USA > Ohio > History of the Central Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 1856-1913 > Part 13
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When the removal of the county seat from Defiance to some point farther north, that it should be more central, was being agitated, settlements were being formed probably, in a measure at least, in anticipation of the transfer.
At that time a class was formed at the home of Thomas Shorthill. The class was composed of five or six persons, and the following is the first entry in the class record: "M. E. Church Record, 1838, of Pulaski Mission, Maumee District, Michigan Conference. Said Mission was created from the old Defiance Circuit, in the fall of 1838, and Thomas Shorthill elected Recording Stuard."
With the transfer of the county seat to Bryan, in 1841, Bryan became the central point of the circuit, and in 1860 became a station.
Services were held in the schoolhouse and in the courtroom until in 1855, when a building, 40 x 60 feet, was erected at a cost of $1,567. In 1895 this early building was replaced by a modern brick structure at an expense, including pipe organ and furniture, of approximately $17,000.
In 1912, during the present pastorate of Rev. Webster T.
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Stockstill, the church was redecorated and the basement greatly improved, at an expense of $2,500.
The following is the list of presiding elders and preachers from 1838 to 1913: Presiding elders-John Janes, Wesley Brock, John T. Kellam, Thomas Kellam, Thomas Barkdull, C. W. Breckenridge, Wm. Pierce, David Gray, Joseph Ayres, Elnathan C. Gavitt, Samuel Lynch, Thomas H. Wilson, Leroy A. Belt, Park S. Donaldson, Wesley G. Waters, Elias D. Whitlock, S. L. Roberts, Gershom Lease, Parker P. Pope, J. M. Mills, J. H. Fitzwater. Joseph Bethards, Jonas F. Harshbarger, David H. Bailey.
Preachers-A. Coleman and Harry Warner, missionaries; Joseph Santly and J. H. Freed, missionaries; Zara Norton and Orrin Hatch, missionaries; S. H. Alderman, John L. Ferris, and Chester Coleman, preachers; Wm. W. Winter and Samuel Mower, Wm. Boggs and R. H. Wilson, Alanson Foster and H. K. Barnes, John Burgess and S. Fairchild, Henry Chapman and A. H. Walter, Benjamin Herbert and John S. Cutler, David Ocker and John A. Shannon, Thomas Parker and James Wilcox, J. S. Albright and E. Lindsey, J. W. Thompson, Henry Warner and H. C. Nickelson, J. H. Beardsley, Wm. Thatcher and D. D. S. Reigh, John H. Miller, E. Morrison and Ambrose Hollington, H. M. Close, A. M. Corey, F. L. Harper, Wesley G. Waters, John L. Bates. P. A. Brown, H. J. Bigley, James F. Mounts, Wm. H. Deal, Wm. W. Lance, Daniel G. Strong, Wm. H. Scoles, Greenbury H. Priddy, C. W. Taneyhill, George Matthews, Thadeus L. Wiltsee, Chas. E. Bennett, John I. Wean, John C. Shaw, and Webster Stockstill.
CELINA CHURCH.
The Methodist Church was organized in Celina in 1844, and until 1850 was a part of the St. Marys Circuit, when Celina be- came the head of Celina Circuit.
In the year 1856, when the Central Ohio Conference was or- ganized, it was formed into a half-station, with Copp's Chapel as an outlying appointment.
In 1872, when the Rev. Arkinson Berry was presiding elder, it became a station, with Jeremiah Mckean as pastor, who re- mained the full term of three years.
He was succeeded in order by Reuben Rauch, Peter Biggs, Caleb Hill, Lyman E. Prentiss, Joseph H. Cater, Alexander Har-
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mount, William R. Seaman, Albert E. Smith, Daniel Carter, Joseph H. Bethards, Stewart Baumgardner, Clayton A. Smucker, Parker P. Pope, Charles Bennett-in all, forty years, to 1912, when Wm. W. Lance was appointed pastor.
The present commodious church was erected during the pas- torate of the Rev. A. E. Smith, and the parsonage was remodeled into its present modernized form by the Rev. Chas. Bennett.
The congregation of the Church is made up very largely of intelligent and educated persons of the town, and the charge is one of the most prosperous and desirable appointments in the Con- ference; and in all the relations and interests of the Church it is noted for effective and aggressive work.
COLUMBUS GROVE CHURCH.
A Methodist class was organized two miles south of Columbus Grove, at the home of Philip Hopper, Sr., in October, 1839. His house continued to be a preaching place until 1853, when services were held in a schoolhouse, public hail, and in the United Brethren and Presbyterian Churches in the town until 1869, when, upon a lot given by Father Hooper, during the pas- torates of Philip Lemasters, Har- rison Maltbie, and J. C. Clemons, a frame church was built.
The congregation continued to worship in this building until 1891, when the present brick church was erected, under the pastorate of the Rev. Alexander Harmount.
REV. C. M. MONOSMITH, PASTOR.
Columbus Grove was an appointment with St. Johns, Elida, and Ottawa societies until 1868, when it was made the head of a charge itself; and in this relation it remained until 1903, when it was made a station.
The first class was organized under the joint pastorate of Elmer Day and Peter Hollopeter; and the following persons were members of that class and, therefore, charter members of the Column- bus Grove Church, namely: Philip and Rachel Hooper, and their
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children, Mary, Julia, Rachel, John, and Elmira; George and Mary Stevenson and their children, Mary, Enoch, and Rachel; Adam and Loruma Van Meter, and Mrs. B. Kliver.
The record of the pastors from 1839 to 1860 is not complete, but among the preachers of that period were Jacob Albright, John Kellam, Mr. Hook, Brick, and DeLisle. Since 1860 those who have served the charge are: G. O. McPherson, Adam C. Barnes, B. B. Powell, Wm. Deal, Josiah F. Crooks, Philip Lemasters, Harrison Maltbie, J. C. Clemons, B. J. Hoadley, Geo. Matthews, W. HI. Scoles, Reuben Rauch. John M. Mills, Peter Biggs, L. O. Cook, A. Harmount, N. B. C. Love, D. F. Helms, Wm. Hook, Jacob Baumgardner, M. C. Howey, W. J. Green, J. W. Gibson, Daniel Carter, and C. M. Monosmith.
From such a small beginning, seventy-four years ago, this Church has grown until it now has a membership of nearly three hundred, and a new church building is planned and will be erected soon.
CRIDERSVILLE CHARGE.
Cridersville Circuit comprises Cridersville, Shawnee, Fletcher, and Hume. Methodism was established within the bounds of this circuit in an early day.
REV. JOSEPH D. SIMMS, PASTOR.
Shawnee Chapel stands on historic ground. Near here was the old Indian Council House, in which some of the first preaching services were . held in that vicinity.
The Breese family opened their house for religious serv- ices, and were among the char- ter members of the Shawnee society.
The first Methodist service in Cridersville was held in the year 1871, with the Rev. Chas. Cran as pastor.
About that time a building was moved into the village and occu- pied as a preaching place by both Methodists and United Brethren.
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Some of the preachers of that time were P. A. Drown, W. G. Littell, W. A. Yingling, and L. H. Murlin. It was during Brother Murlin's pastorate, in 1877, that the present church building was erected, which was remodeled in 1906 by the Rev. W. R. Burton.
Dr. Kemper and Harry Kemper, J. O. Hover, Porter Edminiton, Samuel Spyker, and Emanuel Reed were some of the organizers of the Church in Cridersville.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, DEFIANCE.
Fort Defiance was built at the confluence of three rivers, the Maumee, Auglaize, and Tiffin. A beautiful situation, and although humble in the beginning, it has grown to a city of ten thousand souls.
Methodism came early to this lo- cality. The first sermon preached in Defiance was by the Rev. Wm. Sprague, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the fall of 1832.
The Rev. G. R. Jones was the first presiding elder in Defiance. The first Quarterly Conference was held November 24, 1832. The sec- ond Quarterly Conference in Defi- ance was held in the courthouse.
REV. PRICE A. CROW, PH. D., PASTOR.
The first church built in Defiance was of logs, in 1834, and was used continuously until 1853, when it was replaced by what was then considered a very good and com- modious frame building. That house is yet doing service as the church home of the German Reformed congregation of this city.
Sometime during the period from 1855 to 1865, Defiance Church was separated from the circuit and became a station, and by 1872 the prosperity of the Church demanded a more commodious house for its congregation. After due consideration the trustees, consist- ing of E. F. Aldrich, J. P. Buffington, J. H. Bevington, T. D. Harris, C. Harley, James Orcutt, Peter Kettenring, C. E. Slocum, and Lewis Tiedeman, took the necessary steps by preparing a sub- scription, which was duly honored by liberal contributions. Mr. J. I. Hale, who is yet with us, was secured as contractor, and of
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the Building Committee, Peter Kettenring and James Orcutt were made supervisors. How well they did their work is seen in the excellence of the building after a period of forty years and now forming the main body of the present beautiful and commodious structure.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Wm. W. Lance, from 1886 to 1890, a very large part of the funds were raised for the purchase
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, DEFIANCE, O.
and erection of a parsonage, and in 1891-92, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. M. Mills, the present substantial brick house was erected, and during the second pastorate of Wm. W. Lance a number of additions and conveniences were added to it, making it one of the most desirable preacher's homes in the State.
On the accession of Mr. Chas. H. Kettenring and wife to the Church, in the winter of 1907-08, they conceived the idea of re- constructing, enlarging, and decorating the church, and after much counsel with the pastor and members. the officiary determined to
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proceed with the work. The Finance Committee consisted of Peter Kettenring, Prof. C. W. Butler, and C. C. Kuhn, but on the leaving of Peter Kettenring for the South in the winter, Chas. W. Ketten- ring took his place. J. I. Hale was secured as the architect, and
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the present beautiful structure was completed and dedicated by Bishop John M. Walden, without a cent of indebtedness, June 27, 1909, after an expenditure of $36,000.
St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Defiance, has now one of the handsomest, most convenient, and elegant church buildings and parsonages in the Conference.
The presiding elders and district superintendents of this Church since 1870 have been as follows: S. S. Barter, Leroy A. Belt,
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
Wm. W. Winter, Alexander Harmount, I. R. Henderson, Samuel M. Roberts, Gershom Lease, P. P. Pope, J. M. Mills, J. H. Fitz- water, Joseph Bethards, J. F. Harshbarger, D. H. Bailey.
The pastors since 1870 have been as follows: Daniel G. Strong, Thaddeus C. Reade, Arkinson Berry, Gershom Lease, Andrew J.
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Fish, Samuel L. Roberts, Wilbur J. Hodges, Wm. W. Lance, J. M. Mills, A. E. Smith, Joseph H. Bethards, E. D. Whitlock, C. A. Smucker, Wm. W. Lance, and Price A. Crow.
DE GRAFF CHURCH.
The first Methodist Episcopal Church of DeGraff, Ohio, was founded in the year 1855 by Isaac Smith and Dennis Warner.
At the time this society was organized there was no other Church in DeGraff, the town having at that time less than one hundred inhabitants.
The above named persons both being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in their former places of residence, with their wives, and Kesiah Smith, Sarah Warner, and Mrs. Cyrus Crowe, met on a bright Sabbath morning in the month of March, 1855,
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History of Churches-Alphabetically Arranged.
at the home of Isaac Smith, on Main Street, and held a prayer- meeting and class meeting. Soon after this first service these good people secured the services of the Rev. Garbusen, of Spring Hills, who organized the class and, by his earnest labors and faithful preaching, was enabled to greatly increase and strengthen the mem- bership of this young society.
In 1857 the first Methodist church building was erected on Koke Street. In this structure the Methodist people worshiped and prospered until the year 1872, when the church was wholly destroyed by a tornado.
The second church was erected in the year 1873, under the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Miller.
The present oldest members of the Church, who joined in 1857 or soon thereafter, are T. J. Smith, A. J. McElroy, and Anna Gilchrist.
REV. EARL S. KELLER, PASTOR.
During the intervening years, through the faithful labors of more than a score of Methodist preachers, this society has had a splendid growth. Under the pastorate of Rev. E. L. Davis, the old church was so completely remodeled and enlarged that it has the appearance of a new edifice. This extensive improvement was made possible only after an expenditure of $18,000. A $3,000 pipe organ adorns the interior. It is one of the best equipped plants for the size of the community that there is in this great Conference.
Rev. E. S. Keller is the present pastor, having received his appointment to this work in the fall of 1911. In the fall of 1913 this Church led in a tabernacle evangelistic campaign which re- sulted in a great ingathering into the Church. One Sunday in November the pastor baptized eighty-eight adults. The total num- ber received into the Church was 134. The present membership is 493 resident and twenty-six non-resident members.
DELTA CHURCH.
In May, 1334, at the residence of Sidney Halley, located in what was known as the "Six Mile Woods," now Delta, was held the first Methodist prayer-meeting. The meeting was led by Sidney
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
Halley. There were present at this meeting Halley and wife, William Meeker and wife, David Williams and wife, Willard Trow- bridge, Lydia Trowbridge, William Fewless, Caroline Fewless, Eccless Nay, and Elizabeth Nay. In August, 1834, the second public service was held at the Eccless Nay residence.
In 1835, at his residence, Rev. Elisha Trowbridge, who was a trusted and efficient local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, organized the first Methodist Episcopal society. From this energetic planting is come the present prosperous organization. The first Methodist Episcopal church built in this section was built on ground donated by Rev. Elisha Trowbridge, located about one mile west of Delta, Ohio. In this church Rev. E. Trowbridge spent his life in faithful work for humanity, he being the only preacher in this section for many years. The second church was built just north of the first church, on the farm of Mr. Thomas Bayes, and was ever after called the Bayes appointment.
William Fewless was the first class leader the Church had in this section. The first local preachers were Rev. Elisha Trow- bridge, Rev. Geo. Wood, and Rev. Russell Kimbel.
The first regular itinerant Methodist preacher that preached at Delta was the Rev. C. Brooks, later of the Minnesota Confer- ence.
The northern part of Ohio until after 1839 was included with Michigan. From this Conference (North Ohio) Brooks had re- ceived his appointment to preach at Maumee, Perrysburg, and Waterville. Delta territory was embraced in Waterville Circuit. Brooks was followed by Shortiss and Coleman, Brooks and Flem- ing being on the year before. Shortiss, a zealous and pious young man, died at his post and is buried in the graveyard at the Spring- field Church, near Holland Station on the Air Line Division of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. Presumably the first presiding elder after Delta became an appointment was John Janes, a good preacher and a very sharp debater, who has long since gone to luis reward. The next preachers appointed to the work were A. Coleman, Chas. Thomas (who left the work), and Hatch (who took his place). Janes was followed on the district by John J. Kellam. After Coleman and Hatch, a man by the name of Campbell traveled the circuit. Then Liberty Prentice and Cushman. Then William Thatcher and Samuel Mower. J. J. Kellam was succeeded on the
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History of Churches-Alphabetically Arranged.
district by Wesley Brooks. The next preacher on the then Water- ville Circuit was T. J. Pope, 1845, Rev. Thomas Barkdull, pre- siding elder.
In August, 1847, the North Ohio Conference met at Ashland, Ohio. At this Conference a new mission was formed called Clinton (Wauseon) Mission, consisting of the following appointments, viz .: Delta (then called Bayes Meeting House, about one mile northwest of the village of Delta), York Center, William Bayes, Clinton Township, Lutes (in German Township), Gorham, and Chester- field.
In 1847 B. Herbert was the preacher on the mission; T. Bark- dull, presiding elder. Barkdull was a very fine preacher and long lived in the affection of the people.
When B. Herbert traveled Clinton Mission in 1847, the most prominent villages west of Maumee and Toledo and north of De- fiance were Bryan. West Unity, and Hicksville. There were but very few frame or brick houses west of the Maumee River. Maumee City then was the place where the principal milling and trading was done as far west as Wauseon.
In 1848 Rev. A. Foster, later in Iowa, was sent to the mission. Geo. W. Breckinridge, presiding elder in 1849, and 1850, O. Waters.
In the Bayes Church the Rev. Octavius Waters held one of the greatest revivals of religion ever witnessed in this section. In 1849 the name was changed from Clinton Mission to Chesterfield Circuit. In 1851 John McKern was the preacher in charge and William C. Pierce, presiding elder. In 1852, John Crabbs and A. Hollington. In 1853, James Evans and John Frownfelter. In 1854, James Evans and J. W. Thompson; David Gray, presiding elder. In 1855 the circuit was first named Delta Circuit, with Martin Perky pastor, who also traveled the circuit in 1856.
The first Methodist Episcopal church in Delta, Ohio, was built by Rev. George Wood in the year 1856, at a cost to the society of $1,000. In this house he often preached.
The Rev. Martin Perky was the first pastor to occupy the pul- pit. Rev. L. B. Gurley was the first presiding elder on Maumee District. Rev. David Gray was on the district at the time of the dedication of the original church in Delta Village. Up to this time the district was called Maumee, but in 1857 it was changed to Toledo District.
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History of the Central Ohio Conference.
The pastoral succession from 1856 to the present (1914), as nearly as can be ascertained, is as follows: W. W. Winters and D. D. S. Reigh, D. D. S. Reigh and G. W. Money, A. B. Poe and P. S. Slevin, A. M. Carey, G. W. Miller, B. Herbert and C. Hoag, S. B. Maltbie, A. C. Barnes, John R. Colgan, A. Coleman, N. B. C. Love, William Deal, John F. Davies, Nathaniel Barter, G. W. Miller, Richard Wallace, C. W. Taneyhill, J. A. Ferguson and J. H. Fitzwater, P. Biggs, J. M. Mills, Jefferson Williams, Isaac Newton, Daniel Carter, Frederick Miller, W. W. Scoles, Jacob Baumgardner, F. W. Stanton, F. A. Zimmerman, A. S. Watkins, J. W. Donnan, M. D. Scott, C. A. Moore, and P. Ross Parrish.
Delta was first made a station in September, 1871; N. B. C. Love, pastor, and L. A. Belt, presiding elder. R. Wallace was pastor from September, 1876, to September, 1879, during which time there was a notable and long remembered revival interest.
During the pastorate of Charles W. Taneyhill, 1881, the old parsonage was sold and the proceeds, with additional subscrip- tions, invested in building the present brick parsonage adjacent to the church.
During the pastorate of Jefferson Williams steps were taken toward building a much needed new church. Rev. Williams pub- lished an "Outline History and Directory of the Church," January 1, 1888, in which reference was made to the new project as follows:
"On Thanksgiving evening, November 24, 1887, the society, moved with gratitude to God for His goodness to the children of men, authorized a thank-offering of ten thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a new M. E. church edi- fice, to be of brick, and to be erected in 1888."
Bishop John M. Walden, of Cincinnati, Ohio, laid the corner- stone of the present (1914) church October 28, 1888, preaching from 2 Peter 1: 15. Dr. Earl Cranston, of Cincinnati, Ohio, dedi- cated the new church on Sunday, September 15, 1889. He preached on the occasion from Luke 14: 28-30.
The Sabbath school work was not neglected by the early Church. The first Sunday school in this section of the country was a Meth- odist Episcopal Sunday school. In was organized in the year 1839 by Willard Trowbridge, Joseph Jones, and William Fewless. Three elect ladies, Mrs. Mary McClure, Mrs. Sylvia Thayer, and Mrs. Hannah Carpenter, stirred up interest and took the first steps
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History of Churches-Alphabetically Arranged.
toward the organization of a Methodist Sunday school in Delta proper. From this organization has grown the present prosperous Sunday school of three hundred.
Rev. M. D. Scott was reappointed to Delta for the fourth year in September, 1008. A splendid addition to the church was built this year, affording greatly improved facilities for Sunday school work, also kitchen and dining room. The project was conceived and executed by Mr. James Schlappi, a noble layman and Sunday school superintendent for many years. The total cost, $2,500, was easily pledged and quickly paid. But the Sunday school has al- ready (1914) outgrown these quarters and is needing larger and better facilities.
During the pastorate of C. A. Moore, in 1913, a union taber- nacle meeting under Evangelist Honeywell added a considerable number to the Church. During Brother Moore's last year the church was repaired and the church auditorium tastefully decorated.
Rev. P. Ross Parrish, D. D., the present pastor, is having a very successful pastorate.
DELPHOS CHURCH.
Methodists held their first service in Delphos in the spring of 1845, nine years after the first white settlers reached the place. The Rev. John Graham, father of Mr. E. R. Graham, one of the Pub- lishing Agents of the Church, preached the sermon. He was at that time preacher on the Van Wert Circuit.
In the fall of that year a class was formed, composed of R. M. Ped- dicord and wife, Joseph Gruver and wife, and one or two others.
R. M. Peddicord was appointed class leader.
This organization was the first Protestant society in Delphos.
REV. LOUIS H. GRESSLEY, PASTOR.
The class remained with the Van Wert Circuit until 1854, from which time Delphos has either been a circuit or the head of a circuit.
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In the fall of 1848 the class was greatly strengthened by the coming of Amos Metcalf, from Cincinnati, and E. N. Martin, from Piqua, both being local preachers
The first church, a substantial brick building, was erected in 1848, during the pastorate of the Rev. Alexander Harmount. This building was displaced by the present church edifice during the pas- torate of the Rev. Solomon Lindsay.
The following brethren have served as pastors: John Graham, John S. Kalb, Jacob Albright, Alexandar Harmount, L. F. Ward, R. D. Oldfield, J. K. Ford, J. N. Guiberson, J. F. Burkholder, Wm. Taylor, Gershom Lease, Jacob Fegtly, John Frebley, A. N. Krebbs, Isaac Newton, Franklin Marriott, F. Plumb, Wm. Deal, J. Estelle, James F. Mounts, Lemuel Herbert, Jason Young, A. J. Fish, John S. Bates, Dwight R. Cook, L. C. Webster, Caleb Hill, R. R. Bryan, John W. Holland; Alexander Harmount again, for one month, when he died, and F. W. Stanton filled out the year; M. D. Scott, Mortimer Gascoigne, Wm. Hook, Peter Biggs, E. A. Strother, J. B. Ascham (twice), J. B. Gottschall, Geo. B. Wiltsie, and L. H. Gressley.
DESHLER CHURCH.
The town of Deshler, situated thirty-seven miles south of Toledo and thirty-five miles north of Lima, is an important railroad center, with a population of 1,600.
With the beginning of the town came the Methodist preacher, and, with eleven members to begin with, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the old log schoolhouse on Stearns Avenue in September, 1871, by Rev. John Sites, a brother of Rev. Nathan Sites, our missionary of former years in China.
During the forty-three years of its history the work of the Church in Deshler has been carried forward through great trials and difficulties by heroic men and women. Twenty-nine different pastors have served the Church in that time. The membership has never been very large, and because of disasters, losses, and changing conditions, which they could not control, they have had to build their church three times-one to recover from fire, and once to change location. Our people are now well located in the center of the town and well housed in property, church and par- sonage together, worth $16,000.
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