Feburary 1934

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

FEBRUARY, 1934.

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.

Confirmation.

The Lord Bishop has signified his intention of

holding a Confirmation in the Parish Church on

Saturday, June 30th, a t 3.30 p .m . Candidates

must be over 14 years of age or upwards,

classes of preparation will be held prior to the

Confirmation. The dates and hours of the

classes will be announced in a later issue.

The Season of Lent.

We are approaching the season of Lent, which

will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14th

Special Services will be held in the ' Parish

church and addresses will be given on subjects

suitable to the season. The six weeks preceding Easter have for many centuries been set

apart as a time for self-examination and special

dealing with the sins that so easily beset us.

Sin, as the Bible tells us, is the Transgression

of God s Laws. With the Prodigal of the Parable, we must say, “ Father. I have sinned and

am no more worthy to be called Thy Son .” Contact with the world, its allurements and pleases has weakened our Faith and our hold on

Eternal things. The season of Lent provides us

with a special opportunity for taking stock of

our progress or otherwise in the way of Righteousness; It is a time for breaking with sin and

for seeking the Divine help to draw our heart

and life into the following of our Lord Jesus

Christ. The lessons of Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Day will come to us with new

power if during these weeks of Len t we draw

near to the Throne of Grace in Penitence and

Faith. A special service will be held in the

Parish Church on each Wednesday evening at

8 p.m. during Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday February 14th.

Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday, February 14th. the following services will be held in the Parish

Church

11.30 a.m .—Morning Prayer and Service of Penitence

8 p.m— Evening Prayer and Sermon.

Mothers’ Union.

On Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday) ,Feb. 13th, the

mothers will hold a musical evening in Seagoe

School a t 7.30 p .m . This musical evening is an

annual event and is most enjoyable. At the last

meeting held on January 9th, the proceedings

took the form of a business meeting. Mrs.

James Twinem was unanimously re-elected President of the branch and also Hon. Treasurer.

Mrs. John Reid was re-elected Hon. Secretary.

Several new members were added to the committee . Although the weather was very inclement there was a large gathering of members.

A collection was made for the South American

Missionary Society and a large sum was raised.

American Guest Tea.

A t a meeting of representatives of our Sunday Schools held in Seagoe School on Monday,

January 29th, it was decided to hold an American Guest Tea in Seagoe School on March

1st, at 3.30 p.m . A ladies committee was

formed and Mr. E . Scott was elected Hon. Sec.,

and Mr. R . McClements, Hon. Treasurer. The

proceeds will go towards paying off a deficit of

£9 on last years Sunday School Excursion.

Social at Bocombra.

On Wednesday, January 31st, a pleasant

social evening was spent in the new Hall at

Bocombra by the members of the Sewing Class

which meets in the Hall every Monday evening

from 7.30 to 9.30. The members of the class do

work which they sell on behalf of the Hall,

There was a large attendance and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The Rev. W . F. Hayes

presided.

Levaghery Concert

The Edenderry Parochial Hall was crowded on

the evening of Thursday, Jan . 25th, when a concert was given on behalf of Levaghery Sunday

School Prize Fund . The Rector presided, and

a very attractive programme was provided.

Songs and sketches and recitations were loudly

applauded. A t the close the National Anthem

was sung and the Benediction pronounced.

W. F. O

The Weekly Freewill Offering envelope sets

have been taken by many new subscribers this

year. As far as we can judge we will have a

record number of subscribers this year. If any

of our people have not yet got their set of envelopes they should apply to the Hon. Sec., Mr.

Moses Gilpin, Drumnagoon, for a set.

Our Prize Distributions

We have had a busy time during last month

with Distributions of Prizes in our various Sunday Schools. These pleasant occasions began at

Bocombra Church Hall on Thursday, Jan . 18th,

at 7.30 p.m . There was a large gathering and

a very enjoyable evening was spent. The Rev.

W . F . Hayes presided. After a programme of

music the prizes were distributed to the successful pupils. The distribution of prizes won by

the children attending the Morning and Afternoon Sunday Schools held in Seagoe School took

place on Friday, January 26th, at 7 p .m . The

School was crowded with an enthusiastic gathering of young people and their parents. After a

splendid tea , laid out on the new Parish tables,

an attractive programme of music and recitations was performed by the children. Each item

was very good and very suitable for a Sunday

School gathering. Mrs. Montgomery, of Lyndale. Lower Seagoe, presented the prizes to the

children attending the Morning Sunday School,

and Mrs. B est, of Church Lane, to those attending the Afternoon School. 111 prizes in all were

distributed The Rector thanked all who had

helped. Speeches were made by the Rev. W .

F . Hayes and by Mr. Scott, Superintendent of

the Morning Sunday School. As the children

passed out after the meeting each child received

an orange, the kind gift of Mrs. Walker, senr.,

of Seagoe Farm . Drumgor had its Distribution

of Prizes on Tuesday, January 30th, at 7.30 p.m .

There was a large attendance of children and

teachers and also parents of the children. A

hearty tea was partaken of and then some popular games were played. At an interval a

programme of songs and recitations was performed

by the children. It was much enjoyed by all

presen t. Then after further games the prizes

were distributed to the successful children by

Mrs. Scott, of Seagoe. The Rev. W . F . H ayes

spoke of the value of Sunday School teaching.

The pleasant evening closed with the singing of

the Doxology and the Benediction pronounced

by the Rector.

Coming Distributions.

The following dates have been arranged for

the Distribution of Prizes in the remaining Sunday Schools: —

Carne— Monday, Feb. 5 th, a t 7.30 p.m .

Levaghery—Tuesday, Feb. 6 th, a t 7.30 p.m .

Edenderry—Monday, Feb. 12th, a t 7.30 p.m .

Hacknahay— Friday , Feb. 23rd, a t 7 p .m

Our Advertisements.

With this month’s issue we publish our new

sets of advertisements for the New Year. We

are greatly obliged to those who kindly advertise

in our columns. It is through our advertisements that we are enabled to sell the Magazine

at the price of 2d per copy. Each copy of the

Magazine costs 4d to produce, and the extra

sum is covered by the advertisements. Seagoe

Magazine is one of the best of local publications

for advertisements. Every copy is sold, and

when read is passed on to someone else. It

keeps circulating all the time. The printing and

general get-up of the Magazine reflects great

credit on the printers, “ The Portadown News.”

The advertisements are limited in number and

therefore each advertisement makes its appeal

to readers. P lease read our advertisements and

patronise our advertisers.

Congratulations.

We offer our hearty congratulations to Mr.

and Mrs. Samuel Hall on the occasion of their

Silver Wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Hall and Mr.

Tom Hall are very much respected in Seagoe

Electricity in Seagoe.

During the past fortnight workmen have been

busy erecting poles along Seagoe Road for the

electric cable which the Electricity Board of

Northern Ireland are bringing into all parts of

the country. The poles at present do not extend

beyond Seagoe School ground, but have been

continued along the lane as far as the Teacher's

residence. We have heard that lights will be

placed on the poles, and we hope this will be

the case, as the portion of the road between

Seagoe Turns and the Church is very dark.

Electricity is, of course, the light and motive

power of the near future . Its economy in use

and its cleanliness are factors of primary importance. Seagoe is specially privileged in having

the current brought to its doors.

Parish Register for January.

Baptisms.

Kirk—Jan . 6th, 1934, Emma Maureen Hampton, daughter of Alphonso Hampton and Mary Anne Kirk, of Ballinacor. Sponsors— Alphonso Hampton Kirk, Mary Anne Kirk.

Forster—Jan . 6th, 1934, Sara Alexandra Randolph, daughter of Cecil Reginald Bertram and Jane Forster, of Soldierstown, Parish of Aghalee. Sponsors—Foster Shanks, Jane Forster.

Silver Wedding.

Hall and Collins—Nov. 9th, 1908, Samuel James Hall, Clones, to Emma Olivia Collins, of Kernan.

Burial.

Glassey—Jan . 24th, Evelyn Glassey, of Edenderry, aged 20 years.

Correction

In the Annual Report recently circulated the

following errors occur:— Sustentation Fund—

Watson St., Joshua Whaley should read Joshua

McNally. In the list for Drumnagoon, Miss E.

McLoughlin should be credited with 12s 11d .

The name of Miss Anna McLoughlin, who contributed 8s 9d, is omitted.

Regret.

We regret to hear that Mr. David Johnston,

who is now residing in Springfield, U .S .A ., but

who was formerly resident in Edenderry , has

sustained the loss of an eye. While engaged at

his work a spark of metal entered the eye and

totally destroyed the sight. We express our

syrnpathy with Mr. and Mrs. Johnston.

ITEMS.

Much regret has been expressed at the death

of Evelyn Glassey, of B righ t S t., who passed

away after a long period of weakness. She was

of a very bright and happy disposition and bore

her trying illness with great patience. We sympathise sincerely with her bereaved relatives.

* * *

Water is still scarce through the Parish and

any wells are dry or almost dry. Care is necessary that drinking water should be pure, as

typhoid and possibly diphtheria and scarlatina

come through impure water. Boiling is the

manafest remedy.

* * *

We are sorry that several parishioners were

unable to get copies of our January issue. It

was sold out almost immediately. The best

way to make sure of your copy is to become an

annual subscriber to the Magazine.

Twenty-five Years Ago.

FEBRUARY, 1909.

This old copy of Seagoe Magazine records the

distribution of Prizes in the Sunday Schools,

Hacknahay came first. The Misses Neill,

Templeton, Robinson, and England helped in

the interesting programme. In Seagoe Mr. and

Mrs. Watson Walker most kindly entertained the

chiIdren to tea. Mr. Smith , C .E ., of Seagoe,

brought his gramophone. At Drumgor tea was

generously provided by Mr. Robert Gracey. Mr.

Allen of Lurgan, and Mrs. Porter of Portadown,

sent presents of fruit for the children.

“The Town of Maralin” was sung by Master

Livingston and caused much merriment. Four

Baptisms and two Burials are recorded. An

account is given of a School Concert at which

“Barney O ’Hea ” was capitally sung by Sarah

Martin and David Gates. The Senior Boys

sang “ The Tall Top Hat .” Minnie Birney

sang very nicely “ Won’t you buy my pretty

flowers.” Mr. R. Chambers, Principal of the

School, conducted.

Old Seagoe Notes.

The Clogh Bann.—The Clogh Bann, which appears on the cover of the Magazine, is a most

interesting relic of ancient Ireland and is of special interest to us as having a close connection

with the Parish of Seagoe. The name Clogh

Bann has nothing to say to the river Bann. The

word may mean either The Sacred Bell because

of its connection with religious uses, or the

White Bell because of the light-coloured metal

of which it is made. In the photograph on the

cover of the Magazine it is just possible to trace

the inscription on the bell in Irish characters.

The words are in three lines, deeply incised.

Dr. Petrie , the famous Irish antiuarian translates it as “ Pray for Cumuscach the Son of

Ailill.” This Cumuscach was “ Economist” of

Armagh Cathedral in the year A.D. 914. Professor Wilson, in his Prehistoric Annals, p 657,

translates it thus— “ A prayer for him who

shaped my frame to sound Alleluia.” In the

Newry Magazine for 1815 a M r. John Dunn

translates it— “ Christ a King who shaped my

frame to sing Alleluia.” It used to be the custom when anyone was dangerously ill to place

the Bell near their head. If the Bell sweated

this was considered a very bad omen. It was

termed the “ heavy sweating” of the bell. It

was regarded as a certain sign of the approaching death of the sick one. A woman in the

Parish , the widow of a former sexton, told Dean

Dawson, the Rector of Seagoe, in 1883, when

she was in her 94th year that she had seen a

coffin carried thrice round the old Church in

Seagoe graveyard and being made to touch the

four corners of the Church at each round while

the Clogh Bann was rung, and the keeners

chanted alternately .

* * *

Seagoe, The House of Gobhan.— A peculiar

fact connected with the history of Seagoe is

that the Church was always up to the end of the

16th century knows as the House of Gobhan.

Tegdagobha is the form the name usually assumes but about the 14th century it was familiarly known as Tydba, evidently a shortened form of Tegdagobha. When Gobhan had built

his rude Teg or House on the site where the

ruin of the old Church now stands he would

gather the simple country folk together and

teach them the sacred truths of the Gospel

story. But a day came when the aged and faithful Gobhan passed away to his eternal rest.

Reverent hands laid the body of the Saint in a

grave under the shadow of the “ House” where

he lived and taught. His group of Christian

converts would still assemble for prayer and

worship w here he had taught them . So by degrees the “ House” became a place of public

prayer and a centre of Christian influence

among the neighbouring tribes, but the people

did not call it a Church for they loved to think

of it still as Tegdagobha, the House of Gobhan.

* * *

Interesting Discovery at Drumlisnagrilly.—An

interesting discovery of ancient weapons was

made about 130 years ago in Drumlisnagrilley.

The late Dean Dawson, Rector of Seagoe from

1879 to 1905 has written as follows regarding the

find of arms, under date January 6th,, 1883

“ The discoverer of these arms still survives a

the age of 90 years. H is name is Mr. James

Munro, of the adjoining townland of Drumnacanvey. Mr. Munro has a vivid recollection of

the event. One bright afternoon he, at the time

a boy of 12 or 14 years of age, was playing with

a few other lads in D rumlisnagrilley. There was

then there a large bog-hole about three yard

square in which the boys were looking for pike

The sun shone into the hole and James Munro

was the first to observe something glitter at the

bottom . Curious to find out what it was he

thrust his arm down into the water and drew out

a short bronze sword. Eventually they raised

two other swords and a spear head. The four

weapons were given to the then landlord, Dean

Blacker, on whose Estate they were found

Stuart in his History of Armagh, gives an engraving of the spear-head and of the Punic

fashioned Bronze Sword. The spear-head which

was of exquisite workmanship and one of the

swords passed into the possession of the Earl of

Charleville. Another of the swords was in the

possession of the late Colonel Blacker some 70

years ago.”

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

alternate 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.