January 1927

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JANUARY, 1927.

A Happy new year to all

our Readers!

The New Year,

Seagoe Parish Magazine enters today its 22nd year.

The first number was published in January, 1906.

The cover was light blue in colour, and contained a

photographic block of Seagoe Parish Church. Among

our advertisers on the inside cover we notice names

still familiar to our readers—Mr. John Waugh,

Messrs. T. J. Montgomery & Son, and The

" Portadown News." The Rev. John Taylor, B.A. (now the

Rev. Canon Taylor, M.A., Rector of Lisburn

Cathedral) was Curate. The Churchwardens were

Mr. John Montgomery, of Levaghery, and Mr. Joseph

McMurray, of Ballinary. The following is a list of

the members of the Select Vestry—Messrs. James

Albin, W. R. Atkinson, George Calvert, Atkinson

Costello, Robert Gracey, Wilson Irwin, Joseph

Monroe, Thomas Martin, T. J. Montgomery, Wm. J.

McDowell, David Rock, Joseph Stevenson, with Mr.

W. R. Atkinson as Secretary and Treasurer.

A short editorial note says—" We believe that the

magazine will prove most useful in binding together

all the Parishioners and keeping them informed of

every branch of Parochial life. All items of Parish

news will be recorded from month to month, also

Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths. It is our intention

also from time to time to publish extracts from the

old Records of Seagoe Parish, and it will be well

worth our Readers' while to keep each copy of the

magazine carefully and get all bound at the end of

the year. They will thus possess a valuable record

of church work and life in the Parish." Among the

deaths recorded in this first number of the Magazine

are the following—William Simpson, of Seagoe, aged

79, Isaac Dynes, of Crossmacahily, aged 84 ; John

Sweeney, of Seagoe, aged 82 ; Matthew Robb, of

Tarsan, and John Graham, of Drumnagoon, aged 71.

There is a reference to the special Advent Services

and to the Missionary Prayer Union which had recently

been started. Reference is also made to the

Men's Recreation Room as follows—" The Room in

Bridge St. is open every evening for the men of the

District, and the room is frequented by large number

of men. Much of the success of the room has

due to the exertions of the officers—the Hon.

Sec. Mr. Hugh Stoops ; the Assistant Sec. , Mr. E.

Holland, and last but not least, to Mr. Wm. Sherman,

Hon. Treas., who has brought the undertaking to a

condition of complete success."

An account is given of the Sunday School Prize

Distribution at Hacknahay School, Where Mr. W. J.

Calvert gave a magnificent selection of pieces on his

Phonograph. A long and very interesting letter is

published from the Rev. W. T. Grey, dated from

Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 12th, 1905, describing his first

experiences in Japan. The Old Seagoe Notes are

very brief, referring to the meaning of " Seagoe,"

the building of the present Church in 1816, the

building of Portadown Bridge in 1837, and a description of

the Cloch Bann or Old Bell of Seagoe. Perhaps some

of our readers still retain a copy of this first number

of the Magazine. The number which we publish

this week is the 247th since the Magazine first

appeared. During the year 1927 we hope to keep the

Magazine up to its traditional standard of interest

as a record of Church Life and Work in the Parish

of Seagoe.

New Curate of Seagoe,

Mr. William Alexander Henry, of St. Aidan's

Theological College, Birkenhead, was ordained on

Tuesday, December 21st (St. Thomas' Day), for the

curacy of Seagoe. He begins his work in the Parish

in the New Year, and the Parishioners will join with

us in welcoming him to the Parish. The work of a

clergyman in this large and populous Parish carries

with it a great weight of responsibility, and we may

claim for the Rev. W. A. Henry the prayerful

sympathy of the people in the great but arduous task

upon which he now enters. Mr. Henry is a son of

Dr. Henry, of Clones, and a nephew of the Rev. R.

Crawford, M.A., Rector of Magherally, in this

Diocese.

Seagoe in the States.

We publish herewith a kind and interesting letter

which we have received from Mrs. David Johnston,

of Thompsonville, Springfield, Conn. , U.S.A., 'who

left Edenderry a year ago for the States :

Dear Canon Archer—Just a few lines. I hope this

finds you enjoying good health, as this leaves all

well here only myself. I have not been too well, but

thank God, I am getting a little stronger now. Well,

Dear Canon, it's coming near Christmas once again.

I am enclosing you a money order for £1 10s.

want you to give to the Sustentation Fund, and

£1 10s to the Mother's Union fund for me. I hope dear

old Seagoe is going on well ; it's very dear to me,

and the Mother's Union I will never forget. We are

having winter here now. We have had our first

fall of snow. You would not see as much the whole

winter through at home as what we have got here

now. It's lovely to watch the children on their

snow sled ; it's lovely ; they enjoy it. My little David

wants Santa Claus to bring him one for Christmas,

so I think he will. He was up in Springfield in a

store where they have Santa Claus, and all the

children go up to him and tell him what they all

want ; so he told David if he would be a good boy

he would get something nice. He shook hands with

all the children ; and for toys I never saw anything

like it. The children have a good time here.

At Christmas they put a wreath on the door ; some

put a green laurel wreath and others have a red

one. I did not know what it [was for last year. I

asked what did they put the wreath on the door for,

SEAGOE PARISH

so it's to wish you a merry Christmas; so I wish

dear old Seagoe a merry Christmas, and some day

hope to hear the dear old bell ring again. My

husband is still working. every day, and all the rest.

John is still going to High School ; he is 16 years

old at Christmas. He has got tall. Annie works up

in Springfield at her own work. It's one of the

largest stores in the city, and she likes it. well. Now,

remember me to all in the Mother's Union, and I

pray that God will bless the Mother's Union. I will

never forget those meetings and the Mother's Union

Prayer. My sister and daughter send me all the

news about it. And now, once more, in the dear

homeland L wish all a merry Christmas. I will not

take up any more of your time as I want to catch

the mail for Christmas, and now I close with best

Christmas Wishes to you.-—From your old Parishioner

A. JOHNSTON.

Mothers' Union Parcels,

A very pleasing feature of Christmastide in Seagoe

this year was a generous distribution of Christmas

parcels by the members of the Seagoe Mother's

Union. For several days Mrs. Rennix, the President,

and her committee were busy in Seagoe School tying

up big parcels of tea, sugar, biscuits, sweets, cakes,

fruit loaves, etc., etc., which were sent to people in

all parts of the Parish. Owing to the slackness of

trade, there are many of our parishioners in difficult

circumstances, and these parcels proved a very

welcome gift. We congratulate the Mothers' Union on

their thoughtfulness and practical Christian sympathy

in this matter. The monthly meeting of the

Mothers' Union will be held on Tuesday, January

11th (please note the date), in Seagoe School, at 7-30

p.m. A full attendance of the members is requested,

and those who intend to become members are also

asked to attend.

Seagoe Parish Almanac,

A few copies of the Parish Almanac can still be

had at Mr. Vance's, 2.0, Bridge St., price twopence

each. An almanac is a necessity in every house.

The Almanac this year is exceptionally bright and

attractive.

The Parish of Drumcree.

Drumcree, or the Hilltop of the Wavy Branch, has

an interesting history. The Parish came into being

in A.D. 1414, a date cornparatively late when

compared with that of Scagce, A.D. 590, but still of

respectable antiquity. The Rev. H. Rennison, M.A., a

former Curate of Drurncree, has written a brief and

yet full sketch of its history, illustrated by portraits

of successive Rectors. The brochure will shortly be

published. The price is 2s 6d. Mr. Rennison has

done his work well, and we recommend our readers

to secure a copy. Parish records such as this are

History in its most attractive and digestible form.

Church Army Mission.

Captain Stocks and Cadet Crawford have worked

faithfully and successfully in Edenderry for the past

three weeks The services have been well attended

and a real, quiet, but, we trust, deep and lasting

work has been done ir the hearts and homes of the

people. The Captain and his Cadet have visited

every house in Edenderry, and everywhere they have

been welcomed. The van in which they live is drawn

up in the yard belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Craig

near Eden Villa gate, and the Missioners have

received great kindness and hospicality from Mr. and

Mrs. Craig. The van is the same van which was in

the Parish many years ago before the War, when

Captain Gaskell and Lieut. Simrnons (now the Rev.

Albert Simmons, M.A., Hon. C-F. Curate of St. Luke's

Kilburn), conducted a Church Army van mission in

many parts or the Parish.

Mission in Drumgor.

The Church Army van will move (D. v.) to Drumgor

Church Hall on Saturday, January 8th, and a Church

Army Mission will begin here on Sunday evening

January 9th, at 7 0'clock. The Mission will be

continued on each evening of the week (except Saturday)

at 8 p.m. Captain Stocks and Cadet Crawford

will conduct the Mission. After the Mission at

Drumgor the van will go to Carne Church Hall, where

Church Army Missioners will conduct another mission.

Christmas at Seagoe.

Our Christmas Services were bright and hearty.

An Anthem, " Sing O Heavens," Was sung by the

choir, the solo being taken by Miss Clara Kirby. It

was verv nicely rendered, and helped us to understand

still more fully the spiritual joy of Christmas

Carols were sung on the Sunday evening after

Christmas.

Seagoe School,

The School broke up for the Christmas holidays on

Friday, Dec. 18th. The Manager (Rev. Canon

Archer) was present. Prizes, kindly given by Mr.

Rennix, the Principal, were awarded, and after the

singing of a Christmas Hymn and Prayer the

children separated after giving hearty cheers for

their teachers. The School will (D.v.) reopen on

Monday, January 3rd, at 9-30 a.m. Seagoe School

offers many advantages. Here, children receive a

thorough education in :EngIish, mathematics and

drawing. There is a school garden attached to the

School, where both senior boys and girls receive

useful instruction in gardening and plant life. The

girls are also instructed in cookery. The School

posesses an extensive playground under most healthy

surroundings. The Schoolrooms are spacious and

well lighted and welt ventilated. A large central

stove in each room provides comfortable heating.

The clergy of the Parish give Religious Instruction

in the School each week. During the winter time

a supply of soup for the children is provided from

the soup kitchen in the Carleton Home.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE,

Christmas Cards.

The Rector has received Christmas greetings from

Webb, who writes from Jacksonville,

Florida. There have been terrible storms here ” Also

greetings from Mrs. David Johnston, Thompsonville,

Conn., U.S.A., and from Mr. and Mrs. Tom England ,

New York, U.S.A.

South Manchester, U. S.A.

Miss Sarah M'Dowe11, of Killicomaine, has handed

an interesting cutting from a South Manchester,

U.S.A., newspaper, giving an account of a lecture

delivered there by the Rev. J. S. Neill, Rector of

South Manchester, on his return home from his visit

Seagoe and Portadown :—

Large Crowd Hears Rev. Neill Lecture.

Girls Friendly Society Sponsors Unique Entertainment in Cheney Hall.

St. Mary's church family and other townspeople

enjoyed a rare entertainment in Cheney hall last

evening, the principal feature of which was the lecture

on Ireland by the rector, Rev. J. S. Neill, who

spent some time there the past summer.

The programme was in charge of the Girls' Friendly

Society of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, and opened

with selections by the Manchester Pipe band in

kiltie costume. The stirring music was loudly applauded

and the players were recalled. They

appeared again during the entertainment.

Samuel Gaylord told a number of witty stories,

chiefly in Irish dialect, with one or two Jewish and

Negro impersonations, all of which caused much

merriment.

Samuel Anderson followed on the violin with some

of the old favourite Irish melodies and quicksteps.

It was difficult for the audience to refrain from keeping

time with their toes and heels to the dance

music. In response to an enthusiastic recall, Mr.

Anderson reappeared and played one or two tunes

he said were popular around Sandy Row, in Belfast,

when he was there.

Three of the little girls, Caroline Neill, Edwina

Elliott and Alwine Winkler danced the Highland

Fling, in costume, and were obliged to respond to

an encore.

Rev. David Kelly, the new curate at St. Mary's, recited

an Irish poem, " The Grand Matéh," which so

pleased the audience that he was recalled twice and

gave another little Irish story and one in Scotch.

tam a crooked thorn and delighted the gathering

with his Scotch songs and impersonations, in one of

which. " There's Somebody Waiting for Me," the

audience joined with a will in the chorus.

Rev. Mr. Neill showed only views of that part of

Ireland with which those present were most familiar,

Ulster. To many it brought back memories of their

old homes, churches and other places they were wont

to visit, and they recognised them there was

much handclapping.

Of particular appeal to most of his hearers, were

the views in and about Portadown, the familiar street

scenes, and the churches, particularly of Seagoe and

of St. Mark's, where Rev. Mr. Neill preached and as-

cured that congregation that their friends and relations

do not forget their old home with all its associations and

memories. Mr. Neill said he would like to go back

again next summer, in fact he would like to spend

a whole year in Ireland, and hoped to return in the

years to come.

He took occasion to thank the Girls' Friendly

Society for their cooperation in arranging the

entertainment, the pipe band, and every one of the other

entertainers who had given generously of their time

and talent, not forgetting Cheney Brothers for the

use of their hall.

Following Mr. Neill's lecture a motion picture reel

entitled " In Old Ireland," was flashed on the screen.

The pictures were taken some years ago, when the

women wore skirts that trailed the sidewalks, and

hats perched on top of their heads with many

upstanding feathers. The views of street traffic, the

women descending from the high jaunting cars and

other pictures kept the audience in peals of merriment.

Our Sunday Schools,

Full particulars will be given in our next issue

regarding the Prize Distribution in the various Sunday

Schools. Our Teachers are using each week the

useful notes in " The Irish Churchman." The price

of the " Churchman" is one penny weekly. Those

who get it enjoy the advantage of obtaining each

week an interesting Church paper as well as the notes

on the Sunday School lesson. The monthly Teachers

Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 13th, in

Seagoe School, at 8 p.m.

Jumble Sale.

A Jumble Sale, organised by the members of the

Men's Recreation Room, was held on Christmas Eve

in the Parochial Hall. The men, assisted by a band

of willing lady helpers, had worked very hard and

got together a splendid collection of goods. The

doors opened at 3-30, and a crowd of buyers at once

began business. A complete clearance of all the

stalls was effected in lightning time. Within an

hour practically everything had been sold, and a

sum of over £9 had been raised. 'We are greatly

obliged to the many kind friends, too numerous to

mention, who gave generous gifts.

Our Cover for 1927.

We will have our new cover complete in time for

the February Magazine.

Acknowledgment.

We acknowledge with many thanks the receipt

from Mr. James Vance, 23 Bridge St., towards the

Poor Fund of The Parish.

RECTOR :

Canon Archer, B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe,

Portadown.

W. A. Henry, 21 Edward St., Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector's—Mr. dames Twinem, Lylo and Edenderry.

People's—Mr. Moses Gilpin, Drumnagoon.

Parish Register for December.

Baptism,

Irwin—Dec. 4th, 1926, William James, son of William James and Sarah Jane Irwin, of Killicomaine.

Marriages

Gregson and Thompson—Dec. 4th, Abraham Gregson, of Drumgor,

to Jane Thompson, of Lurgan.

M'CuIIins and Reid—Dec. 25th, Jas. Moore M'Cu11ins, of Portadown,

to Gertrude Reid, of Edenderry.

Burials

Matthews—Dec. 12th, Eliza Jane Matthews, of Edenderry ; aged 72.

Atkinson—Dec. 19th, Dynes Atkinson, of Upper Seagoe ; aged 91.

M'LcughIin—Dec. 20th, William James M'Loughlin,vof Drumnagoon ; aged 58.

Death of Dynes Atkinson.

It is with sincere regret that we record the death

Of Dynes Atkinson, of Upper Seagoe, which took place

on Saturday, Dec. 18th, at the advanced age of 91 years.

" Dynes," as he was known far and wide

throughout the Parish and neighbourhood, filled the

post of sexton from 1874 to 1918, but his close

connection with Seagoe had existed from the time when

as a boy he began to work for Archdeacon Saurin

about the Glebe lands. He was born in 1835 at

Tarsan. He had a wonderful memory for past events,

and many of the incidents concerning the history of

the Parish which have appeared in this Magazine

were due to his vivid recollection. He had a keen

sense of humour and never forgot the many humorous

occurrences associated with life in Seagoe in the

last century. He always took a bright view of life,

and up to the end, even in spite of increasing

weakness he was happy and contented. The end came

after a few days of failing strength. As sexton he

was faithful and reverent in the performance of his

duties, and when he retired some eight years ago

the Vestry gave him a small weekly pension. The

funeral took place on Tuesday, Dec. 21st. The Rector

officiated and gave a short address. The remains

were interred in the Church ground. We express

our sympathy with the children, grandchildren and

great grandchildren of our old friend, and especially

with Miss Ellen Atkinson, who tended her father

with special care and affection, and who will miss

him most of all.

MAGAZINE

The Saurin Centenary,

We continue this month some notes relative

the centenary of Archdeacon Saurin. We refer again

to his French ancestry. The name Saurin first

appears on the page of history in the person of James

Saurin, an eminent lawyer, born at Nismes

France, in 1632. On the Revolution of the Edict

Nantes in 1685, being a Protestant he had to fly from

France. He took refuge in Geneva, and was greatly

admired for his eloquence. He had four sons, all of

whom were remarkably eloquent; so much so that

eloquence was said to be hereditary in the family.

Two of his sons, Lewis and James, entered the militry.

James, born in 1677, ysas only eight years old

when he had to go into exile at Geneva. Lewis was

Archdeacon Saurin's great-grandfather. James, the

younger brother, entered the army in 1695, and

fought against France under the Duke of Saw?

Eventually he was ordained. He spent some time in

Holland and England. While in England he married

a Miss Catherine Boyton, and in 1703 a son, Philip

was born to him. He afterwards became French

Pastor at the Hague, and on one occasion the

Princess of Wales (afterwards Queen Caroline), was

so much impressed by his eloquence that she ordered

her Chaplain, Dr. Boulter (afterwards Archbishop of

Armagh, and at that time, preceptor to Prince

Frederick) to get Saurin to draw up a treatise on

“ The Education of Princes."

Mr. Saurin was a

prolific writer. His sermons were published in no

less than twelve volumes. Some are dedicated to

King George 11. , who was his generous patron. Our

readers may like to have an extract from one of his

sermons. Here is one :

'I'he subject is " The Price

of Truth," and the text Proverbs xxiii., 23.

" It seems to me, my brethren, to ' buy the Truth' in this vague

and indeterminate sense, he means to excite us to

endeavour to acquire that happy disposition of mind

which makes us give to every question, that is

posed to us, the time and attention which it deserves,

to each proof its evidence, to each difficulty its

weight, to every good its real value. He means to

inspire us with that accuracy of discernment, the

equity of Judgment, which would enable us to

consider a demonstration as demonstrative, and a

probability as probable only. This, I think, my brethren

is the disposition of mind with which Solomon meant

to inspire us." Our notes on the Saurin centenary

will be continued (D.v.) next month.

ITEMS

Mr Walter Vaughan, of Upper Seagoe, recently dug

up on his land a copper coin in a good state of

preservation. The date on it seems to be 1239. On

one side is a Large crown surmounting a small head

surrounded by the word " Hibernia." On the other

side is a head, but the inscription round it is not

easy to decipher.

The Rural Council is proposing to sink a well

near Seagoe School, with the object of providing

water in connection with the new caretaker's lodge