follow- ing persons united with the church at this time, a meeting for their examination having been previously held at the house of Richard H. Sawyer :


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HISTORY OF BRISTOL


John Gutterson, from the church in Alexandria.


Mary Bradley, from the church in Concord.


Sally Lewis, from the church in New Hampton.


Mary Sawyer, from the church in Boscawen.


Mary Bartlett, by profession.


Relief Sawyer, by profession.


Miriam L. Little, by profession.


Samuel Smith, from church in New Hampton.


Susanna Sawyer, from church in Boscawen.


Dorothy Bowers, from church in Hill.


At this meeting all the above named subscribed the following


ARTICLES OF FAITH


I. We believe that there is but one God, the Creator, Preserver, and Moral Governor of the universe ; a being of infinite power, knowledge, wisdom, justice, goodness, and truth ; the self-existent, independent and immutable Fountain of good.


2. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God ; that they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for instruction in righteousness ; and that they are our only rule of doctrinal belief and religious practice.


3. We believe that the mode of divine existence is such as lays a foundation for a distinction into three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and that these three are one in essence, and equal in power and glory.


4. We believe that God has made all things for himself ; that known unto him are all his works from the beginning; and that he governs all things according to the counsel of his own will.


5. We believe that the Divine law and the principles and adminis- tration of the divine government are perfectly holy, just and good ; and that all rational beings are bound to approve them as such.


6. We believe that God at first created man in his own image, in a state of rectitude and holiness, and that he fell from that state by trans- gressing the divine command in the article of the forbidden fruit.


7. We believe that in consequence of the first apostacy, the heart of man in his natural state is destitute of all holiness, and in a state of posi- tive disaffection with the law, character and government of God; and that all men, previous to regeneration, are dead in trespasses and sins.


8. We believe, that although the invitation of the gospel is such, that whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely ; yet the depravity of the human heart is such that no man will come to Christ, except the Father, by the special and efficacious influences of his spirit, draw him.


9. We believe that Christ, the Son of God, has, by his obedience, sufferings and death, made atonement for sin; that he is the only Re deemer of sinners; and that all, who are saved, will be altogether in- debted to the grace and mercy of God for their salvation.


IO. We believe that those who embrace the gospel were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love; and that they are saved, not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to the distinguish- ing mercy of God through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.


II. We believe that those who cordially embrace Christ, although they may be left to fall into sin, will never be left finally to fall away and


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ECCLESIASTICAL - CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH


perish ; but will be kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation.


12. We believe that there will be a general resurrection of the bodies both of the just and the unjust.


13. We believe that all men must one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive a just and final sentence of retribution according to the deeds done in the body ; and that, at the day of judgment, the state of all will be unalterably fixed ; and that the punishment of the wicked and the happiness of the righteous will be endless.


14 We believe that Christ has a visible church in the world, into which none, in the sight of God, but real believers, and none, in the sight of men, but visible believers, have right of admission.


15. We believe that the sacraments of the New Testament are Bap- tism and the Lord's Supper ; that believers in regular church standing only can consistently partake of the Lord's Supper, that visible believers and their households can only consistently be admitted to the ordinance of Baptism.


Dec. 7, 1826, Sarah Hall was admitted to this church by letter from the church at Hopkinton. The next sabbath, Rev. Andrew Rankin, pastor of the church at Thornton, preached, administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, baptized a daughter of Dr. Samuel Smith, and received Sally Minot into the church on profession of faith. No further meetings of the church appear to have been held till June 21, 1827, when the members assembled at the house of R. H. Sawyer. At this time, Judith Ayer, Priscilla Smith, and Alsa G. Bowers pre- sented themselves as candidates for membership, and were ex- amined. It was voted to receive them "at the first convenient opportunity." This opportunity was Sunday, July 22, when Rev. Jonathan Ward, of Plymouth, preached, administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and baptized a son of John Little. He also received into the church the three candidates named above, Dr. Moody C. Sawyer, and Sarah Lewis, all on profession of faith. At the end of the first year, the number of members was, therefore, seventeen.


On the eighteenth day of February, 1827, there was organ- ized in connection with the society "The Bristol Ladies' Bible Association," auxiliary to the New Hampshire Bible society. Its object was to aid in the circulation of the Bible, especially among the destitute. The officers were : President, Mrs. Susan Sawyer; secretary, Mary G. Bradley ; treasurer, Mrs. Lucy Jane D. Webster; collector, Miss Mary Bartlett. The other members were Anne Bartlett, Pamela P. Smith, Eliza W. Lewis, Priscilla Smith, Polly H. Kimball, Relief Sawyer, Nancy Page, Martha Brown, Lavinia Sleeper, Sally Lewis, and Olivia Tolford.


The meeting-house was built in the summer of 1827. The raising of the frame occupied two days, and was attended by a large number of people. A barrel of rum, provided for the occa- sion, stood at the northwest corner of the grounds. This sup-


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HISTORY OF BRISTOL


ply did not prove sufficient, and a half barrel was added the second day. Notwithstanding this generous supply, only one man showed the effects of his libations. This man, after the ridgepole was in place, climbed to the top, and from that posi- tion sang a song. I


The church edifice, as originally completed, was a two-story structure, nearly square- 44 x 50 feet. There was a gallery on the north and south sides and west end. The "singing seats" were in the gallery, on the west end, opposite the pulpit. The gallery was reached by stairs on both sides of the pulpit. The pulpit was nearly on a level with the floor of the gallery, and was reached by a flight of stairs; but there was no sounding- board over it. The church was lighted by two rows of win- dows, one for the first and the other for the second story. The pews were of the box variety, but, as provided in the will of Mr. Thompson, all parts of the pews were stationary, so there was no lifting up or slamming down of seats during divine wor- ship, so common in those days. The dedication took place Sept. 26, 1827, at II o'clock in the forenoon. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. Francis Norwood, of Laconia. Among the incidents of the day were the presentation of a Bible for the desk from Dea. William Arnold, of Charlestown, Mass. ; a hymn-book from Rev. Samuel Arnold, and a communion and baptismal service from Rev. Warren Fay, pastor of the Congre- gational church at Charlestown, Mass.


The sale of the pews commenced Saturday, Oct. 13, at 10 o'clock, a. m., and continued for a part of six days, till all the pews were disposed of. In payment for each, two notes were taken, one running to the society for one-third the purchase money ; the other, for two-thirds the purchase money, running to the town, to constitute the fund provided for in the will of Mr. Thompson. In 1839, the town turned these notes over to the society. In 1855, this fund amounted to $800. The following is a list of the sales, in the order made, and the price of each :




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