December 1916

Seagoe Parish Magazine

DECEMBER 1916.

The Joy of Christmas.

We wish all our readers the Joy and peace of Christmastide

The Nativity

[This Poem composed by Lieut. Col. Stewart Blacker (born at

Carrickblacker in 1775; died at the same place in 1855) is

taken from the Lyra Hibernica Sacra, edited by the late Rev.

Canon Macllwaine (Belfast). It was kindly sent to us for

publication by Mr. Sweeney, late of Seagoe, now of Belfast.]

Uplift the voice of melody, your choicest numbers bring,

Of grace divine the song shall be, and mercy’s flowing spring;

We’ll celebrate the mighty love of Him, who, throned on high,

Descended from that throne above, to suffer and to die.

Uplift the voice of melody, to hail the glorious morn,

That saw in Beth’lem’s manger lie the wondrous Virgin-born;

We’ll follow in the shining train of that seraphic band,

Whose voices bore, in choral strain, the tidings thro’ the land.

Uplift the voice of melody, “to us a Son is given”

Shout “peace, good-will” and victory, the bonds of sin are riven,

He comes “the Sun of Righteousness,” with healing in his wings

He comes, a ransomed world to bless, and reign the King of Kings.

Uplift the voice of melody, “Hosanna to the Lord”

Let earth, Let Ocean, and let sky take up the joyous word,

And hail with us the glorious day that gave the Saviour birth,

To Him united homage pay—Emmanuel God of earth,

NOTICE.

Owing to the increased cost of production the

price of the Magazine will be raised to Two pence in

the New Year, beginning with the January number.

New features will be introduced into the Magazine,

which will make it a more perfect record of Parish life.

Advent Services.

During Advent Special Addresses will be given in

the Parish Church on the subjects—" Life," “Death,"

“Eternity," as follows

Sunday, Dec. 3rd, 11-30am The Gift of Life."

7 p.m.—" Life and Duty."

Dec. 10th, 11-30am “The Christian View of Death."

7 p.m.—" Death and Sin."

Dec. 17^th, 11-30am" The Life with God."

7 p.m.—" The Anchor of the Soul,"

WEDNESDAY SERVICES .

Wednesday, Dec, 3th, Sunday School Work."

10^Th “Temperance Work”

.

Preacher—Rev, F. H. Wilkinson, M.A., Curate

of Lurgan.

Wednesday, Dec 20th, “Holy Communion."

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE .

Christmas Day.

On Monday, Dec. 25th, being Christmas Day, the

Services will be as follows- —

8 a m.—Holy Communion.

11-30 am—Morning Prayer Sermon and Holy Communion.

The offerings on Christmas Day will be for

providing Christmas comforts for the poor of the Parish.

On Sunday, Dec. 24th, Christmas Carols will be

sung in the Parish Church after Evening Prayer.

The Mission .

The Mission of Repentance and Hope held in

the Parish Church from Nov. 5th to Nov. 12th. These

Services were attended well. The largest weeknight

attendance was on Thursday evening. Quite

a large congregation Was present at the Saturday

evening Service. On each Sunday of the Mission

the congregations were much larger than usual.

We believe that the Services have been productive

of much good in our midst. There has been a stir-

ring up of interest in spiritual things, and some of

those who were present in Church during that week

had not worshipped there for a long time. Special

Supplications was made at each Service on behalf

of our men at the Front,

How to make permanent the good effect of the

Mission is a question which must now occupy our

attention. Three definite objects were set before the

Parish by the Rector on the Wednesday and Sunday

following the Mission—

1. Holy Communion.

2. Public Worship.

3 Sunday School Efficiency.

To increase the number of Communicants, to im prove the attendance of the Parishioners

at Public Worship, and to render our Sunday Schools more efficient

for the religious training of the children of the Parish are three objectives

most worthy of attention.

In our next issue, we hope to outline some methods

which under the Divine Blessing we trust may lead

the Parish forward towards the attainment of these

great objectives.

We ask the prayerful co-operation of our people in

the efforts which we make for the spiritual uplifting

of the Parish.

Roughing it in East Africa.

Lieutenant Wm. Walker, R.A.M.C., of Seagoe,

writes from East Africa :—

“O. C. Company of B Section, 18th Motor Ambulance Convoy,

British Expeditionary Force, East Africa.

You need not mind above address, as it is long since I possessed same. I am actually on active

service, and roughing it with the best of them all. I travelled up on an open truck like a horse waggon at home; got completely covered with a reddish

dust, like truck dust, which I swallowed down occasionally with some water from the greasy engine.

We were travelling for a day and night in this affair. Eat bully beef off a knife, which I can tell you was very delicate operation considering the railway. It was such that you never knew which side of the truck you would be in next with the crazy motion. I need not tell you where I am, as the place has never been heard of in England, and only sprang into existence a few weeks ago as base.

This is the funniest place I ever knew. You cannot buy a single thing, not even a match or soap; consequently you do not spend money. Water is at premium. You can only get what will make you a

little tea, and to shave in possibly, and you never get a bath. I shall probably keep my next bath water to poison the Huns when I get it.

My mess, which I share with an Army Service Corps officer, consists of one box as table and two

smaller boxes as chairs. No luxuries, of course. You have one hand in front of your mouth in order

to avoid swallowing too many flies. It is a case of after you with the jam and provisions here. The flies seem to think they have first call. I travelled 50 miles in an ambulance yesterday. We passed

through wild bush country on a road with 12 inches of red dust. I can tell you it was no joy ride.

I have just had a sort of disjointed talk with my little Gwhali" boy. He is explaining that he can get no water to wash my clothes. I asked him if he would come back to England, and he was delighted

at the idea. I wish I knew more of his language, as he is a very nice boy and very clean. He spends all his spare time cleaning and polishing every article I have, and at night, he sleeps in my ambulance car.

I have arranged with postmaster at Mombasa to send on my letters. As we are advancing, it is most

Improbable I shall get them at all for some weeks after they arrive, but I live in hopes, as I shall have a lot to read some day.

Curious to say when I write this, the summer will not be far off."

Harvest Services .

Harvest Services was held at Tamnificarbet,

Levaghery and Bocombra during the past month.

All were well attended, and the Halls were prettily

decorated. Liberal offerings were given. At Carbet

no less than 160 people were present on the Sunday

evening. We thank all who so kindly helped in the

arrangements for the Services.

Edenderry at the Front,

Signaller Leonard Haire (Edenderry) of the 9th R. I. F.,

writes—" We are very happy out here in our little home,

only Fritz sometimes makes us a little uncomfortable.

We are all in good health and

spirits. We are just now in the trenches, having a

nice drop of tea ready, and are sitting round a great fire

enjoying ourselves. We do have some great times

out here, better than you people at home think; but,

of course, it is not all sunshine."

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

A Fallen Hero.

A brave deed done by one of our fallen heroes—

Private Harry Armstrong, 2nd R. I. Fusiliers—

should be recorded. He lived in the townland of

Tarson in this Parish, and was killed in action in

March 1915. He wrote as follows; January 1915:—

"l am sure it was very dull about Xmas time this

year in the town, but I hope next Xmas will be much

brighter for all of us, and I am sure it will, as the

war will be well over before that. There is one thing

sure, Germany will be defeated , in fact, she is

beaten nation now, although she is hanging it out

till the last. How did you get to know about the

two German officers I captured?

Of course, it is true. I did surprise two in a wood

and captured them, although they were both well-armed.

I didn't give them time to draw their revolvers till I covered them

with my rifle, and rather than let me pass the death

sentence on them they handed me over their arms

and came along with me. Good-bye for the present.

- HARRY."

SUSTENTA FUND.

The collectors are about to make the annual

collection through the parish for this most important

Fund. A glance at former list of subscribers makes

us feel that many of our people do not give as they

should. We know of one household that receives

£5 in wages each week, and whose annual subscription

to the Sustentation Fund amounts to 2s 6d.

Every family should give something, and we hope

that many of our younger Church people who are

earning good money will place an offering in an

envelope and give it to the collectors. Please have

your money ready for the collectors, to save

them from having to call a second time.

Seagoe Parish Magazine,

With this number, we conclude the eleventh volume

and the 132nd number of Seagoe Parish Magazine.

One of our Parishioners has recently got bound the

local matter contained in the first ten years of the

Magazine. It forms a, splendid volume of 300 pages,

and is a complete history of Seagoe Past and Present,

The year now, closing has been a sadly eventful

one in the History of the Parish. There has never

been SUCH A YEAR .

Before in all its fifteen centuries of life. Our pages

have carried to our people very sad messages of

death and wounds from month to month.

We congratulate ourselves that this Magazine has proved a

happy link to unite all Seagoe people at home and

abroad in a spirit of loyalty to the old Church and

Parish. The Magazine circulates everywhere. It is read in

the trenches two days after it leaves the printing press in

Portadown. A week later it has crossed the Atlantic, and

after another week it is cheering the hearts of our

brave lads at Salonica. A fortnight later, it has

reached the Antipodes, and with its bright blue cover

is trying to outshine the brightness of Australian skies.

The demand for the Magazine grows constantly,

and on many occasions in the past year we have

found it impossible to supply even regular subscribers

with their copy. It is not easy to increase the number of copies circulated

(at present 350 each month.)

The cost of producing the Magazine in its present style with two-colour

cover in blue and red has added considerably to the expense of publishing.

From several quarters, suggestions have come that

we should increase the price of the magazine to two pence each month.

If we did this, we could greatly improve it, and make it even more interesting

and acceptable to our people than it has been. We could then insert in almost

every issue a photo block or zincograph illustrating the past and present history

of Seagoe. We believe our readers would not object to paying a penny

extra each month for these improvements.

We purpose also in the New Year to give more attention to our advertising columns .

We do not intend to 'increase the space devoted to advertisements

, but the present space will be used to the greater advantage of those firms who so kindly

help us by their advertisements. There will be a slight increase all round in the

cost of the advertisements but we believe when our clients see the improvements

made they will feel that they are getting ample value for the increased outlay.

We wish to make our advertisement pages artistic, an ornament, instead of

as they often are a disfigurement with the object in view. We are getting

finely designed block frames made for the covers in which the advertisements will be set.

To cover all these improvements, and to make our Magazine still more worthy of the ancient Parish of Seagoe, we have decided in the coming year to raise the price of the Magazine to Two pence.

ITEMS.

Mrs. Jackson, a native of Tarson, now residing in Drumcree Parish,

aged 89 years, has just finished knitting her 118th pair of socks for the soldiers.

Miss Woolsey, of the Red Row, has just completed her 107th pair of socks.

These are two splendid records.

Mr. Kernaghan has recently opened a new Handkerchief Factory in Edenderry.

Seagoe Parish Almanac is now on sale throughout the Parish. Price one penny.

Secure your copy in good time.

Parochial Schoolhouses.

Changes are contemplated in Edenderry Parochial Hall,

which will give increased space for classes.

The Annual Report has been published and will be

circulated next week.

Envelopes for the Monthly Offering for our Sunday

Schools have been introduced into Edenderry and

Seagoe Sunday Schools.

The Advent Anthem, Rejoice greatly, O daughter

of Zion," by the Rev. H. B. Woodward, M.A., will

be sung on Advent Sunday, Dec. 3rd, at Morning

and Evening Prayer.

The Rectory chimneys are being rebuilt. Members

of the Vestry have given very kind help in assembling

the necessary materials for the work.

Much regret has been expressed in the Parish at the death,

after a brief illness, of Mr. Luke, who, until recently,

resided in Edenderry.

On Sunday morning, Dec. 10th, collection will

be made in the Parish Church for the Hibernian

Bible Society.

A soldier at the Front recently discovered by

accident that a large Trench rat had been sleeping

on his lap each night.

Mrs. Montgomery, of Lower Seagoe, an old and

respected resident, passed away last week after a

brief illness.

The new Calendar of Lessons begins in our

Sunday Schools on to-morrow (Advent Sunday).

The Teachers' Notes for the course are by the Rev.

C. I. Graham, B.D., and will be found very helpful.

They can be obtained from the Superintendents for 10d.

per copy. Every teacher should have them.

OLD SEAGOE NOTES,

We have discontinued for some time the publication of “Old Seagoe Notes,"

not because we were short of materials, but because the news from the

front was of such pressing interest as to exclude all other subjects from our columns.

We hope shortly to resume their publication. One important subject

which it is intended to take in hand is the printing of the inscriptions on

the old headstones in Seagoe graveyard, which are rapidly being defaced by time

and weather.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Carne Church Hall has been re-painted and decorated. It is now one of the neatest of our

Major T- J. Atkinson,

Many public references have being made to the loss

sustained by the community in the death of Major TE J. Atkinson.

At the recent Diocesan Synod held in Belfast on October 25th,

the Lord Bishop of the Diocese referred to him in the following terms,

We regret the death of Major T. J. Atkinson, of the Royal Irish Fusiliers,

who fell -in action on July 1st whilst gallantly leading his men.

He was a devout and loyal Churchman and represented the

Parish of Seagoe in this Synod.

At Lurgan Quarter Sessions, held recently, Judge Green,

and Mr. H. J. Harris made touching reference to the regret felt in legal circles

at the death of Major Atkinson.

PARISH REGISTER FOR NOVEMBER 1916.

The following were baptized on 4th November 1916

Girvan—Charlotte, daughter of the late Private

John Girvan, 2nd R.I.F. and of Martha his wife, of Tarson.

Sponsors—Olivia Glassey, Martha Girvan.

Wilson—Leonard, son of Leonard and Mary Anne

Wilson, of Ballymacrandle.

Sponsors—Olivia Glassey, Mary Anne Wilson.

Robinson—Dawson, son of Joseph and Mary

Robinson, of Tamnificarbet.

Sponsors—Henry McKnight, Joseph Robinson,

Mary Robinson.

Burials-

Hall—November 4th, 1916, Robert John Hall, of

Belfast, formerly of Foundry Street, aged 12 years.

Clarke—November 30th, 1916, John Clarke, of

Banbridge, aged 83 years, formerly of this Parish.

Offertories for November.

Sunday—Mornings, £4:1:11

Evenings, £1:19:1

Week Days £2:7:5

---------

£8:8:5

Harvest Services—

Tamnificarbet, Nov. 5th £1:2:2

6th £0:6:0

Levaghery, Nov. 12th £0:16:9

18th £0:11:3

Bocombra, Nov. 19th £0:7:11

20th £0:5:8

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£ 11:17:9