April 1932

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

APRIL, 1932

The Easter Vestry.

Our Annual Easter Vestry was held in Seagoe

School on Thursday, March 31st, at 8 p.m. A

meeting of the outgoing Vestry was held at 7.30.

The Rector presided and the meeting was opened

with Prayer and the reading of a portion of Scripture.

The minutes of the last General Vestry

meeting were read and confirmed and the members

of the outgoing Vestry signed the Record

Book. The Rector then gave a short address on

the present outlook of the Parish, noting some

definite marks of progress and some which required

attention and strengthening if all round efficiency

was to be reached. The recent successful Bazaar,

which realised over £300 nett for the Church and

School, was a notable event in the life of the

Parish during the past year. The purchase of the

field adjacent to the Church ground was a very

important move and will eventually greatly improve

the approach to the Church and the general

appearance of the Church grounds. The Hon.

Treasurer read the financial statement, which

was satisfactory. The following nominations and

elections were then made :—

CHURCHWARDENS

Rector's—Mr. Robert Scott.

People's—Mr. Isaac Dickson.

SELECT VESTRY:

1. Miss Atkinson. 7. Robert M' Clements.

2. Moses Gilpin. 8. Gilbert Price.

3. J. G. Gracey, J.P. 9. D. Rock, M.B.E., J,P.,

4. T. E. Maginnis. 10. Hugh Stoops.

5. Thomas Martin. 11. James Twinem.

6. Miss R. Matchett. 12. John H. Twinem.

Hon. Sec.—Mr. Moses Gilpin.

Hon. Treas—Mr. Hugh Stoops.

Auditors—Messrs. J. Dermott and J. H. Reid.

Sidesmen :

R. M'Clements.

J. Twinem.

J. G. Gracey.

I. Dickson.

T. Martin.

J. Allen.

W. A. Casey.

J. R. Reid.

A. Allen.

R. Scott.

V. Matchett.

J. H. Twinem.

H. Stoops.

G. Wilson.

Jas. Reid.

John Walker.

-— M 'Kinney.

Nicholas Campbell.

Alphonso Kirk.

Assistant Treasurer.

Mr. Tom Hall, of Upper Seagoe, was elected

Assistant Treasurer of the Parish at the General

Vestry meeting.

CLERGY :

Rev. Chancellor Archer, B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe.

Rev. W. F. Hayes, B.Ä., Edendale, Carrickblacker Road, Edenderry, Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector's—Mr. Robert Scott.

People's—Mr. Isaac Dickson.

Generous Gift to Seagoe.

It was announced at the meeting of the Easter

Vestry held on Thursday, March 31st, that Miss

Atkinson, of Eden Villa, had that day paid

through the Hon. Treasurer the sum of £101 7s

7d to cover the cost of purchase and legal expenses

of the garden plot beside the Church

ground. A very hearty vote of thanks was passed

to Miss Atkinson for her generous gift. The possession

of this plot of ground will enable the

ground surrounding the Church to be greatly improved.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs.

Hamilton, of Upper Seagoe, for agreeing to sell

this piece of land when she was approached by

the authorities of the Church.

Death in Queensland,

We record with much regret the death at Esk

Hospital, South Queensland, Australia, on Jan.

4th of George Porter, husband of Mrs. Evelyn

Porter (formerly Wilson). He was the eldest

son of the late Mr. David Porter, of Drumcart,

Lower Seagoe, and had resided for many years

in Queensland with his wife and family. His

remains were laid to rest in Moore Cemetery.

His death is deeply regretted by his many

friends. Gympathy goes out to his sorrowing

wife and family. Mrs. Porter, before she left

Seagoe for Australia, was very helpful in the

Parish. Mrs. Robinson, of Lisniskey, sister of

Mrs. Porter, has by Mr. Porter's death suffered

a double bereavement. The news of her brother-

in-law's death was received by her by cable just

a week after the death of her mother, the late

Mrs. Eliza Jane Wilson.

Easter in Seagoe,

The Services during Holy Week and Easter

were well attended. Addresses were given by the

Rector and Curate (Rev. W. F. Hayes) and by

Captain Stevenson, of the Church Army. On

Easter Day the services were very bright and

hearty. The anthem " This is the Day which the

Lord hath made" was sung by the choir. It was

a new anthem never before sung in Seagoe, and

the choir sang it with great reverence and fine

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

feeling. Mrs. Casey presided at the organ and

gave good help. The Church was prettily decorated

and we are greatly obliged to all who sent

flowers and assisted at the decorating.

Van in Seagoe.

Mr. John Hoy, Of Edenderry, has kindly lent

his yard for the Church Army van, and Captain

Stevenson, with his helper, Cadet Moore, have

been working in the Parish. During Holy Week

they visited many parts of the Parish inviting

people to attend the Services held each evening in

the Parish Church. Beginning on Monday, April

4th, they will hold a series of Missions in various

centres in the Parish. Our people will give the

good Captain and his Cadet a hearty welcome in

their good work. They come amongst us to proclaim

afresh the old message which is ever new.

We will be glad if kind friends will send or bring

gifts to the van and also entertain the Missioners.

They are our guests and we must treat them well.

Already kind friends have helped in many ways.

Mission in Edenderry

Captain Stevenson and Cadet Moore will (D. v.)

begin a fortnight's Mission in Edenderry

Parochial Hall on Monday, April 5th, at 8 p.m.

Mission Services will be held each evening at 8

p.m. except Saturday. Hymn books will be provided.

Seagoe P.E. School.

The School broke up for the Easter Holidays

on Thursday, March 24th, and will resume after

the holidays on Monday, April 4th, at 9.30 sharp.

A punctual attendance of all the pupils is requested.

School Compositions.

Here is a Seagoe School composition on " St.

Patrick" .

Saint Patrick was born about the year 369.

He was captured and sold as a slave; he minded

cows and swine on Mount Slemish. He prayed

to God to help him, so one day he escaped and

went to Gaul to study. His father was a Deacon

and his grandfather was a priest. He landed at

Dublin and then went to Strangford Lough in

the year 432 A.D. The Chief at that time gave

him a barn to preach in. The people were half

wild. They made raids on little villages and took

cows and the little children to make money by

selling them as slaves. Saint Patrick began to

preach to them about God but they could not

understand him. He prayed to God to give him

some simple idea. He looked down at his feet

and saw Shamrock growing. He picked some

and said " One is God the Father, next

is God the Son, and next is God the Holy Ghost.

Tlé founded a church in Armagh. Saint Patrick

died in the year 461 A.D., on the 17th of March.

That is why we wear shamrock on Saint Patrick's

Day.-—Edward Vennard.

Some of our farming friends will be interested

in the following:—

A Farmer's Life' '—The farmers go to bed

at night very tired and rise with the sun in

the morning as they have a long day's work be.

fore them. The cattle have to be attended, the

cows milked and fed, the calves fed, also the

horse cleaned and fed. Then the poultry must

be let out and get grain. The women. usually

do this part of the work on the farm, also the

churning, making butter and cheese and all the

dairy work. No idle hand is ever found in a

busy farm.—Jean Finney.

Here are two Seagoe compositions on " My

Favourite Pet" :—

My favourite pet is a dog. His name is Rover.

He is black with a white streak on his back. He

is a Retriever, and he goes with the gun. He

can beg for a piece of meat when he is hungry.

He lies in the sun every day. My dog can hunt.

I have a cat. His name is Nigger. He catches

mice every night. He sharpens his claws on the

chair.—George M' Clatchey.

My favourite pet is a little white cat. Her

name is Spot. She is full of tricks and fun. She

is very fond of me. When she gets her supper

she goes to her little bed to sleep. She follows

me everywhere I go. Her eyes are a dark yellow

colour. She is very good at catching rats and

mice.—Edna Gray.

Alan Bell Fund.

The gifts in memory of Mr. Alan Bell were

distributed by the Rector and Churchwardens in

the week before Easter. Forty-four gifts were

made to parishioners.

Seagoe Cookery Book.

The following is a summary of the receipts and

expenditure connected with Mrs. J. H. Twinem's

Bazaar Cookery Book. The 41 unsold copies

have been given to the Mothers' Union Committee

to sell for the benefit of their funds. The

book reflected the greatest credit on Mrs.

Twinem, who compiled it and published it. The

Bazaar Fund has benefited by its publication in

the substantial sum of £21 10s 6d.

Dr.—By printing 494 books, £18; Portadown

News Advert. , 5s; 7 books lost at Bazaar, 7s;

cash to Treas., £20 3s 6d; cash in hand, per Mrs.

Twinem, 16s; cash in hand per Miss W. Gracey,

11s. Total—£40 2s 6d. Books unsold, 41.

Cr.—Recipes—101 per Miss W. Gracey; 18

per Mrs. Abraham; 18 per Misses Cox; 20 per

Mrs. Darling; 16 per Miss Bradshaw; 10 per

Miss Matchett; 348 Recipes at 6d, £8 14s Od;

Advertisements—8 full pages at 10 5/8, 18 half

pages at 5/-, £4 10s—£8 10s 0d; subscription,

per Mrs. H. J. Gracey, 4s; 452 books sold at

1s and 1 book at 2/6, £22 14s 6d. Total—

£40 2s 6d.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

St. Donard's Entertainment.

The St. Donard's (Belfast) Dramatic Society

ave a splendid entertainment on behalf of Seagoe

Bazaar Fund in the Town Hall, Portadown,

on Friday, April 1st, at 8 p.m. There was a

large attendance, The programme was of great

interest and variety. Two dramatic pieces were

performed and caused much amusement. Violin

solos were given by Mr. Greenaway and Mrs.

Kenmuir recited with great power and effect.

Mr. Wakely's humorous sketches were first-rate,

and Mrs. Littlejohn sang with splendid voice.

At the close of the entertainment the Rector

expressed the thanks of all present to the people of

St. Donard's and to Canon Moore and the Rev.

Gracey for their great kindness in giving the

entertainment and coming such a distance at

their own expense to help the work in Seagoe.

Parish Register for March

Baptisms.

Johnston——March 5th, Muriel, daughter of Robert and Helen Clow Johnston,

of Lower Seagoe. Sponsors—Millicent Coulter, Tlelen Clow Johnston.

Russe11—March 23rd, Sarah Jane Moiseed, daughter of Joseph Thomas

and Eliza Jane Russell, of Carne.

Sponsors—Joseph Thomas Russell, Sarah Jane Corscadden, Eliza Jane Russell.

Marriages.

Simpson and Ramsey—March 24th, Moses Simpson, of Carne,

to Anne Ramsey, of Portadown.

Killow and Porter—March 28th, Thomas Killow, of Belfast, to Anne Porter, of Lisniskey.

Hawthorne and Watters—March 30th, Joseph Howard Hawthorne, of Portadown,

to Georgina Matilda Watters, of Edenderry.

Burials,

England—March 12th, Evelyn England, of Portadown, aged 48 years.

Calvert—March 13th, Samuel Calvert, of Edenderry, aged 84 years.

Smith—-March 21st, Margaret Smith, of Edenderry, aged 82 years.

Interred at Milltown Churchyard.

22nd, James Neill, of Drumlisnagrilley, aged 62 years.

Death.

Porter—January 4th, at Esk Hospital, South Queensland, Australia, George Porter,

formerly of Lower Seagoe. Interred in Moore Cemetery.

Our Losses.

Death has been busy in our midst and has

taken from amongst us many who were much

loved and respected. Especially sad was the

sudden passing after a few hours' illness of Mrs.

Evelyn England. Always so bright and happy,

her loss is deeply felt in the home where, with

husband and family she was so much beloved.

Only five weeks had gone by since the death (of

her sister, Mrs. Graham. We offer our sincere

sympathy to her sorrowing relatives and to her

bereaved mother, Mrs. Holmes, who has suffered

so many sad losses. James Neill, of Drumlisnagrilley,

had years of weakness, but is now released

from his suffering. Samuel Calvert,

though blind for years, passed away suddenly at

a ripe old age. Margaret Smith, who lived with

her sister, Mrs. Stothers, had for years been in

weak health. To all those who have been thus

bereaved we express our deep sympathy.

Twenty-Five Years Ago.

APRIL, 1907.

A glance at Seagoe Magazine for April, 1907,

is interesting. Easter, the season of joyful memories,

is at hand. At the evening service on

Easter Day there was a Church Parade of the

C. L. B. On the Sunday evenings during Lent

there had been sermons on " The Letters to the

Seven Churches" in the Book of the Revelation.

Mrs. Hadden sends Cl to our Sunday School

Funds. Victor Walker, Ellen J. England, Thos.

England and Nicholas England had not missed

any Service in the Parish Church for the nine

months ending Dec. 31st, 1906. Six Baptisms

are recorded, also three Marriages and three

Burials. A presentation is given to Mr. Wm.

Reid on his leaving for the States. A pathetic

interest attaches to the account published of the

voyage of George Porter (whose death we record

this month) to Australia on R. M.S. "Omrah.'

He tells his experiences when passing through

the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and how the

big waves came up on deck and drenched them

all. " You must excuse this bad writing as the

wind is blowing the paper about. 1 am tired

watching the flying fish. There are plenty of

sharks about. "

Service of Song.

The Service of Song " A Mother's Prayer"

was given in the Parochial Hall on Tuesday,

March 15th. The Hall was full and everyone enjoyed

the story and the pictures. The latter

were very large and clear and added much to the

interest of the story. Mr. R. Scott read the

pathetic accompanying words with much feeling.

Our Advertisements.

Please read our advertisements. You will get

new ideas and discover useful bargains.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Old Seagoe Notes.

Churchwardens of 1862.—At a Vestry held on Easter Monday, 21st April,

1862, Stewart Blacker, Esq., of Carrick Blacker, and Thomas

Armstrong, Esq., of Eden Hall, were elected Churchwardens.

First Signature of Mr. James Atkinson.—Mr.

James Atkinson, of Lower Seagoe, who was afterwards

for many years Secretary of the Vestry,

signed the Records for the first time at the

Easter Vestry of 1861.

Discreditable State of Seagoe Graveyard in

1862.—At the Easter Vestry of 1862 the following

note is recorded—" Mr. Stewart Blacker

called the attention of the Vestry to the present

unfenced and discreditable state of the old graveyard

as also of the Parochial Buildings connected

therewith, and offered that he would give one

hundred pounds towards the building of a proper

fence wall, repairing the Parochial Houses

and making them adequate for the Parish, provided

that the other Proprietors and Parishioners

of Seagoe will subscribe and collect additional.

This was proposed by the Rev. L. D.

Elliott, and seconded by Mr. Henry. Resolved

that the improvements suggested by Mr. Blacker

meet with the approval and sanction of this

Vestry and that we pledge ourselves to give the

Churchwardens and Rector every assistance and

co-operation in our power with regard to carrying

out the same, and that Archdeacon Saurin,

Stewart Blacker, Esq., and Thomas Armstrong,

Esq., be appointed Trustees and Committee for

the fund and its expenditure. [These notes are

in the neat handwriting of Mr. Stewart Blacker.]

John Walker signs as V.C. (Vestry Clerk). In

1863, 6th April, it was decided that a townland

collection should be made.

Getting a New Bell, 1860. A new Bell,

which is still used, was purchased in 1860. The

items are entered in the Records as follows

1860, April 3rd, Naylor Vickers & Co., Sheffeld,

as per account, £74 17s 7d. Carriage per rail.

10s 0d. Cost of fitting up the Bell, £16 9s 0d.

Total, £93 7s id. Price of old Bell, £10 7s 10d.

Hiring a Harmonium.—On Aug. 23, 1861, a

Harmonium was hired at a cost of £6 6s Od. A

music stool was bought for 10s. A sexton's clock

cost 5/- Choir" costs 18/3 ½ ; 2 doz. Canticles

1/6. On March 21st, 1862, a Harmonium was

bought for £15. The above items come under

the head of " Church Collections." Apparently

a modern choir was being organised. On Nov.

20th, 1862, 12 Hymnals are bought at 4,/-.

3 other " Choir" items appear this year.

Regular Sunday Collections first Mentioned.—

Church Collections began to be made each Sunday

from March 24th, 1861, and the total

collected up to April 6th, 1862, was £16 8s 4d.

A New Curate, 1864.—The Rev. Saml. A.

Brenan signs the Register for the first time as

Curate on 28th March, 1864.

First Easter Vestry held in the Parish Schoolhouse.

—The Easter Vestry held on Easter Monday,

17th April, 1865, was held in the Parish

Schoolhouse at 11 0'clock.

A Vote of Confidence in Archdeacon Saurin.

At the Easter Vestry of 1865 the following resolution was passed

Resolved, that this meeting having heard the

statement of accounts having reference to the erection

of the Schoolhouse New Bell, Church and Graveyard Repairs, and

having heard the Archdeacon in explanation of

the same, we hereby express our entire satisfaction

with the accurate manner in which the

accounts have been kept and the way in which the

monies have been expended and also beg leave

to tender to the Venerable Archdeacon Saurin

our strong sympathies in reference to the persistent

unjust and caluminous attacks to which he

has been subjected by a series of articles which

have appeared in the columns of the Portadown

News.—Wolsey Atkinson, Chairman, 17th April

1865. "

New Curate, 1867.—The Rev. Henry

Badham signs the Vestry Records for the first

time on Monday, 22nd April, 1867.

The Vestry of 1869.—This was an important

Vestry in the year prior to Disestablishment

Mr. John Montgomery and Mr. Henry Lavary

were elected Churchwardens, and Messrs. Abraham

Macoun, Wolsey Atkinson, Joseph Macoun

and Robert Reid were eleted as Synodsmen.

New Curate, 1870.—The Rev. T. Smyth

Franks signs the Vestry Records as Curate for

the first time on Monday, April 18th, 1870.

Difficult Days in Seagoe, 1870.—The Disestablishment

of the Church in 1870 caused many

changes in Seagoe. The Easter Vestry was ajourned

to Whitsun Monday. The following

gentlemen" were chosen as a " Select Vestry

—1, Stewart Blacker, Esq.; 2, Thomas Armstrong,

Esq. (junior), Eden Hall; 3, Mr. Abraham Macoun,

Drumgor; 4, Mr. Robert White

(Robt Best?) ; 5, Mr. Wm. Vaughan; 6, Mr

Leonard Jennett; 7, Mr. Joseph Lawson; 8, Mr.

Robert Reid; 9, Mr. Leonard Calvert; 10, Mr.

Thomas Atkinson, Bank of Ireland; 11, Mr

Alexander Russell; 12, Mr. James Atkinson.

following were appointed Synodsmen—Wolsey

Atkinson , Esq. Eden Villa; T. Armstrong, Esq

junr., Eden Hall; Mr. John Montgomery,

Mr Abraham MacCoun.

The following were

appointed " Nominators' '—Stewart Blacker, Esq

Wolsey Atkinson, Esq., Thomas Armstrong

Esq., Eden Hall.