December 1933

Seagoe Parish Magazine

DECEMBER, 1933.

A Happy Christmas and a Bright and Prosperous New

Year to all our readers at home and abroad !

CLERGY :

Rev. Chancellor Archer, B.D., The Rectory,

Seagoe.

Rev. W. F, Hayes, B.A., The Bungalow, Lower

Seagoe, Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector's—Mr. James Twinem.

People's—Mr. Wm. White.

Advent, 1933.

The season of Advent is with us once again.

It is the season of Preparation and Repentance.

Archbishop Trench, in commenting on the Parable of the Ten Virgins, writes as follows :—

Those Christians are like the Wise Virgins

who recognise that the Bridegroom may tarry

long, and who therefore foresee that they may

have a long life before them of patience and self

denial before they shall come to the Kingdom.

They rightly judge that it is not a few warm excited

feelings which will carry them triumphantly

through all this but setted principles of life

and work. "

St. Augustine said—" The last day

is hidden that every day may be regarded. He

therefore loves the coming of the Lord who, whether

it be near or far off awaits it with sincerity

of Faith, constancy of hope and fervour of

Love.

Special Advent Services.

On the Wednesdays in Advent Services will be

held in the Parish Church at 8 p.m. as follows

Dec. 6th—A Service to which are specially invited

our Sunday School Superintendents, teachers

and senior children, also the members of the

Men's Bible Class and of the C.L.B.

Dec. 13th—The members of the Mothers'

Union and of the G.F.S. are specially invited to

be present. The Rev. W. G. Kerr, M.A., Senior

Curate of St. Mark's Church, Portadown, will

preach.

Dec. 20th—The members of Select Vestry,

Sustentation Fund collectors and Magazine Distributors

are specially invited to attend.

On Advent Sunday, Dec. 3rd, the offerings

at Morning Prayer will be on behalf of Foreign

Missions.

On Sunday, Dec. 10th, which is often, referred

to as “Bible Sunday," the offerings at Morning

and Evening Prayer will be given to the Hibernian Bible Society.

The object of the Society is

to circulate the Scriptures in all languages

throughout the world. Grants of Bibles at half

price are given for Sunday School Prizes. The

Society has helped this Parish very generously

by giving such grants to our Sunday Schools.

Christmas Day.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, will this year fall

on Monday. The following Services will be held:

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 on behalf of the Poor of the Parish.

At the evening Service on Sunday, Dec. 24th,

Christmas Carols will be sung.

New Year's Day.

On Monday, January 1st, the Festival of the

Circumcision and New Year's Day there will be

a celebration of Holy Communion at 11.30 a.m.,

and Evening Prayer and Sermon at, 8 p.m.

School Concert.

On Thursday, Dec. 7th, a Concert will be

given in Seagoe School by the pupils attending

the School. A splendid programme has been arranged.

Tickets for the Concert are now on sale

at 1/- and 9d. The proceeds of the Concert are

on behalf of the School Upkeep and Improvement

Fund. A concert by the pupils of the

School is an event looked forward to by many.

and is always of great interest.

Jay Shot in Seagoeø

In our last issue we published a note describing

" A strange visitor" to the Parish. It was

a bird of very handsome plumage shot by Mr.

Valentine Carville at Killicomaine last October.

It was a Jay, a bird rarely seen in Ulster, but

more frequently seen in Southern Ireland. We

quote the following from the Encyclopaedia

Brittanica—" The Jay is a well-known and very

beautiful European bird. In their habits the

Jays are arboreal, delighting in thick coverts,

seldom appearing in the open and seeking their

food under trees. They seem never to walk or

run, only to hop. The proverbial beauty of the

Jay's wing' is due to the vivid tints of blue

turquoise and cobal—-heightened by bars of jet-

black. No truthful man will gainsay the depredations

on fruit and eggs that it at all times commits,

hence farmers war against it, but its varied

cries and active gesticulations shew it to be a

sprightly bird. It is rendered conspicuous by

its cinnamon-coloured body and pure white tail-coverts,

which contrast with the deep black and

rich chestnut that otherwise mark its plumage.

The nest, generally concealed in a leafy tree or

bush, is carefully built, with a. lining formed of

fine roots neatly interwoven. Four to seven eggs

of a greenish-white, closely freckled, are laid in

March or April. In Canada the Blue Jay is a

famous and very beautiful bird. The Jay, notwithstanding

its rich plumage, is first cousin of

the common Crow. An interesting point regarding

the Jay is that it can be taught to whistle

tunes and even to talk. It possesses unusual

imitative powers.'

Seagoe Wedding in Canada

We have received a copy of the " Winnipeg

Free Press" of October 25th, 1933, containing a

most interesting account of the marriage of Miss

Dinah Elizabeth Robinson, only daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Thomas George Robinson, formerly. of

Tamnificarbet, in this Parish. We give here an

extract from the paper and we offer our hearty

congratulations to the happy couple and to Mr.

and Mrs. Robinson :—

WEDDING—GREEN AND ROBINSON

A very pretty wedding was solemnised

Thursday, October 19, in St. Barnabas Church,

Somerset, Man. , when Dinah Elizabeth, only

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. George Robinson,

of the Beaconsfield district, near Treherne, was

united in marriage to George Elmer Green, only

son of Mr. and Mrs. George Green, of Treherne.

The bride, attended by her matron-of-honour,

Mrs. H. Wiley, sister of the bridegroom, entered

the church with her father to the strains of the

Bridal Chorus' from ' Lohengrin,' played by

Mrs. P. Anstey. The bridegroom, attended by

Mr. George Robinson, jr., was waiting at the

chancel steps with Rev. F. H. Donaghy, who

officiated.

The bride looked charming in a gown of

biege georgette and lace, and a had of brown felt

•with other accessories to match. The matron-

of-honor wore a dainty gown of navy georgette

and lace with a close-fitting model hat of independence

blue. The bride's mother wore a becoming

gown of skipper blue flat crepe, the

mother of the bridegroom being attired in a

pretty gown of black crepe-back satin.

During the signing of the register Mrs.

Anstey played Mendelssohn's ' Wedding March. '

The ceremony was followed by a magnificent

wedding breakfast at which there were thirty

guests. The bridegroom's gift to the bride wag

a dainty necklace; to the matron-of-honor a necklace,

and to the groomsman a pair; of kid gloves.

After the reception Mr. and Mrs. Green left for

Creelman, Saskatchewan, where they will spend

the honeymoon. They will reside near Treherne.

An interesting feature of the occasion was

the fact that Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson

were celebrating their silver wedding on their

daughter's wedding day. "

Parish Register for November

Marriage.

Green and Robinson—Oct. 19th, at St. Barnabas's Church, Somerset, Manitoba,

Canada, Geo. Elmer Green, of Beaconsfield, Manitoba, Canada, to Dina

Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. T. J. Robinson, formerly of Tamnifiglasson, an

now residing at Somerset, Manitoba Canada.

Burials.

Rennix—Nov. 16th, Catherine Rennix, of Seagoe Upper, aged 72 years.

Calvert—Nov. 19th, William John Calvert, of Ballymacrandle, aged 68 years.

Obituary.

We record with much regret the deaths of two

parishioners who were very well-known to many

in the Parish. Mrs. Rennix, a member of Squire

Robinson's family, of Lylo House, passed away

after a brief illness. She was a most regular

attender at Seagoe Parish Church and was

always much interested in the work of the

Parish. We sympathise with Mrs. Walker and

the members of her family in their sad loss

William John Calvert, whose death we also record,

was very well known and very popular in

the Parish. His death occurred after a very

brief illness.

We express our sympathy with

Mrs. Calvert and the members of his family and

with his sister, Miss R. Calvert, in the loss they

have sustained. " We sorrow not as those without

hope for them that sleep in Him. '

The New Plot.

The actual work of draining and laying out the

new plot beside the Church has now been completed.

New iron gates and pillars of handsome

design have been erected. The gates were made

by the Foundry in Foundry Street. It is hoped

that in the near future the Lord Bishop will consecrate

the ground as a graveyard. The ground

has been thoroughly drained. There are no less

than 720 feet of deep drains in the plot.

Seagoe Parish Almanacs,

Copies of the Parish Almanac can now be had

at Mr. Vance's, Bridge St., Price 2d. The

Almanac is very bright and pretty and contains

a text of Scripture for every day in the year.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

C. L.B. Concert.

On Thursday, Nov. 16th, a very attractive

concert was given in the Parochial Hall by the

lads of the C.L.B. Cadets and Training Corps.

A splendid new curtain was hung in front of the

platform, the latter having been much enlarged

for the occasion. The programme was of a varied

and novel kind. Each item was announced by a

card displayed by a member of the Training

Corps, Private Topley. The Rev. W. F. Hayes,

Assistant Chaplain, C.L.B., played the accompaniments

and also sang and recited. Lieut.

Mitchell sang two songs and was encored. Two

Camp Fire scenes were arranged, one for the

cadets and one for the Juniors. They were most

realistic. Lance-Corporal D. Allen and Corporal

Donaldson also recited. Cadet J. Courtney sang

two songs. Sergeant Joe Hynes sang and recited

with great effect. His recitation of " The Old

Soldier" was very touching. One of the most

original and effective items was the series of

“Acts " illustrating the principles and work of

the C. L. B. Discipline, alertness and consequent

success, as a result of training, were cleverly illustrated.

The lady typist in the " Offce

Scene" created much amusement.

Sergeant Hynes and Cadet W. Best did a very amusing

sketch entitled " The Railway Station. '

Cadet R Allen sang, and Cadet J. Hoy played a violin

solo. At the close of the entertainment the Rector,

who presided, thanked all who had helped in

the entertainment, and especially Lieut.

Mitchell, who had devoted time and energy to

the work of the Brigade.

Choir Social.

A very enjoyable Choir Social was held in

Seagoe School on Tuesday, Nov. 21st.

The entertainment was most kindly given by Mr. T.

H. Wilson. After tea, the members present engaged

in round games. At intervals songs were

sung. Before the company separated, the Rector,

on behalf of all present, thanked Mr. T. H.

Wilson for his kindness in entertaining the choir,

and referred to the fact that in March, 1934, Mr.

Wilson will have completed his 60th year as

organist of Seagoe, to which post he was appointed

in March, 1874.

Seagoe mothers' Union.

On Tuesday, Nov. 14th, a meeting of the

Mothers' Union was held in Seagoe School, at

7 30 p.m. Notwithstanding the rain and storm

a large number of members were present. After

the Rector gave an address to the members

on " Bible Illustrations of Home Life.” The

members arranged to attend the special Advent

serviee in the Parish Church on Wednesday,

Dec. 13th, at 8 p.m.

The Sustentation Fund.

Annual subscriptions to the Sustentation Fund

should be paid in early in December as the accounts

close on Dec. 31st, 1933. The new sets

of W. F.O. envelopes will be distributed before

the end of the year.

Seagoe in Africa.

Captain J. J. Dobson, formerly a Licensed

Lay Reader in Seagoe Parish, now resides at

Nairobi, in Kenya Colony, East Africa. He takes

an active interest in the life of the community

just as he did when in Seagoe. The East African

Weekly Times of Friday, Oct. 20th, 1933, in its

“Chit-Chat" notes has the following reference

to Captain Dobson : —"

Captain J. J. Dobson

has resigned the secretaryship of the Nairobi

Association, an honorary post which he has held

for the past 4 ½ years. He feels that it is about

time he had a rest from his labours. He also

feels that he would like to take a greater part in

the interesting debates. Well, I've met some

secretaries in my time, but I must say that for

energy and forceful opinions Captain Dobson

took some beating. The Chairman is going to

have a bright time when Captain Dobson takes

the floor. '

[Captain Dobson is Secretary of the

British Legion of ex-Servicemen in Nairobi.]

District Services,

Services were held last month on Wednesday,

November 22nd, in Levaghery School, and on

Wednesday, Nov. 29th, in Bocombra Church

Hall. Both Services were well attended. Miss

Selina Bradshaw played the harmonium in Levaghery,

and Miss Nellie White at Bocombra.

At this latter place Mr. James Twinem has secured

a very fine harmonium by the famous firm

of Mason and Hamlin. It is hoped in the New

Year to continue such services in the outlying

districts of the Parish.

The Annual Report.

The report is now being circulated. It contains

a full statement of all sums received and

paid out up to Dec. 31st, 1932, and in certain accounts

up to Easter, 1933. If any mistakes are

noticed please communicate with the Hon.

Treas., Mr. Hugh Stoops, Killicomaine Road,

Portadown. Every effort has been made to ensure correctness.

Old Seagoe Notes.

Seagoe in the 12th Century.—Seagoe had been

a centre of Christian worship for 500 years before

it became a Parish. No doubt the successive

buildings on the old site had been frequently

raided by marauding Northmen and often times

burned to the ground, but the sacred site remained

as it does to this day where the ruins of

the old Church still stand. When we are considering

the movement which led to the formation

of a Parish of Seagoe we must remember

that there was a great Reformation movement in

Ireland in the 12th century as well as in the

16th. The first event of importance in the

earlier movement was the holding of a Synod at

Rathbreasil, near Mountrath, in the King's

County in the year A.D. 1110. This Synod was

not a mere gathering of Ecclesiastics; it was attended

by laymen as well as Clerics. The holding

of the Synod seems to have been due to the

influence of the Danes or Northmen who had

abandoned their paganism and become Christians.

Apparently they got their ideas of the

Church from abroad. They held to the principle

of a Diocesan Episcopate in which each Bishop

ruled over a clearly definel territory called a diocese.

At the Synod of Rathbreasil the whole of

Ireland was mapped out into Dioceses. The natural

result of this arrangement was that as the

Bishop ruled over a certain area so the local

priest or cleric would have his special portion of

the Diocese defined.

The area assigned to Seagoe was of considerable extent.

It included the present Parish of

Ardmore and the portion of Knocknamuckley

Parish running as far as Buttermilk Bridge,

close to the present Church of Knocknamuckley.

The river Bann was a clearly defined boundary

on the west and on the east the boundary touched

the perpetual Vicarage of Enachloisgy, the Parish

of Shankill and the Parish of Tullylish. The

townlands actually within the Parish boundaries

were 57 in number, covering an area of 16,178

acres, the modern Poor Law Valuation being

A glance at the names of the 57 townlands

which constituted the original Parish of Seagoe

reveals several points of interest. Eight out of

the ten townlands allotted to Ardmore have the

prefix Derry. It was a common saying that

every townland beginning with a Derry was part

of the Moyntiagh district. Many townlands in

Drumcree Parish beyond the Bann also begin

with Derry. The word Derry or Daire means in

Irish an oak tree or an oak wood. This respect

for the oak leads us to believe that these town.

lands were named by the Druids in pre-Christian

days. The oak was in their eyes specially sacred

and the mistletoe which grew on the oak was regarded

as a symbol of the presence of a god. It

was known as the Golden Bough. Townlands

seem to have been in many cases called after

trees. The frequency of the prefix Derry seems

to prove this. Two other of the townlands in the

Parish have Derry incorporated with them

Derryvore and Edenderry. It is not always easy

to trace the meaning of these townland names.

Derryadd means the Long Oakwood. The word

Inver in Derryinver means the mouth of a river,

so Derryinver means the oakwood at the mouth

of the river. This townland lies where the Bann

enters Lough Neagh. Cor means a cuplike hollow,

so Derrycor is the oakwood in the hollow,

Loisgy is a marshy place, and Derryloist is therefore

the Oakwood in the Marsh. Derrymacash

means the Oakwood of the Wicker Bridge. This

was apparently a light bridge thrown across the

Croset river. Derrytagh is apparently the House

of the Oakwood, the latter part of the word being

" teach" a house. Derrytrasna means the

Oakwood of the Swimming Strand. Ballynery

is the town of the level moor or field. Ardmore

means the great height or hill.

SERVICES—The PARISH CHURCH

HOLY COMM UNION—1st Sunday after Morning

Prayer ; 3rd Sunday at 8 a.m., and on the Chief

Festivals.

HOLY BAPTISM—1st Sunday of each Month at 4

p.m., and during any Service in the Parish Church,

notice be given ; Two Sponsors at least are required

and they must be Confirmed Members of the Church,

Churchings are held at each Baptism. Mothers are

expected to bring a thankoffering. (See Book of

Common Prayer )

MORNING PRAYER—Sundays and Chief Festivals,

11 30 a m.

EVENING PRAYER—Sundays, 7 p.m.

DISTRICT SERVICES.

Hacknahay—Last Sunday of Month at 3-30 p,m.

Drumgor—Second Sunday of Month at 4 p.m.

Edenderry—Wednesdays at 8pm

CLASSES, &c.

BIBLE CLASS FOR MEN in Edenderry on

Sundays at 10-15 a.m.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS -10 a.m. Edenderry Parochial

Hall and Seagoe School. 3 p.m. Seagoe, Edenderry

Parochial Hall, Levaghery, Hacknahay, Carne,

Drumgor, Bocombra,

MOTHERS' UNION—2nd Tuesday of each month

at 7-30 p.m.

CHURCH LADS' BRIGADE in the Parochial Hall

on Tuesdays and Fridays,

GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY in Seagoe School on Mondays at 8 p.m.

SEAGOE P.E. SCHOOL, 9-15 a.m. Principal—Mr.R. Scott.

MARRIAGES must be performed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Licenses are issued by Ven. Archdeacon Hannon

Rectory, Lurgan. Due notice (48 hours) must be given to the Rector of intended weddings FEES—BY License—

Labourers 5/—, Tradesmen 10/—, Merchants and Farmers 15/-, Professional £1. By Banns 5/- FUNERALS will be attended by the Clergy if proper notice be given.

SICK CASES should be notified to the Clergy without delay.

FEES FOR CERTIFICATES—BAPTISM 3/7, Children (Factory) 1/- and 2/- (non residents); MARRIAGE 3/7 An extra Search Fee is chargeable in certain cases.

It will be a help to the Clergy if they are notified of the

arrival of new Church families in the Parish.

A copy of the Magazine will be sent by post to any subscriber for 3/- per annum.