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Gc 977.102 C72ma Marsten, Francis Edward, 1851-1915. "After eighty years"
O
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02999 1491
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/aftereightyyears00mars_0
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, COLUMBUS, OHIO. Francis E. Marsten, Pastor.
"AFTER EIGHTY YEARS,"
PREPARED BY
FRANCIS E. MARSTEN.
" Attend, ye people, heare and learne, E'en of our fathers old." "The just shall live by faith."
A. H. SMYTHE, COLUMBUS, O. 1886.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
THANKS are extended to W. D. BRICKELL, Esq., for permitting the use of five of the illustrations of this volume, and for other courtesies.
PRESS OF THE OHIO STATE JOURNAL.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Introduction
5
Historical Sketch
10
The Early Church 14
Pastors of the Church
14
Ruling Elders
20
Outgrowths of the Church
23
Revivals
26
Relation of Church to City
28
Church Music.
31
Women of the Church
33
Church Edifices
35
Memorial Sermon
41
Faith of the Founders
55
Obligations of Our Heritage
59
Former Pastor's Greeting
63
Monday Services
68
Greeting from Sister Churches
69
Letters.
71
Reminiscences 75
History of Sunday School
78
Tuesday's Exercises
86
Introductory Remarks 87
Sketch of Isaac Dalton 88
Letters
91
The Ladies. 99
Greeting from Second Church 102
Greeting from Westminster Church
106
Greeting from Hoge Church 110
Collegiate Church 111
Eldership of Twenty-five Years Ago 111
Trustees of 'Twenty-five Years Ago 113 Bits of History 113
Letters from Former Pastors. 117
Bequest of the E3ghtieth Year.
123
Greeting from First Congregational Church 123
-
1886.
1806.
EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
COLUMBUS, OHIO,
February 8th, 1886.
REV. FRANCIS E. MARSTEN, PASTOR.
The First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Ohio, was organized February 8th, 1806, by the Rev. James Hoge, D. D.
REV. JAMES HOGE, D. D.
AFTER EIGHTY YEARS.
IN its issue of Monday, February 8th, 1886, the Ohio State Journal, of Columbus, said :
" Yesterday was a memorable day in the history of the First Presbyterian Church, and the services were devoted exclusively to the commemoration of the eightieth anniversary of the organization of the church. For years-in fact, ever since its establish- ment-the First Church has been one of the leading bodies in the city, and its members and congregation have always numbered many of the most prominent and cultured people of the Capital City. Thirty years ago the semi-centennial was celebrated in a most happy manner, and the arrangements for this anniversary were prepared with the same degree of care. It is the intention to continue the memorial gathering or reunion through to-day and to-morrow, the social feature being set for Tuesday evening."
The church was appropriately decorated with ever- green. The memorial tablet erected to the memory of Dr. Hoge was surrounded with a wreath of ever-
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
green, above which was the date "1806," and on the opposite side the date "1886."
The following was the order of exercises observed on Sabbath morning, February 7th :
Doxology.
Invocation.
Te Deum Laudamus.
Scripture Lesson, 90th Psalm :
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep; in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
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"Old First Church" in Columbus.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
O, satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be . upon us; and established thou the work of our hands upon us ; yea,the work of our hands, establish thou it.
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
HYMN. O, God of Bethel, by whose hand Thy people still are fed ; Who, through this weary pilgrimage, Hast all our fathers led.
Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before Thy throne of grace ; God of our fathers, be the God Of their succeeding race.
Through each perplexing path of life Our wandering footsteps guide ; Give us each day our daily bread, And raiment fit provide.
O, spread Thy covering wings around, Till all our wanderings cease, And at our Father's loved abode Our souls arrive in peace.
Prayer, by Rev. Robert J. Laidlaw. Hymn 435, Presbyterian Hymnal : "Our God, our help in ages past." Historical Sketch by the Pastor.
Memorial Sermon, Rev. R. J. Laidlawe. Prayer.
Original Hymn, written by Francis E. Marsten.
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" Old First Church" in Columbus.
TUNE-Louvan.
Beneath the shadow of Thy wing, Great God, we bow with song and prayer, Tribute of grateful hearts we bring For all Thy providential care. We thank Thee for our heritage Of faith and hope, and love and truth, Of holy church and open Page To guide our feet in age or youth.
Our fathers trod the wilderness ; And 'mid the primal forest vast, In wintry hardship and distress, Where Hand Divine their lot had cast,
They reared to Thee the sacred shrine ; And kept the faith, Thy wisdom willed ; With Heavenly grace Thy house did shine, As psalm and prayer its precincts filled.
Our fathers' God, we serve Thee, too ; Thy covenant our hope ; and may We all, O Christ, our Master true, Fresh graces gain from day to day. As Thou hast blessed for fourscore years The saintly work performed of yore, So let Thy Church, through smiles and tears, Grow by Thy Spirit evermore.
BENEDICTION.
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
HISTORICAL SKETCH
BY THE PASTOR, FRANCIS E. MARSTEN.
On such an occasion as this it is well to recall the founders of this institution and the foundation upon which they built it. The Apostle Paul declares, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the founda- tion." These words have a peculiar fitness to this hour, from their association in the annals of the First Church.
Thirty years ago this church celebrated the semi- centennial of its organization and of the pastorate of Dr. Hoge, its beloved shepherd. That it was an oc- casion of great joy, the written history of the event, and the lively memories of those still living among us who participated in the festival, alike fully testify. This text was used on that occasion, and woven into one of the many beautiful devices prepared by Mr. Joseph Sullivant, a descendant of one of the original members of the congregation, for that festival. I reproduce it because of the history which it contains :
OUR FOUNDERS.
"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation."- [I Cor. iii, 10.
"First Presbyterian Church," organized in Franklin- ton February 8, 1806. Pastor, James Hoge ; elders,
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" Old First Church" in Columbus.
Robert Culbertson, William Read; trustees, Joseph Dixon, John Dill, Daniel Nelson, William Domigan, Jos. Hunter, Lucas Sullivant. The original members of the congregation and their families-Robert Cul- bertson, Wm. Read, David Nelson, Wm. Shaw, John Turner, Edward Livingston, John Dill, William Domigan, Joseph Dixon, Lucas Sullivant, Samuel King, Luther Powers, Samuel G. Flenniken, William Stewart, John Lisle, Joseph Parkes, David Jameson, John Hunter, George Skidmore, Joseph Hunter, Wm. Brown, Wm. McElvain. To these may also be added the thirteen original members of the church- Robert Culbertson and wife, Wm. Read and wife, David Nelson and wife, Robert Young and wife, Mrs. Margaret Thompson, Mrs. Susannah McCoy, Michael Fisher and wife, and Miss Katherine Kessler.
It may be seen that even then the women were by far the better half of the church. To that appro- priate motto to which reference has been made, Mr. Sullivant added :
' Lift up thine eyes round about, and see; all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side."-[Isaiah lx, 4.
And as the generations have rolled on, how truly has this promise of Holy Writ been verified unto this people.
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
It is interesting to notice what led the young James Hoge, in the providence of God, to begin his life-work in Ohio. A slight sketch of his history may enable us the better to appreciate the motives which governed him in seeking the then distant frontier, with its privations, its sparse settlement, its dangers from savages, border wars and ruffianism.
James Hoge, his biographer writes, was born at Moorfield, Hardy county, Va., on the 4th of July, 1784. His parents were both natives of that state. Their ancestors were of good old Scotch stock, who came to America in the latter part of the seventeenth, or early in the eighteenth century. His father was a man of considerable eminence in the Presbyterian Church. From his induction into the ministry, until 1806 he was pastor of several Presbyterian churches. At that time he was called to the Presidency of Hampden and Sydney College, which position he held at the hour of his death, in 1822.
The future home missionary was educated mostly at home, though some years were passed under the training of the Rev. Dr. Priestly, who was eminent as an educator of that day. During 1803-5 Mr. Hoge taught school in Virginia, and studied theology pri- vately; for there were no theological seminaries in reach of the young man then. He was licensed to preach on the 17th of April, 1805, by the Presbytery
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"Old First Church" in Columbus.
of Lexington, Va. In October, 1803, he made a journey to Ohio, to see a tract of land in Highland county. So much interested in the region did he be- come during his visit, that he determined to make it his future home. After he was licensed to preach he applied for, and obtained an appointment as itinerant missionary in Ohio, from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1805.
From how small beginnings what great results flow in the providence of God! When James Hoge started out into the great State of Ohio, it was thought by some of his friends that he could not live more than a few months, for already the hectic flush had mounted to his face. But the youth who seemed so feeble was destined to a long life, and to lay the foundations of great works for the abiding good of many generations. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, assembled at Philadelphia, set apart James Hoge to proceed to the State of Ohio to preach the gospel ; and in order to define carefully the territory over which this bishop was to exercise jurisdiction, the commission included the parts thereunto adjacent. It is not stated whether the fathers thought this parish small enough for a sick man or not.
Here he wrought for God and humanity; and here his descendants and their families are continuing the good work he so well began.
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
THE EARLY CHURCH.
In November of 1805, James Hoge arrived in Franklinton, then the prominent settlement in Cen- tral Ohio. He, according to his commission, and with his wonted enthusiasm in proclaiming the gospel, began at once to preach. His first services were held in a two-story frame house, an engraving of which is care- fully preserved among the historical relics of ye olden time. Those were primitive in Ohio. 11 e little was known about the region, especially as to its possible development. It was the day of small things. He continued to preach, and on the 8th of February, 1806, the First Presbyterian Church was organized, and on the next Sabbath the Lord's Sup- per was administered to thirteen members and com- municants. This was the first church of any denomination that was organized within these limits, now known as the city of Columbus.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
Following is a copy of the first call extended by the church to Rev. James Hoge :
"The congregation of Franklinton being on sufficient grounds well satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, James Hoge, and having good hopes from our past experience of your labours, that your ministra- tions in the gospel will be profitable to our spiritual
L
E
MAUGHLIN
HOUSE IN WHICH THE CONGREGATION FIRST WORSHIPPED IN FRANKLINTON, 1806.
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"Old First Church" in Columbus.
interests, do earnestly call and desire you to under- take the pastoral office in said congregation, promis- ing you, in the discharge of your duty, all proper sup- port, encouragement and obedience in the Lord, and that you may be free from worldly cares and avoca- tions we hereby promise and oblige ourselves to pay to you the sum of three hundred dollars in half yearly payments annually for three-fourths of your time until we find ourselves able to give a compensation for the whole of your time in like proportion during the time of your being and continuing the regular pastor of this church.
" In testimony whereof we have respectfully sub- scribed our names this 25th day of September, Anno Domini 1807.
ROBERT CULBERTSON, WILLIAM REED, Elders.
JOSEPH DICKSON, JOHN DILL,
DAVID NELSON, WILLIAM DOMIGAN,
JOSEPH HUNTER, LUCAS SULLIVANT, Trustees.
" That this call was prepared and forwarded for Mr. Hoge, with the knowledge and at the earnest request
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Fight Decades in the Life of the
of the whole congregation of Franklinton, is attested to by ROBERT G. WILSON."
When it was deemed best to transfer the church from the West to the East Side, with the con- sent of Presbytery, it was formally accomplished on November 19, 1821, calling him to the Columbus pulpit. He accepted the call in January, 1823.
1n 1850, at Dr. Hoge's request, a co-pastor was elected-Dr. Josiah D. Smith, then of Truro. He was installed in December, 1850, and resigned Jan- uary 16, 1854, to accept a call to the Westminster Church, of Columbus, O.
On December 24, 1855, Rev. David Hail, of the Presbytery of Allegheny, was called as co-pastor, and entered upon his duties in February, 1856. He re- signed in April, 1857.
The congregation met February 28, 1857, to take into consideration the resignation of their pastor. The Rev. Dr. Smith, of Westminster, being present was invited to preside as Moderator; Mr. Joseph Sullivant then offered the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
" Whereas, This congregation has been notified that their pastor, Rev. James Hoge, has asked leave of the Presbytery of Columbus to resign his charge over this church and congregation, on account of advanced age, and consequent infirmity ; and where-
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"Old First Church" in Columbus.
as, in the long and intimate acquaintance that has existed between us and our beloved pastor for more than half a century, none but feelings of the warmest affection, sympathy and respect have had a moment's place, we are pained at the thought that our long continued connection must be dissolved, and the fond hope relinquished that it should continue as long as our beneficent Father should spare his most useful life; but in this event, as in all that has oc- curred in our previous intercourse, it is the desire of the congregation to defer to the expressed wishes and better judgment of our beloved pastor. There- fore, be it
" Resolved, by the First Presbyterian Church and congregation of Columbus, That we do hereby ac- cede to the request of our pastor, Rev. James Hoge, preferred to the Presbytery of Columbus, to resign his pastoral charge of this congregation ; and that his relation therewith be dissolved by the Presbytery at the ensuing spring meeting.
" Resolved, That in thus consenting this congrega- tion yields to a belief, reluctantly admitted, that his advanced years and enfeebled health imperatively demands relief from care and constant labor ; while submitting to this necessity we yet hope and pray that he may long be spared to exemplify, as hereto- fore, the Christian doctrine in our midst, and before
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
the people of this city and State, and that so far as is practicable we may not be deprived of his enlight- ened counsel in the congregation, but as a 'father in Israel,' he may still go out and in amongst us, teach- ing us by his life of faith, and filling our pulpit from time to time whenever he may be able to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ.
" Resolved, That in looking backwards we now clearly recognize the hand of Providence in raising up a man of eminent prudence and ability, and sending him forth to plant the church literally in the wilderness ; and we acknowledge with fervent feelings of unfeigned gratitude the kindness and benevolence of the 'Great Head of the church' in continuing his very able and acceptable ministrations among us for such a length of time, and for the great measure of success and influence that has attended the same; an influence not confined to the pulpit or this congregation, but which has been constantly operating on this com- munity for now more than fifty years.
" Resolved, That our prayers and our sympathies shall still accompany our pastor ; that his memory shall be warmly cherished, and that we will teach his name to our children, and to our children's children, as one endeared to us during numberless occasions of sorrow and of joy, 'who instant in season and out of season,' has so faithfully and kindly shown us the
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"Old First Church" in Columbus.
path of life, and nobly entitled to the plaudit of his Lord, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'
" Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, duly attested, be presented to the Clerk of Columbus Pres- bytery, and to our beloved pastor.
" J. D. SMITH, Moderator."
The Rev. Edgar Woods, of Wheeling, Virginia, having for some time preached to the congregation, and performed other ministerial duties with great acceptance, he was elected to fill the vacancy of Dr. Hoge, which was appointed to take effect on the 30th of June, his salary fixed at fifteen hundred dollars, and the session and trustees were directed May 4th, 1857, to make out a call and prosecute it to comple- tion according to the rules of the church. Sabbath day, June 28, 1857, Dr. Hoge preached the closing sermon of his ministry as pastor of this church, after a connection of over half a century.
Tuesday, June 30th, 1857, Rev. Edgar Woods, pastor-elect of this church, was installed by a com- mittee of Columbus Presbytery, consisting of Rev. James Hoge, D. D., J. D. Smith, D. D., G. L. Kalb and Washington Maynard, and Elder William Blynn. Rev. Edgar Woods resigned his charge February, 1862, with the intention of returning to Virginia ; and under date of February 27th, 1862, we find the following record of the session :
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
"The pastor, Rev. Edgar Woods, having resigned, the session, after consultation, agreed to visit Rev. James Hoge, D. D., this day in a body, to state to him our condition and solicit his advice. The kind doctor received us, Elders Abbot, Cherry, Dalton, Thomas and Awl, at his residence at four o'clock in the afternoon, in the most cordial and affectionate manner, showing the deepest interest in the welfare of the congregation, and giving us the full benefit of his mature judgment and excellent counsel. He is now in the seventy-eighth year of his age, and in the full enjoyment of all his strong faculties. We had a profitable and most delightful interview.
" WILLIAM M. AWL, Clerk."
In the following October Rev. W. C. Roberts, of Wilmington, Del., was called, and was installed No- vember 11, 1862. The venerable and beloved Dr. Hoge died on September 22, 1863. In December, 1864, Mr. Roberts resigned. A call was extended to Rev. William R. Marshall in February, 1865, who accepted, and was installed as pastor the following month. Dr. Marshall resigning December 20, 1869, the church remained without a pastor until the spring of 1871, when it called Rev. Robert J. Laidlaw, of Milton, Canada, who was ordained and installed Sep- tember 22, 1871. Mr. Laidlaw resigned in April, 1875. In July of the same year Rev. Edward P.
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"Old First Church" in Columbus.
Heberton, of Minnesota, was called, and entered upon his ministrations September 5, 1875. He re- signed February 21, 1877, and on May 28, 1877, Rev. Willis Lord, D. D., was called and remained as a stated supply for two years and six months. Rev. John W. Bailey, D. D., of Sparta, Ill., was called December 21, 1880, and continued to supply the pulpit as pastor of the church for two years.
I have carefully looked over the records of these pastorates, so far as preserved, and from a peru- sal of the minutes of the congregational meetings of the church, the historian and antiquarian will be struck by the redundance of almost superhuman vir- tues and angelic traits of character that adorned each individual of them.
The present pastor was installed by the Presbytery of Columbus, October 4, 1883.
THE RULING ELDERS
since organization are as follows :
Robert Culbertson. Ordained February 9, 1806. 66
Judge Wm. Reed 66
Michael Fisher
January 11, 1808.
William Stewart Feb. 20, 1819.
Robert Nelson. 66
66
John Laughry
66
66
James Johnson Installed Feb. 12, 66
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
Hugh Forster Ordained February 12, 1819.
William Patterson 66 August 20, 1821. 66 66
John Long.
N. W. Smith
Records of time lost.
James Robinson . 66
60
Samuel G. Flenniken. . .
66
66
Samuel M. Kilgore
William Clayvough
66
66
Ralph Osborn
66
Dr. N. M. Miller
66
John Barr Ordained and install'd, 1835.
Abrel Forster 66
66
Isaac Dalton 66
66
William Sterritt
66
66
Lawson Mccullough. .. Ordained April 1,
1840.
Walter Amos 66
66
James Cherry
66
George McMillan 66
June,
1849.
H. F. Huntington 66
May 4,
1846.
Thomas Moodie 66
66
James S. Abbott.
66
June,
60
William Blynn. 66
William M. Awl, M. D .. 66 April 19,
1857.
* Alfred Thomas
66
James H. Pooley, M. D.
Nov. 19,
1876.
Thomas Robinson. . .
*Charles Albert Bowe .. 66
66
66 .
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" Old First Church" in Columbus.
Orlando E. Lewis. . Ordained September, 1883.
*John N. Eldridge ·
66
66
*Foster Copeland. 66
*Edward M. Doty
October, 1885.
*William Enfield. 66
*Charles E. Denton . .
66
66
*Henry E. Brooks .
These * compose the present session.
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE CHURCH.
The following Church organizations have grown out of this parent Church :
"TRURO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH," organized Janu- ary 4, 1827.
"SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COLUMBUS, OHIO," organized January 29, 1839.
"THE WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COLUMBUS," organized April 19, 1854.
"THE HOGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH," organized . January 22, 1870.
The "Truro Church," eldest daughter of the old mother, was organized by the Presbytery of Co- lumbus January 4, 1827. It began with about thirty members, having William Patterson and John Long as Ruling Elders. In its days of greatest prosperity it numbered nearly one hundred members. From the
-
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Eight Decades in the Life of the
Truro Church came the Rev. J. D. Smith, so long and so favorably known in Columbus.
In the summer and autumn of 1838, the subject of colonizing was agitated among a portion of the mem- bers of the First Church. It was the intention at the time to form a Congregational Church. A prelimi- nary meeting for this purpose was held January 22, 1839. Some twenty persons from the First Church joined in the movement. By these it was resolved on the 29th of January, 1839, to organize a society to be called the "First Congregational Society of the City of Columbus." But before the end of the month this body of people showed their wisdom and appreciation of Republican institu- tions by changing the organization into "The Second Presbyterian Church of Columbus," a title still retained. The movement has prospered, and the large and wealthy congregation of the "Sec- ond" has demonstrated the wisdom of planting the new church; and while the mother still dwells in her old cottage, the daughter goes in and out of her stately palace.
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