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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02263 4817
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8884
MANUAL
OF THE
Olomouth Church,
BROOKLYN, L. I.
HENRY WARD BEECHER, PASTOR.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
Third Edition.
PUBLISHED BY VOTE OF THE CHURCH, In the Year of our Lord 1854.
NEW-YORK : PRINTED BY C. J. BARTRAM, 102 Maiden Lane, near Pearl Street.
1851523
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BROOKLYN. PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
. 122
D 28511 Manual of the Plymouth church, Brooklyn, L.I ... 3d edition ... New-York, Bartram, 1854.
55p.
1854 "Members of the church, Soptombor, 185.1": p.47-53.
NL 36-63".
2969
1
₹1620
LANDING OF THE
Plymouth Church Property.
1
THE ground upon which " The Plymouth Church" now stands, comprising seven lots, running through from Cranberry to Orange Streets, was purchased in 1823, of John and Jacob M. Hicks, for the erection of an edifice for the use of " The First Presbyterian Church." At that time the population of Brooklyn was less than ten thousand. The enterprise was regarded by cautious men as hazardous ; the Church being built in what was then cultivated fields, and far out from the settled portion of the village, though now in the densest part of Brooklyn Heights. A Lecture Room, including a Sabbath-School Room and Study, was attached to the rear of the Church, fronting upon Orange Street, in 1831. The Pastors who labored on this ground were Rev. Joseph Sanford, from 1823 to 1829; Rev. Daniel L. Carroll, D. D., from 1829 to 1835; Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D. D., from 1837 to 18-47, when the Presbyterian Society built their present house of worship upon Henry Street, and the property was sold to John T. Howard, Henry C. Bowen, Seth B. Hunt (all of the Church of the Pilgrims), and David Hale, of the Tabernacle Church, New-York. Mr. Howard conducted the negotiations, and the other gentlemen furnished the money. The purchase was made in June, 1846,; for twenty thousand dollars, and possession was given May 16th, 1847. . This property was conveyed to the Plymouth Church, by the above named gentlemen, for the actual cost and interest, on the first of June, 1848.
The original Church was 72 feet in length; it was afterwards enlarged by the addition of 18 feet, making it 90 feet in depth, by 56 feet in width. The Lecture Room was 36 feet by 50 feet.
The Plymouth Church occupied these buildings until January, 1849, when, having been seriously damaged by fire, they were re- moved to make way for the present edifice.
IN CHURCH 1850.
MIMOWATA
HISTORY
OF THE
Organization of the Church and Society, Kt.
THE first meeting of those interested in the establishment of a new Congregational Church in Brooklyn (now called " The Plymouth Church"), was held at the house of Henry C. Bowen, on Saturday evening, May 9th, 1847. Present : DAVID HALE, of New-York ; JIRA PAYNE, JOHN T. HOWARD, CHARLES ROWLAND, DAVID GRIFFIN and HENRY C. BOWEN, of Brooklyn.
The meeting was opened by prayer ; after which David Hale made some statements in relation to the property now held by "The Plymouth Church," and then, in behalf of himself and the other owners, offered the use of said property for purposes of religious worship as soon as the premises should be vacated by " The First Presbyterian Church." Whereupon it was
Resolved, " That religious services shall be commenced, by Divine permission, on Sunday, the 16th day of May,"-that being the first Sabbath after the house was to be vacated.
On Sunday morning, May 16th, 1847, notice having been given in the newspapers, the Meeting-House in Cranberry Street was opened for religious worship.
HENRY WARD BEECHER, being providentially in the city, was in- vited to preach the first sermon. At the close of the services, public notice was given that a weekly prayer-meeting would be established, commencing the next Friday evening, in the lecture room. At the appointed time, about thirty persons were present to unite in prayer for the Divine blessing on the new enterprise, most of whom ex- pressed a desire to connect themselves with the Church when organ- ized. Jira Payne conducted the exercises. At the close of the prayer-meeting, on motion of David Hale from New-York, JOHN T. HOWARD, HENRY C. BOWEN, RICHARD HALE, CHARLES ROWLAND, and JIRA PAYNE, were appointed a Committee to make arrangements
C
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MANUAL OF THE
for the formation of a Church; to prepare and report Articles of Faith and a Covenant, a Form of Admission, Ecclesiastical Principles and Rules, Manual for business, &c. Also to give notice, the follow- ing Sabbath, to all persons who desired to be connected with the Church at its organization, to be present at the next Friday evening prayer-meeting. At the two subsequent prayer-meetings, twenty-one persons handed in their names to be organized into a Church. On Friday evening, June eleventh, the Committee appointed to prepare Articles of Faith, &c., made their report, which, after some amend- ments, was adopted, and notice was given that the Church would be organized on the following Sabbath evening.
A Council of Ministers and Delegates from other Churches, con- vened at the house of John T. Howard, on Saturday evening, the 12th day of June, by invitation of the Committee, who presented to said Council the Articles of Faith and Covenant adopted, also the credentials of those persons who expected to be organized into a Church.
Said Council were as follows :
FROM THE CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS. REV. RICHARD S. STORRS, JR., Pastor. BRO. CHANDLER STARR, Delegate.
FROM THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI. REV. I. N. SPRAGUE, Pastor.
BRO. A. B. DAVENPORT, Delegate.
FROM THIE BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCHI, N. Y. REV. J. P. THOMPSON, Pastor.
BRO. DAVID HALE, Delegate.
FROM CHRYSTIE ST. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, N. Y. REV. D. C. LANSING, D. D., Pastor. BRO. SEYMOUR WHITING, Delegate.
The Council voted to approve what had been done, and accepted the invitation of the Committee, to participate in the public services of the organization, on the following evening.
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7
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
On Sunday evening, the thirteenth day of June, the Church was organized. A Sermon was preached on the occasion by Richard S. Storrs, Jr., Pastor of the Church of the Pilgrims. Other clergymen, members of the Council, took part in the services.
TIIE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE
Members of the Church, at its Organization.
BOWEN, HENRY C. BOWEN, LUCY MARIA BLAKE, ELI C. BURGESS, BENJAMIN BURGESS, MARY
CANNON, MARY
GRIFFIN, DAVID
HALE, RICHARD HALE, JULIA HOWARD, JOHN T.
KNIGHT, RACHAEL
MORSE, JOHN F. MORSE, REBECCA
PAYNE, JIRA PAYNE, ELIZA
ROWLAND, CHARLES ROWLAND, MARIA
TURNER, ALPHEUS R. TURNER, LOUISA
WEBB, JOHN WEBB, MARTHA
ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY.
A meeting was held, in accordance with the laws of the State, on Monday evening, the fourteenth day of June, 1847, in the Lecture Room of the Church, for the purpose of organizing a Religious Society. Jira Payne was appointed Chairman, and J. Wilson Green, Secretary, both of whom were appointed Inspectors of Election for Trustees.
HENRY C. BOWEN, JOHN T. HOWARD, and DANIEL BURGESS, were elected Trustees, who subsequently were divided by lot to serve, each in the order as they stand, for the term of one, two, and three years.
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MANUAL OF THE
"THE PLYMOUTH CHURCH"
was adopted, upon deliberation, as the corporate name of the Society. The Certificate of Incorporation was recorded in the Clerk's Office of Kings County, on the twenty-seventh day of September, 1847.
CALL AND INSTALLATION OF PASTOR.
On Monday evening, June fourteenth, the Church, by a unani- mous vote, elected HENRY WARD BEECHER to be their Pastor, and a committee was appointed to act with the Society in presenting the call.
During the summer the church was opened for religious worship three times each Sabbath. Various clergymen, mostly from New- England, were invited to supply the pulpit. On the fifth day of September a Sabbath School was organized, consisting of ten teachers and twenty-eight scholars. Henry C. Bowen was elected Superintendent, and John T. Howard, Secretary.
After some two months delay, the call presented to Henry Ward Beecher was accepted. On Sunday, the tenth day of October, 1848, he commenced his labors ; and on Thursday, the eleventh day of November, he was publicly installed as Pastor of the Church and congregation.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL.
The following is a copy of the minutes of the Council : " At an Ecclesiastical Council, convened by letters from the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, in the State of New-York, at their lecture-room, on the eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord 1847, for the purpose of installing (if the way should be found clear) the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as their Pastor, there were present-
FROM THE CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS, BROOKLYN. REV. RICHARD S. STORRS, JR., Pastor. BRO. SETH B. HUNT, Delegate.
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- PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BROOKLYN. REV. I. N. SPRAGUE, Pastor. BRO. EDWARD CORNING, Delegate.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NEW-YORK.
REV. D. C. LANSING, D. D., Pastor. BRO. ABRAHAM C. VAN EPPS, Delegate.
CHURCH OF THE PURITANS, NEW-YORK.
REV. GEO. B. CHEEVER, Pastor. BRO. OLIVER E. WOOD, Delegate.
FOURTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NEW-YORK.
REV. WILLIAM W. WALLACE, Pastor. BRO. JOSEPH D. KELLOGG, Delegate.
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH, NEW-YORK.
REV. JOSEPH P. THOMPSON, Pastor. BRO. DAVID HALE, Delegate.
SULLIVAN STREET CHURCH, NEW-YORK.
REV. S. BRISTOL, Pastor. BRO. A. S. BALL, Delegate.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. REV. NATHANIEL HEWIT, D. D., Pastor. BRO. JAMES RUTHVEN, Delegate.
SALEM CHURCH, BOSTON, MASS. REV. EDWARD BEECHER, D. D., Pastor. BRO. EBENEZER WELLMAN, Delegate.
NORTH CHURCH, HARTFORD, CONN. REV. HORACE BUSHNELL, D. D., Pastor. BRO. THOMAS DAY, Delegate.
NORTH CHURCH, NEW-HAVEN, CONN. REV. S. W. S. DUTTON, Pastor. BRO. JAMES BREWSTER, Delegate. Also, REV. HEMAN HUMPHREY, D. D., of Pittsfield, Mass.
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10
MANUAL OF THE
Rev. Dr. HEWIT was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Mr. DUTTON was chosen Scribe.
Rev. JOHN MARSH, Rev. J. M. ROWLAND, Rev. O. W. BIDWELL, and Rev. LEBBEUS ARMSTRONG, being present, were invited to sit with the Council as corresponding members.
The Council being thus organized, sought the Divine Blessing by prayer, being led therein by the Moderator.
The invitation addressed by the Church and Society to Rev. HENRY WARD BEECHER, to become their Pastor-Mr. Beecher's acceptance of the same-and also the resolutions of the Society pertaining to his pecuniary support while in the pastoral office over them, being pre- sented to the Council, were pronounced, by vote, satisfactory, and ordered to be placed on record.
After an extended and thorough examination of the Pastor elect, respecting his views of the doctrine of natural and revealed religion, his experience of renewing and sanctifying grace, and his object in entering on the work of the Christian Ministry, the Council unani- mously pronounced the examination sustained, and voted to proceed to Installation, assigning the services thereof, as follows :
Invocation and Reading of the Scriptures-by Rev. Dr. HUMPHREY. Sermon-by Rev. Dr. EDWARD BEECHER.
Installing Prayer-by Rev. Dr. HEWIT.
Charge to the Pastor-by Rev. Dr. LANSING.
The Fellowship of the Churches -. by Rev. R. S. STORRS, JR.
Address to the People-by Rev. J. P. THOMPSON.
Concluding Prayer-by Rev. Dr. BUSHNELL.
These services were duly performed.
(Signed)
(Signed) NATHANIEL HEWIT, Moderator. S. W. S. DUTTON, Scribe.
A very interesting revival soon commenced, during which more than seventy persons indulged the hope that they passed from death unto life, nearly all of whom connected themselves with this and other Churches.
A social meeting was early established for the promotion of friendly intercourse and Christian affection. Many who might not otherwise have been acquainted for years, have been brought together as
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Christians and friends, and the result has been the awakening of a deep interest in each other, and the promotion of the kindest feelings throughout the congregation.
The congregation, from the first, had been so greatly disproportioned to the room in the Church building, as, during the first year, to sug- gest the necessity, ere long, of rebuilding. . The question was, how- ever, unexpectedly settled by fire, January 13th, 1849, which so seriously damaged the structure, that, upon examination, the Society were unanimously of opinion that the Church should be rebuilt rather than repaired.
The wants of this part of Brooklyn, and other substantial reasons, determined the Society to retain the old site. Every movement of the Trustees in the commencement of the new enterprise was submitted to the Society, and, after full discussion, adopted with their unani- mous consent. The plans submitted by J. C. Wells, Architect, and adopted, called for a Church 105 feet long, and 80 feet broad, with a height of 43 feet from the floor to the ceiling. The Lecture Room, of two stories, is 50 by 80 feet; the whole extent of both, from street to street, being 185 feet. There are eleven rooms in all, viz : the Main Audience room, measuring 76 by 92 feet in the clear; the Lecture room, 48 by 51 feet; the Sabbath School room, 24 by 64 feet ; four rooms for Bible and Infant Classes, each 10 by 16 feet ; two Social Circle parlors, each 24 by 32 feet ; a Reception parlor and Pastor's study, each 14 by 22 feet. The Church will seat, in pews, 2,050 persons ; and with additional seats provided for the aisles, &c. can be made to contain nearly 3,000.
Solomon Conklin, mason, and Tappan Reeve, carpenter, contracted to build the house. The corner stone was laid May 29, 1849, and the building completed so that the congregation occupied it for wor- ship on the first Sabbath of January, 1850, the very day specified in the contract.
No serious difference of opinion is known to have existed among the members of the Society during the whole progress of the work ; a result attributable, doubtless, to the judicious care of the Trustees, in referring cvery important step to the whole Society, to be examined and discussed, before being carried into effect.
Of the whole sum subscribed, $31,489, there has been collected $31,127; the remainder, through the death or removal, &c., of the subscribers, will probably be lost.
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MANUAL OF THE
It may serve a good purpose to insert the following Table of Subscriptions, showing the Church to have sprung from the zeal of many, and not from the bounty of a few.
TABLE.
2 Subscriptions of
$ 2 $ 4
9 Subscriptions of
$ 200 $1.800
13
5
65
7
250
1,750
107
10
1,070
1
300
300
1
15
15
1
400
400
42
20
840
8
500
4,000
22
25
550
1
600
600
21
30
630
1
700
700
1
40
40
1
750
750
41
50
2.050
1
1.000
1.000
2
60
120
1
1.500
1,500
1
75
75
1
2.000
2.000
1
80
80
3
2,500
7.500
32
100
3.200
3
150
450
Total,.
$31,489
Whole number of Subscribers,
324
The value of the whole Church property, organ, furniture, &c., as it now stands, is estimated at $65,000.
No sooner had the congregation been deprived of their place of worship by fire, than invitations were extended by almost all the neighboring Churches, to use their respective buildings for worship, which kindness was gratefully accepted for a period of nearly two months. Sabbath evening Services were held during this time in the Church of the Pilgrims. As it was found to be impossible to conserve the interests of the Church and congregation while they were in such an unsettled and migratory state, they at once decided to erect a temporary place of worship upon grounds in Pierrepont street, generously offered by Lewis Tappan, Esq. A building, 100 feet by 80, was erected in the brief space of thirty days; and in this the congregation worshiped, with great pleasure and profit, until the first Sabbath in January, 1850. The whole expense of the " Taber- nacle," including a small study, was $2,800. The sale of the build- ing, together with the Sabbath collections taken during its occupancy, more than reimbursed the original cost; and the rents of pews were amply sufficient to meet current expenses. The erection of this building proved to be a most beneficial measure. The absence of the Pastor for several months, by reason of sickness, with the general prevalence of Cholera during the summer, would have proved well
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
nigh the dispersion of the congregation, had they been obliged to wander from place to place, or to occupy the only very limited and inconvenient halls which could be obtained.
The prayer-meetings of the Church, led in turn by the brethren, and conducted in a manner designed to educate and exercise the gifts of the whole membership, have come to be esteemed, perhaps, the most important and edifying of all our meetings. Since the comple- tion of the new buildings, a Social Meeting has been often held in the parlors thereof, for the sake of extending the acquaintance of mem- bers of the Church and congregation, and of ripening the interest excited into Christian friendship. And to these social gatherings is to be attributed much of the harmony, and of the marked cheerful- ness and friendship, which exist in the Church and Society. In this manner the Pastor is brought into contact with all the persons of the congregation, who may wish such acquaintance.
When the second edition of the Manual was issued (in July 1850), the total number of members was 378. Since that time there have been added to the Church 380. During the same period there have been removed, by death and for other causes, 107; leaving the present actual number, 651. The year 1852 was especially fruitful in blessed results. During that year there were added to us-by letters from other Churches, 59 ; on profession of their faith, 103. Total, 162. Of these, the proportion of males to females was very nearly two to one; it being of males 103, of females 59. During the whole time, we have enjoyed uninterruptedly the stated means of grace, and the attendance upon the public services of the Sanctuary has been uniformly large.
In the general prosperity of the Church, the Sabbath School has also participated. During the past two years, its numbers have in- creased nearly one-third. It now numbers 355 pupils, and 36 teachers, distributed as follows : In the main school room there are 32 classes and teachers, with an average attendance of 200 pupils. In addition to this, there are in separate rooms of the building three Bible Classes-two of them with an average attendance of from 6 to 10, and the other from 25 to 35. The Infant School numbers about 60. During the past two years there have been more than 50 hopeful conversions among the members of the Sabbath School and Bible Classes. The Library contains over 800 volumes.
It is believed that the spiritual prosperity of the Church and Society has been in no small degree dependent upon its promptness in dis-
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MANUAL OF THE
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charging its pecuniary obligations. The annual pew-rents of the Church amount to about $12,000, of which not more than one per cent. has ever been lost. During the year 1852, there was paid for the extinguishment of the floating debt of the Church the sum of $13,200, leaving the Society in debt but $16,000-being the balance for the original purchase of the property, which is secured by a mortgage on the present premises.
During the past year our contributions to the various religious charities of the day, including subscriptions for church building at the West, have been $10,000; and during the six years of our existence as a Church, we have raised for the Church Building and its expenses, and for various benevolent purposes, sums amounting in the aggregate to about $144,000.
FORM OF ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
[The Articles of Faith, Covenant, and Rules, having been revised by a Special Committee, were adopted by the Church as they now stand, on the 17th of April, 1848, by a unanimous vote.]
You have separated yourselves from this congregation, dear friends, to perform one of the most momentous, and yet joyful acts of your life. You will never cease to feel the effect of the dedication which you now make. Should you cling affectionately to that Redeemer whom you are now about openly to avouch, you will ever rejoice that you were brought to this hour ; but if your soul shall draw back, and you shall put Christ to an open shame, this deed and this hour shall be everlasting witnesses against you.
You have been deeply convinced of your personal sinfulness ; you have heartily repented thereof; you have believed in the forgiving love of Jesus Christ ; you have dedicated your heart and life to him : that dedication you are about to renew in the presence of God and this congregation. Yet, be not cast down. Though we have thought it meet to admonish you, it is with a calm and cheerful hope that He who in love has called you will never leave nor forsake you until you shall stand in Zion and before God.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
1. We believe in the existence of One Ever-living and True God, Sovereign and Unchangeable, Infinite in Power, Wisdom and Goodness.
2. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be inspired of God; to contain a revelation of His will, and to be the authoritative rule of faith and practice.
3. We believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are revealed in the Scriptures as existing, in respect to attributes, character and office, as three Persons, equally Divine; while in other respects they are united, and are, in a proper sense, One God.
4. We believe that our First Parents were created upright ; that they fell from their original state by disobedience, and that all their posterity are not only prone to sin, but do become sinful and guilty before God.
5. We believe that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son to die for it; that Christ appeared in the flesh ; that he set forth a perfect example of obedience ; that he purely taught the truths needful for our salvation; that he suffered in our stead, the just for the unjust ; that he died to atone for our sins and to purify us therefrom, and that he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where he ever liveth to make interces- sion for us.
6. We believe that God offers full forgiveness and everlasting. life to all who will heartily repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ ; while those who do not believe, but persevere in sin, shall finally perish.
7. We believe in the resurrection of all the dead; in a final and general Judgment, upon the awards of which the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.
[ Thus do you believe ? ]
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MANUAL OF THE
COVENANT.
Do you now avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your God; Jesus Christ to be your Savior; the Holy Spirit to be your Sanctifier ? Renouncing the dominion of this world over you, do you consecrate your whole soul and body to the service of God ? Do you receive his word as the rule of your life, and, by his grace assisting you, will you persevere in this consecration unto the end ?
[The ordinance of Baptism, if not previously received, will here be administered.]
COVENANT WITH THE CHURCH.
[Here those who unite by letter will rise in their places. ]
Do you solemnly covenant and agree to study the peace, purity and liberty of this Church ; to love and watch over its members as your brethren ; to receive from them all needful care and admonition ? Will you labor together with us in the maintenance of its public worship and ordinances ; submit to necessary discipline, and avoid all causes of scandal and offence, so long as in the Providence of God you shall continue among us ?
[The members of the Church will here rise.]
We, then, the members of this Church, do joyfully and cordially receive you into our number. We promise to bear with you, to love, to edify, and by all means in our power to advance you in the Divine life. Amen.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
1. This Church is an independent ecclesiastical body; and, in matters of doctrine, order and discipline, is amenable to no other organization.
2. CONNECTION WITH OTHER CHURCHES .- This Church will extend to other evangelical Churches, and receive from them, that fellowship, advice and assistance which the laws of Christ require.
3. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS. - Application for Church membership, either by letter or profession, must be made to the Examining Commit- tec; and those approved shall be propounded to the Church and congregation at least one week before the Communion. They shall become members by vote of the Church, and giving a public assent to the Articles of Faith and Covenant.
4. DISMISSION OF MEMBERS .- It is expected that members on re- moving will ask for Letters of dismission and recommendation. Re- quests for such Letters may be announced at the weekly Prayer- Meeting or Lecture ; and if at the end of one week no objection has been made to the Clerk, he shall issue the customary Certificate.
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