USA > New York > New York City > A discourse delivered in the North Reformed Dutch Church (Collegiate) : in the city of New-York, on the last Sabbath in August, 1856 > Part 6
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SAMUEL VER BRYCE, Tappan.
E. T. VAN HOEVENBERGH, Rhinebeck Flats.
LAMBERTUS DE RONDE, New-York, Emeritus, 1784, died 1795.
1752-1772. DAVID MARENUS, Aquacknonk and Totowa.
1753-1795.
JOHANNES SCHUNEMAN, Catskill and Coxsackie.
1753-1761.
THOMAS ROMEYN, Queens county, L. I.
The same, from 1761-1771, at Minisink, N. J., and from 1771-1794, at Caghnawaga, Montgomery county, N. Y.
1754-1782. . BARENT VROOMAN, Schenectady.
1755-1759. JOHANNES CASPARUS RUBEL, Red Hook, Dutchess county, and from 1759-1783, Kings county, L. I.
1756-1757. HENRICUS FRELINGHUYSEN, Wawarsing and Rochester, Ulster county.
1757-1789.
WILLIAM JACKSON, Bergen and Staten Island.
1757.
The church at New-Hackensack, Dutchess county, formed.
1756. 1758-1781.
The church at Hopewell, Dutchess county, organized. JACOB R. HARDENBERGH, Raritan, Bedminster, etc., from 1781-1786, at Marbletown and Rochester, Ulster county, and from 1786-1790, at New-Brunswick, N. J. EILARDUS WESTERLO, Albany.
1760-1790.
1760-1771.
JOHANNES MAURITIUS GOETSCHIUS, Shawangunk and New-Paltz, Ulster county.
1761-1795. JOHANNES MARTINUS VAN HARLINGEN, New-Shannick and Sourland, N. J., now Harlingen.
1762-1783. JOHAN DANIEL COCK, Rhinebeck and Red Hook.
1763-1775. HERMANUS MEIER, Kingston, from 1775-1791, Pomp- ton and Totowa, N. J.
1763-1774.
1764-1779. 1764-1794. 1763-1771. 1764-1816.
HENRICUS SCHOONMAKER, Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, from 1774-1816, at Aquackenonk, N. J. ARCHIBALD LAIDLIE, New-York.
A. ROSEKRANTZ, Canajoharie and German Flats. JOHN MICHAEL KERN, German Reformed Church, N. Y. BENJAMIN DU BOIS, Freehold and Middletown.
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1765-1789. ISAAC RYSDYCK, Fishkill, Hopewell, and Hackensack, Dutchess county.
1765-1785. MARTINUS SCHOONMAKER, Haerlem and Gravesend, from 1785-1824, Kings county, L. I.
1766-1774. THEODORICK ROMEYN, Marbletown and Rochester, from 1774-1781, at Hackensack and Schralenburgh, and from 1781-1803, at Schenectady.
1776-1772. HARMANUS L. BOELEN, Queens county, L. I.
1768. The church at New-Hurley, Ulster county, organized.
1769-1772. WARMOLDUS KUYPERS, Rhinebeck Flats, from 1772- 1795, Hackensack and Schralenburgh.
1770. GERRIT LYDEKKER, English Neighborhood, N. J.
1770-1810. JOHN H. LIVINGSTON, New-York, from 1810-1825, President of Rutgers College, and Professor of Theo- logy.
1773-1810. RYNIER VAN NEST, settled at different periods at Sha- wangunk, Queens county, and Schoharie.
1773-1776. STEPHEN VAN VOORHIS, Poughkeepsie, from 1776-1784, Rhinebeck Flats.
The churches of Cortlandtown, Walpeck, Oyster Bay, Success, Pompton, Canajoharie, and Kakeat, were all organized before 1771.
1773-1785. ELIAS VAN BUNSCHOOTEN, Scaghticoke, from 1785-1813, Minisink.
1775-1778. SOLOMON FRELIGH, Queens county, from 1778-1784, Millstone, and also Fishkill, from 1785-1826, Hack- ensack and Schralenburgh. -
1775-1796. STEPHEN GOETSCHIUS, New-Paltz and New-Hurley, from 1796-1815, Marbletown, from 1815-1832, Saddle River and Pascack.
1776-1826. JOHN GABRIEL GEBHARD, Claverack.
1776-1809, GEORGE I. L. DOLL, Kingston.
1779-1781. MATHEW LEIDT, Belleville, N. J.
1781-1786. NICHOLAS LANSING, Livingston Manor, 1786-1831, Tap- pan and Clarkstown.
1783-1789.
1783-1787. SIMEON VAN ARSDALEN, North Branch, N. J. ISAAC BLAUVELT, Fishkill, afterwards Paramus. Several churches, as Saratoga, Taghkanick, Niskayu- na, etc., organized previous to 1783.
1784. CORNELIUS COZINE, Conewago, Adams county, Penn.
1785-1808. WILLIAM LINN, New-York.
1785-1786. THEODORE F. ROMEYN, Raritan.
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1787-1799.
JOHN DURYEE, Raritan.
1787-1794. JOHN M. VAN HARLINGEN, Millstone and Six Mile Run.
1787-1818.
PETER LOWE, Kings county, L. I.
1787-1820. PETER STEDDIFORD, Readington and Bedminster.
1787-1798.
PETER DE WITT, Rhinebeck Flats, from 1799-1809, Ponds and Wyckoff, N. J.
1787-1805.
JOHN BASSETT, Albany, afterwards from 1805, first at the Bogt and then at Gravesend.
1788-1798. JAMES V. C. ROMEYN, Schodack and Greenbush, from (1798-1831, Hackensack and Schralenburgh.
1788-1817. MOSES FRELIGH, Shawangunk and Wallkill.
1786-1788.
GERARDUS A. KUYPERS, Paramus, from 1788-1833, New-York.
1788-1790. PETER STRYKER, N. and S. Hampton, Penn., from 1790-1794, Staten Island, from 1796-1814, Belleville. 1790. BRANDT SCHUYLER LUPTON, (a brief ministry,) Lansing- burgh and Wakeford.
1789-1800.
ISAAC LABAGH, Kinderhook, from 1800-182-, first at Canajoharie, Sharon, etc., and then at the German Re- formed church, N. Y.
1789-1795. GEORGE G. BRINKERHOFF, Conewago, Adams county, Penn., afterwards at Kakeat, and then at Owasco, Cayuga county, N. Y.
1789. 1789.
PETER LEIDT, (died early,) Ponds, Kakeat, Ramapo,N.J. SAMUEL SMITH, Saratoga.
1790-1805.
JOHN DEMAREST, Niskayuna and Boght, afterwards at the Ponds and Wyckoff, N. J.
1790-1793.
ANDREW GRAY, Poughkeepsie.
1790-1795.
ABRAHAM VAN HORNE, Marbletown and Rochester, from 1796-183-, Caghnawaga, Montgomery county.
1791-1803.
JEREMIAH ROMEYN, Red Hook and Linlithgow, after- wards at Haerlem.
1791-1804.
NICHOLAS VAN VRANKEN, Fishkill, Hopewell, and New- Hackensack.
1791-1805.
JOHN F. JACKSON, Haerlem, afterwards at Fordham. The churches at Esopus and Ashokan organized.
1792-1800.
PETER VAN VLIERDEN, Catskill and Saugerties.
1793.
1793-1807.
HARMANUS VAN HUYSEN, Helderburgh, Albany county. WINSLOW PAIGE, Scaghticoke, afterwards successively at Florida, Montgomery county, and in Scholarie county.
1793-1830. JOHN CORNELISON, Bergen.
1793-1811. IRA CONDICT, New-Brunswick.
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1794-1815. ZECHARIAS H. KUYPERS, Queens county, L. I., afterwards at the Ponds and Wyckoff, N. J.
1794-1807. CORNELIUS BROUWER, Poughkeepsie.
1796-1800. JACOB SICKLES, Coxsackie, 1801-183-, Kinderhook.
1796-1819. JAMES S. CANNON, Six Mile Run and Millstone, after- wards Professor in Theological Seminary, New-Bruns- wick. (Died, 1852.)
1794-1810. STEPHEN OSTRANDER, Pompton, afterwards at Bloon- ing Grove.
1796-1815. WILLIAM R. SMITH, New-Shannick and Harlingen.
1796-7.
PETER LABAGH, Missionary to Kentucky Reformed Dutch Church in Mercer county, organized, from 1798-1809, Catskill, from 1809-1848, Harlingen, (still living.)
1796-1802. JOHN B. JOHNSON, Albany.
1796. THOMAS ROMEYN, Niskayuna and Amity-still living.
1797-1802. GARRET MANDEVILLE, Rochester, afterwards at Caro- line, Tompkins county, N. Y.
1797-1819. JACOB LARZILLERE, N. and S. Hampton, Penn.
1798-1805. CHRISTIAN BORK, Schodack, afterwards in Franklin street. N. Y., where he died, 1823.
1799-1809. HENRY POLHEMUS, Harlingen, afterwards at English Neighborhood and Shawangunk.
1799-1803. JOHN H. MEIER, New-Paltz, afterwards at Schenec- tady.
1799. THOMAS G. SMITH, Esopus, afterwards at Tarrytown- died, 1835.
1799-1803. JOHN BRODHEAD ROMEYN, Rhinebeck Flats.
1799-1840. WILHELMUS ELTING, Paramus, N. J.
This list is not furnished as complete. There are doubtless omis- sions, but it is believed not of any permanently settled previous to 1800. I have been dependent upon materials which have come to my hand without instituting inquiries from the particular churches. It has been difficult in some cases to ascertain the precise commencement of the ministry, and also the precise duration. In this list will be found detailed the early growth and succession of the churches and their ministry, so as to give information on these points now difficult to obtain, on account of the deficiency of existing sources within the reach of inquiry. I am in doubt whether John L. Zabriskie, afterwards of Millstone, settled at Greenbush, Rensselaer county, pre- vious to 1800, or not. In 1800, or very soon afterwards, John P. Spinner settled at Herkimer and German Flats, Philip Duryee at
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Saratoga, John S. Vredenburgh at Raritan, Jacob Schoonmaker at Jamaica, P. I. Van Pelt at Staten Island, Henry Ostrander (now at Kaatsbaan) at Catskill, and William Manley at Cortland town. Soon afterwards, from 1803 to 1805, Rev. Drs. Brodhead and Westbrook, and Rev. Herman Vedder were settled in the Classis of Poughkeepsie, etc. It will be seen that of the ministers settled previous to 1800, there are only two living, Peter Labagh and Thomas Romeyn. Of those referred to as settled between 1800 and 1805, out of the nine four are living.
It will be seen in the above list, where I was unable to ascertain the precise year of the death, or the close of the ministry, and could only approximate to it, I have placed it within a certain range, as be- tween twenty and thirty, leaving out the last figure, as : Abrahan Van Horne at Caghnawaga, 1796-183 -.
[NOTE F.] Rcopening of the Middle Dutch Church in 1790. [Page 42.]
THE following is extracted from the close of the sermon preached by Rev. Dr. LIVINGSTON, on the fourth of July, 1790, when the Mid- dle Church was reopened, after being repaired from the ruinous state in which it was left by the British forces during the Revolutionary War:
"To these great purposes this building was formerly devoted, and for these important ends it is now raised from its ruins. But the mention of ruins; calls back our thoughts to past scenes, and presents disagreeable ideas to our minds. When destruction is caused by the immediate hand of Heaven, by earthquakes, storms, or fire, we are silent before God, and dare not reply. But when men have been the instruments, it is difficult, although proper, to look up to the over- ruling power, and forget the interposition of the means. I dare not speak of the wanton cruelty of those who destroyed this temple, nor repeat the various indignities which have been perpetrated. It would be easy to mention facts which would chill your blood ! A recol- lection of the groans of dying prisoners, which pierced this ceiling, or the sacrilegious sports, and rough feats of horsemanship exhibited within these walls, might raise sentiments in your mind that would, perhaps, not harmonize with those religious affections which I wish at present to promote and always to cherish. The Lord has sufficiently
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vindicated our cause, and avenged us of those who rose up against us. He girded our Joshua for the field, and led him, with his train of heroes, to victory. Heaven directed our councils and wrought deli- verance. Our enemies themselves acknowledged an interposing Pro- vidence, and were obliged to say, The Lord hath done great things for them; while we, repeating the shout of praise, The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Through the long avenue of danger and perplexity, while discouragements like dark elouds are hovering all around, who could penetrate the gloom, and foresee that God would soon bring order out of confusion-so soon dismiss the horrors of war, and grant an honorable peace-perfeet revolution ? Where was it ever seen, excepting only in Israel, that God took a nation out of the midst of another nation, with such a mighty hand, and a stretched-out arm ? Who could have predicted that from such indigested materials, with such short experience, and within so few years, an efficient, liberal, and pervading government would have been formed? A station and rank is now obtained among the nations of the earth, and if the full enjoyment of civil and religious liberty is a constituent part of social happiness-if the pros- pects of the rising importance, strength, and greatness of our new em- pire are of any weight in the seale, we may safely pronounce ourselves, as this day to be the happiest nation in the world. A nation where all the rights of man are perfectly seeured. Without a monarchy- without hereditary nobility, and without an hierarchy. Hail, happy land ! A land of liberty, of science, and religion ! Here an undis- turbed freedom in worship, forms the first principle of an equal government, and is elaimed as a birthright-which none of our rul- ers dare eall in question, or control. Here no seet is legally preferred with exclusive prerogatives-the chief magistrate worships as a pri- vate citizen, and legislators, by their influential example, not by penal laws, prove nursing fathers to the Church of Christ. In this happy and elevated situation, the ruins of our temples, and all we have sus- tained, appear a price too small to mention. We are more than compensated. We have forgiven, and we forget past injuries. God has abundantly made up for all our former griefs. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with sing- ing. We are a happy people; we feel and know that we are so. The labors of the husbandman prosper, and there is plenty in all our borders. Commerce is enlarged, and publie eredit established. The education of youth is universally patronized, and there is no com- plaining in our streets. In safety we sit-every man under his own
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vine and fig-tree, and there are none to make us afraid. With suffi- cient room to accommodate nations, and a government adequate to all the important purposes of society, we are not only at ease our- selves, but extend our arms, and cordially invite an oppressed world to come under our shade and share in our happiness. Happy is that people that is in such a case ! Yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord ! Whether we shall continue thus happy, will greatly depend upon our wisdom and justice, our industry and manners, but principally upon our faithfully recording the name of our Lord. Ac- cording to the measure in which the religion of the blessed Jesus is honored, and prevails, our land will be truly happy and our liberty secure. This holy religion establishes the purest morality, and incul- cates the reciprocal obligations which members of society are under to each other. It engages men of all ranks, by the highest sanctions, conscientiously to fulfill the duties of their stations, and it is without controversy the surest pledge of divine protection. The maintenance of this, in its purity, will most effectually establish our invaluable blessings, and as this declines, our ruin will hasten. See the rule of Providence with respect to nations. (Jer. 18 : 9, 10.) "At what in- stant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant. And if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them." While others, at our political anniversary, in their animated orations employ all the powers of eloquence to confirm your love of liberty, and by enraptured views of civil blessings, touch with trans. port all the springs of life ; I desire with plainness of speech, but with a zeal becoming a minister of the Gospel, to raise your views to Heaven, and persuade you wisely to improve your precious privileges. Seven years are not elapsed since we returned to this city in peace. And lo! in less than seven years, two ruined churches have been by us repaired. The Lord hath strengthened our hands, and given suc- cess to our efforts. Let a humble sense of our dependence upon Him. and recollection of his numerous mercies, call forth lively gratitude upon this occasion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! and all that is with- in me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits. It is, my brethren, a circumstance which, upon our part, is altogether fortuitous, but it deserves your notice that, in the direction of Providence, you have more than one object upon this memorable Fourth of July that claims your attention. While you glow with patriotic ardor for your country, and pour out fervent prayers for its rising honor and happiness, you are also exulting that the gates of this house are again opened to you. Enter into His gates
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with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. With ardent prayers and solemn vows, I know you now unite with me in this solemn exercise, and may your ardent prayers and solemn vows be ratified in heaven. But suffer me in faithfulness to warn you against the deceitfulness of your hearts towards God, and to charge you to mingle a holy fear and trembling, this day, with our rejoicings. Remember Shiloh, remember what has already befallen this house, and never forget that you have to do with a holy God, who is jealous for his honor and worship. Holiness becometh the house of God forever, and all who name the name of Christ, must depart from iniquity. Keep therefore thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. With what humble awe and pious reverence should ministers of the Gospel engage in the service of the sanctuary ? Upon us, my venerable and respected brethren and colleagues, a new bur- then is this day laid-to us a new door is opened ! I congratulate you on this auspicious occasion, and hope we may view it as a token for good from the Lord. Let it encourage us to persevere, and be- come more faithful in preaching a crucified Jesus, and inciting this people to worship God in spirit and in truth. But where is our Laidlie ? Where is now that bold herald of the Gospel, who feared not the face of man, nor courted the applause of fellow-worms ? He spoke with authority, and what flowed from his heart, reached the hearts of others. How often from these heights of Zion, have his words trembled, and saints rejoiced. But he is gone, and rests from his labors. His name still survives, and he, being dead, yet speaketh. Excuse this tribute of affection, forgive this tear which I owe to the memory of a man who was once so dear to me, as a fellow-laborer in this house, and whose ministry was highly acceptable, and greatly blessed to the people."
[NOTE G.] Closing of the Middle Church on Hassau Street, in 18-44, BETWEEN LIBERTY AND CEDAR STREETS.
[Page 53.]
THE encroachments of commerce having gradually driven the in- habitants from the lower part of the city, the Consistory with great
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reluctance came to the decision that it was no longer expedient to continue divine service in this Church. The building, after an oecu- pancy of one hundred and fifteen years, was used as a place of wor- ship for the last time in the evening of August 11, 1844. The occasion brought together an immense congregation, from the eity and adjacent country, of persons whose cherished associations rendered it to them interesting and touching.
A discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Knox, the senior pastor of the church, from the appropriate passage, John 4 : 20-24 : "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain," etc.
In the close of his discourse, a great object of which was to show that no place is intrinsically holy, and that every place is appropriate to the divine service, he took ยท occasion to remark : "Nevertheless, there is a world of sentiment in the thought, Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. The feeling of hallowed, affectionate attachment to this place, where we and our fathers worshipped and held commu- nion with God and with each other, and which at this moment has a deep lodgment in the hearts of this assembled multitude, is to be revercd. It is not the affectation of sentimentality.
"There is not a spot in this great city, perhaps not in our land, aronnd which so many fond and hallowed associations cluster, as the spot on which we are now assembled. This building has stood dur- ing successive ages, and is at present the oldest church edifice in the city. The site on which it stands was purchased in 1726, and it was opened for worship in 1729. Here, from generation to generation, our fathers worshipped in the great congregation. Among them were the founders of the city's greatness-men high in intellect, high in civil and social station, devoted in heart, and venerable in all that adorns the character of man. Here they and their children received the sacred initiatory rite-the seal of God's covenant. Here the voice of praise and the incense of prayer have ascended, and the ser- vants of Christ from age to age have surrounded the table of his love, and in communion with him their hearts have glowed with a fervor as pure as mortals ever feel. Here the glorious Gospel of the blessed God has been faithfully preached from generation to generation, and God has given testimony to the word of his grace. Multitudes have been brought out of darkness into light, and from the bondage of sin into the liberty of the sons of God. Multitudes now in glory, have under the culture of the divine hand, been edified in faith, holiness, and consolation, and rendered meet for the inheritance of saints in light. Here a long succession of ambassadors of Christ, gifted and honored, have bestowed the labors of their lives.
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"Of the pastors of this church who have entered into rest, many were eminent, and every one of them, by the endowments of Him who hath received gifts for men, possessed some characteristic excellence. Those of them who have rendered their service in the English tongue are, Drs. Laidlie, Livingston, Linn, Kuypers, Abeel, Schureman, and Mr. Strong. Of former pastors, two still survive, who have been re- moved from this church by a transfer of their services to other fields of labor .*
" By many an association is this place endeared to many a heart. On the very spot where he now stands, he who now addresses you, more than twenty-eight years ago, was ordained to the ministry by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, and here the ministerial labors of his life have been bestowed. Many of the deepest, dearest, most indelible impressions of his heart are connected with reminis- cences of this place.
"From such a spot, less than the force of uncontrollable circum- stances could not have induced the consent to remove. And I know that by all most interested, whether in Consistory or out of it, this point has been reached only step by step, and with constant reluctance. Were feeling alone the guide in duty, it never would have been reached at all. For a long period of time, however, we have felt the . gradual and growing encroachments of commerce. From year to year the people have been resigning their accustomed residences in this vicinity, and removing to places distant from it. It having be- come manifestly necessary, in order to maintain the Church in its vigor, the Consistory, some years ago, were constrained to follow the people with their accustomed means of grace, and to provide for their accommodation in another part of the city. t
"At length this large and commodious edifice, formerly constantly crowded with worshippers, became almost deserted; and the convic- tion was forced upon all, with scarcely an exception, that duty no longer required the endeavor to maintain the public ordinances within its walls.
" Our fellow-Christians of no less than nine different denominations around us, urged by like uncontrollable necessity, have been coerced into a like decision, namely, the German Reformed and Associate Churches, on Nassau street ; the French Church, on Pine street ; the two Presbyterian Churches, on Cedar street; the Wall-Street Church, and the Murray-Street Church; the Dutch Church, on Exchange
* Drs. Milledoler and Brodhead, both since deceased.
+ The Church on La Fayette Place was opened for worship May 9, 1839.
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Place; the Reformed Church, on Chambers street; the Baptist Church, on Gold street, and Grace Church, on Broadway, and the Mo- ravian Church, in Fulton street, are at this time in process of re- moval .*
" Our own case is exempt from some of the embarrassments with which our neighbors have had to contend. We have other churches, one of them in the immediate vicinity, where the same ministrations are found, and where accommodations ample and convenient may be secured by all who hitherto have worshipped here.
"An opportunity of appropriating this building, with as little vio- lence to feeling as could have been anticipated, has occurred.t
" The vaults around, wherein reposes the precious dust of the hon- ored dead, are secured from invasion, and are at the control of those who feel the deepest interest in their sacred contents.
" We now bid adieu to this place, endeared by more than a cen- tury's fond associations. It is a moment and an occasion of melan- choly sadness. But our God is not a God of the hills or of the valleys- of this place or that place alone-no mere local Deity. We bow to his will, indicated by his providence, and cherish the hope that his gracious presence, here vouchsafed so long with us and our fathers, will also elsewhere be with us and our children still.
" I honor the feelings which linger around a spot like this, and would have them only guarded against a superstitious homage : and that an event brought about by no stranger or wanton hand, and painful to all, may be met in the spirit of Christian acquiescence, and leave no feeling of alienation in the minds of any."
After the discourse, a brief address was made by Dr. De Witt, and the service closed by him with pronouncing the apostolic benediction in the Dutch language.
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