August 1911

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

AUGUST 1911,

The Political Situation.

THE serious crisis which has so suddenly

developed in the political world must be

the cause of considerable unrest and

anxiety in many minds. It would be a

great mistake to allow any feeling of panic to overcome

us. The questions at issue are of such a far

reaching and momentous character that they cannot

by any chance be decided by the hasty action of the

party in power. English history teaches us that

there are many things which even the Sovereign

himself cannot accomplish, and we would recommend

our people to face the future with a calm and

determined spirit. It is fortunate that at the present

moment we possess capable, experienced and

unflinching leaders, and it is the duty and privilege

of the people to follow where they point the way.

It is quite possible that the present crisis may shatter

for ever the sentimental figment of Home Rule

which has for the past forty years exercised such a

baneful influence in British politics.

Every such occasion of public anxiety through

which the nation is called upon to pass should drive

us to the footstool of the Throne of Grace where

dwells the King of kings and Lord of lords. Our

Faith will be strengthened, our Hope enlarged, and

our Love deepened by frequent recourse to Him

unto Whom all hearts be open, all desires known,

and from Whom no secrets are hid.

New School at Hacknahay

We are glad to be able to announce that the

Commissioners of National Education have decided to

open a new school in Hacknahay district. The

School will be under a Committee of Patronage,

consisting of seven members, four of whom are to

be members of the Church of Ireland. The following

are the names of the members approved of by

the National Board :—Rev J. E. Archer, Rev. G

H. Daunt, Major Blacker, J.P ; Messrs. W. H.

Atkinson, W. Richardson, J. Spence, and another.

The new school will confer a great benefit on the

district, and the children, instead of having, as

formerly, to go a long distance to school, will have

a finely equipped school at their very doors, The

credit for this desirable result is due to the loyal way

in which the people of Hacknahay supported by

their contributions the opening of the day school in

Hacknahay in August, 1908. During the past three

years the school has been kept open, and has reached

a very efficient condition The number of children

on the roll has averaged between 60 and 70, and the

attendance has been proportionately good. We desire

to thank very heartily all who helped us in the effort

to obtain a school for the district. Mr. George

Calvert has acted as hon. treasurer, and in every

possible way furthered our efforts; and our special

thanks are due to Dr. Traill, the Provost of Trinity

College, Dublin, and a Commissioner of National

Education, who with great ability and constant

perseverance pressed the needs of the district on the

notice of the National Board. It must be a source

of gratification to all concerned that so satisfactory

a result has been accomplished, and we look forward

in the near future to seeing this important district

enjoying the advantages of a first-rate National

School.

The following is the letter received by the Rector

from the Commissioners of National Education :

HACKNAHAY APPLICANT SCHOOL AND

CENTRAL SCHOOL CASE.

OFFICE OF NATIONAL EDUCATION,

DUBLIN, 18th JULY, 1911.

Reverend Sir,

Referring to previous correspondence,

I am directed by the Commissioners of National

Education to inform you that, having considered the

application for aid to a school at Hacknahay and the

question of the establishment of a central school for

the district, they ordered that yourself, Major Blacker,

Rev. Mr. Daunt, Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Richardson, Mr.

Spence, and a Presbyterian representative, be

constituted a committee of Patronage with a view to

establishing a central national school to provide for

the requirements of the pupils of the locality.

A communication regarding the order of the

Commissioners has been addressed to the Board's

Senior Inspector, who will communicate with you

on this matter.

I am, Reverend Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,

D. E. LEMASS,

REVEREND J. E. ARCHER,

Secretary.

Seagoe Rectory, Portadown.

Nature Notes,

The very hot Summer has had the effect of forcing

on many of our garden flowers, so that some which

we are accustomed to see in bloom quite late in the

Autumn are in full bloom at present. The heat of

the Summer will, no doubt, have the effect also of

causing an early fall of the leaf. The lack of

moisture will dry up the sap, and leaf stems will

become so brittle that the first sharp blast of wind

will cause the leaves to fall. In many places the

heat has caused the trees to wither. The Rhododendrons

especially have suffered in this way. It is

a pity that our cottagers do not plant Rhododendrons

in their gardens. They are cheap to 'buy, and make

a magnificent show when in bloom. They grow

very well in this neighbourhood.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

The Anniversary Services.

On Sunday, July 9th, the annual collections were

made in Seagoe Church on behalf of the Orphan

Societies. The congregations were large, and the

offerings of the worshippers reached a larger sum

than in former years. The evening service took the

form of a special Anniversary Service, and was

attended by over 200 Orangemen belonging to the

various lodges in the neighbourhood. The Rector

preached on the subject of " A Day of Remembrance,"

especially emphasising God's providence, as shown

in the development of a nation's life and the working

out of its destiny. Hymn sheets were

supplied to all present, and the singing was very

hearty. At the close of the service a verse of the

National Anthem was sung. The offerings at the

evening service were equally divided between the

Protestant Orphan Society and the Enniskillen

Orphan Fund. The congregation was so large in

the evening that many were unable to gain admission to the Church,

Our Sunday Schools.

The attendance at all the Parish Sunday Schools

during the past month has been very good, the fine

weather has no doubt contributed to this result. The

need of increasing our staff of teachers is becoming

more pressing every day. Some of the classes are

much too large. We would recommend the teachers

to study the lessons very carefully beforehand. By

becoming quite familiar with the subjects for each

Sunday they will be able to teach the children with

far greater ease and quickness. A most important

thing for each teacher to aim at is to hold the attention

of the children. This can only he done by the

teacher mastering the lesson completely. We sometimes

notice towards the close of the Sunday School

that the teacher seems to have exhausted the subject,

and the attention of the children then of course

ceases. The matter provided in the Sunday School

Magazine, with which each teacher is provided,

should be quite sufficient to cover the allotted time

for teaching. Teachers of infant classes will find

the lessons for junior classes in the Sunday School

Magazine very useful and well arranged.

The Annual Report

The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts

will be issued shortly. It will be more full and

detailed than the Reports of former years The

finances of so large a Parish as Seagoe are very

complicated, but in the hands of our capable and

experienced Treasurer, Mr. Wolsey Atkinson, they

are presented each year in a clear and concise

manner, so that every Parishioner can understand

them. We hope the Report will be carefully read

by all who are interested in the welfare of the

Parish,

Baptisms.

' Thy vows are upon me."

July 1^st Samuel George, son of Samuel George and Elizabeth M'Nei11.

Ivy Emily Margaret, daughter of Richard and Margaret Best.

William, son of Ephraim and Ellen Macaulay.

Myrtle, daughter of Samuel James and Mary Loney.

Mary, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Anne Mahaffy.

William James, son of Robert and Mary Anne Dobbin.

George, son of George and Mary Steenson.

Marriages,

" God, our Home.'

July 18^th William Wilson, Lisniskey, to Rebecca Moffett, Gilford.

“ 21^st William James Fryers, Knocknamuckley, to Sarah Mary M'Kane, Hacknahay.

“ 29^th James M'Kerr, Annagh, to Sarah Anne Neill, Ballymacrandle.

Burial.

" I give unto them Eternal Life."

July 26—Sarah Jane Guy, Derryvore, aged 24 years.

Offertories during July.

Morning, £8 18s 4d; evening, £6 1s 4d; weekdays, 7s ld.

Quarterly Church Attendance

and Efficiency Cards.

FULL MARKS (65 POINTS).

Mary J. Best, Minnie Allen, Maggie Magee, Dinah

M'Na11y, Annie Best.

FIRST CLASS (55 POINTS AND OVER).

Emma Best, 64 ; Mary Best, 61 ; Jennie England,

61; Thomas H. Boyce, 58; Edith Haire, 57;

Christina Flannigan, 56; Jennie Dawson, 55 ;

Joseph Allen, 55.

SECOND CLASS (50 POINTS AND OVER)

Sophia Bradshaw, 54 ; Jemima Allen, 54 ; Mary

Crawford, 53; Arthur Allen, 52; John Atkinson,

52 ; Emma Reid, 52 ; Mollie Cox, 51 ; Robt. Henry

Wilson, 51; Florrie Templeton, 51; William H.

Best, 50.

THIRD CLASS (45 POINTS AND OVER).

Jane Forde, 49; Samuel Roney, 49; George

Watson, 49; James M'Keown, 48; William J.

M'Loughlin, 47 ; Willie Cox, 47 ; Sarah Coulter, 46 ;

Minnie Watson 45 ; Willie Coulter, 45 ; Maggie

Rainey, 45.

Our Day Schools.

Hacknahay School reopens after the Summer

holidays on Monday, August 7th, at 9-30 a.m.,

Then a punctual attendance of all the pupils is

requested. The new School cannot be opened for

some time. Building operations will be necessary,

and a great many details have to be settled. Mr.

O'Riordan, the Chief Inspector under the National

Board, has taken great trouble in connection with

the School at Hacknahay, and the late Inspector,

Mr. Worsley, whose death was so much regretted.

also took infinite pains in making up his Report to

the Board on Hacknahay School.

Seagoe School re-opens after the holidays on

Monday, August 14th, at 9-30 a.m. The recent

improvements which have been affected in the

School have made it one of the healthiest and best

equipped in the district Further improvements are

in contemplation, including the erection of a new

class room and the insertion of a large window in

the end wall of the Girls' School.

Parents are requested to see that their children

attend punctually on the day when the School

reopens. An extra week's holiday has been given

to the children this year owing to the King's

Coronation. Two pupils of Seagoe School took first

and second prizes in the Boys' Coronation Race,

open to all Portadown boys under 14. The names

of the prize winners are Johnston, winner

of the First Prize, and Jack Stoops, winner of the

Second Prize.

Items.

The Rev. Manning Bennett, Rector of South

Manchester, U.S.A„ is anxious to know of any

Seagoe people who emigrate to South Manchester,

and will be glad to visit them and have them as

worshippers in St. Mary's Church.

We hear rumours of a revival of Seagoe Harriers

this season. Our boys should get into training without delay.

This has been the driest and hottest Summer on record.

We regret to announce the serious illness of Mr.

Atkinson Costello, of Carne. Several other parishioners

have been seriously ill. Bessie Dawson is

recovering from a severe attack of Rheumatic Fever.

The Rector has returned from a holiday in the

South of England.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

A Parochial Soiree

It has been suggested by the Ladies' Committee

connected with Seagoe School Improvement Fund

that a Parochial Soiree should be held. Tuesday,

October 10th, has been fixed on as a provisional date.

We hope it may be possible for our new Bishop

(Bight Rev. Dr. D'Arcy) to be present.

particulars in our next issue.

Hymns For August.

8th Sun. aft. Trin., Morn.— 39 630 400 357

Evg.— 48 16 461 562 17

9th Sun. aft. Trin., Morn.— 9 285 249 577

Evg.— 244 11 237 418 12

10th Sun. aft. Trin., Morn.— 53 310 284 335

Evg.— 346 352 44 467 332

11th Sun. aft. Trin., Morn.— 2 315 300 43

Evg.— 482 550 579 631 635

Improvements in Seagoe Church.

During the month of August it is hoped to begin

work on the new Heating Apparatus for the Church,

so that everything may be in readiness when the

cold weather comes to have the Church well and

comfortably heated. The contract for the work has

been given to the well-known firm of Messrs.

Musgrave, Belfast, whose system of heating by

narrow-bore pipes is known and approved of everywhere.

A guarantee is given by the contractors that

the Church will be sufficiently heated even in the

coldest weather. The new system will mean a considerable

saving each year. The present system of

heating by hot air is very costly as regards consumption

of coal—it requires nearly half a ton of coal to

be consumed each Sunday if the Church is to be

sufficiently heated. In the new system the fuel used

is coke, and a much smaller quantity is needed to

heat the furnace and the water in the pipes.

Old Seagoe Notes.

The Old Manor of Kernan.—An interesting

bill has survived the ravages of time. It is an old

poster of the year 1842, and gives some details

regarding the constitution of the Court-Leet and

Leet-Jury for the Manor at that date. The following

are the names of the Leet-Jury and the method of

their appointment :—

At a Court-Leet, held for ibis Manor, on Thurs-

day, the 13th day of May, 1842, at the house of Mr.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

James Tuft, situate at Drumnagoon, within said

Manor, before Charles Hunt, Esq., J.P., Seneschal,

the following Leet Jury were called and sworn, viz..

1, Wilson Irwin ; 2, David Ruddell ; 3, James Tuft;

4, Thos. Malcolmson ; 5, William Robinson ; 6, John

Harrison ; 7, Samuel Ruddell; 8, John Ruddell; 9,

John Gilpin ; 10, Joseph Gibson; 11, John M'Cown;

12, John Malcolmson ; 1B, William Rush ; 14, Robt.

Calvert; 15, John Bullick; 1 G, John Walker; 17,

Thos. Atkinson, 18, George Armstrong; 19, George

Greer ; 20, Francis Johnston ; 21, Richard Best; 22,

John Harrison ; 23, William Medcalf.

Inspectors of Fences for Kernan.— The

following is an interesting list of Townland Representatives

in the Manor of Kernan in 1842 :

Kernon, John Walker (Clerk of the Church), John

Bullick ; Crossmacaghely, John Rusk, Robert Calvert,

jun. ; Moyraverty, William Twynam, George Green ;

Drumgor, John Russell, Edward Gragston ; Balteagh,

John Gilpin, John Best; Tamnaficarbet, Dawson

Robinson, John Flood; Lisniskey, Leonard Wilson,

John Malcolmson; Bocomra, Richard Best, David

Best ; Tamnafiglassan, John M'Keown, John

Ruddell ; Ballinacorr, David Ruddell, Wm. M'Kinstry;

Karn, Edward M'lllernan, Daniel McAreavy: Lisnamintry,

William Tuft, John Harrison ; Drumnagoon,

James Tufts, John Malcolmson; Clanrole, James

Johnston, Robert Dilworth ; Tarson, Thos. Atkinson,

William Medcalf ; Seagoe, John Woolsey, R. Metcalf ;

Lylo, John Harrison, W. Robinson; Knockmena, F.

Johnston, C. Twynam ; Knock, R. Wilson, W. Hunter

jun.

Fines for Trespass.—lf Cattle, or Ducks, or

Geese trespassed fines were levied on their owners.

We add a list of fines :

That Joseph Malcolmson be appointed Poundkeeper;

and we present the sum of Fourpence,

to be paid to the Pound-keeper, for every pounding

of Horses, Black Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, or other

animals.

That a sum of One Shilling be presented as a

Grass Trespass, but not to be allowed in any case

where it shall appear that the Fences of the party

Impounding are insufficient—and in case the party

impounding claim damages they are to be viewed by

the Appraisers above-mentioned (of the Townland in

which the damage shall occur), who shall each of

them receive the sum of Tenpence from the party

Trespassing — and if the said party shall require the

Appraisers to swear to their Bill, then each of them

so swearing before the Seneschal or Magistrate, shall

be entitled to a Fee of Two Shillings and Sixpence.

And we present that Half Trespass be awarded for

any Cattle that break in off the highway, although

gaps may be insufficient.

That sum of One Penny per head, be presented

for all Ducks, Geesey and Fowl found trespassing in the Manor.

That Mr. David Ruddell be appointed

Inspector of Weights and Measures within this

Manor ; and that a fine of Two Shillings and Sixpence

be levied off any Person or Persons using falser

deficient Weights or Measures.

We present a fine of One Pound, to be levied

off any Person who shall bring Fire into any Turf

Bog within this Manor, whereby any damage may be

done.

Presentments made at Court- Leet.—The

Presentments made at the Court-Leet are useful as

giving us particulars regarding the ownership of

land and the boundaries of farms some seventy years

ago. The reference to the " Rails

is curious.

People were as yet unused to the Railway.

We present the Road leading from the Old Moss

Bridge to Crossmacaghely Bog to the Rails,

to be completed ; and we appoint Mark M'Murry, and John

Russell, Overseers, to get same completed.

The River Course from Gullery's holding in Clanrole

to the Damhead, to be scoured out ; the expense:

to be borne by the parties through whose land it

passes.

The River Course that divides Leggacurry and

Drumgorr, at Williamson's Bridge, to the Damhead

to be scoured out so as to carry off the water; Mr.

Atkinson to get J. Munroe to join.

The Road leading from the Broad Road in Drumnagoon

to James Bickett's cottier houses, to be repaired

by the parties using same ; and we appoint James

Bickett, Overseer, to get same done. This Road is

about 20 perches.

The Road commencing at Thomas Wilson's, at.

the new Road in Lisniskey, to John Bulla's in same

Townland, to be repaired by the parties using same

and we appoint Leonard Wilson, Overseer of same

A very bad Road.

How Seagoe School was Built.—The printed

statement of accounts for the building of Seagoe:

School has recently come into our possession. The

actual cost of building the School was £366 4s 8d

that sum was paid to the builder on July 10th, 1863

and an additional sum of C5 was incurred for flooring

the School. The money was raised by means of

bazaar and private subscriptions, which realised

£309 0s 8d. A subscription of CIO was received

from James Blacker, Esq., and a balance remained

due to Archdeacon Saurin of £52 4s 0d.

Repairing Seagoe Church, 1860.—Extensive

repairs seem to have been carried out on Seagoe

Church in 1860, entailing an expense of £47 2s 6d.

A balance of £16 11s ld was paid on the "New Bell."

The sum of £4 10s was spent on Kneeling Boards.

Two other items are interesting—" a bottle of blacking"

at 10d, and hat pins" ,15s; of course the

latter were pegs for hanging hats on. The collection

at the opening service, after the renovation of the

Church, amounted to £20 5s 8d. The statement of

accounts is extremely neatly printed, and bears

testimony to the good work done by the “Portadown

News" more than half a century since.