USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 40
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHURCHES OF MADISON COUNTY.
There is no more potent factor in the life of any community than the church, and the influence of an active religious denomination is measured by the wholesome spirit which may be found in the community. More than a hundred years have elapsed since the first settlers of Madison county made their permanent homes here, and within that time many churches have arisen in the county. Many of them have long since closed their careers, but the good which they accomplished still remains. There are those who maintain that the people of today are not as religious as were the pioneers of the state, but things religious are not to be measured by human standards. The mere fact that there are fewer churches in Madison county today than there were fifty years ago does not argue that the people are any the less religious; neither does it imply that the life of the people is of a lower standard than it was in the "good old days."
Churches may come and churches may go, but a better civilization is not gauged by the mere number of churches. Many factors have entered into the disappearance of the rural church, and not the least of these is the shifting of population from the country to the towns and villages. For this same reason there are hundreds and even thousands of public schools throughout Ohio which have been discontinued within the past twenty-five years. Many a neighborhood which had from fifty to seventy-five school children half a century ago cannot even support a school with the minimum number required by the law at the present time. This ever-increasing drift from rural to urban centers affects not only the church and school, but life along all lines. Nor does it mean, in any sense of the word that the people are becoming less religious because of fewer churches, or more ignorant because of the abandonment of so many rural schools.
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There can be no question that Madison county has passed through a marked religious change during the past three-quarters of a century, nor can it be denied that things might be better. Yet it must be admitted that the people of the county. are living today much closer to the Ten Commandments than ever before. History reveals that the forefathers were not always as good as they have been pictured; could we of today see them in their daily life we should be surprised at some of the things they did. The great majority of them drank-and drank whisky; they were very pro- fane; they were prone to fight; they grafted in public affairs, just as has been done since; they had many shortcomings which we have not been accustomed to associate with them. Yet, they were religious-though the preacher often worked his sermon out with the aid of a whisky flask. In those cold churches of the twenties and thirties the bottle was called upon to supply the heat denied by the fireplace or rude stove. It was the way people lived in those days; in their point of view a bottle of whisky was as essential to the farmer on harvest day as the bottle of machine-oil is today.
Under truly pioneer conditions did our forefathers live for many years, and to see them file to church on Sunday morning in the thirties, one would certainly think so. The . historians of the Central West often find where the congregations were mostly barefooted. Some wore moccasins, some buckskin breeches and hunting shirts, with 'coon, fox or 'possum-skin caps on their heads. Many of the caps were ornamented with
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fox tails. According to the custom of the period, the men sat on the left side of the centre aisle and the women on the right. Husbands and wives and sweethearts went to and from church together, but sat apart during the services, lest their attention be distracted from the preacher's sermon. Then the women used to sing treble, and one would hear a woman's voice away above that of the congregation. They thought it was fine, but, under the new way, the men sing the tenor. The hymns were "lined ont." as it was then called. Two lines would be given out by the minister or clerk, then sung by the congregation; then two more lines would be read and sung, and so on to the end of the psalm or hymn.
PRIMITIVE HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
The forefathers in Madison county did not worship in beautiful churches, but gathered in their own homes, in school buildings, in groves when the weather per- mitted, and even in barns. They neither grumbled nor complained, but were joyful and happy in the position in which Providence had seen fit to place them. Their services were very irregular; they had no Sabbath schools and no musical instruments. Without any of the modern attractions which are now deemed a necessary part of the church, they worshipped in a quiet, simple and unostentatious manner. Often weeks must pass without a regular minister, and then some pioneer wonldl conduct the services; if not in an orthodox manner, yet with true Christian spirit, which, no doubt, found favor with the Giver of all good things. In these humble meetings and often the little band did not number over a dozen-they thanked God for what He had vouchsafed them and asked Him to continue His blessings toward them. And who is there to say that they did not do all they could to advance the cause on earth of the Kingdom of Heaven ?
As one writer puts it, what is wanted is "a religion that softens the step and tunes the voice to melody and fills the eye with sunshine and checks the impatient exclama- tion and harsh rebuke. A religion that is polite, deferential to superiors, courteous to inferiors, and considerate to friends; a religion that goes into the family and keeps the husband from being cross when the dinner is late and the wife from fretting when he tracks the floor with his muddy boots, and makes him mindful of the scraper and the door-mat ; keeps the mother patient when the baby is cross and amuses the children as well as instructs them; cares for the servants, besides paying them promptly ; projects the honeymoon into the harvest moon ; makes a happy home like the Easter fig tree, bearing in its bosom at once the beauty of the ripened fruit; a religion that shall interpose between the ruts, gullies and rocks of the highway of life and the sensi- live souls that are traveling over them." And who shall say that the simple faith of its forefathers was not as potent in bringing all that about as the religion preached today.
The Methodists and Baptists were the first to establish churches in Madison county. and they were closely followed by a number of other denominations. The Presbyterians and Christians were early in the field and by the middle of the last century more than fifty churches were scattered throughout the county. The Protest- ants had the field to themselves until about 1850, when the first Catholic church was organized, and since that year the Catholics have steadily grown in power and infin- ence. But whether Protestants or Catholics, the influence of the church is always exerted in behalf of cleaner living and for a higher conception of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God.
In the discussion of the churches of Madison county it seems best to submit a list of all the churches, both active and discontinued, which have appeared at one time or another in the history of the county. For the purpose of location they are given by townships, as follows:
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
Union Township-Lower Glade, Methodist Episcopal ; Kingsley Chapel.
London-Methodist Episcopal, First Presbyterian, Trinity Protestant Episcopal, Universalist, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, St. Patrick's Catholic, First Missionary Baptist (colored), African Methodist Episcopal.
Somerford-Summerford, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Dunkard, or German Bap- tists; Tradersville, or Fletcher East, Methodist Episcopal.
Stokes-Grassy Point, Christian.
Range-Sedalia, Methodist Episcopal; Concord, Methodist Episcopal; Bethel, Metho- dist Episcopal; Range, Methodist Protestant ; Sedalia, Presbyterian; Darbyville, Pres- byterian.
Fairfield-Big Plain, Methodist Episcopal ; Lilly Chapel, Methodist Episcopal ; Den- nison Chapel, United Brethren; Lilly Chapel, German Lutheran.
Deer Creek-Upper Glade, or McDonald, Methodist Episcopal; Lafayette, Methodist Episcopal ; Dun Lawn Chapel, Episcopal; Lafayette, Christian.
Darby-Converse Chapel, Methodist Episcopal; Plain City, Methodist Episcopal, Universalist, Baptist, Roman Catholic, United Brethren.
Canaan-Big Darby, Baptist; Amity, Methodist Episcopal, Union.
Jefferson- West Jefferson, Methodist Episcopal; Foster Chapel, Methodist. Episco- pal; Blair. or Gulliyan Chapel, Methodist Episcopal; West Jefferson, Baptist; Alder Chapel, Universalist, Sts. Simon and Jude. Catholic, Antioch Mission Union and African Methodist Episcopal.
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Monroe -. Fair Plain, Christian ; Wilson Chapel, Methodist Episcopal,
: Oak Run-Christman Chapel. Methodist Episcopal.
., Paint- Newport, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant.
Pike-Barrow Run, Methodist Episcopal ; Rosedale, Methodist Protestant, Catho- lic, Union; Little Darby, Christian, Pleasant-Antioch, Christian ; Mckendree, Methodist Episcopal; Mt ... Sterling, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Christian.
LONDON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church of London was established shortly after the town was laid out. in either 1813 or 1814. The society worshipped in private residences, and belonged to a large circuit, which in 1819 had twenty-four preaching places. Its first church was erected on a lot at the corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, purchased from Patrick McLene for eleven dollars. Its officials were William Erwin, Jonathan Min- shall, John McDonald, William Warner, Sr., William G. Pritchard, Robert Warner. David Watson, James Greenley and Amos G. Thompson. This was a log meeting- house with puncheon floors and seats of split rails and was the first church structure in London. For twenty years this humble building served the congregation. Then two lots were secured on the southwest corner of Second and Oak streets, where they built a new church about the year 1840-a frame structure some sixty feet square, with a gallery and two upstairs class rooms. A small brick parsonage stood on the west side of the church. The congregation worshipped there another twenty years, when this building was removed to make way for a brick building, forty, feet wide, ninety feet long, with a tower seventy-two feet high. It faced Oak street and its site is now occupied by the corner residence. This church was begun in 1859 under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Tippett, and was dedicated on February 25, 1860, by Bishop D. W. Clark, under the pastorate of Rev. Levi Hall and his colleague, Rev. A. M. Alexander. The former but recently passed away at his home in Minneapolis while a son of the latter is now a resident of London. This church cost seventy-five hundred dollars, of which one thousand six hundred was raised at the dedication.
In September following. London was made a half station, having as its only
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other appointment little Kingsley chapel. three miles west of town, which has since gone out of existence. It stood on the farm of Joseph Warner and was named for Bishop Kingsley.
In 1862-3 a new brick parsonage was built, which still stands as the residence of the late Dr. W. HI. Christopher. It was begun by Rev. J. M. Jameson, and was first occupied by Rev. Levi Cuimingham. In 1866, Mrs. Eliza Chrisman donated seven thousand dollars for a chapel at the rear of the church, which was dedicated by Bishop Clark on Christmas day. This building is now a double residence structure facing Second street.
By 1868 this church had grown strong enough to entertain the conference, which was presided over by Bishop Kingsley. Rev. H. K. Foster was then pastor, serving three years. Ile was followed in 1869 by Rev. C. D. Battelle, who also remained three years, the full limit.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of this church was organized in 1871. Rev. I. F. King succeeded Mr. Battelle, staying one year, and then was made a pre- siding elder. Rev. T. H .. Monroe came next, remaining three years, during which time the great revival under the evangelists, Mr. and Mrs. Frame, occurred. In the fall of 1875. Rev. J. T. Miller hecame pastor, remaining three years. He was followed by Rev. J. C. Jackson, Sr., who came from Bigelow chapel, Portsmouth, and remained three years. The next pastor was Rev. J. W. Peters, who also came from Bigelow, Ports- mouth, and remained three years. In 1881 this church again entertained the conference, under Bishop Andrews. Rev. T. R. Taylor was the next pastor for three years. Rev. J. W. Dillon followed him, staying four years, as the pastoral term had then been lengthened to five years. In the fall of 1890, Rev. W. L. Slutz became pastor, coming from Bigelow, Portsmouth, and staying five years, during which time the old church and parsonage were sold, and the present edifice erected, costing abont forty-five thousand dollars. It was dedicated on November 1S, 1894, by Bishop Joyce.
A house which stood on the lot of the present church was removed to a lot donated by Mr. Jereia Sweatland, on Elm street, and remodeled for a parsonage, June 17, 1894. Mrs. Slutz died in this parsonage, and on September 21, following, Rev. Mr. Slutz's two daughters and his sister-in-law were killed by a passenger train. He was followed by Rev. B. L. McElroy, from Bigelow, Portsmouth, where he had succeeded Rev. Mr. Slutz. The next autumn, 1896, this church again entertained the conference. Remaining but one year, Rev. Mr. MeElroy transferred to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was followed by Rev. A. H. Norcross, who stayed three years. Rev. Franklin McEl- fresh became his successor, also remaining three years. Rev. D. Y. Murdoch next came as pastor, but after six months was claimed hy death. Rev. J. II. Gardner filled out the unexpired year, as a supply, and Rev. T. G. Dickinson was appointed pastor in the fall of 1903, remaining four years. He was succeeded by Rev. F. M. Evans, who remained two years, and was followed by Rev. John C. Jackson, coming from Bigelow, Portsmouth, who served five years and was followed by Rev. C. B. Pyle, the present pastor. Under the pastorate of Rev. John C. Jackson, the church was renovated at a cost of over ten thousand dollars. Its present membership is about six hundred and fifty, with a Sunday school of seven hundred and forty-six, in which is a men's Bible class that has averaged over one hundred and ten for the past year, with a member -- ship of over three hundred, and also a woman's Bihle class with an enrollment of about one Imndred.
It is impossible to give the present membership by name in this brief sketch. Among those who were prominent in early years, and many of whose families are still represented here are the Warners, the Watsons, the Farrars, the Minshalls, the Gosslees. the Dnngans, Dunkin (David), the Boyds, the Joneses. the Morgans, the Chenoweths.
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the Chrismans, the Clarks, the Slagles, the Adairs, the Lotspeiches, the Lohrs and the Phifers. The officiary today is as follow : Trustees, J. B. Van Wagener, R. W. Boyd, J. A. Long, Miss Minnie Cheseldine, F. C. Bostwick, J. P. Skinner, William Cryder ; stewards, C. W. Farrar, G. F. Dodds, W. T. Booth, O. E. Duff, H. H. Johnstin, H. Hathaway, L. C. Houston. T. H. Orcutt, W. E. Lukens, J. J. Yearian, S. L. Turner, E. P. Fisher, J. W. Hume, J. H. Asher, M. L. Bryan. S. S. Van Cleave; Sunday school superintendent, Chauncey T. Jones; president Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. C. E. Gain; president Epworth League, Glenna West.
CONVERSE CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Converse Chapel Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1816, for many years the congregation's only place of worship being the Converse school house of that neighborhood. This society subsequently became the most flourishing society in the township. In 1840 it erected the largest church edifice in that part of the county. For about thirty-five years, this commodious building was used as a place of worship. About 1875, the congregation was united with that of Plain City.
FOSTER CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The first religicus society to be organized in Jefferson township was the Foster Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, at the home of Rev. Lewis Foster, in 1808. Following are a few of the names that constituted the original class: Lewis Foster and wife; Joshua, John, Benjamin and Joseph, four sons of Rev. Foster, and their wives; Rebecca Tomlinson ; Cassa Dwyer; Joseph Downing, his brother Frank and their wives, and John Hayden, wife and family. Among the first ministers who served the class were Rev. William Simmons, Rev. Daniel Davidson and Reverend Finley. The con- gregation worshipped in their respective homes, alternately, until March, 1825, when Reverend Foster and wife deeded two acres and forty-three poles to a body of trustees for the sum of ten dollars, and for the purpose of erecting thereon a church building, the trustees at that time being John Hayden, Frank Downing, John Buck, John Foster and Joseph Powers, and the deed was acknowledged before Squire Samuel Sexton, of New Hampton. A comfortable hewed-log church was soon erected, wherein the notes of praise were sounded to the All-Wise, and the peoples' hearts rejoiced in the privi- leges they then enjoyed. Later a comfortable, neat and attractive brick church was built on the same ground.
GILLIVAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1844, largely by the efforts of the Blair family, a Methodist society was organ- ized about four miles northwest of the town of Jefferson. In the year mentioned Rev. J. W. Young, of the Marysville circuit, was solicited to come and organize the society, which resulted in the following membership: John Blair and wife Jency, G. W. Blair, R. C. Blair, Jacob B. Coon, J. C. Coon, Elizabeth Tillman, Leonard Thomas, J. Zadock Chapman, Hiram Stodard and Eliza Stodard. For nine years after the society was organized the members worshipped in the residence of G. W. Blair, after which they threw their mites together; Mr. Blair donated a lot from his farm, and a frame church edifice was constructed, plain but comfortable, at a cost of about seven hundred dollars, and was dedicated in the fall of 1853, by Rev, Uriah Heath. The building served for a period of twenty-nine years, with the nominal expense for repairs of twenty dollars. The present building was constructed in 1882, at the little village of Gillivan, five miles northwest of Jefferson. E. B. Haynes donated the lot on which the building stands. This church was known as Blair Chapel until it was moved to its present site, since which time it has gradually assumed the name of the village in which it is located. The building is a beautiful, large structure, thirty-two by fifty-two feet, with
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
steeple and bell, surrounded by a nice lot and lighted by a gasoline lighting system. The church contains but one room, the auditorium, with a seating capacity of about two Indred and fifty persons. The cost of its erection was two thousand six hundred dollars. This church is at present a point on the Lafayette cireuit, with Rev. J. P. Landsittel as pastor, the trustees being Harry Wilson. Clint McCoy. W. R. Prose, Thurman Bidwell. Richard Wright. Jacob Beers and Dan Hoover. The present member- ship is eighty-one and the congregation maintains a thriving Sunday school of seventy- five members, of which Clint McCoy is the superintendent. Mrs. Della . Bradley is president and Mrs. Thurman Bidwell, secretary of the ladies' aid society.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WEST JEFFERSON.
The society at Foster Chapel had grown and cast its seeds in the vicinity of the village of Jefferson, but not until 1833 was there a class organized there. The original elass consisted of about ten or a, dozen members, among whom were Ezekiel Arnett and wife; a Mr. Mortimore and wife, who lived in a log house where the residence of James Penne later stood. and in whose house the society was organized; Mrs. Jarvis Pike and Mrs. Mary Lewis. The officiating minister was Reverend Gavett. The members were industrious and zealous in the good work begun, and ere long the class numbered almost double as many as at first. They worshipped in Mortimore's residence mostly until 1836, when they commenced holding their meetings in the school house at Jeffer- son, where they were served by Reverend Sutton. They experiened some unpleasant- "ness with the Universalists, who also used the same building, and in 1837, even though the flock was small, and not . financially able, they had the will and found the way to erect 'a' substantial frame church on lot No. 50. in the village of Jefferson. While in this house the society still enlarged, and in 1862, a more modern and comfortable briek "edifice was erected at a cost of about five thousand dollars.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LAFAYETTE,
There is no evidence, of the organization of a church among the early settlers , along Deer creek until after the laying out of the town of Lafayette, About 1843, a few Methodists met together and, under the leadership of the Rev. Silas B. Chase, of Mechanicsburg, organized a class as follows: Reason Lotspeich and wife, James Wright, John Shryack, J. H. Badley. Rachel Badley and Sarah Warner- seven in all- with Reason Lotspeich as class leader. Their first meetings were held in the school house. They were received into the Jefferson circuit of the Chillicothe district and from that time on had regular preaching. Abont 1849 they erected a frame church edifice in the village of Lafayette, which house of worship was dedicated in June. 1849. in the presence of David Kemper, presiding elder. The first minister was Alanson Fleming and he was succeeded as follow : In 1850, by John W. Locke and James T. Bail: 1851. William Sutton and Thomas J. Loyd: 1852. William Sutton and John C. Fulton ; 1853-54. Samuel T. Middleton and William Z. Ross; 1855-56, Archibald Flem- ing and Henry H. Ferris; 1857. William Sutton and Samuel P. Tippet; 1858, William Sutton and James Finch ; 1859. John W. Young and James Finch : 1860, John W. Young and William P. Grantham; 1861. Levi Hall and William P. Grantham; 1862, Levi Hall and Jacob S. Adams; 1863. F. F. Lewis and Jacob S. Adams, after which date the church was served by the following. in the order given: Charles Lewis, Middleton. Burns, MeLaughlin, Anderson, William Lewis, I. B. Brodrick, S. D. Hutsenpillar, C. A. Naylor. C. W. Bostwick and F. F. Lewis. Rev. Lewis was pastor about 1882. Froni that date until 1894 there is a breach in the pastors that the historian has been unable to fill out. After 1894 the church was served by the following pastors: R. Callaghan. 1894-96: Howard E. Wright. 1896-99; J. E. Walters, 1899-1903; T. G. Wake- field, 1903-05: J. J. Tyler, 1905-09: A. C. Bostwick, 1909-13, and J. P. Landsittel, the
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
present pastor, since 1913. The old frame church was torn down aud the present brick church building was erected in 1892. It contains an auditorium that has a seating capacity of about two hundred and a primary room used by that department of the Suuday school. The building is lighted by a gasoline lighting system. The present trustees are George Kaufman, Walter Headley, Johnson Headley, Sherman Simpson, A. E. Long, Lucy Beech, Herbert Harper, Louis Tracy and John Lane. The membership at preseut is about one hundred persons. A thriving Sunday school is maintained in connection with the church, with a membership of about eighty. Forrest Baker is the superintendent. There is a ladies' aid society of about twenty-five members, organ- ized during Reverend Tyler's pastorate, of which Mrs. Alice Taylor is president and Mrs. Sylvia Tracy, secretary. In December, 1909, a women's foreign missionary society . was organized, which at present has about fifteen members and is maintaining two women teachers iu the foreign field. The president of the society is Mrs. J. L. Land- sittel, with Minnie Kaufman as secretary.
This church is at the head of a circuit that includes the following stations: Lafayette, Summerford, Gillivan and Plumwood. Until 1913 the circuit contained only the three points of Lafayette, Summerford and Gillivan, but in 1914, Plumwood was added to the charge.
SEDALIA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
It is thought that the Sedalia-then known as Midway-Methodist Episcopal church was the first church organized in Range township. The first preaching point was at the house of William M. Linton, where it appears a class was early formed, prob- ably about 1812-14, cousisting of the following persons: David Dye and wife, Joseph Pancake and wife, Lockhart Biggs and wife, Elizabeth Counts and Septimus Stuthard and wife. These nine persons, with David Dye and Joseph Pancake, as class leaders, formed the first class. Soon after the following persons were added: Thomas Hughs and wife, William Chappell and wife, Andrew Johnson and wife, Zachariah Adams and wife, Thomas Bethard and wife, Lemuel Bethard and wife, and Isaac Fisger and wife. The home of Mr. Linton continued to be the preaching point until the erection of the David Dye school house, after which the latter building was used for church purposes until about 1844, when a frame building was erected at Sedalia, which was occupied until the erection of the preseut edifice, about the year 1850. The church is a frame building, capable of seating about three hundred persons and has a gallery in the rear. Among the first ministers who preached at this point were Reverend Nation, Rev. William Sutton, Reverend Young, Rev. Alexander Morrow and Rev. John Stewart. The following pastors have served this station in more recent years, in order and period of their ministries as follow: Isaac Mackey, D. J. Smith, two years; L. F. Postle, 1885-88; D. I .. Mark, 1888-92; Ralph Watson, 1892-94; W. L. Alexander. 1894-97 ; George Cherrington, 1897-1900; A. L. Cherrington, 1900-03; George F. Simms, 1903-05; A. L. Madden, 1905-07; E. B. Foltz, 1907-09; C. N. Smith, 1909-13, and N. C. Patterson, since 1913. The present membership is one hundred and twenty-five with the following as trustees: John V. Fenny, John Allen, Jesse Hankins, Crosby Duff, R. P. Shotts, Dr. F. B. Whifford. C. C. Hewit, and A. C. Kelso. The congregation maintains a prosperous Sunday school of about one hundred and twenty-five mem- bers, of which Mrs. Jennie Meade is the superintendent. Mis. Lou Richardson is president and Mrs. Kate Williams, secretary, of the ladies' aid society of about sixty members. The women's home missionary society, of which Mrs. Florence D. Patterson is president and Mrs. Amanda Tenney, secretary, is a progressive group of twenty-two members. It was organized on November 11, 1914, and has sent boxes of clothing, etc .. to the Eliza Dee home at Austin, Texas. The circuit of which this church is the head
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