USA > New York > Otsego County > Cooperstown > Historic records of Christ Church, Cooperstown, N.Y. > Part 3
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In 1880 Messrs. Keese, Sturges and Hooker represented the Parish at the Diocesan Convention. At the election in Easter week, Mr. A. C. Clark was elected Warden in place of Geo. W. Ernst. Subsequently, Mr. Clark having declined the office, Dr. W. T. Bassett was chosen at a special election called for that purpose. During this year the ladies of the Parish raised a fund of about $600 and purchased new carpets for the Church and caused an ornamental wood flooring to be laid inside the Sanctuary rail.
During this year also, Mrs. J. R. A. Carter requested per- mission to bear the expense of the enlargement and improve- ment of the Chapel, then in contemplation, and to make the
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same a memorial to her daughter, Marcia. The cost of this gift was about $3,000, and included the building of a wing for the use of the infant department of the Sunday School, with a cloister connection to the transept door of the Church, an ex- tension of the main building which provided a chancel lighted by a triplet window containing a figure of St. Agnes in the centre. A tablet in brass, on the south wall, indicates by the inscription the name and date of the memorial.
The sum of $375 having been collected toward the pro- posed enlargement of the Chapel, and the same having been assumed by Mrs. Carter, the money was ordered to be expended on necessary repairs of the Church and churchyard.
A legacy of $500 from the late John Wilson was received by the Vestry. No restrictions being placed upon its use, it was invested in a mortgage, and the income applied for parochial purposes.
In September of this year Miss Emily Doubleday resigned the position of organist, which she had held for over twenty- five years. Suitable resolutions, expressive of the appreciation of the Vestry for her long and faithful service were entered on the minutes. Prof. Wm. Mildner succeeded Miss Doubleday as organist.
Messrs. Keese, Avery and R. H. White were chosen dele- gates to the Diocesan Convention, held in Albany in November.
At the Easter election in 1881, the following ticket was elected, viz : G. Pomeroy Keese, David A. Avery, Wardens. H. M. Hooker, A. A. Jarvis, Edward Clark, John Worthington, H. Sturges, W. T. Bassett, A. Lane and R. M. Townsend, Ves- trymen. This was a warmly contested election, growing out of difficulties which had arisen between the Rector and a disaf- fected portion of the congregation. The Rector having declined to call the Vestry together no organization was effected, nor were any pew rents collected during the year.
The Rector reported parochial contributions for the year 1880, $851.67, aside from pew rents; Diocesan, $302.72 ; gen- eral, $316.18; total, $1,470.57.
In 1882, Hezekiah Sturges and Wilson T. Bassett were
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elected Wardens, and S. W. Bingham, H. J. Bowers, D. L. Birge, Edward Clark, A. Gorringe, W. Mildner, A. Shaw, Ves- trymen. There being a tie between Geo. W. Ernst and G. T. White, there was no election of the eighth Vestryman.
On the organization of the Vestry, W. Mildner was elected Clerk in place of Frederick L. Palmer, who had held the office for ten years, and W. C. Bowers was appointed Treasurer.
The financial report of the Parish for 1881 showed the contributions to have been : Parochial, $1,792.50; Diocesan, $288; general, $82.76; total, $2,163.26. The amount contri- buted by Mrs. Carter to the Chapel addition, and the amount raised for Church repairs, $3,500 in all, in 1880, appears in the report of this year as added to the above.
In June, 1882, Rev. Dr. Lord resigned the Rectorship of the Parish. This was accepted at a meeting held in September following. At the same meeting a call was extended to Rev. G. F. Williams of Port Tobacco, Maryland. This call was declined.
In October of this year, died Mr. Edward Clark, a member of the Vestry for eight years past.
After the retirement of Dr. Lord, the Rev. John Anketell of New York became a temporary supply until the Ist of De- cember. Following him, the Rev. Caspar M. Wines officiated for three months and then received a call to the Rectorship at a salary of $1,300.
At the commencement of this winter a new double furnace was put in the Church at a cost of about $350.
At the election for Wardens and Vestrymen, Easter week, 1883, the only changes made were in the choice of Alfred C. Clark in place of Edward Clark, and Theodore C. Turner and R. H. White in room of Andrew Shaw and to fill the vacancy of the previous year. Mr. W. Mildner was re-elected Clerk.
Mr. Turner having declined to serve, a vacancy was thereby created in the Vestry, and subsequently Messrs. White and Gorringe resigning, a special election was called to choose four Vestrymen. This election resulted in the choice of H. M. Hooker, Albert Lane, R. M. Townsend and W. H. Merchant.
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During this year repairs were made on the Rectory amount- ing to $120, and about $500 spent in furnishing the same in order to prepare the house for Rev. Mr. Wines and family.
Messrs. Sturges, Keese and Townsend were elected dele- gates to the Diocesan Convention of this year.
At a meeting held March 11th, 1884, the Rector offered his resignation to take effect July Ist following. The same was accepted.
At the Easter election of 1884, the following officers were chosen, viz: H. M. Hooker and R. M. Townsend, Wardens. D. L. Birge, G. P. Keese, D. A. Avery, E. M. Harris, W. H. Merchant, T. C. Turner, A. Lane, L. B. Cruttenden, Vestrymen. On the organization of the Vestry, Mr. Lee B. Cruttenden was appointed Clerk. At this time also, committees were designated who should have charge respectively of the "Church property," of the "letting of pews," and of the "finances." Mr. Mildner tendered his resignation as organist.
A communication was received from Mrs. Carter, asking permission to complete the Chapel by placing an Altar therein, and to make such other additions as shall be concurred in by the Rector and Wardens, which was granted.
At a meeting of the Vestry held in May of this year a call to the Rectorship was made to Rev. Robert Gross of New York. This call was declined.
In June following, the Rev. Charles S. Olmsted, then of Morley, was called as Rector. This call was accepted and Mr. Olmsted entered upon his duties July Ist. At this time Mr. Cruttenden was appointed Treasurer of the Parislı. Some of the furniture placed in the Rectory two years ago not being re- quired by the present Rector the same was ordered to be sold.
The total contributions of this year were reported at $3,319.85 ; of which $335.25 were Parochial ; $335.25 Diocesan; and $25 general.
On Christmas Day of this year, a new altar, altar cross and festival hangings were in use for the first time, being the gift of Mrs. Carter.
Mr. A. R. G. Pearce, a visitor at Cooperstown, having most
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acceptably presided at the organ for three months without com- pensation, received a suitable acknowledgment from the Vestry.
At the Vestry election of 1885, the only change made was that of W. C. Bowers in place of Albert Lane. The contribu- tions of the year varied but little from the year previous, show- ing a total of $3,365.44.
There was no change in the Vestry at the election of 1886, but subsequently, Messrs. D. L. Birge and T. C. Turner resigned. Mr. Cruttenden was appointed Clerk, and W. H. Merchant, Treasurer.
During this year the Vestry borrowed the sum of $2,000 on a promissory note to pay the accumulated debt of the Parish, occasioned by the failure to organize the Vestry in 1881, and to collect the pew rents of that year when due. Extraordinary expenses were also incurred for the two years following, in fur- nishing the Rectory and in advances to the Rector. The sum total being the amount named above.
The report of the Parish for this year showed : Baptisms II ; confirmations 9; communicants 247. Contributions : Paro- chial $2,334.92; Diocesan $279.68; general $157.24; total $2,771.84.
At the election in Easter week, 1887, H. M. Hooker and W. T. Bassett were chosen Wardens, and W. H. Merchant, D A. Avery, L. B. Cruttenden, R. H. White, H. C. Bowers, Geo. T. Brown, C. J. Tuttle and G. P. Keese, Vestrymen. Messrs. Keese, Hooker and Merchant represented the Parish at the Diocesan Convention. The total contributions reported this year were $3,412.83.
The only change made in the Vestry of 1888 was the election of Mr. S. E. Crittenden in place of D. A. Avery, re- moved from the village.
The Rector's full report of the Parish for this year is as follows: Number of families 136, individuals 501, baptisms 17, confirmed 9, marriages 3, burials 9, communicants 261. Public services, all Sundays and Holy days, and Litany days. Holy Communion, all Sundays and Holy days. Sunday School
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teachers 14, scholars 140. Offerings : Parochial, Alms at Holy Communion, $170.68 ; current expenses, including salaries, $2,513.27 ; Sunday School, $168; payment of Church debt, $2,061 ; tiling the Church porch, (gift of Miss Carr and Mrs. Mc Namee.) $44. 53; Mite Society, $44. 36 ; Lenten Sewing So- ciety, $337.75 ; from Sunday School for Scholarship, St. Mark's School, Salt Lake City, $40; special, $21 ; total, $5,400.59. Diocesan : Missions, $150.22 ; salary of the Bishop, $60; Dio- cesan fund, $36; Bible and Prayer Book Society, $6.87 ; aged and infirm clergy fund, Sio; widows and orphans, $10.04; Orphan House, $71.83; Theological education, $10.96; other offerings for objects within the Diocese, including $41. 50 toward Cathedral Stall, $103.03. Total, $458.95. General, $113.06. Grand total, $5.972.62.
During this year a committee of the women of the Parish was formed, to be known as the Rectory Fund Committee, who should solicit subscriptions toward the building of a new Rectory, a fund of $2,000 having already been secured. The initial work, and its successful accomplishment, was largely due to the interest exhibited in the work by Mrs. E. M. Harris. Sub- sequently a committee of the Vestry was appointed to assist in the same object. Mrs. Laidley presented an Altar Service Book in memory of Mrs. Carter, which was duly acknowledged.
At the Vestry election in 1889, W. D. Boden was chosen in place of George T. Brown. Sufficient funds being at hand to warrant proceeding with the building of the Rectory, the Vestry employed Mr. James Constable of Utica to prepare plans for the same and submit them to a future meeting.
After some modifications the plans were adopted and a contract let to Mr. S. R. Barnes for the sum of $7,000. The old building was sold for $80. A building was rented as a tem- porary residence for the Rector's family, on South Fair street, in the rear of the Church.
The financial report of this year shows : Contributions, Parochial, $9,753. 10, (of which $7,000 was for the building of the Rectory); Diocesan, $522. 31, (of which $117.96 was for work in the Convocation of the Susquehanna, and $59. 50 bal-
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ance of Sioo for the Cathedral Stall); general, $120.66; total, $10,396.07.
There was no change of Wardens or Vestrymen at the Easter election of 1890. At a Vestry meeting held in June, the Rev. Dr. Alfred B. Beach, a former Rector of the Parish, hav- ing become a resident of the village, the use of Pew No. 68 in the Church was tendered to him during his life.
The salary of the Rector, which had previously been $1,200 per annum, was this year raised to $1, 500.
Messrs. Keese, Bassett and Tuttle were appointed a com- mittee on Church improvement, who should inspect the Church building and report what changes and additions are desirable. Subsequently the committee made a report, which was laid on the table, to receive a communication from the children of the late Mrs. Carter, which led to the adoption of a resolution by the Vestry :
Resolved, That the Vestry of Christ Church accept with much pleasure and gratitude the offer of Mrs. Philip A. H. Brown, Mrs. G. Hyde Clarke, Miss Carter and Mr. L. Averell Carter, to build a Chancel as a memorial to their mother, the late Mrs. J. R. A. Carter, and their gift of land on which to erect a portion of it.
At the same meeting the Vestry authorized the purchase of the house and lot in the rear of the Church for the sum of $1,000, subject to the life interest of Mrs. S. K. Thompson in the same.
Messrs. Keese, Crittenden and Hooker represented the Parish at the Diocesan Convention of this year.
The Rectory was completed during this year and occupied by the Rector and his family. Some changes and additions were made at a cost of $822.46, which was included in the re- port of the year, as follows : Parochial, $4,225.81 ; Diocesan, $321.50 ; general, $246; total, $4,793.31.
There was no change in the Vestry of 1891. During this year was built the Carter Memorial Chancel, the corner stone of which has the following inscription :
"AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM ET IN MEMORIAM
JANE RUSSELL CARTER, A. D. 1891."
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This is built of native blue quarry stone, with Lake Super- ior red sand stone trimmings, and consists of an addition 30x40 fect, divided into a choir, sanctuary, choir and clergy robing- rooms and choir aisle. The interior is finished in oak with stencil decorations. A reredos over the Altar contains paint- ings of Saints with the Agnes Dei in the centre. A painting of the Ascension, after Hofman, 10x15 feet, occupies the rear wall of the Chancel. The contractors for the work were Jeans & Taylor of New York ; Charles J. Tuttle, mason ; Edward W. Stent, decorator ; glass by J. & R. Lamb.
The consecration services were held on St. Luke's Day, October 28, 1891, by Bishop Doane, assisted by Bishop Cole- man of Delaware, who preached the sermon from Revelations, 4: 11. There were present of the clergy, Rev. Chas. S. Olmsted, Rector, and a number from the Diocese of Albany, and Rev. John W. Brown of St. Thomas's, New York, Rev. P. A. H. Brown of St. John's, New York, Rev. Mr. Reazor, Orange, N. J., Rev. Mr. Synnott of Ithaca, Rev. Mr. Whitaker of Long Island, Rev. James F. Olmsted of New York. At this service a sur- pliced choir of men and boys was introduced for the first time. Mr. Le Jeune, organist of St. John's, New York, presided at the organ and acted as director.
During the summer, while the Chancel was building. a number of changes and repairs were made to the Church, by order of the Vestry. The rose window, formerly in the chancel, was placed in the gable of the north transept ; the small circular window, known as the "Ladies' window," being removed to the south gable ; the organ was placed in a chamber built for it in the choir ; the exterior of the Church was painted and some additions and changes made in the pews.
After the completion of the Church and Chancel, the Bishop's chair formerly in use, was presented to Bishop John- ston of Western Texas for use in his jurisdiction, and the Prayer Desk and other chair for use in the Diocese of Albany, as the Diocesan Missionary should direct.
Repairs were made upon the Chapel this year, including a new tin roof.
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CHANCEL OF CHRIST CHURCH, 1899.
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The financial report of 1891 shows: Parochial offerings, $17.918.48, in which is included the Carter Memorial Chancel ; Diocesan, $554.57 ; general, $113.So; total $18,586.85.
There was no change in the Vestry in 1892. A choir hav- ing been organized with boys and adults, both male and fe- male, to the number of twenty-four, all of whom were duly vested, Mr. G. B. Snyder was engaged as choir master. Later in the season, Mrs. Austin having resigned the position of organist which she had held for a number of years, Miss Saxton was appointed to succeed her, an office which she subsequently filled as Mrs. E. V. Adams.
The total expenses of the choir now amounting to about $1,000 the members of the congregation were asked to make a special contribution to provide for this amount, over and above the sum paid for pew rent. This sum was raised and has been continued annually to the present time.
During this season Mrs. Morgan Dix presented a Hymn Board for use in the Church, there being but one previously.
The financial report of the year gives the Parochial con- tributions at $4,442.26, of which $1,000 was for the improvement of the Church property ; Diocesan, $441.13 ; general, $1.706.64 ; in this is included $1,325 given to Bishop Johnston for his work in Western Texas. Total, $6,509.03.
G. Pomeroy Keese, S. E. Crittenden, and L. Averell Carter represented the Parish at the Diocesan Convention.
The only change made at the Easter election of 1893 was that of William Constable in place of Henry C. Bowers.
In June of this year occurred the death of Mr. S. E. Crit- tenden, a member of the Vestry ; his place was filled at the next election by Lynn J. Arnold.
In June, 1893, a new bell, weighing 1,500 pounds, was pre- sented to the Church by the Rev. Dr. Dix, Rector of Trinity Church, New York, in memory of his father, General John A. Dix, who in early life was a member of the Parish. It is said that as a young lawyer he made his first speech in public in an address to the Sunday School, and as its Superintendent. The bell bears the following inscription : "Presented to Christ
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Church, Cooperstown, June 11th, 1893, by Morgan Dix, in memory of his father, John A. Dix."
The offerings this year were : Parochial, $4.108.49; Dioce- san, $490.50 ; general, $68.17 ; total, $4,667.16.
The Melodeon which had heretofore been used in the Chapel having been moved into the choir room of the Church, a piano was secured in its place at a yearly rental.
There was no change in the Vestry in 1894, except as previously noted. The financial report of this year shows : Parochial contributions, $4,447.40; Diocesan, $447.13 ; general, $124; total, $5,018.53.
On the last day of the year 1894 occurred the death of Miss Susan Fenimore Cooper, to whom, more than to any other, the Church in Cooperstown owes the origin and organization of the several charities connected therewith, the Charity House, Mis- sion to the County Poor House, Orphan House, and in the vil- lage the Thanksgiving Hospital. The Mission to the Poor House was discontinued after the establishment of the Orphan House.
The Vestry remained without change in 1895. The Charity House, the property of the Church, was damaged by fire in the spring of this year to the extent of the burning of the upper story. The loss was covered by insurance.
At a session of the Vestry held in April, a request was received from Mrs. James Dunbar, asking permission to place a stained glass window in the Church in memory of her deceased daughter. The window is the centre one of the three on the south aisle.
In the summer of this year a brass Processional Cross was presented by Mr. J. F. Brower, as a memorial of his mother.
Later in the year a committee of ladies was appointed by the Rector to solicit subscriptions for a memorial window to Miss Cooper. Contributions from within and without the Par- ish were received to the amount of $550. The window, which is the centre one on the north aisle, was unveiled on Christmas Day, 1895.
The Vestry received during this year, a legacy of $300 from
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the estate of Miss Cooper, the interest to be expended annually in keeping in order the plot within the Church grounds known as the "Cooper Burying Ground."
The report of the Parish for this year, being the last in the Rectorship of the Rev. C. S. Olmsted, D. D., is herewith given in full.
Parochial : Baptisms (adults 10, infants 14), 24 ; confirmed 17 ; marriages 9 ; burials 13 ; communicants 286. Public ser- vices, all Sundays, Holy days, Wednesdays and Fridays, and daily in Lent. Holy communion every Sunday and Holy day. Sunday School: teachers 14, pupils 140. Lane Hill Sunday School, pupils 40; Otsego Sunday School, teachers 3, pupils 30; Chase Sunday School, teachers 2, pupils 18. Young Men's Bible Class 15.
Offerings : Parochial, at Holy Communion, $212.91 ; current expenses. including salaries, $3,203.15 ; by Sunday School, $34.52; for Sunday School, $91.98; St. Margaret's Guild, $26.31 ; Altar Guild, $58.31 ; Hymnals and music, $359; Mite Society, $45.74; Woman's Auxiliary, $390.77; Girls' Friendly Society, $63.50; memorial window, $500 ; Cooper legacy $300 ; parochial mission, $77.55 ; total, $5,363.94.
Diocesan-Missions, $150 ; salary of Bishop, $30; Diocesan fund, $45; Bible and Prayer Book Society, $3.37 ; aged and infirm clergy, $5.30; widows and orphans of clergy, $6.30 ; Orphan House, $65.65; Archdeaconry of the Susquehanna, $21.74 ; Chapter House fund, $118.25 ; total, $496.61.
General-Foreign missions, $23.18 ; Indian mission, $13.86; mission to colored persons, $13.86; Bishop Gray, Southern Florida, $61.84; Mr. Shimmon, toward his education, $41.54; total, $154.28. Total of offerings, $6,014.83. Value of Church property, $40,000 ; Rectory, SS,ooo; insurance on same, $21,500. Salary pledged to the Rector, $1, 500.
At a meeting of the Vestry held March 11th, 1896, a legacy of $1,000 was received from the executors of the late Thomas McIntosh, under the proviso that the interest, so far as neces- sary, should be expended in the care and preservation of the graves and monument now in the churchyard of the father and
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mother of legator, and the balance be paid annually to the Rector. The amount was duly invested by order of the Vestry. At the same meeting an offer was made and accepted of a gift of a Lantern for the Church porch by Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Zabriskie.
There was no change in the Vestry in 1896. On the first of June, the Rev. Dr. Olmsted, having received a call to St. Asaph's Church, Bala, Pa., resigned the Rectorship to take effect July ist. The resignation was accepted and appreciative resolutions adopted by the Vestry. At the same meeting, on the request of Dr. Olmsted, he was allowed a burial spot in the churchyard, by the side of his mother, who had died and was buried there during his Rectorship.
At a meeting of the Vestry, held July 2d, a call to the Rec- torship of the Parish was given to the Rev. Richmond Shreve, D. D., then of Holy Innocents Church, Albany, which call was accepted and Dr. Shreve entered upon his duties the first Sun- day in August.
The report of the Parish for this year shows the offerings to have been for Parochial objects, $5,433.20; Diocesan, $360.42; general, $78.69; total, $5,872.31.
There was no change in the Vestry for 1897. On Easter day of this year a Memorial Pulpit to the memory of Father Nash, the first Rector of the Parish, was put in place and used for the first time. An appropriate and historical sermon was preached by the Rector on the Sunday following, giving an ac- count of Father Nash's labors as a missionary in Otsego and other counties of the State, and especially of the organization of the Parish of Christ Church. The sermon also records with appropriate notice all the memorials heretofore placed in the Church. The fund for the pulpit was started by contributions from the congregation and Sunday School, and afterwards com- pleted by early friends of the Parish. It is of oak and brass with a bronze frontal of Christ blessing little children, in relief. The cost was about $260. The old pulpit was sent as a dona- tion to the missionary station at Norwood, N. Y.
At a Vestry meeting held in May of this year certain spe-
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cific duties were adopted as requirements of a choirmaster, which Mr. Snyder declined to accept, and the office was filled by a committee of the Vestry, raised for that purpose, and Mr. Herbert H. Combs, late of Gardiner, Maine, was engaged at a salary of $400 per annum, from August 27th.
A lawn festival was held on the grounds of Holt-Averell in August, for the purpose of raising money to put a basement under the Chapel, and a furnace therein, which was subsequent- ly done at a cost of about $300.
A carved oak Litany Desk was presented to the Church on All Saints' Day of this year by Mrs. F. U. Johnston, as a me- morial to her late husband, Dr. F. U. Johnston, a former Ves- tryman of the Parish. At the same time a Litany Book was given in memory of Mrs. Sill, by her children.
The full parochial record is given of this year, as being the first under the charge of the present Rector, Rev. Dr. Shreve. Parochial-baptisms, 58; confirmed, 26; marriages, 2 ; burials, 13 ; communicants, 309. Public services-Sundays 142, holy. days 31, other days 95 ; total 268. Holy communion-public 72, private 3 ; total 75. Sunday School-Teachers and schol- ars and Bible class, 142. Services at missions, 22 ; St. Andrew's Mission Sunday School, 53 ; Pierstown, 32.
Offerings and Contributions-Parochial: Alms, $207.10, current expenses, including salaries, $3,086.13 ; for Sunday School. $131.36; repairs and improvement of Church property, $506.91 ; liquidation of liabilities, $507 ; Father Nash memorial fund, $263.28; Woman's Auxiliary, $294.85 ; Mite Society, $42.37 ; Altar Guild, $128.41 ; music, Si8.70; St. Margaret's Chapter, Sio. Total, $5,296.11.
Diocesan-Diocesan missions, $150 ; salary of the Bishop, $80 ; Diocesan fund, $45 ; Bible and Prayer Book Society, $5.97; funds for aged clergy and widows and orphans, $26.46 ; Theo- logical education, $17.26; Orphan House, SSo.o8; deaf mute work, Sio; salary of Diocesan missionary, $15 ; Archdeaconry of the Susquehanna, Sio; total, $439.77. General, for various missions. $91.11. Total for all objects, $5,834.99.
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