Feburary - March 1921

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

FEBRUARY—MARCH, 1921.

The Double Number for March and April will be

on Sale on Saturday, April 30th—Price Fourpence.

Holy Week and Easter.

Special Services will be held in the Parish Church

during Holy Week, each evening at 8, except on

Saturday. The Rev. Oswald Scott, M.A., Rector of

St. Paul's Church, will conduct the Services,and will

give a series of Addresses on—"The Cross and

Passion."

GOOD FRIDAY.

11-30 a.m.—Morning Prayer, Litany and Sermon.

8 p.m.—Evening Prayer and Sermon. Offerings

at both Services for the Jews' Society.

EASTER DAY.

8 a.m.—Holy Communion.

11-30 a.m.—Morning Prayer, Sermon and Holy Communion.

7 p.m.—Evening Prayer and Sermon. Offerings

at all Services for Parochial Sunday School Fund,

Easter Vestry

The Annual Easter Vestry will be held in Seagoe

School on Thursday, March 31st, at 7-30 p m.

Special interest attaches to this Easter Vestry, as

Women are for the first time eligible for election,

both to the General and Select Vestries. Already

several women have been registered on the General

Vestry of Seagoe. We hope some will obtain places

on the New Select Vestry.

Weekly Freewill Envelopes,

The Envelopes are making their way steadily in

the Parish, and on Sundays the collecting baskets,

which have taken the place of the plates, are well

filled with them. We have not yet got in the final

returns from the distributors, but we believe about

100 sets of Envelopes have already been taken up.

The sums contributed range from about 3/6 weekly,

down to ld. The system is so, simple and efficient

we believe before long almost all the subscribers to

Sustentation will have adopted it. A sum of £ 12

weekly is needed if the minimum Stipend is to be

given to the Rector and Curate, with a free house for

the Rector, and the Parochial and Choir Fund

adequately supported.

This could be accomplished on the following lines.

12 subscribers giving 2/6 weekly, £78.

20 subscribers giving 2/- weekly, £104.

25 subscribers giving 1/6 weekly, £97.

50 subscribers giving 1/- weekly, £130.

100 subscribers giving 6d weekly, £130.

200 subscribers giving 3d weekly, £130.

___ ____

407 subscribers giving 2/6 weekly, £669.

Seagoe Scouts.

The Scout movement continues to progress in the

Parish, and during the past month several recruits

have joined the two Troops. A very enjoyable social

evening was held in Edenderry Parochial Hall, on

Thursday, February 10th. After an abundant supply

of Tea and Cakes many novel Scout games were

enjoyed. The Tenderfoot Badge was distributed to

those who had passed the Test Examination, Mrs,

Hugh Stoops distributed the Badges to the Edenderry

Troop, and Mrs. Rennix to the Seagoe Day School

Troop. The Edenderry Scouts marched up to

Seagoe to meet the School Scouts early in the

evening. and both Troops marched down together to

the Parochial Hall, making an impressive display,

Mr. Howard Stevenson, Scout Master of the

Edenderry Troop, has started a Sunday afternoon Bible

Class in the Parochial Hall for Scouts over 15 years.

The Class is studying St. Matthew's Gospel.

Seagoe in India,

The Rev. W. R. Crichton writes under date Jan

21st, 1921, from Highbury, Ootacamund, Madras

India—Very many thanks for the Seagoe Kalendar.

Here I am up in the Hills, 7000 feet high. We get

severe frost sometimes, which is a bit homelike.

'Ooty" is one of the biggest hill stations in India, and

is a gay spot in the season. The Governor and all

offcials up here for six months every year. My

church is very fine. I have a furnished Bungalow

here. To run our modest establishment we must

employ seven native servants.

It keeps my wife

busy hunting them all day. Please remember me to

all my Seagoe friends

Band of Hope,

A very successful hand of Hope meeting was held

in the Parochial Hall, Edenderry, on Friday, Feb.

25th. There was a large attendance, and the programme

was first rote. The Rector presided and a

stirring address on Temperance way given by the

Rev. W. Millington, Curate of St. Mark's, The

following assisted, besides those who took part in

Choruses and Dialogues Miss S. Martin, Miss

Dorothy Stevenson, Bob Sherman. Doris Shields,

Minnie Sherman, John Johnston, Nellie Cox and

May Johnstone The Dialogues were very well done.

Miss Isobel Atkihson, and the Sunday School

Teachers committee, who organised the meeting are

to be congratulated on its success. At , the close of

the meeting many young people gave in their names

to sign the pledge.

Seagoe Kalendars Abroad,

A new venture was tried this year with the Seagoe

Kalendars as announced in our last issue. - Parcels of

them Were sent to various centres in Canada, the

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

States, Scotland, &c. Here is a letter from Mr.

David Webb, late of Railway Street, and now of

South Manchester. U.S.A.

41 Chestnut Street, South Manchester,

Conn., U.S.A.

Sir- Your letter to hand, dated the 10th, in

which you told me about your parcel of Almanacs.

Well I received the parcels, 25 in each. I opened

my sale on Friday morning, the 28th, and I don't

mind telling you the Seagoe Almanac went like snow

off a ditch, The old folk from the Old Country called

to my house all the time, till I was left with none,

not even the one you told me to keep as a present. I

had to part with it. So you can understand how the

gale went. The first man bought one was a 9th

Battalion man, his name is Mr. Matchett.

The houses out in this part of the country is very

different from Portadown, so for me to have went

round would have meant a lot of work,but as soon as

the news went round that the Seagoe Almanac was

in town then the business began—so to say it all they

flew in a few hours. I must say the Seagoe Almanac

this year in very nice,and admired by all who seen it,

I am enclosing six dollars and 25 cents, value for

£l 5s in English money, and you can send on those

other 25. I shall be very glad to help the Parish in

any way I can. I hope these few staggering lines

finds you in the best of health, as I am A1, and like

America better every day, so goodbye to I hear from

you again—I am, sincerely, David WEBB,

Glasgow also done well. Mr. Joshua Caddell,

of Govan, writes that he hos sold the 25 Kalendars

sent to him. Brown late of Ballinacor, gave

him good help in selling them. We give pur best

thanks to Mr. Webb and to Mr. Caddell and to Mr,

Brown, for their kind help in selling the Kalendars.

We have sent out a further supply of and

Almanacs to Mr. David Webb.

PARISH REGISTER—FEB. 1921.

Baptisms.

Porter—February 2nd, Sarah Graham, daughter of Robert John and Margaret Porter, of Lower

Seagoe. Sponsors—Robert John Porter, Margaret Porter.

Hamill—February 5th, James, son of Robert and Mary Hamill, of Killicomaine.

Sponsors—Ellen Elizabeth Hamiil,Mary Hamill.

Mullen—Februory 5th. Edna, daughter of Horris Henry and Christina Mullen, of Portadown.

Sponsors—Emily Reid, Christina Mullen.

McKerr—February 5bb, Robert Neill, son of James and Sarah Anne McKerr. of Portadown.

Sponsors—Emily Neill, Sarah Anne McKerr.

Gray—February 5th, Margaret Jane, daughter of Hugh Henry and Charlotte Graye of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Emily McCrory, Charlotte Grgy.

Sherman—Februory 16th, Elizabeth, daughter of William and Margretta Sherman, of Edenderry.

Sponsors —Margaret Sweeney, Mary Wilson.

Magee—February 23rd, 1921, Samuel Finnegan, son of George and Hannah Jane Magee, of

Edenderry. Sponsors—George Magee, Hannah Jane Magee.

Marriage.

Ruddock and Holmes February15th, 1921,

George Ruddock, of Drumnacanvey, to Annie Holmes, of Bocombra.

Burials,

Reid—January 23rd, Anne Reid, of Upper Seagoe aged 22 years.

Caddell—February 22nd) Margaret Jane Caddell, of Tarson, aged 69 years.

ITEMS.

Mr. W. J. Bickett, Head of the Education Department, Trenton,

New Jersey,writes to say he was born

in Seagoe Parish, the son of Mr. James Bickett. He

wonders are there any Seagoe people living in Trenton.

He would like to meet them. Everything he

adds is going fine here. We have a most excellent

Rector at our Church "All Saints," the Rev. J. McCann.

The widening of Portadown Bridge is progressing.

The decision to use only granite was a wise -one,

Have you got your set of Weekly Freewill Offering

Envelopes yet? If not, ask Mr. James Sands, Hon.

Treasurer, for one, Join at once and help your

Church.

The Select Vestry of Seagoe have declined to adopt

the Diocesan Scheme for the increase of Clerical

Incomes until they consult the parishioners.

Among the names added this year to the list of the

Registered General Vestry of Seagoe Parish are the

following —Miss Isobel Atkinson, Miss Rebecca

Calvert. and Mrs. Elizabeth Stothers. They are the

first to be admitted to the General Vestry since the

new law was passed by the General Synod, admitting

women as members of the General and Select Vestries

of Parishes.

General and Select Vestries were first formed on

the Disestablishment of the Church in 1871.

A Gas Lamp, giving 'bright light, has been erected

in the ground round the Chnrch.

The Rev. J. H. McCleary, Deputation Secretary of

the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, will

preach in Seagoe Church on Sunday, March 13th, at

Morning and Evening Service. Mr. McCleary, who

is a Derry man, gave an interesting Lecture last year

in Seagoe School. His subject on Sunday week will

be "Foreign Missions."

The War Memorial Pillars and Gates for Seagoe

Church are now practically completed, and will be

erected as soon as the weather permits.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

The Rev. F. J. Halahan, Rector of Drumcree, has

resigned his Commission as an Army Chaplain, after

a strenuous and distinguished years with the

colours. His services with the 9th during the great

war will not soon be forgotten. Major Halahan has

recently been stationed in Mullingar.

Pretty Blotters, price 2d each, are being sold in

the Parish to help to raise money to equip the Seagoe

Scouts. If you buy one you will bay most useful

thing. Letters are always being written and forms

signed, but no one ever has a bit of blotting paper to

dry them with. But this can never happen if you

have a Seagoe Scout Blotter.

Seagoe Villa, which has housed the Curates of

Seagoe for many years past has been sold. It was

purchased by Mr. T. D, Gibson, D.L., for £2020.

This brings to an end the long tenure of the holding

by the Walker family. Many in the Parish will regret

Miss Walker's departure from our midst, where she

has always been so kind and helpful

The mild winter has induced an early growth of

spring flowers, and farming operations are well

advanced.

Much regret has been felt at the death of Annie

Reid, of Upper Seagoe. She was a great favourite

with all who knew her, and was a most regular member

of Seagoe Girls' Bible Class. We offer our

sincere sympathy to her bereaved relatives.

OLD SEAGOE NOTES.

(Continued from June, 1920 )

Seagoe Choir 80 years ago.—Miss Lett.

daughter of the late Rev. Canon 'Lett who died last

December, has presented to the Rector as a remembrance

of her father,the wooden Pitchpipe used by the

leader of the Choir in Seagoe Church some 80 years

ago. It was bought by Canon Lett at Archdeacon

Baurin's Auction. It is made of fine wood, 1 ½ by 1 1/4

inches square, is 16 inches in length, and gives the

scale notes from C to C. The notes are formed by

blowing through a pointed end of the pipes and moving

a wooden cylinder backwards and forwards.

Seagoe Yeomanry, 1820. —A return of the

Yeomanry Forces in the Co. of Armagh. dated 28th

April, 1820, gives the numbers of Seagoe Yeomanry

as—Captain, W. Blacker ; 15 Sergeants, 1 Drummer,

298 Rank and File. This was its effective Force. Its

Establishment was 15 Sergeants, 1 Drummer and

300 Rank and File. Portadown Yeomanry Force is

given as—Captain, Woodhouse ; 8 Sergeants, I

Drummer, 140 Rank and File, Lurgan is as follows

—Captain, W. Brownlow ; 11 Sergeants, 1 Drummer.

208 Rmk and File. W, Patten ;

9 Sergeants, I Drummer, 156 Rank and File

(Establishment 200.) Seogoe Yeomanry was the

strongest unit in the County, Lurgan came second.

The total effective force for the County was 13 Corps.

13 Captains, 90 Sergeants, 13 Drummers. 1641 Rank

and File.

The Great Sir Robert Peel and Seagoe, 1815

-— When Sir Robert Peel, afterwards the famous

Prime Minister of England, was Chief Secretary for

Ireland in the critical year of Waterloo, 1815, he wrote

as follows concerning the Seagoe Yeomanry to Capt.

W. Blacker.

Dublin Castle,

24th August, 1815.

Sir – A report having been received thro the

Commander of the Forces on the conduct of the

Detachment of the Seagoe Yeomanry whilst lately

employed on Military Duty out,of this county, I hove

the Lord Lieutenant's Command to request you will

assure the Officers and Yeomen who composed this

Detachment, that His Excellency is highly gratified

in feeling himself called upon, in consequence of the

official representations which have been submitted, to

convey to them his entire satisfaction with their

conduct on this occasion.

His Excellency appreciates the value of this Service

not alone by the temporary limited aid resulting from

it to the Regular Military Force, but by the very

creditable example of disinterested spirit, and of

punctuality, subordination, alacrity, and improved

Discipline, which it is calculated to afford to the

Yeomanry at large,

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient

Humble Servant,

R. PEEL

Seagoe Church Graveyard 1875.—The Grave

surrounding the present Church has always been

regarded as a very unsuitable place for burials owing

to its limited space, and {he numerous trees which

grow in it. Its use as a Burial Ground originated in

the year 1875. The first interment was that Of

Samuel Hamilton in April, 1875 (Plot 14-15). Old

Seagoe Graveyard which had al ways been the property

of the Church, was, by the Act of Disestablishment.

transferred to the Board of Guardians on 7th August,

1874. The desire to have burial Ground specialy

associated with the Church was no doubt the reason

why this Ground was brought into use, The Graveyard

has recently been carefully and each

plot numbered - There are 132 Plots. No record of

Burials was kept from 1874 to 1879.

WITH THE " NINTH" IN FRANCE.

By Lieut.-CoL W. S. BLACKER, D.S.O.

(Continued from January Magazine.)

Wednesday, February 9th.—Hadn't & minute yesterday, They've sent out, Res Lt.-CoL to be attached for 2 days to learn Trench work. A nuisance he squashes us so. We gave the Huns half an hour strafe in retaliation for their strafe on the Downs

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

yesterday a.m. 9 2 in.-8 in. Hows. etc„ all on their

Trenches. They put back a few Whizz bangs into

the village. 1 man of ours had his cheek grazed,

otherwise quiet, and a quiet night.

Snowing this

morning which will make the Trenches damnable.

Am writing in the cellar 2 others are dressing,

and the breakfast things are being put out, and much

turmoil. Griffths, Smith and C.C, came round in

a.m. Latter didn't show a liking for the sound of

bullets.

10 a.m.—Snow stopped and turning out

fine, but everything very wet and slushy, and cold.

Art'y observing Officer last night was Vallentine, son of

the Gunner who drove Woolwich coach. Do you remember

him? Such a squash in here. Very hard to keep things

tidy. 6 p.m.—They are shelling Div. on our left

very heavily. Continuous roar of heavy guns. I

walked out with Johnstone across the marsh to their

nearest Battalion about 4 p.m and examined the

ground in front of our line from them. We had only

left them. a short time. The Capt. who we met was

Knott, whose brother was James Richardson's secretary

at Bessbrook— 16th Lancs. Fus. Bull and Col.

Hamilton came in to see us today, They are reserve

about 1 ½ miles away, I hope they relieve us.

Nothing settled about reliefs. I expect go back

on Friday or, Saturday. Fergie written to soy B shell

dropped near his store to day, b miles back. I expect

it the empty case of Archie. The strafe

has died down. Some excitement reported from one

of our outposts. Just got Johnstone on telephone

from the outpost. He says that he got a report that

Germans were

IN THE OLD MILL,

About 90 yards from our post. I went down and they

threw a few bombs into the mill, and nothing more

happened. 10 p.m.—All quite quiet again. Clear.

frosty night; going to lie down. Thursday, Feb,

10th—9 a.m., lovely sunny day, after sharp frost.

A poor fellow, Elliott, shot last night returning from

a patrol. Fear won't live. Shot by our own people.

Failed to give warning that the Patrol was going

out I fear. Otherwise quiet night. They are shelling

or registering on a village. about 300x behind our

cellar. Another man just been reported wounded by

a shrapnel bullet in the leg. Must go off and see

them. The 12th relieve us to-morrow, but we only

go back a mile. A Hun Aeroplane, with British

marks came over to-day and dropped 2 bombs on the

12th, killing 1 and wounding 4. A good deal of

firing all day from German 4 2 guns and Field guns.

Three shrapnel into village dropped close to where

the two wounded men were. Unfortunately they

could not be moved before dark. ; They are safely

away now, but had to be carried a mile to the

ambulance. The Corps gen. Anderson and Brigadier

were round this a.m. He (A) has aged a good deal.

Lovely sunny day after frost. No more casualties.

Little Berry much cut up about the wounded men.

He and the Padre were with them all Relief

to-morrow will be a long business. Don't expect to

be back at...M,.before midnight. Now much of

rest place I fear, All water has to be carried 1 ½ miles

February 11th—9 a.m. A quiet night, but turned

wet- a cold sleety rain falling. Everything very

sloppy and horrid. A leaden sky. They've sent us a

Major—in 4th D G. Reserve Regiment. Came out

for instruction, to add to our squash. He is at

Tidworth where Bishop is. B came out a month ago for

a like tour, and had a bad time with weather and

discomfort, and returned sick to England. Here we

are in tho village of …..and go to-night to …....

and stay for 6 days, then back here. Am

FEARFULLY DIRTY AND MUDDY.

February 12 th Mesnil 10 a.m. We were

relieved yesterday in the Trenches and came back

here, I got in about 11 p.m. Relief carried out

successfully. This morning they put some shells

into the village, and killed I man and wounded 19

I'm grieved to say. It's not much of a rest place,

and there is much work 10 be done on Trenches

nightly, Jog Johnstone had pocket book in his

pocket which was hit by a small bit of shell—a good

escape. The man hit was Girvan in "C" Company

one of the cooks. Steady and cold sleety rain all

yesterday up to 9 p.m. Cold to-day and raw. .but

fine so far. 6 p.m. Hughes and Gillespie are really

all right: Gross exaggeration in both cases. Have

never felt less cold all winter. We belong now to

XVII Corps. It makes no difference to leave, We

get 50 instead of 20. At, Ensor, Lutt, and James

Johnston go on 17th. We have about 1,200x front,

one flank resting on a marsh. with a post in the

middle of it, and then the next Div. on our right

begins the far side of the marsh. I was with them

looking at our line from the flank. This is far from

salubrious, In addition to the morning strafe,when

they put in about 80 1 think—they kept

putting in an odd one at intervals through the day,

Our; Heavies give them beans at 4 p.m„ and they

replied 'about 4-30 for half an hour, with I think

I was down at the cemetery with the Padre when

they began, and on our yay back they

KEPT COMING .OVER OUR HEADS,

and bursting about 50 to 100 yards over us,evidently

trying to find the position of the Heavies, which they

didn't. The Downs had three more casualties this

morning, I hear. I swear its ….. fault our being here

As a rest place he pointed out the way the place was

shelled daily, but .didn't care. Of course it's no

rest for the men, as they have large working parties

every night to improve the Trenches. Sunday,

February 13th—Only time for a line, A quiet

night and morning so far. Raining. We are having

Communion Service as 12-30 in a cellar.

Sunday Evening—We've had a quiet day—only a few (½ -a-

dozen) Whizzbangs put into the village. Tilney,

Lt.-Col. R.A., came to see me today, I walked over

to 'D" Company with Berry in p.m., about 1 ½ miles

direct. but we had to take a devious route thro' muddy

roads in a wood of about 8 miles, and came back

by B short road in the dark.

(To. be Continued.)