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The Germantown Meetinghouse in 1800.
History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania
BY
Elder Jerome E. Blough
Published By The BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE ELGIN, ILLINOIS 1916
Copyright, 1916 By Elder Jerome E. Blough
1
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OUR FATHERS AND MOTHERS WHOSE FAITH AND SELF-SACRIFICING LABORS GAVE US THE CHURCH WE SO DEARLY LOVE THE AUTHOR
Introduction.
The title of this book does not hint at the extent of in- terest that will center in it. Herein is a well-prepared account of the rise and development of the congregations of the Church of the Brethren of .Western Pennsylvania; but in- terwoven in it is an inevitable thread whose strands reach al- most Brotherhood-wide.
In Western Pennsylvania the Brethren labored long and well in behalf of the Master. Through many hardships in earlier days they established the faith in the midst of the beau- tiful Alleghanies. No service has ever been rendered more cheerfully and hopefully than theirs. But the valleys were too narrow for all their children and scattered throughout the West in almost every State one finds "Somerset County stock " prosperous and flourishing. All these scattered de- scendants will be interested in the story of beginnings in the old home District; and thus the usefulness of the book grows and grows until who can forecast where its presence will not be felt?
The author is well fitted to write the book. Born and reared in one of the stronger congregations of the District, breathing fully the spirit of his environment, in full sympathy with the ideals of the people who have built up the organiza- tion, he could fully enter into a proper appreciation of all the data gathered and give due stress to salient facts. Then he has almost infinite patience-the kind that enabled him to seek year after year, in each congregation-some of them exceedingly indifferent to his requests-until he found all
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8
INTRODUCTION
the available information. His style is easy, just the kind the fathers and mothers will be pleased to follow. Though the details are rather full for some, perhaps, yet even details will be valuable to those for whom the book is written.
The biographical sketches are of great value. Many of those whose lives appear here have wielded an influence far beyond the District, and have decidedly aided the denomina- tion to victories even in other lands.
To trace the growth of a quiet, unassuming folk, devout and faithful, as this history does, is to make one believe still more that God is always with those who put their trust in him, and that they mount over difficulties and accomplish ends com- mensurate only with the idea that Omnipotence has been with them. I most heartily recommend the book to the many who should know the story of the Church of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania.
Elgin, Illinois.
February 24, 1916.
GALEN B. ROYER.
.
Preface.
To the author of this work history has always been a fascinating study. As a youth he read Peter Parley's " His- tory of the World " with the most intense interest. The dis- covery of past activities and accomplishments, whether in church or state, was not only interesting but a matter of the greatest satisfaction. Perhaps nothing was more enjoyed than hearing the old church fathers talking about the work of the church in their young days. These talks revealed the fact that in the dim and already almost forgotten past exists a history that will be lost to future generations if not secured very soon, before the lips of those possessing this knowledge are sealed in death.
Becoming convinced of the need of speedy action the question of how to accomplish it became the next matter for consideration. With this question in view the author referred to Elder C. G. Lint, at the Ministerial Meeting at Meyersdale in 1907, this query : " Would it not be proper to provide some plan whereby we might procure and preserve the history of the Church of the Brethren of our District?" In his answer Brother Lint strongly favored such a move and clearly showed the necessity of doing it soon. One other brother, I think, spoke favorably, but nothing farther was done that year.
The next year, 1908, being the Bicentennial Year, the author was asked to give a Bicentennial address on the History of Western Pennsylvania at the Ministerial Meeting. The time for such a talk was entirely too short, but considerable interest was aroused in the matter, and a historical committee, consisting of Jerome E. Blough, Joseph Holsopple and Mahlon J. Weaver, was appointed. The object of this committee was to gather and, in some way, preserve, all possible past history of the District. This committee sent to the elders of the con- gregations blanks containing a large number of questions. From the answers to these questions a creditable history of
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10
PREFACE
each congregation could have been written, but only a com- paratively few blanks, filled out, were returned. But the committee was not idle, and during the next four years con- siderable historical matter was gathered in various ways. But beyond that the committee did not feel that it had any right to go.
So, in order that the District might take a more active hold of the work, the following petition was presented to the 1912 District Meeting: " Inasmuch as a historical committee of Western Pennsylvania was appointed several years ago, by the Ministerial Meeting, for the purpose of collecting material for a history of the Churches of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania, and since that committee has gathered together very valuable data, we, the West Johnstown congregation, ask District Meeting to devise some plan by which these records may be best preserved for future generations, either by pro- viding for the publication of a history in book form or other- wise. Answer: 'Request granted, and the following commit- tee appointed : Jerome E. Blough, John F. Dietz and Samuel C. Johnson.' "
Elder Joseph Holsopple being relieved because of age, and Mahlon J. Weaver having removed from the District, they turned what material they had in their possession over into my hands. Of the new members of the committee, Elder Dietz soon moved from the District and Brother Johnson was too far away for united prosecution of the work. Outside of the history of the Georges Creek congregation, which was furnished by Brother Johnson, practically the whole burden of soliciting, compiling and arranging material for this history has rested upon the author.
Being financially unable to spend time and money travel- ing among the churches of the District, practically every- thing was done by correspondence. It took some time to in- duce brethren in every congregation to get down to business and unearth their history, but it was finally accomplished, and we feel that success has at last crowned our persistent efforts. Also from unexpected sources, even from people not members
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PREFACE
of our church, have come helpful information and sugges- tions. In addition to all the help given by brethren, sisters and friends still living, to all of whom I am profoundly grate- ful, I am indebted to the following books, pamphlets and peri- odicals :
"A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America," by Governor Martin Grove Brumbaugh ; " Holsinger's History of the Tunkers and the Brethren Church," by Elder H. R. Holsinger; "Two Centuries of the Church of the Brethren; " " Some Who Led," by Elders D. L. Miller and Galen B. Royer ; " History of the Churches of Northeastern Ohio," by Elder T. S. Moherman and others ; " History of Eastern Pennsylvania; " Histories of Somerset, Westmoreland, Cambria and Armstrong Counties ; " " The Conemaughers," by Ezra H. Detwiler; " Record of the Faith- ful," by Howard Miller ; Brethren Almanacs, and the various church papers from the Gospel Visitor to the present; Annual Meeting Minutes, District Meeting Minutes, as well as minutes of other meetings of the District, and " Thirty-three Years of Missions," by Galen B. Royer.
By the splendid help of many brethren and this array of literature this history was made possible, and yet a very great deal of interesting and valuable history is lost. We waited fifty years too long. It has been only in comparatively recent years that most of the congregations kept a record of their business. Perhaps some of this lost history will yet come to light. For the present we did the best we could under the circumstances. We do not claim perfection.
But few names of contributors appear, because most of the matter coming to hand had to be reconstructed. It is impossible to name all who have contributed to the success of this work, and so we deem it best not to name any. Since be- ginning to gather material for this work a number of brethren, who were interested and did what they could to make it a success, have gone to their reward. I recall Joseph Berkey, Abram Summy, D. D. Horner, Jonathan W. Blough, D. S. Clapper, Emanuel J. Blough, H. A. Stahl, J. J. Blauch, David
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PREFACE
Hildebrand, John B. Miller, George Hanawalt, S. M. Forney, Levi Rogers and Peter Forney.
After years of diligent labor, in the face of numerous obstacles, such as lack of records or minutes of congregations, and of prompt responses on the part of a few, success, in an encouraging degree, has been achieved, and we send this volume forth on its mission of faith and peace and love, trust- ing that it will be received in the same spirit in which it is given. To all who have in any way contributed to the ac- complishment of this work due credit is hereby gratefully given.
ELDER JEROME E. BLOUGH.
1
Table of Contents.
Page
Chapter I. The Brethren in Europe, 21
Chapter II. The Beginning of the Brethren in America,. 27
Chapter III. Early Settlements of the Brethren in West- ern Pennsylvania, 39
Conemaugh. The Glades. Fayette County. Washı- ington County. Greene County-The Eckerly Broth- ers.
Chapter IV. Western Pennsylvania, 47
Chapter V. Congregations, . 51
Berlin, 51
Bolivar,
55
Brothers Valley,
57
Brush Valley,
65
Chess Creek,
65 67
Clarion,
Conemaugh, 69
Cowanshannock,
73
Dunnings Creek, 77
Elk Lick,
81
Elk Lick after the division,
87
Georges Creek,
89
Glade Run, 94
Greensburg,
97
Greenville, 102
Indian Creek, 103
Jacobs Creek, 106
Johnstown, 111
Ligonier Valley, 120
13
14
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Maple Glen,
123
Manor,
126
Markleysburg, 132
Meyersdale,
133
Middle Creek,
136
Montgomery, 139
Morrellville, 141
Mount Union, 142
Pittsburgh,
145
Pleasant Hill,
150
Plum Creek,
152
Quemahoning,
154
Red Bank,
166
Rockton,
170
Rummel,
174
Ryerson Station,
174
Scalp Level,
178
Shade Creek,
181
Shemokin,
188
Somerset,
189
Stony Creek,
189
Summit Mills,
190
Ten Mile,
191
Trout Run, 196
West Johnstown,
198
Chapter VI. Missionary Activities, 205
Unorganized, 205
Attempts at Organization, 207
The Mission Board Organized, 207
Congregations Supporting Missionaries, 216
Sunday-schools Supporting Missionaries, 217
What We Could Do, 217
Missionaries, 218
Jacob M. Blough, 218
Anna Z. Blough, 221
Ida C. Shumaker,
223
Quincy A. Holsopple,
226
S. Olive Widdowson, 230
Herman B. Heisey, 232
Mrs. Herman B. Heisey, 234
Chapter VII. Our Sunday-school Activities, . 237
TABLE OF CONTENTS
15 Page
Chapter VIII. Sketches of Our Sunday-school Secre- taries, . .25
Silas S. Blough, 251
Herman A. Stahl, 253
Lorenzo J. Lehman, 256
Ross D. Murphy, 258
I. Edward Holsinger,
261
Sunday-school Mission Board, 263
Perry J. Blough, 263
Daniel K. Clapper, 266
William M. Howe,
268
Chapter IX. Education, 27.
Chapter X. District Meetings, 281
Chapter XI. Annual Meetings, 291
Chapter XII. Ministerial Meetings,
297
Chapter XIII. Bible, Missionary and Sunday-school In- stitute, 301
Chapter XIV. Biographies, 303
Chapter XV. Ministers Who Have Left Us,
571
Chapter XVI. Miscellaneous, 597
Statistics,
597
Age of Ministers, 597
Our Sisters,
597
Ministers of Western Pennsylvania-1916,
598
List of Illustrations.
The Germantown Meetinghouse in 1899, .... Frontispiece Valley of the Eder River-Schwarzenau, Germany, .. 23
Garrett Church, Berlin Congregation, 53
Beachdale Church, Berlin Congregation, 55
The Old Grove Church, Berlin Congregation, 60
Rayman Church, Brothers Valley Congregation, 62
Pike Church, Brothers Valley Congregation, 62
New Grove Church, Brothers Valley Congregation, 64
The Old Mock Church, Dunnings Creek Congregation, 78
Holsinger Church, Dunnings Creek Congregation, 79 New Paris Church, Dunnings Creek Congregation, 80
Dunnings Creek Ministers, 81
First Salisbury Church, Elk Lick Congregation, 84
Present Salisbury Church, Elk Lick Congregation, 87
Fairview Church, Georges Creek Congregation, 90
Uniontown Church, Georges Creek Congregation, 92
Silas W. Fike and Wife, 94
Glade Run Church, 96
First Greensburg Church,
99
Greensburg Church, 101
Hochstetler Church, Greenville Congregation, 102
County Line Church, Indian Creek Congregation, 105
Jacobs Creek Ministers, 107
Old Stone Church, Jacobs Creek Congregation, 108
Mt. Joy Church, Jacob's Creek Congregation, 109
Somerset Street Brethren Church, Johnstown, 111
Old Walnut Grove Church, Johnstown Congregation, . . 112
Conemaugh Church, Johnstown Congregation, 116
Seven of the Johnstown Ministers,
119
Waterford Church, Ligonier Valley Congregation,
Maple Glen Church, 124
Three of Manor's Ministers, 128
Purchase Line Church, Manor Congregation, 130
Penn Run Church, Manor Congregation, 131
Meyersdale Church and Parsonage, 135
Geiger Church, Middle Creek and Brothers Valley Con- gregations, . 138
Old Montgomery Church, Montgomery Congregation, 140 Morrellville Church, 141
Mount Union Church, Mount Union Congregation, . . 143 Wiles Hill Church, Mount Union Congregation, 144
16
117
Walnut Grove Church, Johnstown Congregation, 122
17
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Proposed Alteration and Addition to the Pittsburgh Church, 148
Pleasant Hill Church, 151
Plum Creek Church and Parsonage, 154
Pine Grove Sunday-school (1909), Quemahoning Con- gregation, 156
Five of Quemahoning's Ministers, 158
Pine Grove Church, Quemahoning Congregation, .159
Sipesville Church and Congregation, Quemahoning Congregation, 161
Old Maple Spring (Fry) Church, Quemahoning Con- gregation, 162
Hooversville Church, Quemahoning Congregation, . ... 163 Present Maple Spring Church, Quemahoning Congre- gation, 164
Maple Spring Cemetery, Quemahoning Congregation, 165 Red Bank Church and Parsonage, 169
Old Rockton Church, Rockton Congregation, 171
New Rockton Church, Rockton Congregation, 172
Greenville Church, Rockton Congregation, 173
Baptismal Scene, Ryerson Station Congregation, 177
Scalp Level Church, 179
Windber Church, Scalp Level Congregation, 181
Deacon Daniel Berkey and Wife, 182
Shade Creek Ministers Before Division, 183
Churches of Shade Creek Congregation, 186
Berkey Cemetery, Shade Creek Congregation, 187
Summit Mills Church, Erected in 1846, 191
Old Stone Church, Ten Mile Congregation, 192
Old Brick Church, Ten Mile Congregation, 193
Fireplace, Ten Mile Church, 194
Interior View, Ten Mile Church, 195
Ten of the Twelve Ministers of the West Johnstown Congregation (1914), . 199
Roxbury Church and Parsonage, West Johnstown
Congregation, .200
Viewmont Church, West Johnstown Congregation, .. 201 Present Mission Board of Western Pennsylvania (1916),
214
Elder Jacob M. Blough and Wife, 219
Ida Cora Shumaker, 224
Quincy A. Holsopple and Wife, 227
Olive Widdowson, 231
Herman B. Heisey, 233
Sister Herman B. Heisey, 235
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Elder Silas S. Blough and Wife, 252
Elder Herman A. Stahl, 254
Elder Lorenzo J. Lehman and Wife, 257
Ross D. Murphy, 258
Prof. I. Edward Holsinger, 262
Elder Perry J. Blough and Wife, 264
Elder Daniel K. Clapper, 266
Elder William Mohler Howe,
269
Prof. Jacob Martin Zuck, 274
Gymnasium, Juniata College, Huntingdon, 276
Library, Juniata College, Huntingdon, 277
Juniata College, 278
The Stone Church, Huntingdon,
279
The Bishop John Buechly Barn,
292
Frank Ankeney, 304
305
Newton E. Beabes, 307
308
Elder Peter Beer and Wife,
Elder Joseph Berkey, 317
324
Elder Albert J. Berkley and wife,
Samuel J. Berkley and Wife,
328
Prayer-Prophecy, 332
Elder Jonathan W. Blough (Group), 334
Elder Emanuel J. Blough and Wife, 340
Elder Jerome E. Blough and Wife, 345
Norman H. Blough and Wife, 346
J. L. Bowman, 349
Elder Mahlon J. Brower, Wife and Child, 354
Elder Solomon Bucklew and Wife, 358
Elder Jeremiah Beeghly and Wife, 358
Ananias J. Beeghly, 359
Elder John H. Cassady and Wife, 364
Andrew Chambers, 366
Elder David S. Clapper, 369
Elder T. Rodney Coffman,
374
John J. Darr, 377
Elder John N. Davis and Wife,
Elder Alpheus DeBolt and Wife, 378
Edgar Marion Detwiler and Wife, 381
383
John F. Deitz and Wife, 385
Alvin G. Faust and Wife, 390
Isaiah B. Ferguson, 391
Elder Oran Fyock, 398
Elder Jasper Barnthouse and Wife,
Prof. J. C. Beahm, 313
Cornelius Berkley, 327
19
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Elder Joel Gnagey and Wife, 400
Walter J. Hamilton, . 402
Elder George Hanawalt, 404
Elder David Hildebrand and Wife, 408
Elder E. K. Hochstetler,
411
Elder John S. Holsinger and Wife,
414
Daniel Holsopple,
416
Elder Jacob Holsopple and Wife,
418
Elder Joseph Holsopple and wife,
421
Elder Silas Hoover,
423
William M. Horner, 426
M. Clyde Horst, Wife and Daughter, 427
Elder Russell T. Idleman, Wife and Child, 430
Elder John Cover Johnson, 432
Samuel Cover Johnson, . 436
Prof. Carman Cover Johnson, 438
Silas Clark Keim, 440
Elder Lewis Kimmel, 444
Samuel A. Myers, Harvey H. Kimmel, 445
Four Generations of the Kitchen Family, 446
Elder Peter Knavel, 447
Lewis Schrock Knepper, 449
Hiram Lehman and Wife, 453
Elder Jonas Lichty, 455
Bishop C. G. Lint, 459
David L. Little, 463
David Livengood, 465
Elder Samuel P. Maust and Wife, 469
Elder C. A. McDowell and Wife, 470
W. S. Meyers, . 473
Jacob D. Miller, 475
477
Elder Perry U. Miller, 478
Dr. Samuel G. Miller, 479
John W. Mills and Wife, 481
Elder Mark Minser and Wife, 485
Elder Hiram Musselman and Wife, 495
J. Lloyd Nedrow, Wife and Child, 503
Jacob W. Peck, 506
Elder Lewis A. Peck and Wife, 508
Irvin R. Pletcher and Wife,
509
Elder James Quinter, 511
Ralph Walker Reiman, 516
Haddon Q. Rhodes, 519
Gideon Rogers, 522
Elder John B. Miller,
20
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Elder Levi Rogers, . 523
Elder William G. Schrock, 529
Prof. Lewis G. Shaffer, Wife and Child, 535
Elder Samuel U. Shober and Wife, 537
Elder Abraham Summy, 547
Elder Jacob M. Thomas, 548
Elder Samuel C. Umbel and Wife, 551
Elder Daniel H. Walker, 553
Elder Galen K. Walker, Wife and Child, 555
B. F. Waltz and Wife, 556
Levi Wells, 559
Elder Adam Wise, 561
Elder John Wise, 564
William E. Wolford Family, 567
Elder Emanuel J. Blough's Sons, 574
Three Flickinger Sisters, 579
Frank Blaine Myers and Wife, 588
CHAPTER I.
The Brethren in Europe.
The year 1708 will ever be a memorable one in the history of the Brethren. That year, at Schwarzenau, Province of Wittgenstein, in Hesse Cassel, Germany, a remarkable scene was transacted, which gave birth to the organization known today as the Church of the Brethren.
Dissatisfied with the formalism and ritualism of the Protestant churches of their time, the Pietists, a class of re- ligious reformers, became numerous and energetic in Germany in the early years of the eighteenth century. They sought to revive declining piety in the Protestant churches. "Among them were men of all shades of religious opinions, which were at variance with the established churches. In this ag- gregation of persons holding widely differing views on almost all Christian duties, except those of devotion and piety, it was found difficult to collect a sufficient number who were of 'One mind ' to establish a congregation. As long as they kept prominently before themselves their specialty, and devoted themselves assiduously to the cultivation of their favorite virtue, they prospered greatly " ("History of the Tunkers " by Holsinger, page 30).
" Early in the eighteenth century there seems to have been a special revival among these Pietists. In addition to their regular services, private house-to-house meetings were held, at which the young converts presented themselves for prayers and instruction in the higher attainments of the Chris- tian life. Their frequent assemblies very soon attracted the notice of their enemies, and inflamed the spirit of jealousy, and persecution speedily followed. Many of them were driven from their homes in Switzerland, Württemberg, Hesse Cassel. and other places. A number of these exiles found refuge at
22
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE
Wittgenstein, under the government of a friendly count, through whose intercession liberty of conscience was granted.
" This leniency on the part of the local government had the effect of inducing a heavy immigration to the community, al- though the land was rough and the soil barren. Most of them settled at Schwarzenau, about three miles from Berlenberg. This influx of people greatly increased the population of the place, and gave it prominence among the towns of the prov- ince.
" In their endeavors to administer wholesome discipline among themselves, the Pietists were again made to feel the necessity of better organization. They felt a desire to put into practice the instructions given in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, 'If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee and him alone,' etc., but they could not agree upon any system of church government. Some of them did not want to be under any restraint, nor to submit to any discipline, no matter how salutary it might be. Others returned to the churches which they had left, while still others drifted into outright infidelity. This degeneracy and the dis- couragements which followed caused some of the most sincere among them to become all the more impressed with the im- portance of reviving primitive Christianity, by following the Savior in all his commands and ordinances. They were es- pecially convinced of the importance of faith and obedience to effect genuine reformation unto salvation. Their scriptural researches had also assured them that Christian baptism was an important ordinance, which was closely related to salvation, but which had been slightly spoken of among the Pietists, to the great sorrow of those who truly loved the truth as it is in Christ Jesus " (Holsinger, pp. 30 and 31).
Finally, " eight pious souls, after careful prayer and pro- longed study, relying only upon God and the Bible to guide them and their followers forever, walked slowly, solemnly and heroically from the house of Alexander Mack to the river Eder, which, like a silver thread, wound its way through the heart of a rich and varied landscape. Here the pious eight,
23
BRETHREN OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Valley of the Eder River, Schwarzenau, Germany.
in the early morning, surrounded by many curious witnesses, knelt in prayer, and one of them led Alexander Mack into the water and immersed him three times, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Then Alex- ander Mack, the other seven, and these eight, perhaps the first to receive trine immersion in the history of the Protestant Church, then organized a new congregation. This new con- gregation chose one of their number, Alexander Mack, as their leader, and thus began the Taufers, or German Baptist Church, as a separate and distinct organization. These eight members, the beginning of the church, were : 1. Alexander Mack ; 2. Anna Margaretta Mack; 3. Joanna Noethinger, or Bony ; 4. Andrew Bony ; 5. George Grebi ; 6. Lucas Vetter ; 7. John Kipping, and 8. Joanna Kipping.
" These eight members of the pioneer church were not a group of local enthusiasts, nor were they irreligious prior to the organization of the Taufers or Tunkers. Alexander Mack was from Schreisheim; Lucas Vetter and George Gre- bi were from Hesse Cassel; Andrew Bony was from Basle, in Switzerland ; and John Kipping was from Bareit, in Würt- temberg. They were refugees from intolerance and persecu- tion, living temporarily in Wittgenstein, because it was at that
24
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE
time ruled by the mild and humane Count Heinrich Von Wittgenstein."
" They were all members of a Protestant church before 1708. Kipping was a Lutheran, Mack, Vetter, Bony and Grebi were bred Presbyterians (Reformed). Rejecting on the one hand the creed of man, and on the other hand the abandonment of ordinances, they turned to the Bible for guidance. From God's Word they learned that ordinances were vital and creed unnecessary. Adopting the Bible as their rule and guide they organized a church with no creed, and with all the ordinances as taught by Jesus and his follow- ers, as recorded in the New Testament. Their position is unique. They have no counterpart in history, save the mother churches established by Paul and the disciples. They are Protestants without a formed Protestant creed. They are Pietists without the ultra church-in-the-spirit doctrines of Spener and his followers.
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