USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of State Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Trenton, New Jersey : prepared for 26th anniversary of dedication, June 14, 1886 > Part 1
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STATE ST. M. E. CHURCH.
1859 -1886
Gc 974.902 T72hi
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02946 3012
40
Gc 974.902 T72hi
History of State Street Methodist Episcopal Church,
OF
STATE STREET
METHODIST
PISCOPAL
MURCM,.
TRENTON, N. J.
PREPARED FOR
26th Anniversary of Dedication,
JUNE 14, 1886, -BY-
REV. J. L. SOOY, GEN. JAMES F. RUSLING, COMMITTEE.
GEORGE W. MACPHERSON, EsQ.,
IRA W. WOOD, EsQ.,
" Walk about Zion, and go round about her ; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces ; that ye may tell it to the generation following."-Psalms 48-12.
TRENTON, N J. - 1886.
When County Public Library 200 Weister Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
PRINTED BY MACCRELLISH & QUIGLEY, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, 16 EAST STATE ST., TRENTON, N. J.
PREFACE.
IN PREPARING this History of State St. Methodist Episcopal Church, for the 26th Anniversary of its Dedication, the Committee thought it well to give a brief preliminary sketch of Methodism in Trenton. The materials proved so rich, they have far exceeded the limits originally set for said work. But the facts seemed so valuable, and their preservation in printed form so important, the Committee have felt justified in embodying them here. For errors and omissions, they beg pardon in advance.
TRENTON, N. J., June 14, 1886.
CONTENTS.
METHODISM, origin of, in Trenton, . First Methodist Preaching in Trenton, 66 Society in Trenton,
PAGE.
7
8
Church in Trenton,
IO
Laying of Corner-Stone in Trenton,
IO-II
66
Subscription-List in Trenton, . II-12
Church, cost of, in Trenton, I2
" building of, in Trenton, I3
location, size, &c., in Trenton, I4
deed of, in Trenton, 15
Class and Class-Leader in Trenton, 14
Board of Trustees in Trenton, I5
Trustees' and Stewards' Book of Minutes in Trenton, II
Episcopal Church in Trenton, 16
Church, Greenwich Twp., Gloucester Co., N. J., I6
17-18
in New Jersey, at Trenton, II-16-19
66 " United States, 19
19
Third
11-16-19
First
Preacher in Trenton, . I9
66 Stationed Preacher in Trenton, 23
Parsonage in Trenton, 25
66
Conference in U. S., 19
20
Incorporation in Trenton, 26
Session of N. J. Conference, .
Second
M. E. Church in Trenton,
23 24
Third
" "
27
Bethesda 66
24-27
Bethlehem "
26
Greene St.
27
Deed of, .
27
First Board of Trustees,
28
Dedication of, 28
Cost of,
28
Present Strength, Pastor, &c., 29
29-30
. 30
Methodist Preachers in Revolution,
22
Episcopal Church established in U. S., . 23
Capt. Thomas Webb in Trenton, . 7-12
66
16
66
66
.
Front
Union
" N. J.,
27
Second 66
Bethel Hurfville),
9
vi
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Francis Asbury in Trenton,. 8, 9, 10, 20, 21
at Asbury, Warren County, N. J., 21-22
" on Slavery, 14
on Temperance, .
22
66 his work in America, 22
Joseph Pilmoor in Trenton, 12
John Fitch in Trenton, I2
Methodist Preachers in Trenton, 1772-1845, 20-24
STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH, . 30
Organization and Departure from Greene Street M. E. Church, 30-31
First Pastor, 32
Deed of Church and Parsonage Lot, 32
Laying of Corner-Stone, 33
Dedication,
34
Sale of Pews, .
35
Cost of Church and Lot, . 35
Architect, Contractors, Edifice, etc., 36
Parsonage, Cost, etc.,
37
Organ, Cost, etc.,
37-38
New Chapel,
38
Laying of Corner Stone, 39
Dedication, .
39-40
Architect, Contractors, Edifice, Cost, etc.,
40
Sunday School,
Missionary Society,
42
Women's Foreign,. 42-43
Women's Home, . 43
Parsonage Aid Society, Ladies', 43
Methodists, etc., in New Jersey and United States, 1772-1886,
Original Members State Street M. E. Church, 1859,
46
Original Officers
66
1859, .
47
Additional Members
.6
1859,.
48
Pastors
Sup'ts Sunday School .€
1859-1886,
49-50
Ass't Sup'ts S. S.
1859-1886,. 49-50
Missionary Directors
66
1859-1886, 50
Officers Women's Foreign Missionary Society, 1882, . 50
Officers Ladies' Parsonage Aid Society, 1864,
Members State Street M. E. Church, 1886,
51-64
Officers 1886,. 65
Sunday School, 1886, 66
Missionary Society, 1886, 66
66
Women's Foreign Missionary Society,. 67
.6 66
Women's Home Missionary Society, . 67
Ladies' Parsonage Aid Society,. 67
Committees
1886,.
66-67
Calendar 66 66
1886, 68
Friendly Counsels,
69
41
44-45
1859-1886,.
49
50
Methodism in Trenton, N. 8.
" What hath God wrought!"-Numbers 23-23.
METHODISM here dates back to an early period in the history of Methodism in America. The latter began about 1763, and it was not long afterwards before Methodism gained a feeble foothold in Trenton. It was probably in- troduced here in 1766* by Capt. Thomas Webb, of the British army, who was a Quartermaster under the ill-fated Braddock in the French and Indian war, 1755-1760. He also served with Wolfe at Quebec, where he lost his right eye. In 1764 he had been converted under the preaching of John Wesley, and early became a local preacher. Said Mr. Wesley of him, after hearing him preach in London: " He is a man of fire, and the power of God certainly attends his word." Said
John Adams of him in 1774 (being then in Continental Congress and hearing him preach in Philadelphia): “ He is one of the most fluent, eloquent men I ever heard." He usually preached in his uniform of a British officer, and was an active and enthusiastic Methodist, holding services in his own house and elsewhere. In 1766 he was stationed in Albany, N. Y., as " Barrack-Master "+ (Quartermaster), and frequently visited New York, preaching in both places; and it is highly probable that he then also visited Trenton, as the British had then important barracks here, built for the use of their troops during the French and Indian war. These are still standing, in part, on West Front street, near Willow, and occupied as "Widows' and Single Women's Home." In 1767 possibly, but in 1768 certainly, he visited
* Raum's History of Trenton, p. 115.
+ Lednum's Methodism in America, p. 33.
A
8
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Philadelphia and preached, and formed a class of seven persons there, 1768 .* In traveling from New York to Phil- adelphia, of course, he passed through Trenton, and it is reasonable to suppose that he then tarried and preached here, if not in 1766. It is certain that there were Methodists here in 1768; for in that year Samuel Tucker and John Hart were competitors for the Assembly, and Tucker was sup- ported by the "Episcopalians, Methodists, and Baptists, and Hart by the Presbyterians," and Tucker, of course, won!+ So, also, Richard Boardman, an early Methodist itinerant, in a letter of Nov. 4, 1769, to Mr. Wesley, says that he left Philadelphia for New York Oct. 24, 1769, and " in a large town on his route through New Jersey he saw a Barracks, and inquired of a soldier if there were any Methodists here." "Yes, we are all Methodists ; that is, we would be glad to hear a Methodist preach," was the reply. So they procured the Presbyterian church, and rang the bell, and that night he preached-"a great company assem- bled and were much affected by the sudden appeal." Of course, this "large town " with a " Barracks " was Trenton, then a place of about one hundred houses, and such was early Methodist preaching here.
In 1770 there was further preaching here, for under date of Nov. 6, 1770, Joseph Pilmoor, another early itinerant, says: "I had appointed to preach at Bordentown, but it being court-day many of the people could not attend. However, we got a small congregation, to whom I gave an exhortation, and pushed on to Trenton, where I had been desired to preach."
Now comes the next early itinerant and easily chief among them all, Francis Asbury himself, afterwards Bishop M. E. Church, who landed in Philadelphia from England Oct. 27, 1771, and preached in Trenton May 20, 1772. Here is his record of that first service: "Wednesday, 20, went
* Lednum's Methodism in America, p. 39.
+ Sedgwick's Life of Gov. Livingston, p. 143.
9
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
to Trenton, but as the Court was sitting, I was obliged to preach in a school-house to but few people; and as there were soldiers in the town, I could hardly procure lodging."* This "school-house " was probably one formerly on War- ren street, opposite West Hanover or thereabouts, and for his service that day the " Methodist Society" here paid him the sum of six shillings. He was again here Monday, June 8, 1772, for on that day he records: " With much dis- agreeable company I set off for Trenton, where many felt the divine power accompanying the word preached."+ For that service he was paid June 10, 1772, {I. June 29, 1772, he was again in Trenton, and says: "Set out for Trenton (from Philadelphia) with some loose and trifling company in the stage. After preaching in the evening with some life and energy, I went the next day to preach in the field, and then returned and preached with freedom to many people in the Court-House.
July I. Went over the Ferryt and preached to many people; among whom were some fine women, who behaved with airs of great indifferency. Returning to Trenton, I preached at night, and the next morning at 5, after which I set out for Philadelphia, with unprofitable company." ? For these six services in 3 days in and about Trenton the Society here paid him July I, {I.
He was here again July 19, 1772, and preached at night, after first preaching in the morning at Philadelphia, and July 22, 1772, makes the following important record: "Wed- nesday. In meeting the small society of about 19 persons, I gave them tickets, and found it a comfortable time. They are a serious people; and there is some prospect of much good being done in this place. After preaching on Tuesday morn- ing over the ferry, and in the evening at Trenton, I took
* Asbury's Journal, Vol. I, p. 17.
+ Asbury Journal, Vol. I, p. 18.
į Foot of Ferry street to Morrisville, Pa.
2 Asbury Journal, Vol. I, p. 20.
IO
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
leave of them on Wednesday morning, and set out for Phil- adelphia."* Now this is the first record we have of a Methodist Love-Feast in Trenton (" tickets" being required for Love-Feasts then and long afterwards), and for this ser- vice the Society here paid him July 23, {1 IOS. 6d.
Oct. 20, 1772, he was in Trenton again ; " but a drunken sailor had locked up the Court-House, so I was obliged to preach in a school-house, where we had a comfortable meeting ; and also at 5 o'clock the next morning.
"Thursday, Oct. 22. In the morning I preached over the river, and in the evening at Trenton, with some assist- ance, And many young people attended." +
For these services he does not appear to have received anything.
His next appearance here was April, 1773, and his record of it is as follows : "From Saturday 17 till, Thursday the 22 was spent in the Jerseys ; where I preached at different places, and often to large congregations. The Lord was frequently with me in mercy and power ; and my heart was greatly enlarged. How I long to be more holy-to live more with God, and for God. Troubles encompass me about ; but the Lord is my helper. Before my return to Philadelphia, I had the pleasure of seeing the foundation laid of a new preaching-house, 35 feet by 30 feet. Then I returned (Phila.) and preached on Thursday evening, (22d) the Lord being with me." When was that " foundation laid ?" Probably April 21-22, 1773.
We give this entry in full, because of its significance and very great importance. It will be noticed, he does not mention Trenton in it. But we have the proof, that he was here then, and that he then laid the Corner-Stone of the first Methodist Church in Trenton, if not in New Jersey, and the third probably in the United States. That "proof"
* Asbury Journal, Vol. I, p. 21.
+ Asbury Journal, Vol. I, p. 30.
į Asbury Journal, Vol I, p. 48.
J
7
II
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
is an aged Account Book, now in the possession of the Trustees of Greene St. M. E. Church, containing the Minutes of the first Board of Trustees of the "Methodist Society" here from Jan. 9, 1773 to Sept. 19, 1837 ; and also the Accounts of the Stewards from April 19, 1772 to March I, 1776 .* In this Account-Book appear the payments to Mr. Asbury, that we have already given, but under that same date of "April 22, 1773," there is entered a further payment to him of "10 shillings," proving conclusively that it was here in Trenton he was April 21-22, and not elsewhere. As further evidence, on the first page of said Account-Book or Book of Minutes, is a "List of the sub- scribers for building a Methodist Preaching House in Tren- ton, Nov. 25, 1772." Mr. Asbury calls it a "preaching- house," and this old Book also calls it a "Preaching House." Further, Asbury gives the dimensions of this new edifice as "35 feet by 30 feet," and it is a well estab- lished fact, that there was no Methodist Church of that size at or about that period elsewhere in New Jersey. Fur- ther, when we came to build "Bethlehem" or the Lamber- ton (6th Ward) Church here in 1834, we built it of these exact dimensions-"30 feet by 35"+-copying said Preach- ing House. Hence, we conclude, that it is impossible, that Asbury could have been elsewhere than here at Trenton on that memorable April 21-22, 1773, and that here it was he was that day laying our original "Corner-Stone." This old "Subscription List" is itself worthy of some notice. Though our Society here then consisted of only "about 19 'persons," according to Mr. Asbury, this Subscription-List contains the names of 124 persons, chief among whom were Conrad Kotts, Alexander Carr, Jr., James Emerson, John Fitch, George Ely, Joseph Toy, Benj. Yard, Sen., and
* The Committee desire here to acknowledge their obligations to Hon. Wm. S. Yard, for bringing said Book to their notice, and for other valuable information courteously placed at their disposal.
+ Book of Minutes Greene St. M. E. Church 1834.
I2
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Capt. Thom. Webb. Conrad Kotts was the first Methodist Steward in Trenton, and afterwards (Feb. 7, 1806) became President of the Board of Trustees; Joseph Toy the first class-leader; Capt. Thomas Webb was the noted British Officer and Local Preacher already referred to ; John Fitch was the inventor of the first steamboat in America, or at least contested that honor with Robert Fulton ;* and Benj. , Yard, Sen., was a Justice of the Peace (an important civil officer in old Colonial times, as now in England), and great-grandfather of Hon. William S. Yard, now Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County, and also of Joseph B. Yard and George H Yard, members of State St. M. E. Church 1859-1886.+
The total subscriptions footed up £213 Is. od., and like all such subscriptions, of course, fell short in the collection- yielding only £1739s. 2d. The "Preaching-House" appears to have been completed Sept. 1, 1773, or thereabouts, as there is an entry in said old Account-Book of that date as follows: " To cash for a Bible for the use of the House, {1 9s. od." This is further corroborated by a passage in the Journal of Mr. Pilmoor, Sept. 14, 1773, where he says : “Went on as far as Trenton, where I stopped to visit the Society. In the evening I preached in the shell of the new Chapel with a degree of divine energy and life, and many seemed deeply affected with the word of the Lord."
The total cost of this "Preaching-House was £193 6s. 2d., as appears from said Book, or about $1,000, equivalent to about $2,000 now -a respectable sum for "19 members " to raise then. They seem to have raised it all by subscribing themselves, or by subscriptions in New York and elsewhere,
* He afterwards became gunsmith or armorer for the "Committee of Safety" here during the Revolution, and was expelled from the " Methodist Society " for working on the Sabbath. See Hall's History of Presbyterian Church in Trenton, P. 25I.
+ Simpson in his Cyclopedia of Methodism p. 870 reports " Conrad Cotts" as the " first class-leader" here. But he spells the name wrong, and the facts are as above given.
13
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
except the sum of £30, which they " borrowed upon interest of Jamima Ely," according to said Book, June 22, 1773, and I2S. 9d, which they received from "a prize lottery ticket," Aug. 27, 1774, evidently purchased by them. There were but "about 19 " of them, all told ; and yet in 1772, while subscribing for their own Preaching-House, and straining every nerve apparently, they also collected and paid £13 IOS "for ye Phila. House"-to help out the Society there. What a tribute to the piety, and faith, and heroism of these early Methodists that was! The money (£193 6s. 2d.) was paid out for labor and materials usual on such occasions; but they lost £3 by "a counterfeit bill received of Mrs. Hoops,"* 1774, and as an illustration of the changed customs of the times and of our real progress and reform since then, we further quote from said Book as follows:
s. d.
March 27, 1773. To 2 Quarts of Rum for Workmen 2
April 9. To 2 Gallons of Cyder 2
IO. To a Quart of Rum I To Cash for I Gallon of Rum (4s.) Cyder (6d.) : 4 6
66
I3. To 3 Quarts of Cyder 9 To Cash for I Gallon of Rum 4
Of course, no Christian church would allow such items in her Building Accounts in 1886; but in 1773 such beverages were not unusual among clergymen and ministers at councils and synods even. Thank heaven that we live in better times and more excellent days! At that time, too,
* No doubt this was by mistake, for " Elizabeth Hoops " appears as one of the original subscribers to the Preaching-House, and besides the Book shows : "March 1, 1776, Received of Mrs. Hoops {2 5s.," which evidently was her effort to make good said " counterfeit bill," at least in the main,
14
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
slavery existed in all the Colonies. But Francis Asbury (grand old man), in advance of his day, was bitter against it, and missed no occasion to denounce and execrate it. He and Coke called on Washington May 26, 1785, "who received us very politely, and gave us his opinion against Slavery,"* and when that foremost American died he wrote Jan. 4, 1800: "Matchless man! In his will he ordered the manumission of his slaves -a true son of Liberty in all points."+
This old Account Book further shows that there was a Methodist Class in existence here April 19, 1772,į with Joseph Toy in charge, for on that day he paid over to Conrad Kotts, steward, " Class-money 12 shillings," and between then and July 5th, 1772, paid over in all £4-13s. od. He continued to pay " Class-money " regularly until Feb. 25, 1776. This was probably one of the first regularly organized classes in New Jersey, if not the first, originating doubtless in 1771 or earlier .¿ Mr. Toy was a school-teacher here, originally from Burlington, and evidently a man of considerable culture. About 1787, he was appointed Pro- fessor of Mathematics and English Literature in Cokesbury College, Maryland (first Methodist College in America), and after it was burned down (1796), he became a Methodist preacher in the Baltimore Conference (1801) and continued in the ministry over twenty years.
This first " Methodist Preaching-House " in Trenton was a frame building, "thirty-five feet by thirty," according to Mr. Asbury, and was located on the northeast corner of Greene and Academy streets (then called Queen and Fourth streets), where Ivins Bros.' grocery store now stands. Prior to its erection, the Society here seems to have worshipped in private dwellings, or school-houses, or the Court-House. ||
* Asbury Journal, Vol. I, p. 385.
+ Asbury Journal, Vol. 2, p. 366.
Į This was 14 months before the first Methodist Conference assembled in Phila- delphia, June, 1773.
¿ Atkinson's Methodism in New Jersey, pp. 36-143
|| Asbury's Journal, Vol. I, p. 17-20-30, &c.
15
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Raum, in his History of Trenton, p. 116, says they also had a place of worship in a barn or stable, on the south side of Academy street, "directly opposite the dividing line between the Corner-store (Ivins') and the Trenton Academy." This seems unlikely, as neither Boardman, Pilmoor, nor Asbury makes mention of it. But it is pos- sible they had a rented room there, for a while, and this may have drawn their attention to the aforesaid corner-lot nearly opposite, as a favorable location. They began to build here, as we have said, Dec. 1772, as appears by said old Account-Book; but they did not get their Deed until July 28, I773. This was "for ye Lott and Frame £56," as per said Account-Book, and was recorded Aug. 3, 1773 at a cost of "IOS.," and was from John Rossell and wife to the following Board of Trustees: "James Emerson, storekeeper, Conrad Kotts, tailor, Robert Singer, barber, Joseph Toy, school- master, George Ely, carpenter, Alexander Carr, chair- maker, all of Trenton, and Jacob Link, yeoman, of Kings- bury, Burlington County, and Richard Sanse* of New York, cutler, and Lambert Wilmore of Philadelphia, store- keeper.+ All honor to these early pioneers of Methodism in Trenton! Their Deed contained the following condition: " Provided also that they preach in the said House on every week day evening every week, and every morning at five o'clock, and every Sabbath-day at such time as shall be thought proper." Of course, this condition was kept at first, or it would have worked a forfeiture of their title; and when they ceased to keep it, or were released therefrom, it is difficult to determine. They called their new Church only a "Preaching House," at first (1772-3), as we have shown. But by 1806, as appears by their Minutes in said old Book, they began to call it "The meeting house in Trenton," and soon afterward they promoted it to the full
.
*" Richard Sanse was the first who boarded Mr. Wesley's missionaries in America," Lednum's Methodism in America, p. 37.
+ Office Secretary of State, N. J. Book of Deeds Vol. A F. p. 197 (formerly Colonial Office West Jersey).
16
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
dignity of "the Methodist Episcopal Church in Trenton." It does not appear that it was ever called " Bethesda," though this was the baptismal or early name of its imme- diate successor.
This Church, as we have said, was the first Methodist Church in Trenton, and is believed to have been the first regular Methodist Church erected in New Jersey, and the third in the United States. The honor of being the first Church in New Jersey has also been claimed for some ill-defined Church in Gloucester Co., N. J., on the strength of the following passage in Mr. Asbury's Journal Vol. I p. 16 : "May 14, 1772. Went to the new Church. Surely the power of God is amongst this people. After preaching with great assistance I lodged at Isaac Jenkin's, and in the morning he conducted me to Gloucester ; and thence we went by water to Philadelphia." Atkinson in his "History of Methodism in N. J." p. 144-5 thinks this was a Methodist Church in Greenwich Township, Gloucester Co. N. J. but does not locate it, and omits to give other evidence in support of his opinion. Rev. Alex. Gilmore, in his "Centenary Memorial Sermon " before N. J. Con- ference, March 26, 1866 quotes from the Journal of Joseph Pilmoor Oct. 13, 1771 as to a Mr. Edward Evans, a convert of Mr. Whitfield's years before, where he says: "As he frequently went into the Jerseys to preach, the people were exceedingly fond of him, built a pretty chapel, and insisted on having him for their minister. After he had been with them a few months, he took the Fall fever which soon brought him to his grave." Oct. 15, 1771 Pilmoor goes to " Grinage Chapel, where Mr. Evans was Minister," and preaches his funeral sermon, and on Oct. 29, 1771 he also says : "Mr. Asbury went with me to Grinage Chapel, where I preached to a fine audience." If carefully con- sidered, it will be seen, that this does not prove Mr. Evans' "Chapel" was a Methodist Church at all. If a settled minister there, he was not a Methodist preacher, for they
I7
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
were then all itinerants. If this was the church near Clarksboro, Greenwich Township, Gloucester Co. N. J. (as seems probable), the evidence is that that was not a Metho- dist Church at all, but a Union Church (of different denomi- nations), in which the Methodists may have been permitted to worship occasionally, but which is now owned or con- trolled by the Episcopalians. At that early period (1771), when a rural church was built, it was usually free to all denominations, or belonged to the Church of England, and as Mr. Asbury and his preachers still nominally belonged to that Church they might readily have been admitted to this union edifice. If it had been a due and regular Methodist Church, it is certain that Mr. Asbury would have called it not "the new church," but the Preaching House or Meeting House, the same as he called, the Trenton Church, the Philadelphia Church, and all our other Methodist Churches at that period and for years afterwards.
If it was "Old Bethel," near Hurfville, Gloucester county, N. J., excellent authority fixes the erection of that humble edifice as "about 1779 or 1780,"* and, indeed, the evidence points to a still later date than that. It is true Mr. Gil- more in said " Centenary Sermon," fixes this at 1770. But he cites no evidence, except the title-page of the present; Book of Records of the Trustees there, which alleges that Bethel Church was "founded in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy." This is not proof, and was certainly written there since 1821-the year when said Book was purchased, as appears by an entry therein, at a cost of "$2.50." He next cites a " subscription book" there of Oct. 19, 1839, for "New Bethel " (1840), the pre- amble of which reads as follows : "Whereas, it is thought advisable to build a new church at Bethel, as the old one has become uncomfortable and cold in the winter season, and is worn out with age, it being 69 years since it was
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