USA > Pennsylvania > The Reformed Church in Pennsylvania : part IX of A narrative and critical history, prepared at the request of the Pennsylvania-German Society > Part 11
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The Reformed Church in America.
DER IN DER AMERICANI-
SCHEN WILDNUSZ Inter Menfchen von verschiedenen Nationen und Religionen Hin und wieder herum Wandelte Und yerfchiedentlich Angefochtene
PREDIGER, Abgemahlet und vorgeftellet In einem Gefpraech mit Einem Politico und Neugevarenen, Verfchiedene Stuck infonderheit Die Neugeburt betreffende, Verfertiget, und zu Beforderung der Ehr JESU Selbft aus eigener - Erfahrung an das Licht gebracht
Von Georg, Michael Weir V. D. M.
Zu PHILADELPHIA : Gedruckt bey Andrew. Bradfordt; 1729.
-
15I
German Valley.
less laborious, were his journeys through New Jersey when he visited Amwell, Fox Hill, Rockaway and other Ger- man settlements, until he reached the borders of the Dutch Church at the upper end of the German Valley. If his successors in this region had manifested a tithe of his energy the Reformed denomination might have a hundred
REFORMED CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA.
churches where now she has not one. Everywhere the people received him gladly, and he organized many con- gregations. He moved rapidly, but generally succeeded in accomplishing the work which he had been sent to do. He must have had good horses, for we are told that he frequently rode sixty miles in a single day.
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The Reformed Church in America.
In accordance with the instructions which he had re- ceived from Holland he proceeded to organize the scattered congregations into regular charges. Of course, where pas- tors were already in the field he simply recognized existing arrangements. There were also congregations which he could not reach, and the "lopers " opposed him bitterly ; but it was no small matter that he succeeded in organizing forty-six Reformed congregations into sixteen regular charges. These charges are thus enumerated in his re- port to the Classis of Amsterdam :146
I. The first charge is Philadelphia and Germantown. This has been served by myself since 1747.
2. Goshenhoppen and Great Swamp. These have been served since 1746 by Mr. George Michael Weiss.
3. Falkner Swamp and Providence. Here Mr. John Philip Leydich has been located since 1748.
4. Skippack, Witpen, Indian Creek and Tohickon. These are as yet without a pastor.
5. Lancaster and Schaeffer's church. The first of these is still vacant, and the second is served by Mr. John Bar- thol. Rieger, M.D.
6. Yorktown, Kreutz Creek, Conewago and Bramutschy (Bermudian). In these churches Mr. Jacob Lischy has successfully labored since 1749.
7. Tulpehocken. Here Mr. Dominicus Bartholomaeus has conducted the sacred service since 1748. He is gen- erally ill.
8. Weisseichenland (White Oak), Mode Creek, Cocalico, and Zeltenreich. These seek a minister with burning de- sire.
146 See Fresenius' "Pastoral Sammlungen," 11th part, p. 317. Also Har- baugh's "Life of Schlatter," p. 203.
THE REFORMED CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA.
=
OLD PARSONAGE AT FALKNER SWAMP. BIRTHPLACE OF THE LATE GOV. HARTRANFT.
FALKNER SWAMP REFORMED CHURCH.
I53
Charges.
9. Donegal, Swatara and Quitopehilla. These also implore earnestly for a minister.
IO. Northampton and Southampton. These churches have been supplied since 1751 by Du Bois, a Low Dutch Proponent.
II. Great Lehigh, Little Lehigh, Forks of Delaware, Saucon and Springfield.
12. Heidelberg, Egypt and Jordan. These are without a regular minister.
13. Magunchy, Allemängel, Schmaltzgass, and Mana- tawny. These also long most earnestly for a faithful guide.
All these are congregations in Pennsylvania. To these must yet be added the congregations in Virginia, Mary- land and New Jersey.
14. The charge in Virginia consists of Shenandoah, Misanotti, South Branch, and New Germantown. These have for many years had no regular minister. They are the most remote congregations and languish from longing for spiritual food.
15. The congregations in Maryland are Monocacy and Conagogee. Here also there is great hunger for the word of God, and there is no one regularly to provide it for them.
16. The congregations in New Jersey are Rockaway and Fox Hill. They implore earnestly that God may at length send forth a faithful laborer into this harvest.
The above list includes forty-six congregations which Schlatter says he had visited. He does not claim to have mentioned all the churches ; for he explicitly says : " Be- sides these there are different others in Oley and other places which are not included in this list." Indeed, it does not appear that Schlatter attempted to enumerate even
I54
The Reformed Church in America.
those congregations which were to be included in the sev- eral charges; all he desired to do was to indicate these charges with sufficient clearness. It is, however, some- what remarkable that after so many years we are in almost every instance able to recognize the churches which he mentions, though in several instances there may now be a question of priority between neighboring con- gregations.
Sixteen charges had now been organized, but Schlatter's main purpose was to mould them into a harmonious whole. There had been much disagreement between the pastors who were already in the field, but Schlatter succeeded in bringing Boehm, Weiss NIA GER and Rieger together for the first time at a pre- liminary meeting held in Philadelphia, October 12, 1746, where " ar- ticles of peace" were SEAL OF GERMANTOWN. drawn up. How happy he must have felt when his most important plan proved successful, and, on the 29th of September, 1747, the first Coetus convened in the old church in Philadelphia ! It was a small convention- consisting of 31 delegates, of whom but four were minis- ters; but it was the beginning of a series of meetings which is still unbroken.
The minutes of the first Coetus contain a list of the del- egates who were present at this meeting. It may be inter- esting to reproduce this list, especially on account of the numerous descendants of these delegates :
155
First Coetus.
MEMBERS PRESENT.
Philadelphia and Germantown:
Michael Schlatter, V. D. Min. et p. t. Praeses.
Daniel Bouton, John Gaul, Christopher Meng, and Paulus Geissel.
Falkner Swamp, Providence and Whitpain Townships: John Philip Boehm, V. D. M.
Frederick Reimer, Conrad Reibel and Johannes Her- pel and Michael Klein.
Old and New Goshenhoppen, Great Swamp:
George Michael Weiss, V. D. M.
Christian Schneider and Daniel Hister, Johannes Huth and Philip Ried, Johann Huber and Nicol Montbauer.147 Schaeffer's Church and Earltown in Conestoga :
John Barthol. Rieger, V. D. M.
Michael Weidler, Philip Rank.
Lancaster : Vacant.
Tulpehocken :
Johannes Stein, Valentine Unruh.
Skippack :
Jacob Arnet, Peter Speyker.
Indian Field :
Michael Berger, Frederick Zöllner.
Springfield :
Christian Schugg.
Blue Mountain and Egypt :
Abraham Wotring, Peter Kocher.
Little Lehigh: Heinrich Roth.
Saucon, at Herzel's : Antonius Lerch.
147 Probably Mombauer.
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The Reformed Church in America.
Yorktown :
Caspar Spengler.148
With the establishment of the Coetus the first part of Schlatter's mission might be said to be fulfilled. In the meantime he had, however, accomplished minor purposes which must not be ignored. Within a few months of his arrival he had settled the Reiff case, and had recovered 900 florins (about $360) for the benefit of the church. The settlement was in some respects the cutting of a Gordian knot, and was fiercely criticised; but it removed an ob- stacle from his work, and was probably the wisest thing that could have been done under the circumstances. He maintained a close correspondence not only with Holland, but with the Dutch ministers in New York; and sought to extend the influence of the Coetus, though in the strictest accordance with the letter of his instructions. His rela- tions to other denominations were most amicable; and his intimate friendship with the Reverend H. M. Mühlenberg, of the Lutheran Church, was greatly to the credit of both these eminent men.
Mühlenberg proposed to call Schlatter " Inspector," but he declined the title. He was at most a Visitator Eccle- siarum-an official visitor of the churches-and he never claimed any other position. In his relations with the churches it was, however, necessary to assume a certain authority, and this fact led to opposition among his own people. His letters were formal, and he was apt to drop into legal phraseology. Though it is impossible to speak
148 It would not be difficult to trace the descendants of many of these "ori- ginal " elders and deacons. Schlatter and Boehm have many descendants. Rev. J. Spangler Kieffer, D.D., of Hagerstown, Md., is, we believe, descended from Caspar Spengler, of York; Rev. Wallace H. Wotring, of Nazareth, Pa., from Abraham Wotring, of Egypt ; and the present writer is descended in the fifth generation from Antonius Lerch, of Saucon.
157
Philadelphia.
with confidence on such a subject, it seems as if a little geniality might have increased his influence.
When Schlatter came to America, in 1746, the Re- formed Church of Philadelphia was under the pastorate of the Rev. John Philip Boehm. The latter was, however, old and feeble, and gladly made room for Schlatter, whom the people desired to call. Schlatter accepted the charge, but for the first year he declined to accept a salary " be- cause he desired to prove to them the sincerity of his pur- poses"-possibly also because he was frequently absent on
Auch: Schlatter Eats 93 Chrifta colligtin Philadelphia America Lafton.
missionary journeys and could not fully attend to his work at home. When at last the congregation presented him with a formal call it was found that they insisted on an annual pastoral election. They did not want a permanent pastor, and claimed the liberty of calling and discharging their preachers as they pleased.
On this point Schlatter would not yield and the result was a long and bitter conflict. The trouble was increased by the arrival on the 29th of September, 1749, of the Rev. John Conrad Steiner 149 who allowed himself to be chosen to the
149 John Conrad Steiner, born at Winterthur, Switzerland, Jan. 1, 1707 ; died, Philadelphia, July 6, 1762. He had been pastor in Europe of several congre- gations, and had published a large volume of sermons, entitled "Geschrey un Mitternacht." Having come to America with proper credentials from the synods of Holland he was assigned to the church of Lancaster, but he seems to have been attracted by the prospect of becoming pastor of a large congre- gation in Philadelphia. He preached to a part of the latter congregation until 1751, and remained pastor at Germantown until 1756. For three years he was pastor at Frederick, Md., where he did excellent work. In 1759 he returned to Philadelphia, where the parties had in the meantime united. A second volume of his sermons was published after his death.
158
The Reformed Church in America.
pastorate by the party opposed to Schlatter. Steiner was a splendid orator, but his course "under the circumstances was plainly irregular. Schlatter would not yield, though for a time the majority was against him; but at last the matter was legally decided in his favor. It is not neces- sary to enter into the particulars of this conflict; but it seems to have determined the permanence of the pastorate in the Reformed churches.
Schlatter seems to have been gifted beyond most of his cotemporaries with what may be called prophetic insight into the wants of the Church of the future. In his early journeys he had become convinced that his labors would be in vain unless he could succeed in inducing a number of ordained ministers to come from Europe to supply the vacant fields. Several ministers had, indeed, arrived since he began his work, but in two instances, at least, their coming had been accompanied by misfortune. On the 13th of August, 1748, Dominicus Bartholomaeus and John Jacob Hochreutiner arrived in Philadelphia; and though their coming awakened great hopes it proved a disap- pointment. Bartholomaeus was pastor at Tulpehocken, but within a year he became an invalid, and for many years appropriations were made in his behalf. Hochreu- tiner had been called to Lancaster, but on the morning of Oct. 13, 1748, when he proposed to start for his field he attempted to unload a gun which he had brought from the fatherland and by its accidental discharge he was instantly killed. This was a great personal grief to Schlatter, as the young man belonged to a family of St. Gall with which he was intimately acquainted and had in some sense been placed under his personal care. The sermon which he expected to preach in Lancaster was found in his pocket after his death, and was published by Schlatter
159
The Song of the Swan.
with an historical introduction. It was appropriately en- titled " Schwanen Gesang."
A copy of this book in the Philadelphia Library was transcribed by Mr. H. S. Dotterer, and was translated and published by the present writer in the Reformed Church Quarterly, entitled " The Song of the Swan."
@manen Befang Doet
effe Arbeit,
Des BBeiland Chrmirbigen und Dochgelehrten
Bohann Jacob SSodreutner Beftimmten Prediger Der Chrfamen Reformierten Gemeinde gu SBancater Belthec Huf eine aufferordentliche Beife nach GOttes allmeifer Bulaffuug burd) cinen Buchfen-Schuf aus Dem Zeitlichen in Das emige Leben Den 14. October 1748. im 27ften Jahr feines Alters.hingerucet murde.
Bum Croft der betrübten Gemeinde in Lancafter 3n bem Drude befordat und mit einer Sufchriffe verfeben $3 on Michael Glatter, V. D. M. ju St. Gallen in der Schweig, gegenmartig Dieform. Prediger in Philadelphia und Germantown in Pennfylvanien.
Philadelphia/ gebrunft bep Johann Bohm, mobubafft in ber und-Strafe, 1748.
More hopeful and cheering was the arrival, September 15, 1748, of the Rev. John Philip Leydich,151 who was for many years a faithful and unpretentious laborer. He
151 John Philip Leydich, born April 28, 1715, at Girkhausen in Westphalia, where his father was pastor ; died in Montgomery County, Pa., Jan. 4, 1784. He was sent to America by the Synod of South Holland, and brought with him his wife and two children. In eastern Pennsylvania he has many de- scendants.
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The Reformed Church in America.
was appointed pastor at Falkner Swamp and Providence, and remained in that region to the end of his life. He was the first pastor at Pottstown, and is also said to have founded the churches at Saltzburg and Upper Milford, in Lehigh County. In every respect he was an excellent man.
It was evident that with the arrival of these men-to whom Steiner must be added-the necessities of the Church had not been fully met. More pastors were absolutely needed, and at the request of the Coetus, Schlatter under- took personally to present the necessities of the American churches to their brethren in Europe. On the 5th of Feb., 1751, he sailed from New Castle on this eventful journey. It was in the dead of winter, but in his report he has nothing to say about the terrors of the way; there is a word of thanksgiving with heart and lips, but that is all.
Schlatter was enthusiastically received by the Classis of Amsterdam and the deputies of the Synods of Holland, and the results of his mission were marvellous. In one year he wrote and published his " Appeal," visited many conferences in Holland, Germany and Switzerland, and collected 500 Bibles and other good books, induced six young ministers to accompany him to America, and se- cured the collection of a large sum of money for the des- titute churches of Pennsylvania. The amount of money contributed at various times by the Church of Holland has been variously estimated, and can hardly be accurately de- termined. Mühlenberg's statement 152 that " a sum of £12,- 000 was collected in Holland and put at interest for the sup- port of American pastors and teachers" is now generally believed to have been based on imperfect information.
152 " Hallesche Nachrichten," new ed., II., p. 57.
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Schlatter's Appeal.
GETROUW VERHAAL VAN DEN WAREN TOESTANT DER MEEST HERDERLOZE GEMEENTENS IN PENSYLVANIEN En aangrenfende Provintien, VOORGESTELT EN OPGEDRAGEN, me nedrig verzeck om tulpe en byftand. AAN De H. Eerw. Chriftelyke SYNODENS VAN NEDERLAND, EN VOORTS AAN ALLE MILDDADIGE CHRISTENEN, DOOR MICHAEL SCHLATTER, Predikant te PHILADELPHIA. MET-ENE AANPRYZENDE
V ORREDE VAN DE GECOMMITTEERDE DES CLASSIS Van AMSTERDAM.
T'AMSTELDAM, By JACOBUS LOVERINGH, Boekverkoper voor aan op den Nieuwendyk. 1751.
TITLE PAGE OF SCHLATTER'S "APPEAL." (Contributed by Professor Hinke. )
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The Reformed Church in America.
Prof. Hinke informs us 153 that the States of Holland and West Friesland contributed 2,000 florins for five years, and that this gift was three times renewed. There were spe- cial funds under the control of the Synodical Deputies and the Classis of Amsterdam, amounting together to 23,500 florins. It is also asserted that special collections were taken up in the Dutch churches, and how much Schlatter received in personal contributions we have no present means of ascertaining. It is, however, evident from the amount of the annual subsidies, which were sent to Amer- ica for nearly forty years, that the amount was not as large as has been generally supposed.154 There can, how- ever, be no doubt that the gifts of the Church of Holland, including the subsidies of the Dutch government, enabled the early Reformed pastor in Pennsylvania to persevere in their important work.
Schlatter was gifted with almost prophetic insight into the wants of the Church of the future. In all his labors he had a double purpose. His first object was to labor in behalf of the Church ; the second was to provide for the education of the children. In his " Appeal " he exclaims : " I plead for the few ministers who are now in this country, and for those who may yet be able to come to their brethren and fellow laborers. * They have cheerfully set aside personal gain and advantage; they seek not to heap up treasures ; let not your brotherly love permit them to languish under this heavy labor for the want of fellow laborers * nor let them be compelled to waste their precious time in digging and plowing the fields
153 "The Pennsylvania-German," Oct., 1900.
154 The amount of contributions actually sent to America, according to Pro- fessor Hinke, was 35,063 florins, or about $14,025 in American money. This, however, does not include the sums expended in paying the traveling expenses of missionaries.
·
163
Thanks to Contributors.
VERSCHULDIGD DANK-ADRES AAN DE EDELE GROOT MOGENDE HEEREN STAATES van HOLLAND en WEST-VRIESLAND,
AAN DE Correfponderende Chriftelyke SYNODEN, CLASSEN en KERKENRADEN der Vereenigde
PROVINTIEN, EN AAN ALLE
Liefdadige WELDOENDERS, die zich, zeer tederhartig, der zaak van de GEREFORMEERDE GEMEENTEN in PENSYL- VANIEN, voor het meerdere gedeelte uit HOOGDUITSCHE EMIGRANTEN beftaande, hebben aangenomen, en der- zelver welftand, door hunne zeer Edelmoedige en milde ·LIEFDEGAVEN, helpen bevorderen : .
Strekkende met een tot nodig BERICHT, hoe, tot welke eindens, en met welk gevolg, de ruime giften der Edelmoedige WEL- DOENDEREN befteedt zyn, en wat 'er van den tegen- woordigen STAAT dier GEMEENTEN ZY;
Dienende_teffens, om REKENSCHAP te geven van het geen 'er zedert enige jaren in deze zaak gedaan is , en om de LIEFDADIGHEID Verder op te wakkeren;
OPGESTELT DOOR DE DEPUTATEN DER ZUID- IN NOORD- HOLLANDSCHE SYNODEN, EN DE GECOMMITTEERDEN DES CLASSIS VAN AMSTERDAM.
TE AMSTERDAM, By JACOBUS LOVERINGH, Boekverkooper voor aan op den Nieuwendyk, 1758.
TITLE PAGE OF ADDRESS OF THANKS. (Courtesy of Professor Hinke. )
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The Reformed Church in America.
which they desire to spend in the vineyard of the Lord."
This was well said, but it had been said before. It is only when we come to the second part of his " Appeal," that we see how the curtain of the future was raised to his vision. The adult members of the Church had been taught in Europe, and many had brought with them their Bibles and Liturgies, and might be supposed to have re- tained a part, at least, of the instruction which they had received in their childhood. But what was to become of the children? " If there are no schools," Schlatter sadly exclaims, " will not the children become like the pagan aborigines, so that neither book nor writing will be found among them? "
Schlatter's enthusiasm was contagious ; and the Rev. David Thomson, pastor of the English Church at Amster- dam, determined to go to England to plead for the estab- lishment of schools among the Germans of Pennsylvania. He was everywhere kindly received. The king of England gave a personal contribution of £1,000, and the Church of Scotland ordered a collection which yielded £1,140. The sum collected was very large, though it seems certain that it did not nearly reach £20,000, as Mühlenberg supposed. In seeking to awaken the inter- est of the English people the Germans of Pennsylvania were, however, shamefully misrepresented. Though they had established a school whenever they built a church, their educational efforts were entirely ignored, and the people of England were led to believe that in America the Germans were fast becoming "like unto wood-born savages." Schlatter was afterwards blamed for these misrepresentations ; but the fact is that he had noth- ing to do with them.
Pastoral Letter. I65
Circular Schreiben Der Bereinigten Reformirfen Bresiger
in Vennfylvanien, an Dafige fåmtlidje nad) & Ottes &Bort
eformirfe emeinen: Darin fie fürglich Darlegen, SBie Der Giroffe Jest ou Die von Gr. Chrw. MICHAEL SLATTER, V.D. M. an untere Sochiv. Chrift. Rirchenvater übernommene Commifion au ihrer Rettung und Suffe, in Gnaden gefegnet: Und Wie folches von fothanen Gemeinen folle gebührend erPant, mit Dante fagung angenommen, und recht gebraucht, ja, sum Sobe Gibites und Dem Deil ihrer unfterblichen Sechen angi mande werden.
Allgemeiner Radridt herausgegeben von GEORG MICHAEL WEISS. JOH. PHIL LEYDICH. JACOB LISCHY.
4+
PASTORAL LETTER.
(Courtesy of Professor Hinke. )
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The Reformed Church in America.
Schlatter arrived in America with six ministers in July, 1752. These ministers were young men. Five of them were graduates of the University of Herborn and one of Marburg. Their names were : Philip William Otterbein, John Jacob Wissler, John Waldschmidt, Theodore Frank- enfeld, Henry William Stoy and John Caspar Rubel. The three first mentioned came from Dillenberg, in Nassau ; Frankenfeld and Stoy were natives of Herborn ; and Rubel of Wald, in the duchy of Berg. These men, though dif- fering greatly in disposition, became men of great influence in the American Church. Mühlenberg incidentally gives us some idea of their appearance on their arrival, each one carrying a long staff. He greeted them most cordially, and appropriately addressed them in the words of Scrip- ture : " Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves ; be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
Soon after Schlatter's return the troubles in the congre- gation in Philadelphia began anew. Before he went to Europe he had promised the people that he would not in- terfere with any arrangements they might make concern- ing the pastorate; but though earlier difficulties had been removed, the congregation had not succeeded in securing a regular pastor. Now that a number of young ministers had arrived they wanted one of them; and after hearing them all they elected Rubel. Schlatter was greatly pained and with the assistance of a company of his friends raised a disturbance which spread beyond the congregation and even led to a division in the Coetus, which fortunately con- tinued but a single year. Rubel had already shown him- self " rebellious," and his later history is not to his credit ; but it must also be confessed that the position of Schlatter in this second contest is not to be defended. Indeed, we
167
Steiner's Sermons.
achter Stimm Hus bem bermufteten Hteformirten Bion in Denmivanten Hn deffen Seprer und achter
ins befonder, und
Das gefamfe DICE ins gemein: In gebundener Hebe abgefaffet und auf Erenem cinfaltigem Sergen Schriftlich mitgetheilt . (BDtt gebe au vicfer beiffamen Grwerfung Und Serfüllung tof Belehren Slang.s Der Reformuirten Rird).a)
Bon Johann Conrad Steiner Steformirtem Prediger in Germanton.
st:
Germanton / Gedruckt ben Chriftoph Gauer 1752
TITLE PAGE OF STEINER'S SERMONS. (Courtesy of Professor Hinke.)
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The Reformed Church in America.
can hardly resist the conclusion that, with his superabun- dant energy, he imagined that he could do everything at once and do it well. His purposes were exalted; but he seems not to have fully realized that a minister must never venture to make his pastorate a secondary em- ployment. Rubel was called to New York, and Schlat- ter was made to feel that his work in Philadelphia was ended. 155
In the meantime, however, Schlatter had become pro- foundly interested in the English movement for the estab- lishment of schools. For the purpose of advancing this movement, and explaining misunderstandings with regard to the Coetus, he made another voyage to Holland, arriving there in March, 1754. His reception by the Deputies ap- pears not to have been very encouraging, and when they learned that he had been appointed superintendent of the proposed schools they not only granted their permission but actually dismissed him from the Coetus. It seems to have been a somewhat high-handed proceeding, but the " Fathers " were inflexible. Schlatter returned to America with a heavy heart, and at once reported to the Coetus. The ministers were unwilling to see him leave them, and pleaded earnestly in his behalf; but the authorities in Holland insisted that their commands must be obeyed, and the work of Schlatter in the Reformed church was practi-
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