USA > New Jersey > Camden County > The history of Camden county, New Jersey > Part 75
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the first sermon in it from the text, " Who com- manded you to build this house and to make up these walls ?" The church was dedicated on the 25th of November, 1810, by Presiding Elder Jo- seph Totten. This was the first house of worship erected in the city of Camden and is still standing near the original site, cor. Fourth and Federal Sts.
In 1834, the congregation having so increased, it was determined to erect a new building more in keeping with the importance of the society and better adapted to its wants. During this time Camden was connected with Gloucester or Bur- lington Circuits, but it was then thought that it should become a station. Accordingly, a lot on Third Street, between Bridge Avenue and Federal
In all its history this church has been firm in its adherence to the polity of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and in its support to the various religious work of the denomination.
Early in the history of this society, vigorous work in the Sunday-school cause was commenced and has been unflagging in it ever since. The present Sunday-school numbers over six hundred members, with sixty officers and teachers. Dr. William Shafer is its preseut superintendent.
The church has had the following pastors :
1809. Thomas Dunn. Charles Read. 1812. Joseph Osborn.
1810. Peter Vannest. Joseph Osborn.
1813. George Wooley.
Thomas Davis.
1811. John Woolston.
Jolin Woolston.
John Price.
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THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
1814. George Wooley.
Joseph Lybrand.
1815. Jeho Van Schoick.
Joseph Rusling.
1836. Thomas Neal.
1837. James H. Dandy.
1816. John Van Schoick. John Fox. 1817. James Moore. Joseph Lybrand. 1818. Solomon Sharp. David Beet.
1819. John Walker.
James Long.
1820. John Walker.
John Potts.
1821. John Potts.
Benjamin Collins.
George A. Reyhold.
1822. Sylvester G. Hill.
Waters Burrows.
1848. David W. Bartine. Israel S. Corbit.
1849. Charles H. Whitecar. William H. Jeffreye.
1850. Charles H. Whitecar.
1851. Isaac N. Felch.
1825. Jacob Gruber.
1852. Richard W. Petherbridge.
Wesley Wallace.
1853-54. James O. Rogere.
1826. George Wooley.
Robert Gerry.
1827. George Wooley. Thomas Sovereign.
1855. John W. McDougal. 1856-57. William E. Perry. 1858-59. Elwood H. Stokes. 1860-61. Samuel Y. Mooree. 1862-63. Joseph B. Dobbins. 1864-65-66. Samuel Vansant. 1867-68-69. Charles H. Whitecar. 1870-71. Joho S. Heisler.
Samuel Tbrockmorton.
1872-73-74. Charles E. Hill.
1830. William W. Foulks.
1875-76-77. Charles R. Hartranft. Peanel Coombs.
Joseph Ashbrook.
1878-79-80. J. B. Graw.
1831. John Walker. Jefferson Lewis.
1881-82-83. William W. Moffet.
1832. John Walker.
1884-85-86. G. B. Wight.
Since its organization, in 1809, Third Street Church has sent out the following church organi- zations, all of them at present flourishing churches in Camden, viz .: Union Church, Broadway Church, Tabernacle Church and Centenary Church.
UNION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is situa- ted on the corner of Fifth Street and Mount Vernon. This society was originated from a class-meeting formed in 1838, in a school-house near Kaighns Point, by the Rev. Joseph Ashbrook. Twenty- three persons joined this class, viz.,-Charles Hugg (leader), Sarah Hugg, Parmelia Gaunt, Deborah Hawke, Benjamin Sutton, A. Sutton, William Horne, Sarah Horne, Mary Surran, Elias Kaighn, Sarah Kaighn, Levi Brink, Deborah Brink, Sarah A. Kaighu, Joshua Stone, Rebecca Stone, Mary Smallwood, Elijah W. Kaighn, Elijah Burrough, Thomas Leigh, Harriet C. Brink, George Hughes and William Perkins. Of the original members, not one is connected with the present congregation. Fourteen of them were dismissed by certificate and nine have since died. A regular Sunday meeting was established in the school-house and much interest was manifested in
the services, which resulted in a number of persons joining the class. As no suitable site could be ob- tained for a church at Kaighns Point, Rev. Joseph Ashbrook, before leaving the charge, procured the gift of a lot from Richard Fetters, in 1839.
This lot, so kindly donated, was on the south- east corner of Fifth Street and Mount Vernon, and, in 1840-41, a frame church building was erected on it, at a cost of four hundred and eleven dollars, under the supervision of Rev. J. R. Shaw, who succeeded Rev. Ashbrook.
In 1845 Rev. L. B. Newton became the class- leader, and through his efforts many members were added to the church, and the Sunday-school increased to one hundred and eighty scholars. The Rev. John L. Lenhart was pastor in 1843-44, Rev. Isaac Winner in 1845-46, and Rev. A. K. Street in 1847-48. In this last-named year the member- ship had so increased that the Third Street Quar- terly Conference decided to build a church in South Camden. The corner-stone was laid on June 8, 1848, and the church dedicated on the 25th of December of that year, Rev. Charles Pit- man, D.D., officiating. This church was forty by fifty-five feet, and twenty feet high. In 1849 Rev. Charles Whitecar and Rev. William H. Jeffries were sent to Camden. The cholera prevailed to an alarming extent, and there were over fifty deaths within this congregation.
In 1850, under the direction of the Conference, Enoch Shinn, Joseph Sharp, John S. Bundick, Thomas McDowell, Sr., Samuel Scull, Levi B. Newton and Joseph Evans were chosen trustees of this church. Rev. David Duffield became pas- tor the same year, and during his ministry the church was prosperous and free from debt. In 1854 and 1855, under the Rev. Philip Cline as pas- tor, the church numbered three hundred and forty-six members, and the church Sunday-school, with the one connected with the church in Stock- ton, three hundred and ninety members. Rev. J. W. Hickman was pastor during 1856 and 1857, and Rev. H. M. Brown in 1858 and 1859. Previous to this time it was called the Fifth Street Church, but now took the corporate name of the Union Church.
In 1858 there were four schools connected with this charge,-No. 1, in the church, Levi B. Newton, superintendent ; No. 2, at Stockton, Samuel Deval, superintendent; No. 3, at Kaighns Point, William Hunt, superintendent; and No. 4, at Eagle Hall, Joseph Johnson, superintendent. In these schools were eighty-three officers and teachers and five hundred scholars. In 1859 this church, with William Peacock as contractor, built
56
1833. Edward Page. D. W. Bartice. 1834-35. William Granville.
1838-39. Joseph Ashbrook. 1840. John K. Shaw. William A. Brooks.
1841. John K. Shaw. 1842. John L. Lechart.
1843-44. Isaac Winner.
1845. Abram K. Street. Elwood H. Stokes.
1846. Abram K. Street. 1847. David W. Bartice.
1823. Sylvester G. Hill. Joseph Carey. 1824. David Daily. Joseph Osboro.
1828. Henry Boehm. Levin M. Prettymao.
1829. Henry Boehm. W. W. Foulks.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
a mission chapel at Stockton. There were no material changes in the church from this time until 1880. The pastors who officiated during these years were Revs. Henry M. Beegle, 1860-62; Aaron E. Bal- lard and Charles E. Hill, 1863-64; Samuel Parker, 1865-66; W. W. Christine, 1867-68; Garner R. Snyder, 1869-71; George C. Maddock, 1871-74; A. K. Street, 1874-77 ; and James Moore, 1877-80.
In 1880 Rev. John S. Gaskill became pastor, and through his efforts succeeded in having a new church, which was dedicated in May, 1883. The same year Rev. G. Dobbins became pastor, and in 1886 the present pastor, Rev. A. Lawrence, was as- signed to the charge. The church has at this date (1886) five hundred and thirty-two full members and ten probationers. The Sunday-school has sixty officers and teachers and six hundred and
BROADWAY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
forty-four pupils. Samuel C. Newton is the super- intendent.
John S. Bundick, who died in 1884, was presi- dent of the board of trustees for many years.
BROADWAY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.1 -- At the house of Chas. Sloan a meeting of Metho. dists was held on April 8, 1848, where, with Mr. Sloan as chairman and David Duffield, Jr., secre- tary, the Berkley Street Sabbath-school of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Camden, N. J., was organized. Chas. Sloan, David Duffield, Jr., Thos. L. Smith, Philander C. Brink, Benj. A. Hammell, Levi C. Phifer, Wm. Few, John Newton, Richard J. Sharp, I. B. Reed, John B. Thompson, Eliza-
beth Middleton, Susan H. Scott, Mary Adams, Harriet Davis, Mary Brooks, Hannah Souder, Mary Dunn and Sarah Cheeseman volunteered to become teachers. Chas. Sloan was elected super- intendent. A lot was purchased and a school- house built, which was dedicated April 15, 1849, by Rev. Dr. Bartine. The school then had twelve teachers and sixty-three scholars, which two years later was increased to one hundred and one scholars. A request was sent to Rev. Chas. H. Whitecar, pastor of Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church, to form a class, of which Isaac B. Reed was appointed leader, and the other mem- bers were Hannah Chambers, Abigail Bishop, Wm. Wood, Furman Sheldon, Priscilla Sheldon, Achsa Sutton, Mary Sutton, Mary Brooks, Eliza- beth Bender, Ruthanna Bender, Charlotte Wilk- inson, Wm. Patterson, Sister Patter- son, Sister Severns, Rebecca Thomp- son, Elizabeth McIntyre, Hannah A. Reed, Dan'l Stephenson, Rachel Stephenson, Susan Thomas, Samuel Severns, Mary E. Maguire and Wm. Few. At a meeting held in the Sun- day-school room on Berkley Street, March 10, 1854, and at a subsequent meeting, May 9th, a church society was organized largely from members of the class above mentioned. Rev. Ralph S. Arndt was the first pastor. Forty certificates of membership were received, and John Lee, Isaac B. Reed and Conklin Mayhew were appointed class-leaders.
The first board of stewards was composed of John C. Clopper, Wal- ter Rink, John M. Pascall and Logan Alcott. May 30, 1854, the board of trustees elected were Daniel Bishop, S. S. Cain, Wm. Severns, Conklin Mayhew, Furman Sheldon, Logan Alcott and T. H. Stephens. At the same meeting the name of "Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church of Camden, N. J.," was selected to designate the new society. Rev. J. H. Knowles was pastor from May, 1855, to the end of the pas- toral year and part of next year, which was finished by Rev. J. J. Hanley, who remained to May, 1858. In February, 1856, John S. Newton, who after- wards lost his life with the unfortunates in the "New Jersey " steamboat, was appointed leader of a class of young converts. The trustees purchased the property corner of Broadway and Berkley Street, in 1854, subject to a claim, and on November 14, 1854, they bought an adjoining lot. The basement of the church was dedicated December 25, 1855,
1 By Geo. E. Fry, 613 Broadway, Camden.
471
THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
by Bishop Scott, and the main audience-room dedicated January 29, 1857, by Bishop Janes.
Rev. C. K. Fleming was pastor from 1858 to 1860. There were then two hundred full mem- bers and one hundred probationers. The Sunday- schools under their charge had, in 1860, three hun- dred and seventy-five children.
From 1860 to 1872, inclusive, the successive pastors were C. W. Heisley, who went to the army as chaplain, Robert Stratton, R. S. Harris, George Hitchens, Wm. Walton, R. A. Chalker and Geo. Hughes, and during this period the church pros- pered greatly, so that it became necessary to en- large the church building. The original building was forty-eight feet by sixty-five feet, and during the pastorate of Rev. John S. Phelps, 1873-74, an addition of thirty feet was built to the rear. Rev. H. H. Brown was pastor during 1875. The parsonage, No. 512 Broadway, was purchased for five thou- sand dollars, April 20, 1873. Rev. Geo. Reed was pastor in 1876, and had two very successful years in church work, making many conversions.
Rev. Geo. B. Wight was pastor during 1878, 1879 and 1880. During this period a plan was adopted to liquidate the debt on the church, which was then nine thousand dollars, and which has been reduced to two thousand dollars. The new Methodist hymnal was adopted by the church in November, 1878. In 1879, December 31st, a new department in Sunday-school work, called the As- sembly, was started under the leadership of Joseph Elverson, who has held that position ever since. Rev. Milton Relyea was pastor from 1881 to 1884 ; during this period there was a great revival and a large number were added to the church. Mrs. Lizzie Smith did much earnest work at a re- vival in 1881. At an afternoon meeting held that year, Mrs. Clayton, a member, died very suddeuly. In 1884 the church was newly frescoed, a pipe-organ put in position, and shortly thereafter the Annual Conference was held in this church. In October, 1883, the Sunday-school numbered one thousand two hundred and forty-seven scholars, and had eighty-nine officers and teachers. The Pine Street Mission, formerly under charge of Union Method- ist Episcopal Church, was transferred by mutual consent to the charge of Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church, March, 1884; soon after, a plot of ground ninety by one hundred and fifty feet, at Third Street and Beckett, was purchased by this church, on which to erect a chapel and re- ceive the Sunday-school and worshippers of Pine Street Mission. The old building on Pine Street was subsequently sold and the proceeds applied to the new building, which was dedicated in October,
1885. In 1885, under the preaching of Rev. D. B. Green, a great revival was held. In March, 1885, the Band of Hope passed into the charge of the Sunday-school Association, and in May, Emmor Applegate was elected its superintendent. Rev. Wm. P. Davis, D.D., commenced his pastorate of this church March, 1884, since which time many members have been added. The membership now (1886) is nearly eight hundred, and about two hundred probationers. The Sunday-school has nearly one thousand two hundred members and the Mission school has about two hundred and seventy members. Dr. A. E. Street is the general superintendent of the school.
TABERNACLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. -In 1856 a few members of the Third Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Camden held devo- tional meetings in a grove at Coopers Point, and then organized the Tabernacle Methodist Episco- pal Church. In 1860 a chapel was built on Third Street, below Vine, in which regular meetings were held. A minister was appointed by the New Jer- sey Conference. The society grew rapidly in numbers, and in 1867 the structure at the northeast corner of Third Street and Pearl was built. The debt on the church for a time was a heavy load. However, through perseverance and zealous work, it was greatly diminished. In this church build- ing the society continued to worship until August 3, 1885. On that day the cyclone that did such a vast amount of damage in Camden and Port Richmond, Philadelphia, unroofed the church building and weakened the walls. It was then decided to take down what remained of the old building and in its place construct a new one. John B. Betts, a builder, began the work in September, under a contract to erect the present church with a seat- ing capacity of eleven hundred. The south and west sides are of stone and the north and east sides of brick, with the main audience-room on second floor. The cost of the church and furniture was about thirty-two thousand dollars, and it is a beautiful and attractive building. It was dedicated with imposing ceremonies during the summer of 1886. The church membership numbers about six hundred. The Sunday-school, of which Wal- ter M. Patton has been superintendent for twelve years, has thirty-five teachers and six hundred scholars. Tabernacle Church is the only Method- ist Episcopal Church in Camden north of Cooper Street, and is the only free-seating church of any denomination north of Bridge Avenue.
The following is a list of the ministers who have been stationed at this church by the New Jersey Conference since its organization : Revs. W. S.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Barnart, L. La Rue, James White, J. H. Stock- ton, J. W. Hickman, S. E. Post, C. K. Fleming, G. K. Morris, E. Hewett, G. S. Sykes, J. S. Heisler and J. Y. Dobbins.
FILLMORE STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- In 1856 a mission school, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized in the house of Jesse Perkins, No. 1722 Broadway, and was superintended by John Dob- bins and Mrs. Shuttleworth. Soon after its organ- ization it was removed to the house of William Hammond, on Fillmore Street, opposite to the site of the present church, and Samuel Duval became superintendent. The school was a suc- cess, the number of scholars increased, and in 1858 the Fifth Street Methodist Episcopal Church adopted measures to procure land and build a church in that locality.
A one-story frame building, with a small chapel to the rear, was built by Clayton Peacock in 1859, and dedicated by Rev. William Brown. The building committee were William Room, William Hammond, John Dobbins, Thomas B. Jones, John S. Bundick, Josiah Matlack and William Brown, the pastor. A large number of members joined the church at this time and the Sunday-school had eight teachers and sixty pupils. The pastors who have been assigned to this charge, from the time of the organization to the present time, have been George W. Smith, J. T. Price, Joseph Hopkins, G. H. Tullis, Lewis Atkinson, John Y. Dobbins, David Stewart, Edward Messler, William Mitchell, George Musseroll, D. W. C. McIntire and James E. Diverty, the present pastor. The congregation in the year 1886 built a new church, fifty-two by eighty-two feet in size, of stone, with modern improvements and neatness of architectural de- sign, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. Two large lots were donated by Mrs. John Dob- bins for the site of the new church and a par- sonage. These lots are on Broadway, corner of Van Hook Street. The building committee, to draft the plans and superintend the building of the new church, is composed of John Dobbins, chair- man ; Herman Helmbold, treasurer; Benjamin E. Mellor, secretary ; and Geo. W. Burroughs, Geo. W. Lacomey, James O. Smith, Joseph Cline, Thomas Harman, G. W. Laird, Robert H. Comey, Frederick Kifferly and Henry Davis.
The church at present (1886) has a membership of one hundred and seventy-two communicants, and in the Sunday-school there are two hundred and eighty-nine pupils and teachers, with George W. Burroughs as superintendent.
CENTENARY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized in 1865, by persons who were members of the Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church. The Rev. J. B. Dobbins, D.D., was presiding elder at that time. The persons most prominently iden- tified with the organization of the church were Charles Sloan, Joshua Peacock, Wm. D. Peacock, Nathan T. Mulliner, William W. Barlow, Charles Cox, Philander C. Brink, Benjamin H. Browning and others.
The original trustees were Wm. Barlow, Ralph Lee, Joseph C. De La Cour, H. F. Hunt, N. T. Mulliner, B. H. Browning and Thomas Cochran.
The trustees for 1886 are B. F. Archer, C. S. Crowell, W. F. Rose, Joseph H. Watson, Geo. Gerry White, L. Somers Risley and Wm. Post.
The different preachers of Centenary Church, in order of succession, have been as follows: Revs. Henry Baker, D.D., William V. Kelley, D.D., D. A. Schock, J. B. Dobbins, D.D., Thos. H. Stockton, John Y. Dobbins, John E. Adams, I. L. Sooy and I. S. Heisler.
Centenary Methodist Episcopal Sabbath-school was organized April 8, 1866, in Morgan's Hall, southeast corner of Fourth and Market Streets, with an attendance of eighteen officers and teach- ers and sixty-eight scholars. Joshua Peacock was elected superintendent, and Charles Sloan assist- ant superintendent.
An infant department was formed April 22d, with thirteen scholars, under the direction of Mrs. Petherbridge.
Joshua Peacock served as superintendent until May 4, 1873, when he was succeeded by Wm. T. Bailey, who has since filled the position, except from November 16, 1884, to May 6, 1885, during which time Wilbur F. Rose was superintendent.
The school, in 1886, has three hundred and forty-three scholars, and forty-five officers and teachers. The present presiding officers are William T. Bailey, general superintendent ; Joshua Peacock, assistant superintendent ; Harris Graf- fen, superintendent of the assembly ; Mrs. Ellen B. G. Hammell, superintendent of primary depart- ment.
THE EIGHTH STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The history of the Eighth Street Church begins with a Mission Sunday-school under the care of the Broadway Church. This school, under the name of Paradise Mission, was organized in 1859 in a building on Mount Vernon Street, used as a meat-shop and owned by John Paschal. At the time of the organization of the school John Collins was elected superintendent ; John S. Long, assistant and secretary ; Mr. Holmes, librarian ; Mifflin K. Long, treasurer, and Joseph Hofflinger,
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THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
John Paschal and Benjamin F. Long, teachers. Fifty children were immediately gathered into this school. The building had no chimney and was not plastered. The cold weather compelled the school to seek a more comfortable place, and the public school-house on Spruce Street was generously granted and the school held in it for several months. In 1860 a room or hall on Wal- nut Street, to the rear of the present church, was rented, and there the school convened until 1862, when a frame chapel was built where the church now stauds. Under the charge of the presiding elder, A. K. Street, this chapel was dedicated by Rev. H. M. Brown, and the Sunday-school, then numbering one hundred members, moved into it. During 1862 Rev. R. S. Harris, pastor of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church, formed a class with John S. Long as leader, and thus ori- ginated the Eighth Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
Regular services were conducted every Sunday, and during that winter extra meetings were held, which resulted in bringing many persons within the fold of the church. Encouraged by this suc- cess, in 1863 the Eighth Street Chapel, as it was then called, formed a mission in connection with Stockton and Newton, and the Conferenceappoint- ed Rev. Garner H. Tullis to take charge of this mission. The first year of his ministry was a suc- cessful one and brought eighty-three members, forty probationers and two hundred and twenty Sunday-school children within the mission. The Eighth Street Chapel then filed a certificate of incorporation, under the name of the Tullis Methodist Episcopal Church, by which name it has ever since been known, though called in Con- ference minutes as the Eighth Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Camden. In 1865 Rev. Da- vid McCurdy was appointed pastor and in 1866 Rev. N. Walton succeeded him. In 1869 this church, which had from the first been associated .with Broadway Church, separated from it and be- came a station. In 1873 W. C. Stockton became pastor and the chapel was enlarged and greatly improved, at a cost of one thousand dollars, through his exertions, and during the second year of his pastorate the foundation of the present large brick church building was built up to the second story and a temporary roof placed over it. It was not completed until 1880, at which time the church and grounds were valued at fifteen thousand dol- lars. Since this congregation separated from the Broadway Methodist Episcopal congregation the pastors who have served it were Revs. J. H. Nich- ols, J. I. Merrill, J. White, Jacob T. Price, W. C.
Stockton, John R. Westwood, Willis Reeves, Garner H. Tullis, James H. Payson and William Walton, the present pastor. The history of this church has been promising from its first inception, and its future prospects are brighter than ever. With an increasing population about it and a large membership of more uniform piety, it can- not fail to accomplish its great mission. The membership at this time (1886) is three hundred and fifty-one, and the Sunday-school is in a flour- ishing condition, having four hundred and fifty- one teachers and pupils, with E. S. Matlack as superintendent.
KAIGHN AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The congregation that worships in this church is the outgrowth of a Mission Sunday- school started on Liberty Street, above Third, by members of the Union Methodist Episcopal Church. The membership of this mission school increased to three hundred, and it was deemed necessary to seek larger and more comfortable quarters. In 1879 a large blacksmith shop, on Front Street, below Kaighn Avenue, was procured and fitted up for Sunday-school purposes. Under the supervision of the Rev. William C. Stockton, a church society was formed, under the name of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, with thirty communicants, and a Sunday-school started with two hundred members, most of whom came from the mission school already mentioned. The religious services were held in the blacksmith- shop for seventeen months, and during the heated term in the summer of 1879 the congregation wor- shipped in a large tent on Kaighn Avenne, above Second Street. In 1880 Rev. John Boswell was appointed to the charge. The membership of school and church had greatly increased. A build- ing committee was appointed, and the same year the present church on Kaighn Avenue was commenced. The basement was built the same year, but the cold weather prevented the completion of the church, and a large frame pavilion, thirty by sixty feet, was put up within the walls and upon the lower joists for a foundation. In this the congre- gation worshipped until 1882, and in the mean time the work on the church progressed, the walls and roof covering the pavilion completely before it was taken down and removed. The congrega- tion then worshipped in a large tent which was put up at Third Street and Sycamore.
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