USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 11
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Rev. John William Heim
commenced to preach for them occasionally in the school-house on the hill near Bosserman's mill, now near Markelville. At the same time a Sunday-school was also started and held at this school-house. These visits of Father Heim convinced the mem- bers more than ever of the necessity and advantage of having among them the stated ministrations of the Gospel and of a suit- able house of worship. The attendance at the school-house was very encouraging. Measures were then taken to erect, as soon as practicable, a house of worship conjointly with a sister denomi- nation. The following is a copy of the heading of the subscrip- tion circulated for aid towards the erection of the proposed church- edifice :
"We, the undersigned, citizens of Juniata Township and parts adjacent, in Perry County, composed of Lutheran and Presby- terian professors, feeling ourselves in a great measure destitute of the preaching of the Gospel among us, to obviate which, we do hereby agree to form a union to enable us to raise money for the erection of a house for public worship in the neighborhood of William Bosserman's mill on Big Buffalo, and on the land of Marx Bealor, who offers a piece of land for that purpose as a free donation; and we cordially invite the friends of religion, both
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CHAPTER II.
German and English, to join us in this undertaking, and be sharers in the privileges and advantages of the proposed insti- tution, believing as we do, that righteousness exalteth a nation, and sin is the reproach of any people.
"We, therefore, to realize said object, do promise to pay the several sums annexed to our names respectively, to such person or persons as shall be hereafter appointed for that purpose. Wit- ness our hands the 7th January, 1840."
Messrs. Daniel Swartz and John Bealor were appointed the building committee. A sufficient amount was soon subscribed to justify the building committee to proceed in erecting the proposed house of worship. Mr. Marx Bealor also deeded a piece of land to the use of the congregations as the site for the church-edifice and the graveyard .* From this deed we make the following extract :
" This Indenture made the 7th day of August, 1840, between Marks Bealor of Juniata Township, Perry County, State of Penn- sylvania, and his wife Elizabeth, of the one part, and Philip Myers, Samuel Lupfer and William Bosserman, Trustees of a religious society in said township and parts adjacent, composed of Lutherans and Presbyterians united, now about erecting them- selves into a congregation, of the other part,-Witnesseth that the said Mark Bealor and Elizabeth his wife, for and in considera- tion of the many blessings of the Gospel among men and in order to secure and promote it in this corner for the happiness and comfort of themselves, their children, and neighbors, and all others, and also for and in consideration of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said Trustees and before the ensealing and de- livering thereof, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof acquit and forever discharge the said Trustees above
* On the piece of land offered by Mr. Marx Bealor, and now embraced in the graveyard adjoining the church, a number of persons were buried long before the church was built. The tombstone of the first person buried here, bears the following inscription in German : " Hier ruhen die Gebeine von Sarah Bealor, Tochter von M. Bealor, Starb 6th August, 1810. Alter 8 Jahr, 8 Monat, und 26 Tage."
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
named, their successors and assigns, do by these presents grant, bargain, sell, &c.,-two and one-half perches over one-half acre, to have and to hold the said piece or lot of ground, to the said Philip Myers, Samuel Lupfer and William Bosserman, Trustees aforesaid, their successors and assigns forever, for the establish- ment and support of a church and suitable pastors for said con- gregation according to justice and their articles of association," &c. See, Deed-Book, Letter I, p. 272. The above article of sub- scription and deed were written by George Monroe, Esq.
The Lutheran congregation was regularly organized in October, 1840, by the election and installation of Mr. John Beistlein, Elder, and of Mr. Daniel Swartz, Deacon. These were the first officers of the congregation.
Rev. Heim composed also the following church constitution in the German language :
CONSTITUTION OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
In the name of God the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
God is a God of order, and therefore everything that is to meet with His approbation and redound to His glory must be done in the spirit of order, of love and peace. We, the Church-Council and Church-members, do therefore, on this 4th day of October, 1840, bind ourselves to observe most faithfully and in as far as in us lies the following Constitution :
CHAPTER I.
OF THE CHURCH AND GRAVEYARD.
Our church, called -, erected on the ground given for the purpose by Marcus Bealor, containing eighty-two rods, situate in Juniata Township, Perry County, and State of Pennsylvania, is and shall always remain a Union church for the use of the two religious denominations, namely, the Evangelical Lutheran and
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CHAPTER IT.
Evangelical Reformed, and so it shall continue until by mutual agreement the one denomination purchase the right of the other. And in this church no other doctrine shall be preached and taught than that of the Evangelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformed Churches according to the Bible and the Augsburg Confession. One denomination shall not interfere in the divine worship of the other, &c. [The remaining part of this Constitution is in every respect the same as that prepared for the church at Loysville, and therefore we refer the reader to that. See pp. 37-41.]
To the above Constitution, we, the Church-Council and Church- members, herewith subscribe our names :
John Bealor, Philip Reamer, John Myer,
Samuel Lupfer,
George Gibbons,
Samuel Reisdorff,
Joseph Bealor,
John Leiby,
Daniel Swartz,
John Sosseman,
Wm. Raffinsberger, Jacob Lenig,
John Dumm, John Beistlein,
Frederick Reisdorff,
John Crist,
Philip Myer,
Michael Earhart,
Joseph Carl,
George Carl,
Jonas J. Smith.
David Bcalor,
The above Constitution has gone into disuse, and each congre- gation manages its affairs according to its own Synod's form of government and discipline.
The corner-stone of the new church was laid in October, 1840, when Rev. Heim and Rev. Fred. Becher officiated. A difference arose among the members respecting the plan on which the church edifice was to be built. Some were in favor of a gallery on three sides, and some were opposed to having any gallery. The ques- tion was then put to vote. The majority voted to have no gallery at all; but for the sake of peace the majority yielded to the minority, and in this way peace was easily restored and the edifice was raised, though for a long time some were dissatisfied, and perhaps justly too, with the three galleries. The edifice is thirty- five feet long by thirty feet wide. It is a log-frame structure. Inside it has high galleries on three sides, supported by heavy posts and cross-beams, a high pulpit, high seats, and is in many
13*
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
respects badly arranged. It seems to have been adapted on pur- pose to make preaching go hard. It is truly surprising that in those days a much cheaper way of building far more convenient church-edifices did not suggest itself to the minds of the people in Perry County.
The church was dedicated in April, 1841, and called St. John's Church. Rev. Heim and Rev. Ernst were present and preached on the occasion. The Sunday-school was now removed to the. church.
Rev. Heim preached here once every four weeks, exclusively in the German language. The members scattered throughout Juniata Township were collected and much encouraged by having a church and regular preaching in their midst. The Sunday- school was encouraged and flourished.
After having attended a course of lectures on the Catechism of the Church, on Saturday, the 2d of December, 1843, the follow- ing persons were admitted to communion by confirmation :
David Titzel,
Michael Smith,
Jonas Beistlein,
Michael Kleckner,
Mrs. Ann Mary Kleckner,
" Margaret Crist,
" Margaret Schultz,
" Mary Weiskessel,
Mrs. Nancy Zollenberger,
Miss Lydia Carl,
" Catharine Frantz,
" Mary Crist,
" Sarah A. Burrel,
" Susan Beistlein,
" Margaret Reisdorff.
On Sunday (December 3d), the whole number of communi- cants was seventy-one, though it is certain that they were not all members of this congregation. Rev. Heim had communion here but once a year, and, with the above exception, always in spring, and sometimes on week-days, as follows : Sunday, May 19th, 1844, sixty-three communicants; Sunday, March 23d, 1845, forty- five communicants ; Sunday, April 19th, 1846, forty-nine com- municants ; Sunday, May 16th, 1847, fifty communicants ; Wed- nesday, April 19th, 1848, forty-nine communicants ; and Wed- nesday, April 18th, 1849, catechumens and old members, fifty
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communicants. This was the last communion he held here. On Tuesday previous, namely, the 17th of April, 1849, the following persons were confirmed :
George W. Titzel,
Peter Beistlein,
Josiah R. Titzel,
Miss Rebecca Titzel,
Daniel Crist,
" Magdalene Lenig,
Jonas Lenig,
" Catharine Beistlein,
Edward Kepner,
" Margaret Beistlein.
Rev. Father Heim fell asleep in Jesus on the 27th of Decem- ber, 1849, having organized and served the congregation as pastor about ten years. As some of the catechumens could not read the German language, Father Heim attempted sometimes to explain to them the doctrines of our religion in English, though this was difficult for him to do and very unsatisfactory to the catechumens. Preaching in the English language had here become highly neces- sary.
In 1849, the church was roughcast outside and plastered in- side, and other improvements were made.
According to a division made of the charges served by Rev. Heim and Rev. Martin, at Bloomfield, in February, 1850 (see pp. 52-54), this congregation was attached to the Bloomfield charge, and early in the spring of 1850, the
Rev. Jacob Martin
commenced his pastoral labors here. On the 19th of May, 1850, he held the first communion at this place, when thirty-seven mem- bers communed. He preached here once every three weeks, about one-third in the English language. Some of the fathers were very much displeased at him for preaching in the English language in their church,-in the church they had built. They thought it an unwarrantable innovation, a new measure not to be tolerated. But the fathers were gradually overruled by the press- ing want of the sons. The transition from the German to the English language was slowly but surely going on. The German- speaking portion of the congregation blamed Rev. Martin for in-
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
troducing English preaching, and were offended at him for it. Hence, at his second communion, on the 3d of November, 1850, only twenty-nine communed. Time has, however, fully vindicated the course Rev. Martin pursued in this matter. He did a good work, and prepared the way for his successors. After Rev. Heim's departure not a single person has, to this time (1862), come to be catechized in the German language. Thus clearly showing the folly of resisting the introduction of the use of the English lan- guage.
During the winter of 1851, Rev. Martin instructed a class of catechumens in the Catechism, and on Saturday, the 22d of March, the same year, the following persons were confirmed :
William T. Kepner,
Miss Mary Ann Burd,
" Priscilla Jane Boyer,
" Julian Burd,
" Susan Frantz,
Miss Mary Frantz,
Mary A. Raffinsberger,
" Hannah Bealor,
" Mary Beistlein.
On Sunday, the 23d, the whole number of communicants was forty-nine. On Sunday, the 4th of March, 1852, Rev. Martin held his last communion here, and also, at the same time, he preached his farewell sermon, having served the congregation about two years. In June following, he was succeeded by the
Rev. William Gerhardt,
who preached here once every three weeks, alternately in the German and English languages. The Lutheran congregation bought at this time. a church-record, and after this entries were regularly made of baptisms, confirmations, &c. The young mem- bers demanded that half of the preaching should be in the Eng- lish language, and the old members could no longer deny the re- quest. On the 14th of May, 1853, the following persons were confirmed :
George Fleisher, William Titzel,
John A. Beistlein, Samuel Beistlein,
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CHAPTER II.
Ezra P. Titzel,
Miss Elizabeth Miller,
Levi Smith,
Lucetta Smith,
John Beistlein,
" Mary Zollenberger.
Rev. Gerhardt resigned and preached his farewell sermon at this place on the 12th of June, 1853, having served the congre- gation only about one year. The Bloomfield charge was then vacant about eight months. Having accepted a call from the charge, the
Rev. Adam Height
commenced his pastoral labors here on the 1st of March, 1854. Having preached only about seven months in the charge, for rea- sons not necessary to state, he ceased his ministry in September of the same year. The charge was then again vacant about eight months. Having accepted a call from the congregations compos- ing the Bloomfield charge, the
Rev. D. H. Focht
entered on the discharge of his ministerial duties in the charge on the 1st of June, 1855, and preached his introductory sermon at St. John's Church, on Sunday, the 10th of June, from Col. 1:28: "Whom (Christ) we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."
Having been for some time faithfully instructed in the Cate- chism in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, on Saturday, the 24th of November, 1855, the following persons were confirmed :
David Wolf,
Miss Elizabeth Anders,
John S. Dougherty (baptized),
Sophia Yeager,
Mrs. Eliza Yeager,
" Hetta Swartz,
Miss Caroline Anders,
" Sarah Ann Burrel.
Two of the above have since gone to the eternal world. They died in peace and the hope of heaven.
"O Lord of hosts, thou God of grace, How blest, divinely blest, is he
Who trusts thy love and seeks thy face, And fixes all his hopes on thee !"
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
On Sunday, the 25th, the whole number of communing mem- bers was seventy-five. Fifteen others also communed. This meeting commenced on Tuesday evening previous. The catechu- mens, who had hitherto met only once a week, were now met once every day, and received instruction and engaged in singing and prayer. The Gospel was preached every evening during the week. These exercises were well attended, and lasting impressions for good were made and precious souls converted to God.
On the 10th of April, 1856, Mr. David R. P. Bealor and his wife Nancy were received as members of this congregation by certificate, and on the 25th of October of the same year the fol- lowing persons were confirmed :
1
Lemuel O. Foose,
Mrs. Elizabeth Beistlein,
William J. Foose,
Miss Elizabeth Strasser,
Levi Swartz,
Sarah A. Taylor,
Isaac Strasser (baptized),
Eve Smith,
Mrs. Sarah Smith
Mary Ann Brown,
Miss Marg. Murphy 66
Magdalene Brown.
" The soul that on Jesus hath lean'd for repose, I will not, I cannot desert to his foes ; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never-no, never-no, never forsake !"
The prayer-meeting and Sunday-school are well attended, and piety and intelligence are advancing among this people. Surely the Lord has richly blessed the members of this congregation, for which we are unfeignedly thankful. Having labored another year and diligently catechized a class of catechumens, on the 28th of November, 1857, the following persons were confirmed :
Emanuel Whitekettle, Miss Mary Ann Crist,
Charles Whitekettle,
" Cath. Elizabeth Crist,
Wm. Henry Flickinger,
" Lydia Ann Smith,
Levi Hiram Flickinger,
David Beistlein,
" Martha Kepner, “ Sarah A. Murphy (bap ).
Two of the above young brethren have since gone to their long rest in heaven. They fell asleep in Jesus.
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CHAPTER II.
" Who, who would live always, away from his God ; Away from yon heav'n, that blissful abode, Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, And the noontide of glory eternally reigns : Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet Their Savior and brethren, transported to greet ; While anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul."
At this time (on Sunday, the 29th), eighty-two members com- muned, and on account of sickness and other causes twelve mem- bers were absent. This meeting commenced on Tuesday the 24th, and closed on Monday evening the 30th. During this time the pastor catechized the youth once every day and preached every evening and also in daytime. The attendance was good, and the Lord was present to bless. All the catechumens and a number of others professed to have found peace to their souls in an entire consecration of themselves to God by faith in Jesus Christ. May they prove faithful to their covenant vow, and let their light shine by living a godly life !
In October, 1859, Dr. Jacob M. Miller was received as a mem- ber of this congregation. After having been instructed in the Catechism about four months, and being found possessed of the requisite doctrinal and spiritual attainments, on the 24th of No- vember, 1860, the following persons were confirmed:
Josiah W. Houanstine, Miss Sarah Ellen Boyer (bapt.),
Daniel D. Rey,
Miss Mary Kepner,
" Sarah Ellen Foose,
" Eliz. Orwan (baptized),
" Marg. Orwan 66
Margaret Burrel,
" Elizabeth Whitekettle,
" Sarah Whitekettle,
Catharine Burrel,
" Barbara Burrel.
" O may my heart, by grace renew'd, Be my Redeemer's throne ; And be my stubborn will subdu'd, His government to own.
" Let deep repentance, faith, and love Be join'd with godly fear ; And all my conversation prove My heart to be sincere."
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
In March, 1861, Prof. George W. Leisher and his wife Catha- rine, George Long and his wife Mary, and John Lyons, were re- ceived as members of this congregation. May the Lord bless these dear friends and make them abundantly useful in their pre- sent church relation !
On the 16th of November, 1861, Mrs. Jane G. Titzel was re- ceived by certificate as a member, and on the 22d of March, 1862, Mr. John P. Boyer and his wife Jane Ann were confirmed. The Lord bless these friends !
The members of this congregation, at this time numbering about one hundred, are making commendable progress in the cause of souls and the blessed Redeemer. The use of the German language in the pulpit will, before long, be among the things that were. This is the only congregation of the Bloomfield charge that still requires an occasional sermon in German; but as the aged pass gradually away, and as the youth all speak the English, the use of the German language must necessarily pass soon away.
Since the organization of this congregation in 1840, the follow- ing brethren have at different times served it as its officers :
Elders.
John Beistlein,
from 1840 to 1852. .
Jacob Lenig, .
1852 to 1859.
Jacob Kepner, .
1855 to 1859.
David Crist, Esq., . .
1859 yet in office.
George Fleisher,
. 1859
Deacons.
Daniel Swartz, Sen., from 1840 to 1841.
John Fusselman, .
.
1841 to 1843.
David Crist, Esq., .
1843 to 1844.
Jonas J. Smith, 1844 to 1846.
Jacob Lenig, 1846 to 1847.
Jacob Kepner, .
66 1847 to 1849.
Thomas Lenig,
.
1849 to 1850.
Henry Titzel,
.
1850 to 1857.
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CHAPTER II.
George Fleisher,
from 1852 to 1855.
James Foose,
66 1855 to 1858.
Jonas J. Smith,
1855 to 1859.
David R. P. Bealor,
1857 to 1860.
Joseph Flickinger,
1858 to 1861.
Thomas Lenig,
.
1859 yet in office.
Lemuel O. Foose,
.
1860 resigned.
Ezra P. Titzel,
·
1860 yet in office.
John Beistlein,
.
" 1861
Trustees.
Valentine Burrel,
·
from 1843 to 1851.
Jacob Lenig, .
.
1851 to 1854.
Valentine Burrel,
1854 to 1860.
Jacob Lenig,
1855 to 1860.
James Foose,
1860 yet in office.
Thomas Lenig,
·
.
1860
SECTION IV.
THE CONGREGATION AT NEWPORT.
Newport, known for many years as Reiderville, was laid out by Mr. Daniel Reider in about 1814. Its growth was very slow till the canal was made in 1830. After that it improved gradually. The town is located on the west bank of the Juniata, and the canal and Pennsylvania railway pass through it.
At the beginning of the present century a number of Lutheran families settled along the Juniata and in the vicinity of Newport. These attended preaching at Bloomfield, a distance from five to ten miles, as they had no church of their own nearer at hand. As early as 1830, the .
1
Rev. John William Heim
prcached for them occasionally on week-days in school-houses and
14
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
private dwellings. In 1835, a number of persons from near New- port were confirmed at Bloomfield. The town having grown and the number of members increased, after this Rev. Heim preached regularly at Newport once every four weeks in a brick school- house. He preached exclusively in the German language. In 1842, when he was requested to preach also in the English lan- guage, he told his hearers : "Now I will come no more." He did not organize a congregation here; this was only one of his preaching stations. The members went to Bloomfield on occasions of communion, and there the young people were also catechized and confirmed. Rev. Heim however collected the members here, and thus accomplished good. In the fall of 1843,
Rev. Levi T. Williams,
who had located at Petersburg, now Duncannon, as a sort of missionary for that neighborhood, was invited by some of the members at Newport to visit and preach for them. Ile accepted the invitation, and in November, 1843, he preached for the first time at Newport, in the old brick school-house, from Acts 10 : 29, " Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me ?"
With but few exceptions, Rev. Williams preached in the old brick school-house till he resigned in September, 1845. He preached once every four weeks, and only an occasional sermon in the German language. After he had resigned the German was required by the members no more.
The congregation was regularly organized on the 14th of January, 1844, when the following brethren were elected and in- stalled as its first officers :
Daniel Reider, Sen., Elder. Godfrey Lenig, Henry D. Smith,
Deacons.
Early in the spring of 1844, near the canal, a filthy brick ware- house was fitted up to hold in it a protracted meeting. When the time for holding the meeting had come, the use of the Metho- dist Episcopal meeting-house was generously offered for the pur-
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CHAPTER II.
pose, and the meeting was then held here with encouraging success.
The first communion was held on the 2d of June, 1844, in the Methodist meeting-house. On Saturday previous, the 1st of June, after having been duly instructed, the following persons were confirmed :
Christian Long, Sen. (baptized), Mrs. Ann Long,
David Deardorff
Miss Sarah Smith,
John Wilson,
Mrs. N. Horting (baptized),
Benjamin Horting,
Miss Rebecca Hobble
The second communion was held on the 17th of November, 1844. On Saturday previous, the 16th of November, the follow- ing persons were confirmed :
Mrs. Priscilla Reider, Miss Catharine Zigler,
Miss Sarah Ann Nailer, Mrs. Anna Klink (baptized),
" Margaretta Bell, Miss Sarah Miller, by certificate.
For want of a church the congregation labored under great dis- advantage. But as the membership was as yet comparatively small, they formed a union with others to build a Union church. The materials for the proposed church were nearly all collected during the latter part of the summer of 1845. Rev. Williams resigned and preached his farewell sermon in September, 1845, from 1 Cor. 16 : 23, " The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
Rev. Lloyd Knight
took charge of this congregation on the 1st of October, 1845, and served it in connection with Bloomfield. He preached here once every three weeks in the old brick school-house until the new church was completed. On Saturday the 10th of January, 1846, the following persons were confirmed :
Abraham Horting, Charles Bressler,
Mrs. Ann Horting,
Miss Catharine Smith,
Mrs. Cordelia Henning, Miss Eve E. Brown.
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
On Sunday, the 11th, at the first communion Rev. Knight held here, the whole number of communicant members was twenty- nine.
The building committee, appointed to superintend the erection of the church, consisted of Messrs. Christian Long, A. Ziegler, and A. B. Maxwell. A deed for a lot of ground was executed. From this deed we give the following extract :
" Know all men by these presents, that we, John Wiley of the Borough of Newport, Perry County, and State of Pennsylvania, and Barbara his wife, for and in consideration of seventy-five dollars, to us in hand paid, at the ensealing thereof, by A. B. Maxwell, Jacob Loy and John Fickes, Trustees of the Church, named and styled, The Union Church of Newport, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do grant, bargain, sell, &c., . . . to the Trustees aforesaid, ... a certain lot of ground, .. . for the purpose of erecting a church thereon, to be called by the name, style and title of The Union Church of Newport," &c. This deed was acknowledged on the 1st day of May, 1846. See Deed Book, Letter L., p. 446.
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