December 1912

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

DECEMBER, 1912.

Happy Christmas!

We wish all out readers at home and

abroad a very happy Christmas.

Advent Services,

ADVENT is the season of the Christian year

when our thoughts and prayers are specially

directed to the Second Coming of our Lord. We

know not when the Day of the Lord will come,

but we are told to Watch and Pray lest that Day

come upon us unawares. Advent then is a call to

higher fuller service and more strenuous labour in

the Lord's Vineyard.

To help our people in the keeping of Advent as a

season of special preparation the following special

arrangements have been made.

On the Sundays in Advent special addresses will be

given in the Parish Church on the following subjects:—

DECEMBER 1st, Morning —" Signs of the Second

Advent."

,, ,, Evening —" The Day of Judgment."

,, ,, 8th, Morning —" Prophecies concerning

the First Advent."

,, ,, Evening —" The Messiah."

,, ,, 15th Morning “The Growth of the Kingdom."

,, ,, Evening —" The Coming of the Kingdom."

,, ,, 22nd Morning — “The Meaning of Christmas."

,, ,, Evening —"The Message of the Angels."

On the Wednesdays in Advent the following special Preachers have been arranged.

Dec. 4^th — Rev. George Wright, of Saskatoon, Canada.

Mr. Wright left Donaghcloney Parish some years ago to engage in Mission

work in Canada, and returned home last week. He will speak on " Church

work in Canada."

Dec. 11th—Rev. Oswald Scott, M.A., Rector of Gilford.

Dec. 18th—Rev. T. J. Forsythe, M.A., Rector of Drummauel.

On Sunday, Dec., 22, Christmas Carols will be sung after Evening Service.

Seagoe Singing Class.

This class began operations on Monday, October

21st, in Seagoe School. There are now 30 members

who study singing. Fees for quarter: men, 1/6; ladies, 1/-.

The class meets every Monday at 8 o'clock. Those who

wish to join the class should do so without delay.

The Sustentation Fund.

The Collectors for the Sustentation Fund will call

on the Parishioners during this month. It is very

necessary for the welfare and efficiency of the Parish

that the Sustentation Fund should be increased very

much above its present figure. Last year it totalled

£169 8s 10d, out of which £128 15s 0d was paid

in Clerical Income, and the balance £40 13s 10d

was invested towards the Glebe purchase scheme. A

paid lay-helper is much needed in the Parish, as the

task of visiting frequently 642 separate families

numbering 3,200 individuals is more than the present

staff can accomplish.

An analysis of last year's subscriptions to the Sustentation

Fund proves that the average sum subscribed to the Fund

is much below what might be expected in a thriving industrial

Parish such as Seagoe. The total number of subscribers to the

Fund last year was 411, and they subscribed a sum of £169 8s 10.

If we deduct from this amount 37 subscriptions of £1 and upwards,

we find that the total subscribed by the remaining 374 subscribers

only amounted to £105, 213 of those who subscribed gave less than

5/- each, and 86 gave 2/6 or less, while 200 families at least, of those

whose names appear in our List of Church Families published last

year do not subscribe anything to the Fund.

We add an analysis of the subscriptions given last

year—1 Subscriber gave £20; 1—£5; 3—£4; 1—£3 3s;

1- £2 10s; 1—£l 17s 6d; 1 - £1 15s; 2 -£l 10s;3 - £1 5s;

21—£1; 6—15/-; 15—12/6; 17— 10/-, 7 – 7/6, 5—6/6;

50—5/-; 55— 4/-; 16—3/6; 56-3/-; 64—2/6; 22—2/-.

In many families there are sons and daughters earning large

wages. We hope they will join our list of subscribers

this year. Even small subscription from each of the workers

in the family would enable us at once to get a lay helper or

Scripture-reader to work in this large and populous Parish.

Might we also suggest that subscribers as far as

possible would have their subscriptions ready when

the Collector calls, so that it may not have to be

called for a second time.

Christmas Day.

On Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, 'there will be celebrations

of Holy Communion in the Parish Church at 8 a.m., and

after Morning Prayer. The Morning Service will begin as

usual at 11.30 a.m. The offerings at both services will be

in aid of the Poor of the Parish.

The Parishioners are very earnestly invited to

partake of Holy Communion at the Christmas

festival. There is no more fitting time to join in the

Lord's Supper than when we are commemorating

His Birth into world. “He shall be called Jesus for

He shall save his people from their sins."

Harvest Services.

The Services at DRUMGOR on Sunday, Nov. 3rd

and Monday, Nov. 4th, were as usual largely attended.

On Sunday the Hall was crowded, and presented a very

pretty sight with its harvest decorations. Some of the

young men of the district spent several evenings making

a fringe of wheat and oats long enough to reach round

and across the whole room. The Rector preached on

Sunday evening, and the Rev. T. W. Aldwell, Curate of

Donaghcloney on Monday evening. The extremely heavy

rain kept many away on Monday, but notwithstanding there

were some sixty present.

On Monday, Nov. 10th, and on the following Monday,

Harvest Services were held in TAMINFICARBET

Orange Hall. The hall was handsomely decorated

and was crowded on both occasions. The preacher

on Sunday was Mr. J. W. Storey, B.A., Secretary of

the C.I.Y.M.S., Belfast, and on Monday, the Rev. W.

J. Sirr, B.A., Curate of Lurgan.

Edenderry held its Harvest Services in the

Parochial Hall on Thursday, Nov. 7th, at 8; and on

the Sunday following. The Hall had been transformed

by the decorations, and presented a very pretty

appearance. The Rev. A. W. Barton; B.D. Head of the

Trinity College Mission, Belfast, gave an address on Harvest.

The Rector preached at the Sunday Service. For the first time,

this year LEVAGHERY had a Harvest Festival. The School

has recently been re-decorated and painted. Two frescoes

have been painted on the walls, one representing the Return

of the Prodigal, and the other Christ blessing the children.

They have been painted by a local artist, Mr. Myten, and reflect

great credit on him. Harvest decorations had been very prettily

hung all-round the room. The Preachers were, on Sunday the

Rector, and on Monday the Rev. A. Cooke, Curate of Portadown.

The services were largely attended.

Carne Harvest Services,

The Harvest Services in Carne Church Hall were

held on Sunday, October 27th, and Monday, October

28th. The Hall was lavishly decorated with roses

and flowers and fruit of all kinds. Pretty wreaths

were hung around the platform, and quite transformed

the ordinary appearance of the place. The service on Sunday

was held at 3-30, and the Hall was quite filled. The rector

preached on "The Laws of the Harvest." The offerings were

in aid of Carne Sunday School Fund. Mr. T. H. Wilson

kindly gave his services at the harmonium, and the

choir chanted the Psalm and sang the canticles and

hymns very sweetly. The services were continued on

Monday evening at 8, when the Rev. W. R. Crichton,

curate of Hillsborough, preached, He made an earnest

appeal on behalf of Foreign Missions towards which

object the collection was given. The congregation was

large, and the music was again excellent. Mr David Murray,

the energetic superintendent of Carne Sunday School, gave

valuable help in the arrangement of the services.

Items.

The Rector receives frequent application for Baptismal

and other Certificates. Such applications should be

accompanied by the necessary Fees, a list

of which is published on the inner side of the front

cover of the Magazine each month. This will save

much time and trouble.

*

It is very hard to find out the right time in Portadown.

There are three different times kept. The Post Office Clock,

St. Mark's Clock, and the Station Clock, are all at variance.

A proper electrically controlled clock to give standard time

should be available in progressive community like ours,

*

Weekly proficiency cards are now issued to the

pupils attending Hacknahay Day School; They

will encourage the pupils in their studies, and also

enable parents to judge of the progress made by the

children from week to week.

*

The East window erected some years ago in the

chancel of Armagh Cathedral; was copied direct from

the East window of Seagoe Church, but it is not

nearly so effective. The colouring is decidedly weak.

*

The First Portadown Presbyterian Magazine for

November contains an interesting letter from Mr. H.

Joyce, late of the G.N.R., Portadown, and now

student in Saskatchewan, Canada.

*

Important structural alterations are about to be

made in Portadown Railway Station including a new

roof. We hear the new roof will not cover the whole

line, as at present so as to admit more light and air.

*

The congested state of the approach to the Station

is a cause of great inconvenience to passengers; It

is always blocked up by lines of cars and busses. If

the present level of the Station floor were continued

beyond and outside of the pillars it would at once

relieve the congestion.

*

The alterations in the Edenderry approach to the

Bridge have now been completed and are a great

improvement. The widening of the Bridge should

now be undertaken without delay.

*

Constable Bunting has been spending a holiday in

Portadown.

*

We hope every Subscriber to the Sustentation

Fund in the Parish has got a copy off the Annual

Report and read it.

*

At the services on next Sunday (Advent Sunday)

an Advent Anthem will be sung by the Choir.

Girls’ Friendly Society

The Following G.F.S. Classes have been arranged:

Hacknahay branch meets in Miss Calvert’s house at

Breagh on every alternate Tuesday at 7.30, beginning

on Tuesday at 7-30, beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 3 ^rd.

Drumgor branch meets at Mrs M’Mullan’s house on

Every Tuesday evening at 7.30, beginning on Tuesday

Dec. 3^rd.

Edenderry Class for Candidates meets every alternate

Saturday at 2.30 p.m. The first meeting will be on

Saturday, Dec. 14^th.

It has not been found possible to arrange for the

Weekly meeting of the Edenderry Girls’ Class.

Church Attendance Cards.

Third Quarter

Seago Sunday school

Gold Seal – total, 65, Wm. George Turkington, 6;

Willie Holland 54; Mary J. Atkinson, 65;

Charles M’Laughlin, 56.

1^st Rank – 60-65. Jennie England, 60

2^nd Rank – 55-60. Rachael Turkington, 53.

3^rd Rank – 50-55. Anna M’Loughlin, 54;

Christina Cordy, 52.

4^th Rank – 45-50. Louie England, 49;

Teresa Ramsey, 46.

Edenderry Sunday School

Gold Seal – Total 65. Annie Walker, 65; Mary Best, 65.

1^st Rank – 60-65. Sarah Walker,64; Maggie Magee, 60.

2^nd Rank - 55-60. None

3^rd Rank – 50-55. Arthur Allen, 54; Sarah Martin, 52;

Sarah Coulter, 52; William Best, 52; Wm. H. Best

52; George Watson, 52; William Coulter, 51;

Mary Crawford, 50; John Atkinson, 50;

4^th Rank - 45-50. Emma Best, 49; Jane Magee, 49;

Jeanie Dawson, 48; Jane Forde, 48; Willie Cox, 45.

Levaghery Sunday School

1^st Rank – 60-65. Nellie Lewie, 60.

The Concert.

The concert held in Edenderry Hall, on Thursday Nov. 21 ^st,

Was a great success in every way. The Hall was well filled,

And each item on the Programme was good. The performers

were first rate musicians, and the high level of the songs and

music was maintained from start to finish. In response to the

applause of the audience, encores were generously given. We

area greatly indebted to all who so kindly gave their assistance

at the Concert. The proceeds will be given to the Seago Day

School Improvement Fund. The following is a list of the various

Items on the Programme: Part 1 – Piano Solo “The Liquid Gem”

Richards, Miss L. Montgomery; Song, “Roses Softly Blooming,”

Spohr, Miss Amy Walker; Song, “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,”

Sullivan, Mr. James Briggs; Recital, Humorous, Anon, Mr. Alex.

Hunter; Song, “The Trumpeter”, Dix, Mr. W.A. Scott; Song, “The

Scent of the Roses”, L. Carey, Miss Shannon; Comic Song, Mr. Alex.

Hunter.

Part II – Piano Solo, “Fragment of Mendelssohn”, Casper, Miss L.

Montgomery; Song, (a) “Sweetest Flower,” Hawley, (b) “It is good

to be Alive,” Cowdell; Song, “Mifanwy,” D. Foster, Miss Amy Walker;

Comic Song, Humorous, Mr. Alex. Hunter; Song, “Nirvana,” Adams,

Mr. James Briggs; Song, “Love’s Coronation,” Miss Shannon.

God Save the King.

Parish Register for November

Baptisms.

“Knock and it shall be opened unto you”

On Saturday, Nov. 2^nd, 1912

Graham - Robert James, son of William John and

Martha Graham.

Humphreys - Robert, son of Robert and Martha

Humphreys.

Mayes - Samuel Abraham, sone of James William

and Margaret Mayes.

Hara - William James, son of William John

And Margaret Hara.

Marriages.

“Love is the fulfilling of the Law”

Wright and Preston – November 5, Silas Wright,

Tamnificarbet, to Maud Preston, Ballinacor,

Robinson and Holmes – November 8, Joseph Robinson,

Tamnificarbet, to Winnie Holmes, Tamnificarbet.

Veitch and Rogers – November 11, Thomas Veitch, Ballydurgan,

to Elizabeth Rogers, Hacknahay.

Burial.

“Jesus called a child unto Him”

Best – Nov, 8, William Robert Best, aged 5 years.

Offertories For November.

Sundays – Mornings, £6 10 10

Evenings, 2 4 11

Wednesdays 0 5 11

Total, £9 1 8

From the offertories on Nov.10^th, £2 was sent to

The Diocesan Board of Education, and £1 1s 11d.

To the Hibernian Bible Society.

Harvest Service Offertories

Local Funds. Missions.

Parish Church £7 0 0 £4 2 9

Hacknahay 3 8 9

Carne 0 12 9 0 12 7

Drumgor 1 4 10 0 11 4 ½

Edenderry 2 8 9

Tamnificarbet 0 13 8 ½ 0 5 0

Levaghery 0 15 00 10 0

£16 3 9 ½ £3 1 8 ½

Two Social Gatherings.

During the month two pleasant social gatherings

took place. On Friday, November 8th, the children

attending Hacknahay Day School had tea and games

in the School, and a most enjoyable evening was

spent. On Thursday, November 14th, the Sustentation

Fund collectors took tea together in Seagoe School,

and afterwards made arrangements for the

annual collection for the Fund. The tea was most

kindly provided and dispensed by the Misses Atkinson

of Eden Villa.

Seagoe Parish is now well represented in Diocesan

Circles. At the recent Synod Mr. Woolsey R.

Atkinson was elected a member of the General

Synod; Major Stewart Blacker obtained a seat on

the Diocesan Council and in the General Synod, and

the Rector was elected to the Council, General

Synod, and to the post of Supplemental Diocesan

Nominator for the Diocese of Dromore.

Hymns for December,

“Singing and making melody in your hearts."

MORNING.

1st8^th 15^th 22^nd 29th

67 76 256 513 343 pt. 1

Anthem 97 500 102 92

95 315 631 700 148

369 499 166 113 172

EVENING

71 73 335 79 90 pt. 2

66 65 416 77 399

260 210 579 87 615

237 32 632 98 285

70 34 308 Carols 35

Christmas Day, 8 a.m. 79.

11-30 a.m. 83, 86, 87, 363.

The above list contains Hymns carefully chosen to

suit the seasons of the Christian year—Advent, and

Christmas—through which we are passing. Carols

will be sung on the Sunday evening before Christmas.

The Hymns on the last Sunday of the year have

special reference to the flight of time, and its solemn

lessons.

Special Chants,

Venite, 185; Te Deum, 131,203; Benedictus, 165;

Responses, 48; Gloria, 11; Magnificat, 237;

Nunc Dimittis, 60.

Old Seagoe Notes,

Lough Neagh Floods.— Lieutenant Graves, of

the Royal Engineers, when engaged in making the

Ordnance Survey Map of this locality in the year

1825, discovered by careful measurement that the

Lake, after a heavy rainfall, may suddenly rise

perpendicularly from 6 to 9 feet, and cover with its

flood waters no less than 10,000 acres of adjoining

land. He attributed this sudden rise of the river to

the fact that no less than 14 rivers empty their

waters into the Lough while the sole outlet for its

waters is the Lower Bann.

It is interesting to learn that as recently as the

year 1609 an armed flotilla sailed the Lough. It

was commanded by Sir John Clotworthy, whose

nephew, the Rev. John Campbell, was Vicar of Seagoe

from 1687 to 1729.

*

Seagoe Railway Notes, 1840.—The making

of the Ulster Railway through Seagoe in 1842 was

an event of great importance. An old guide book

of that date gives us the following particulars:—The

Ulster Railway Company was formed in 1835, and

incorporated by Royal Assent on 19th May, 1836.

The number of shares was originally 12,000 of £50

each. This railway was the first to adopt a 6ft 2 inch

gauge. The rails were laid, not on cross sleepers as

now, but on continuous longitudinal bearings of

timber. The actual date of the opening of the line

between Lurgan and Seagoe was January 31st,

1842. The first portion of the line for traffic was

that between Belfast and Lisburn, and it was opened

on August 12th, 1839. The Guide Book adds

"The ground over which the railway has to pass

between Seagoe and Portadown is a complete morass,

and the difficulty of raising the necessary embankment

over it has been the cause of the delay in finishing the

line to the bank of the River Bann, but in the course of

the ensuing summer the works at present (1842) in

progress will be completed." The total cost per mile for

the making of the line (including law expenses) amounted

to £12,500. At the time the Railway was made an

interesting history of the work was written by a

Mr. Whishaw. The engineer who superintended the

making of the line through Seagoe Parish was Mr. Godwin,

“a very urbane and courteous man." The line was originally

laid out by two Engineers, Messrs. Bald and Woodhouse,

Mr. Stevenson was appointed, but Mr. Godwin carried out the work.

Revival Days in Seagoe. 1859. The following

extract is from a touching letter written by Mrs.

Beers, wife of the Rev. Leslie Beers, formerly

curate of Seagoe, to a parishioner during 1859.

The letter is dated June 17th, 1859. "I suppose

you have read or heard of the wonderful work in

Antrim and Belfast, how many once careless sinners

are turning to the Saviour. Let us pray for the

spirit of God to convert our friends and neighbours

and to water our own souls. I trust that your Bible

feeds you, comforts you, satisfies you, and helps you

to pray. Let prayer include praise, and thank God

for His electing love in calling you. God bless you

and yours with such earthly blessings as He sees good

for you, and in all spiritual blessings in Heavenly

places in Christ Jesus.

My love be with you. Goodbye."