December 1908

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 1908

Clergy:

Rev. James E. Archer, B.D., Rector, the Rectory, Seagoe.

Rev. Walter R. Crichton, B.A., Curate, Seagoe Villa.

N.B.—It is most important that in all cases of illness notice should be given to the Clergy of the

Parish without delay.

Churchwardens:

Mr. J. H. Stevenson, Killicomaine, Rector's Churchwarden.

Mr. Thomas Martin, Kilvergan, People's Churchwarden.

Select Vestry:

ATKINSON, MR. W. R.

ATKINSON, MR. T.

CALVERT, MR. G.

COSTELLO, MR. ATKINSON

GRACEY, MR. J. G.

IRWIN, MR. W.

MAGINNIS, MR. T. E.

MONRO, MR. JOSEPH

MONTGOMERY, MR. J.

MONTGOMERY, MR. T. J.

ROCK, MR. DAVID

STOOPS, MR. HUGH

ATKINSON, MR. W. R., Secretary and Treasurer.

BAPTISMS.

“Jesus called a little child unto Him.”

Nov. 7—Francis, son of William and Ellen Brown.

“ “—Uzziah, son of Joseph and Emily M'Crory

“ “—Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth Gracey.

MARRIAGES.

"God is love."

Nov. 9th—Samuel James Hall, Clones, to Emma Olivia Collins, Kernan.

Nov. 10th—Ephraim Collins, Kernan, to Eliza M'Murray, Ballynaghy.

BURIALS.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.”

Nov. 16th—Matthew Rogers, Edenderry, aged 50 yrs

Nov. 18th—Mary Brennan, Edenderry, aged 25 yrs

OFFERTORIES FOR NOVEMBER.

“Give and it shall be given unto thee.”

Morning Evening

£ s d £ s d

Nov. 1st—20th S. after Trinity 1 14 6 0 7 8

(All Saints Day)

Nov. 8th—21st S. after Trinity 1 4 2 0 11 7

Nov. 15th—22nd S. after Trinity 1 3 9 0 11 3

Nov. 22nd—S. next before Advent 0 19 6 0 7 6

Weekdays ________ 0 7 2

Total £5 1 11 £2 5 2

ADVENT SERVICES.

THE season of Advent brings to our mind each year the solemn truth that our Lord will some day come again to ask each one of us to give an account of our stewardship. The coming will be sudden, we know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh, but we are told to

watch. Let us make this Advent season a time of watching for the coming of the Saviour, and then

whenever He comes the faithful servants will receive the Blessing promised in the Gospel—Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.

The following special arrangements have been made for Advent—On Advent Sunday, November 29, Sermons in aid of Foreign Missions will be preached in the Church at Morning and Evening Prayer. This is the day of our Annual Collections for Foreign Missions, and we ask for liberal offerings in this noble cause. A new enthusiasm on behalf of Foreign Missions is rising up in the Church of Ireland. We hope Seagoe Parish will share in it.

On Wednesday, December 2nd, the Rev. T. W. E. Drury, M.A., Rector of Rostrevor, will give an Advent Lecture in the Church at the 7:30 p.m. service. Mr. Drury will speak to the Choir in Seagoe School after the Service on the subject of Choral Singing.

The Rev. R. B. Cooke, M.A., Rector of All Saints', Belfast, and formerly a resident in Seagoe Parish, will preach on Sunday evening, December 6th.

On Wednesday evening, December 9th, the Special Preacher will be the Rev. F. J. Hackett, M.A., Rector of Kildollagh, North Antrim.

The Rev. F. W. Hogan, M.A., Rector of All Saints', Hillsborough, will preach on Wednesday

evening, December 16th. Mr. Hogan is the author of many of our best known hymn tunes.

On Sunday, December 20th, the Rev. W. H. Morrison, B.D., Curate of Portadown, will preach at Evening Prayer.

During Advent a short Service of Intercession on behalf of Foreign Missions will be held in the Parish Church on Fridays at 11:30 a.m., beginning on Friday, December 4th. We heartily invite to this service all who can possibly attend. The Litany of Missionary Intercession of the Church of Ireland will be used at these services.

Special Advent Services will be held every Sunday evening 7 0'clock in Hacknahay, Drumgor, and Tamnificarbet. The addresses at these services will be given by members of the Church of Ireland Theological Society, Belfast. On Advent Sunday, November 29th, the Collections at Drumgor and Tamnificarbet will be in aid of Foreign Missions.

SEAGOE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.

The following is a list of First Honour Cards awarded during November—

FIRST HONOUR CARDS.

JUNIOR DIVISION—Thomas Porter, Pearl Reid, Wm. Hynes, Jack Stoops, Thos Johnston, Samuel Gracey, Mary Crawford.

MIDDLE DIVISION—S. Irwin, Robt Johnston, Ethel Ruddell, Sarah Martin, Kathleen Macauley.

SENIOR DIVISION—Mabel Reid, Maggie Campbell, Wm. John Wilson, Frances Irwin.

VISIT OF THE LORD BISHOP.

December 10th will be a red-letter day in the history of Seagoe Parish. It will, we believe, be the first occasion on which a Bishop of Dromore has come to meet the parishioners at a social gathering. Cards of invitation have been issued to all the heads of households whose names appear in the last Sustentation Fund Report.It was found impossible to issue the invitations to all the church people in the parish, and so the vestry felt they must limit it to those who subscribed last year to the Sustentation Fund.

Very complete arrangements have been made for the social meeting. Tea will begin in Seagoe School at 7:30 sharp. The Bishop will arrive at 7:45. After tea a short address of welcome to the Bishop will be read, and speeches will follow. A short musical Programme is being arranged.

No less than 486 acceptances have been received, but we hope to be able to accommodate all, though the school-rooms will be taxed to their utmost capacity. The invitation cards are not transferable.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

Christmas is coming, and although it is some way off, we wish all our readers at home and abroad a very happy Christmas and bright New Year.

The Festival of the Redeemer's birth is not only an occasion for social rejoicing but is a great religious anniversary. Too often we think only of the secular side of it.

On Friday, December 25th, there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion in the Parish Church, at 8 a.m., and Morning Prayer and sermon, followed by Holy Communion at 11:30. We would remind all of our people of the duty enjoined upon them by the rules of the Church, of coming on Christmas Day to the Lord's Table, and there fulfilling on His birthday the command of Jesus Christ, “This do in remembrance of Me.”

Christmas carols will be sung at the Sunday evening service before Christmas, and a short service of preparation for Holy Communion will be held in the Church on Wednesday, December 23rd, at 7:30 p.m.

BAND OF HOPE.

The wheel of time has finished another revolution and once again we are called to champion the cause of Temperance.

It is with the greatest satisfaction that we chronicle the opening meeting of the Band of Hope for this session. This gathering was held in Edenderry Parochial Hall on October 30th, and judging by the attendance of old and young on that occasion, the popularity of our opening meetings are not on the decline at any rate.

When the meeting had been opened by prayer, the Rector briefly reviewed the events that had taken place during the interval since our last meeting, and in the course of his congratulatory remarks, dwelt on the strong stand taken by Seagoe in regard to local licensing matters.

Turning to the programme and glancing at the names of the performers, one is inclined to think that these efforts are only the earnest of greater ones in the future.

Recitations were given by the following in a manner worthy of imitation:---Hettie Wright, Sarah Martin, Bella Magee, Mary Livingston, Flora Wright, Sarah Dawson, and Charlie Killow.

Songs were sweetly rendered by:—H. Wright, M. Roney, and C. Greene, and Miss Armstrong. In addition to these, two songs were contributed by children from Seagoe Day School, whose performance reflected the greatest credit on Mr. Chambers who carefully trained them.

The sum of the items is completed by a reference to two excellent dialogues, one done by M. Livingston and A. Smith, the other by M. and A. Smith, M. Livingston, D. Livingston, and J. M'Nally.

After the foregoing had been duly appreciated. the Rev. O. W. Scott delivered an earnest address, emphasising the duties as well as the privileges of the members of the Band of Hope.

The meeting having been closed with the Benediction, a number ot new members signified their desire to be enrolled.

DRUMGOR HARVEST SERVICES.

The Harvest Services at Drumgore were held on Sunday, November 15th, and Monday, November 16th. The Hall had been beautifully decorated by willing hands, and on every side the emblems of Harvest were visible. On Sunday the Sermon was preached by the Rev. D. L. Dunlop, Curate of Maralin. The Service was said by the Rector. There was a crowded congregation. On Monday, November 16th, the Services were continued at 8 p.m. The Service was said by the Rev. W. R. Crichton, and the Sermon was preached by the Rev. J. J. E. O'Malley, Curate of Portadown. There was again a crowded attendance, The offertories on both occasions were in aid of Drumgor Sunday School Funds. Mr. T. H. Wilson kindly presided at the Harmonium.

ITEMS.

Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Robert Brennan, of Joseph Street, in the double affiction which has befallen him, the death of his daughter and his own serious illness. We trust he will soon be restored to health.

On Monday, December 21st, a Service of Song entitled “The Fireman's Wedding,” will be given by the children of Hacknahay Day School in Hacknahay School at 7:30 p.m. Tickets 3d each. Limelight Views. Proceeds in aid of Day School. Buy a ticket.

Every copy of last month's issue of this Magazine (numbering 350) was sold.

Seagoe School Concert is fixed for Friday, January 15, 1909.

The Rev. E. T. Crozier, Rector of Ste George's, Dublin, visited Seagoe last week. Mr. Crozier has just surrendered a valuable living in Dublin to become the head of a Bush Brotherhood in North

Queensland on an income of £40 a year.

The Select Vestry has generously defrayed the cost of the new fittings and desks in Hacknahay School.

The daily attendance at Hacknahay Day School now averages over fifty children.

Seagoe Parish Almanac for 1909 is now on sale, Price ld. Secure a copy without delay.

The new Seagoe Sunday School calendar with Catechism Portions - printed in full is now ready. Price ld. It is very neat and fits into your Bible.

A parishioner noticed the Honeysuckle or Woodbine in bloom on November 1st.

The total Harvest Offertories this year reached the sum of £21 10s.

We regret to hear of the serious illness of Mrs. McCollum, of Kilvergan, one of our oldest and most respected parishioners.

The Bishop will address a meeting of Railway employes in Seagoe Parish on December10th.

A small band of young men in the Parish have arranged to assist in the new District Services in Hacknahay, Drumgor, and Carbet on Sunday evenings.

The Nursing Society's Jumble Sale takes place in the Town Hall on Friday, November 27th, and Saturday, November 28th. Great bargains may be had.

Remember the special Advent Services on Sunday evenings, Wednesdays at 7:30, and Fridays at 11:30.

The Rev. Canon Blacker, always such a generous friend to the Parish, has sent the Rector his annual subscriptions to various objects, amounting to £14 10s, and also £l towards the Harvest Offertories.

Christmas number of Home Words with splendid stories, beautiful cover, now on sale at Mrs. Metcalfe's, Bridge Street. Price ld.

Miss Georgie Atkinson, Art Scholar, South Kensington, has designed a very handsome border for our Magazine cover. It will appear on the cover of the Magazine in January. An explana-tory note on the design will be given in our next issue.

The singing in the Seagoe Day School has greatly improved under the careful training of Mr. Chambers, the principal.

OUR DISTRICT SERVICES.

The services on Sunday evenings in the outlying districts of the Parish have been very well attended. The following notice regarding them appeared in a recent issue of the Belfast Evening Telegraph:

Seagoe parish, with its large Church population, has, through the instrumentality of the Rev. J. E. Archer, B.D., Rector, commenced a series of Sunday evenings services in outlying districts. The services will be conducted by members of the Church of Ireland Young Men's Theological Society in various Church halls and schoolhouses. Last Sunday Messrs. Cecil Winter, T. McKegney, and J. Bloomer, B.A., took charge of the services. The introduction of qualified young laymen to assist the clergy in those parishes where it is impossible, owing to distance, for clergymen to conduct more than three services on Sunday, is a step which will justify itself. Besides giving practical assistance in the parish the young men will gain experience and valuable training which will fit them for entrance into the ministry.

It is a pity that more of the young men who are candidates for the ministry of the Church do not avail themselves of the opportunities for assisting in parochial effort. In our opinion an order of lay readers for the city of Belfast would help in a material way to reach the masses who are non-

churchgoers.

QUARTERLY RETURNS.

CHURCH ATTENDANCE and EFFICIENCY CARDS.

The following Cards were omitted from the usual list published in our last issue:—

FIRST CLASS (over 50 points)—Maggie Lewie, 52.

SECOND CLASS (over 45 points)—Maggie Bradshaw.

DR. NORMAN BARNETT.

Dr. Barnett, a distinguished member of the medical profession in Belfast, and also an ardent

advocate of total abstinence principles, paid a visit to the parish on Sunday, November 22nd, on the invitation of the rector. Dr. Barnett gave a stirring address to the Edenderry and Seagoe Men's Bible

Classes in Seagoe Orange Hall, at 10:15 a.m. The address dealt with the effects of alcohol in deteriorating the physical as well as the moral nature of man. We hope all who heard the doctor will remember what he said about the falsity of the notion that you must take alcohol to keep out chills, and also his remarks about the danger of alcohol in training for football and athletics generally. Sixty-five men were present. In the afternoon, at 3:15, Dr. Barnett addressed the combined Sunday Schools of Seagoe, Levaghery, and Edenderry, in Edenderry Parochial Hall. There were 360 present, who completely filled the hall. The speaker's statements on the injurious effects of alcohol were listened to with great attention by the children and teachers present.

A warning is needed in this parish against the habit which is so prevalent of drinking on market and fair days, and also of concluding sales in the parlour or at the bar of the public house. No self-respecting Christian man will consent to this. There are plenty of places in Portadown where non-intoxicating refreshments may be had at a low price and in comfortable surroundings.

If any one would wish to see the disgraceful results of town-drinking on a fair day, let them go through the streets of our town about 5 p.m., when the drivers and salesmen are returning home. Sights are seen there which are a lasting disgrace to any Christian community, and but for the presence of the police things would be intolerable. We would strongly urge upon all parents the duty of bringing up their boys and girls in strict total abstinence principles, and get them to sign the pledge in their earliest years. Education of the young on strict temperance lines is the only remedy for the existing evil.

THE SUSTENTATION FUND.

December is the month when the Collectors call for the Fund. Try this year to increase your subscription even by a small amount. Many have already agreed to do so. Let us get rid of the 2/6 subscriptions. Many of those who give 2/6 could easily afford £l. The Parish will never be able to do its work properly until the Sustentation Fund is at least double what it is at present. Last year it reached £130, this year we hope for £200. The work is growing, and so the expenses are increasing. A great many things are waiting to be done, but cannot be carried out through lack of funds.

Envelopes are being distributed for the Earners Fund this year. We want the young people who are earning money of their own to give something to their Church.

We hope all the Collectors will try to get new Subscribers in their Districts.

OLD SEAGOE NOTES.

OLD SURNAMES.—Last month we gave a list of old surnames found in the Parish Register between the years 1735 and 1821. Here is a list of names from the Marriage Registers for the same period. Bennison and Magennis (1799), Armstrong and Netterfield (1759), Calvert and Twinem (1781), Friars and Woolsey (1806), Humphreys and Bunting (1741), Knipe and Rower (1779), M'Guffn and Sheering (1807), John Phurphey and Euphrates Forsythe (1812), Bruce and Dillon (1773), Robinson and Carter (1765), Caleb Shott and Martha Joyce (1801), Sinnamon and Hall (1816).

The very oldest names to be found in the Registers are those in the Burial Registers dating from 1691. The following must have passed through the fierce days of 1641 when Seagoe Church was burned down during the Rebellion—Stephen Atkinson, 1699; Major George Blacker, 1691; Richard Cook, 1697; John Dynes, 1695; Margaret Heame, 1698; Margaret Holland, 1699; Alice M'Connell, 1694; Christopher Trotter, 1694.

We add a few unusual names from the Registers of 1672 to 1699—Anthony, Bomer, Burleigh, Ducker, Gatefield, Goss, Gregson, Hellan, Kentlin, Kerin, M'Ilhone, Duck, News, Pickrom, Titterington, Riccaby, Bordum, M'Cloon, Ruler.

AN OLD PRAYER BOOK.—Mr. Lutton, of Edenderry, has sent the Rector a very old Prayer Book dated 1745, and which had been used by some one who had worshipped in the Old Church of Seagoe. It has the following quaint inscription in old and faded writing:

“This Book is new and bears my name,

And when I'm in my grave

Then eager men will talk and say,

The hand that wrote is dust and clay.”