December 1924

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

DECEMBER, 1924.

A Happy Christmas.

We Wish all our Readers. whether

in the old Parish at home

or far from Seagoe in the Lands

across the Sea, a Very Happy

Christmas and a Bright and

prosperous new year.

Advent, 1924.

The season of Advent is with us once again with

its call to a fuller, higher life of Christian service.

It will be marked by special Services and Addresses

in the Parish Church, and in Edenderry Parochial

Hall. On Wednesday evening, December 5th, -the

Rev. S. M. Hankey, Rector of St. Patrick's, Newry,

will preach at the 8 0'clock service in the Parish

Church. On Advent Sunday, November 30th, the

Foreign Missionary work of the Church will be

uppermost in our thoughts, and Intercessions on

behalf of Missions will form part of the Service. Our

Advent Hymns are very stirring and impressive.

We print here a favourite by the Rev. Charles

Wesley. It is No. 65 in the Irish Church Hymnal :

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free ;

From our fears and sins release us ;

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art ;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born child and yet a King ;

Born to reign in us for ever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit,

Rule in all our hearts alone ;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Amen.

Christmas Day. 1924.

Christmas Day will this year fall on a Thursday.

The following Services will be held (D. V.) in the

Parish Church :

8 a.m.—Holy Communion

11.30 a.m.—Morning Prayer, Sermon and Holy

Communion.

The offerings at the Services on Christmas Day

will be given to the Poor Fund of the Parish.

New Year's Day, 1925.

On New Year's Day, 1925, Services will be held in

the Parish Church as follows :—

11.30 a.m.—Holy Communion.

8 p.m.—Evening Prayer and Sermon.

A Service will also be held in Edenderry Parochial

Hall on New Year's Day at 8 p.m.

Services in Edenderry

An Evening Service is now held on every Sunday

Evening at seven o'clock in the Parochial Hall. On

Thursday evening a Service is also held weekly at

8 p.m. These Services have been made possible by

the addition of a second Curate to our clerical staff.

We invite to these Services all who live in the

populous District of Edenderry. The Services are

being well attended, and they are much appreciated

by the Edenderry folk. Miss Hawthorne and her

children's choir have been of great help in the

musical part of the Services.

Men's Recreation Rooms,

The Recreation Room for men in Bridge Street

has been repaired and thoroughly cleaned.

The process took a longer time than we expected, but

all is now ready for a forward move. A small

committee is being formed to arrange the Winter's Programme.

Mothers' Union.

A large number of members assembled in the

Parochial Hall on Armistice Day afternoon at 4 0'clock

for the Bible Class. The Rector gave an exposition

of the portion of Scripture (St. Matt. viii. 23) and

explained the importance of Christian Peace in the

heart, in. the home, and in the world.

The next meeting of the Mothers' Union will be

held in the Parochial Hall on Tuesday, December

2nd, at 4 0'clock. It will take the form of a Bible

Class, and the subject will be " The Religious Education

of Children," based on 11. Timothy iii, 10-17. A

full attendance of the members is requested. Please

bring your Bible and Church Hymnal.

The School Concert,

The children of Seagoe School are very busy

practising for their forthcoming Concert, which will

take place on Tuesday, December 16th, at 8 p.m. in

Edenderry Parochial Hall. A varied programme of

action songs, and attractive musical items has been

arranged by Mr. Rennix. The Tickets (2s and Is)

are now on sale through the Parish. Perhaps many

of those who read about the Concert will remember

the former days when they themselves received

in the old Schoolroom their own education, and

they will be glad to give a helping hand to the

Funds of the School by purchasing a Ticket besides

securing the pleasure of an enjoyable Concert. The

proceeds of the Concert will go towards the upkeep

of the School.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Edenderry in the States

The Rev. J. N. Mackenzie, who as a boy lived in

Bridge Street, Edenderry, writes the following

interestmg letter to the Rector :—

St. Stephen's Rectory,

Grand Island, Nebr.,

November 10th, 1924.

Dear Canon Archer,—lt is now a long time since

I heard from you, also about four months that you

have not sent the Seagoe Magazine. Is my

subscription due or have you just forgotten my new

address ? Seagoe Magazine is always very interesting,

so I shall appreciate getting it again.

I am thoroughly enjoying my work in this parish.

The people are very congenial, just the kind one

likes to work among.

St. Stephen's is a lovely stone Church, situated

on o prominent corner of the city. It is splendidly

equipped inside with everything complete.

Since coming to the Diocese I have been made am

examining chaplain, chairman of the Board of Religious

Education, a member of the Diocesan Council,

chairman of the Diocesan Boy Camp Committee

Rural Dean of Grand Island Deanery, delegate to

the Provincial Synod, and associate Editor of the

Diocesan Magazine.

With my parochial duties, together with those of

the Diocese, you can understand my hands are full.

We have a lovely Bishop. He is kind and

thoughtful at all times. This summer he took me for a

trip with him in his auto for over twelve hundred

miles. We finally landed in South Dakota, where

we attended the Diocesan Synod for the Indians of

South Dakota. It was a wonderful sight to see over

fifteen hundred Indians at one service. The reverence

and devotion of the dear old Indian far surpasses

the white man. I just wish it were possible

to sit at your fireside in Seagoe Rectory and tell you

all about it.

The entire trip took about two weeks, and the

good Bishop paid all my expenses.

We need more men in this Diocese. Do you think

could find one or two at the Church of Ireland

Young Men's Society in Belfast t I want young

consecrated men who want to take orders. Should any

want to present themselves, and come out to me I

shall arrange for their college course, They would

be expected to do missionary work in the summer

and attend college in the winter with all their

expenses paid in the whole of their preparation.

It is a splendid opportunity for those who have

not the means to get through in Ireland.

If you can lay this matter before some of the

young men and ask them to write me I shall be very

happy.

We have quite a lot of T.C.D. men holding good

parishes here in the west. They all seem to like

America, and also find the work here extremely interesting.

Just wish you could run over to see America some

time. I think you would be delighted with the splendid

life in the Episcopal Church. As you Irish do

not travel much, I suppose. there is nothing to do

but wait until I go over and tell about it.

Hoping these few lines may find you well.

I am, very faithfully yours,

JAMES N. MACKENZIE.

P.S.—Kindly remember me to Mrs. M'Mu11in at

Drumgor.

New Sunday School Calendar.

On Advent Sunday (November 30th) the new Sunday

School Calendar comes into use in our Sunday

Schools, There axe several new features in this

year's Calendar. There is a. special Calendar for

Teachers (2d each) and another for the children

(ld each). Only the Repetition portions are printed

in the Children's Calendar, while the Teacher's

Calendar contains the Study Portions as well. Special

books of Lesson Preparation are arranged for

the Teachers. They have been written by the best

authorities on Sunday School Teaching, and the

Calendars are arranged to fit in with them. No

Teacher can efficiently teach the children unless

provided with the Book. Will every Teacher please

be careful that each child in his or her class has got

a Calendar. Superintendents will please see that

each Teacher has a Teacher's Calendar and supply

of Children's Calendars for the class. The

Teachers' Book for the afternoon schools is '"Our

Lord's Life and our Belief (price 2s 6d), and for

the morning schools " Characters and Scenes from

Hebrew Story" (price 2S 6d) The Infant Classes

(under 8 years of age) do not follow the Calendar

but the Teachers have a Book of their own The

Way of Love ' (price 2s 6d)

Seagoe Parish Almanac,

The Parish Almanac will be on sale on Friday.

December 12th, and may be had at MT. Vance's,

Bridge Street, or through the Sunday School Superintendents.

Seagoe Select Vestry.

A meeting of the Select Vestry was held in Seagoe

School on Tuesday, November 18th, at 8. After dealing

with the business arising out, of the Minutes the

forthcoming collection of the Sustentation Fund was

considered. The importance of this collection was

emphasised if the financial liabilities of the Parish

are to be met. The members of the Select Vestry

express the hope that the Parishioners will subscribe

liberally to the Fund. The liabilities of the Parish

at present amount to £450, and the sum hitherto

received only amounts to £350.

The Annual Report,

The Report for 1923 will be circulated by the

Collectors when they are calling round for the

Sustentation Fund subscriptions. It contains a full

statement of all the finance of the Parish. We. ask

the Parishioners to study it carefully, and if they

notice, any errors in it will they please

communicate with the Hon. Treasurer, Mr Hugh Stoops

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

The Penny a Week Fund.

The Committee of the Parochial Hall wish to

acknowledge the sum of £39 12s 9d which has been

collected by weekly contributions during the last 6

months from the parishioners residing in Edenderry

and a few friends, towards paying for the new

heating apparatus.

The expenses have been much heavier than was

anticipated, amounting to considerably more than

£100, so it is hoped that all will continue their

subscriptions until the necessary amount, is raised,

Very grateful thanks are due to the subscribers for

giving so kindly and regularly, and especially to

the collectors, without whose unfailing help the work

could not be so successfully carried on.

The Sustentation Fund.

The Envelopes for the Sustentation Fund Annual

Collection will be left at the houses of the Parishioners

early in December. Each Envelope bears the

following statement :—

PARISH OF SEAGOE.

1924

You are asked to place your

Subscription to the Sustentation Fund

in this Envelope.

It will be called for by the

Collector. The sum required to meet the

liabilities of the Parish this year is £450. A sum of

£100 is urgently required before December 31st, 1924.

Those who have the " Weekly Freewill Offering

Envelopes will not of course receive these envelopes

or be asked to subscribe, but there are some hundreds

of Church householders who have not taken

the Weekly Envelopes, and they are asked to give

a liberal subscription to the Sustentation Fund. A

sum of £100 must be raised before December 31st

if an overdraft on the Bank is to be avoided.

Drumgor Harvest Festival.

The, last of the Harvest Festivals was held in

Drurngor Church Hall on Thursday, November 13th,

the following Sunday. The Services on both

occasions were largely attended.

The Hall was nicely decorated with corn, fruit; and flowers. Miss

Lizzie Gracey had charge of the musical part of the

service, and the singing was very hearty. The Rev

W. T. Wilson preached at both services, The offerings

on Thursday were for Missions and the Local

Sunday School Fund, and on Sunday for the Hall

Renovation Fund.

Jumble Sale.

On Friday, December 19th, a Jumble Sale will be

held in Edenderry Parochial Hall. The hour will

be announced later. It is being organised by the

Superintendents and Teachers of Levaghery Sunday

School to provide funds for purchasing a new Harmonium for use in the Sunday School.

Mission Services.

Mission Services have recently been held in Mr.

W. England's house at Killicomaine, Mrs. M'Donald's

house at Ballyhannon, and Mr. J. E. Lavery's house at Kilvergan.

Similar services are being

arranged in the Districts of Tarson, Drumgor Lane

and Lylo.

Parish Register for November.

Baptisms,

M'Minn—November 1st, 1924, Miriam, daughter of John and Charlotte M'Minn, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Emily Forde, Charlotte M'Minn.

Hewitt—November ist, 1924, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Moses and Rachel Jane Hewitt,

of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Eva Watson, Alice Hewitt.

Burials.

Weir—November 9th, Eliza Weir, of Edenderry, aged 64.

McNeill—November 20th, David M'Nei11, of Killicomaine, aged 28.

Bible Class Social,

A Social for the members of the Parish Bible Class

will be held in Edenderry Parochial Hall on Tuesday, December 9th, at 7.30 p.m.

ITEMS.

The Rev. R. W, Johnston's:- new address is 35

Church Place, Portadown.

All copies of last month's Magazine were sold in

a brief space. after publication.

A new cover is being prepared for our Magazine.

It will appear on the January Number.

The best way to secure a copy of the Magazine

each month is to order your copy and pay your

annual subscription in advance.

21 copies of. the September number of the

Magazine have mysteriously disappeared, and cannot be

traced. We suspect that some person greatly interested

in the Magazine got possession of them, and

finding that everybody was eager to purchase them,

sold them, but we hope they will honourably remit

the profits.

Five out of our six Synodmen attended the Diocesan Synod in Belfast lost month.

Mr. James Twinem is First on the supplemental list for the General Synod.

Thec Rev. Gordon Hannony B.D., Rector, of Ballymoney, Cov Antrim, has been appointed Rector

of Shankill (Lurgan) Parish in succession to the Very

Rev. Dean O'Loughlins who has resigned

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

It is hoped to have Lantern Services in Edenderry

Parochial Hall on each Thursday in Advent,

beginning on December 4th, at 8 p.m.

When the Sustentation Fund Envelope is left at

your house early in December please place your

Subscription in without delay, so as to have it

ready for the Collector when he calls.

The new Weekly Offering Envelopes for 1925 are

now in print, and ready for distribution. The Envelopes

for Edenderry will be printed in red ink, and

will be numbered from 1 to 200, those for the country

will be printed in black ink, and numbered 201 to

500.

The Finance Committee now meets on every Tuesday evening in Seagoe School at 8.

A brass tablet in memory of the late Mr. Carleton

Atkinson, son of the late Mr. J. Buckby Atkinson, is

about to be placed in the Parish Church.

The names of those in Seagoe Parish who fell

in the Great War are to be inscribed On the Portadown War Memorial.

Edenderry Parochial Hall is proving more useful

than ever. Without it the work of the Church in

that District would be greatly crippled.

The new heating system in the Hall is working

splendidly and makes everything very comfortable.

A fine new Printing Machine and Folding Machine

have been introduced into the " Portadown News '

Office.

Memorial Pillars have been erected at Ardmore

Parish Church, and on them have been inscribed the

names of those from Ardmore Parish who fell in the

War. They are very handsome and massive.

The Rev. Canon Archer dedicated the Pillars and

Gates at Ardmore Church, and at the Service which

followed preached the Memorial Sermon.

Wireless is now quite the fashion in Seagoe

Parish. Everywhere one js beginning to see the

poles for the aerials. Crystal sets receive the Belfast

and London programmes of news and music,

and are very cheap. A set may be purchased for

25 shillings, and it never wears out.

Please read our Advertising Columns.

Several new features will mark our Magazine in

the New Year. As usual the cover will be changed,

and we shall have a new set of advertisements.

David M'Nei11, whose death we regret to record,

fought bravely on two of the battle fronts in Flanders

and Mestopotamia during the Great War. Early

in the war he was severely crushed, but went outs

again to continue the fight. His death was accelerated

by Malaria contracted on active service.

Lt. Colone1 Blacker is still in Frame with his family.

He is staying at Ker Uerne, Dinard.

The Bible Classes.

The men of the Parish are invited to join the

Bible Classes which are held for those living in

Edenderry in the Parochial Hall on Sunday mornings

at 10, and for those living in the country districts

in Seagoe Church at the same hour. Mr.

Rennix holds a Class for girls in Seagoe School

every Sunday morning at 10. Attendance at a Bible

Class is of the first importance for all those who

wish to obtain an intelligent and profitable knowledge

of the Scriptures. Those who attend the

Classes always testify to the Spiritual benefit they

derive from them. Come and join these Classes.

“Search the Scriptures " is the. motto of the Bible itself.

A Seagoe War Diary.

[We publish here some extracts from the War Diary

of Private Herbert M. Murray, 47595, P.P.C.L.I. It

is headed " Diary of my Experiences as a soldier

in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France„

December 1st, 1915." Private Murray's name is one

of those inscribed on our Memorial Pillars. Before

he went to Canada he was a useful Church worker in

Seagoe Parish.]

November 30th, 1915.-—Reveille 3.30 a.m. Breakfast

4 a.m. Parade full marching order 4.30. Marched

to Shorncliffe Station and arrived Southampton

at noon, left at 4 and arrived at Havre, France

midnight after a most stormy land rough voyage.

Landed at 7, and marched to camp (Canadian base

about 7 miles away) arriving midday December 1st.

Sunday, December 5th—Up at 6.30 p.m., raining,

went to Training Camp. Lecture on Poison Gas.

Afternoon off. Singsong in Y.M.C.A. at 7. Service

at 7.30.

December 6th (Monday)—Up at 4.30, marched to

Training Camp. Route march 10 miles, passed

through Harfleur. Afternoon off. Debate in Y.M.C.A

" Should Bachelors be taxed?" Negative won by

sweeping majority.

Wednesday 8th—First fine day in France.

Saturday, 11th—Revei11e 4.30. Breakfast consisting

of "Hard Tack," and Butter, Jam and Tea. Terrific

explosion in ammunition works. Shook buildings

and broke windows for miles round. Hundreds

killed and wounded. Lecture illuminated by Limelight

views on "Ireland 'l in Y.M.C.A. Very interesting.

Sunday, 12th—Visit of Sir John French. Evening

service in Y.M.C.A.

Monday, 13th—Debate in Y.M.C.A. on Conscription.

Very hot and interesting arguments on both

sides. Debate not concluded, time not permitting.