July 1912

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JULY, 1912,

Excursion to Carrickblacker.

IT is fifteen years since the Sunday Schools

of the Parish held their Annual Excursion to

Carrickblacker, but the remembrance of the happy

days spent there in old times is a treasured

recollection in the minds of many of our older

Parishioners. Parents delight to tell their little ones

of the swings, and games, and races, and buns which

they so much enjoyed in their early days. This year,

thanks to the generous permission of

MAJOR S. W. BLACKER, J.P.,.

the children of the Schools were able to experience

for themselves the delights of a day at Carrickblacker,

and to swing as their parents did among the branches

of the old oak trees in the "Burrow." On Thursday,

June 20th, the children with their teachers assembled

at the Parish Church at 9-30. A short service was

held, and then the long procession of brightly attired

children, headed by the Seagoe Pipers' Band, marched

towards Edenderry. The stirring strains of the

Bagpipes drew crowds to watch the procession as it

passed along Bridge Street and up Carrickblacker

Road, on its way to the Demesne. The field was

reached about 11-30.

THE WEATHER,

notwithstanding the recent heavy rains, kept up

splendidly. In fact not a drop of rain fell during the

whole day, except when the children were in the

Church before the procession started. The swings,

four in number, had been put up in the big trees by

Mr. Calvert and others, and all through the day at

every moment they were in constant use. Old and

young, teachers and children, were swung by

vigorous pushes until their toes nearly touched the

clouds. The first refreshment was dispensed at 12

o'clock, and everyone agreed that George Calvert and

Dynes had made

VERY GOOD TEA.

An enormous number of buns were passed down the

throats of the youngsters. A number of the ladies of

the Parish had arranged a very attractive Refreshment

Stall under a spreading chestnut tree, and a brisk trade

in teas, ices, sweets, mineral waters, jellies, etc., was

done during the day. A bran dip, under the care of

Miss M. Irwin, was also a great attraction. The afternoon

was spent in races and

GAMES OF ALL KINDS.

The senior high jump was won in fine style by Mr.

Bunting, R.I.C. Egg and spoon races caused much

amusement. W. Ryans and Jack Stoops did well in

the running events. In the rope climbing Henry Lavery

proved the winner. Mr. Moffett, of Bridge Street, was

present, and took many snapshots, which will be interesting

and amusing mementoes of the day. At 5-30 the second

refreshment was handed round and much enjoyed. At

about 7-30 a few taps on the big drum. brought all together,

and the Rector expressed the thanks of those present to

Major Blacker for so kindly allowing the Excursion to take

place in his demesne. He also said that he had sent a telegram

during the day to Major Blacker, in Wexford, thanking him

in the name of Seagoe for the happy day that had been spent.

FULLY 1,000 PEOPLE

marched with the band back to Seagoe. Many said it was just

like the old days. When the procession reached the Church

gates the Rector thanked the band for the excellent music they

had provided, and cheers were given for the King. The proceeds

resulting from the Ladies' Refreshment Stall amounted to

£9 6s 7 ½ d; the expenses were £3 9s 11 ½ d, leaving a net profit

of £5 16s 7 ½ d, which goes towards the Day Schools Improvement

Fund and Summer Fete. The

RECEIPTS FOR THE EXCURSION,

including a kind subscription of £l from Mr. Thos. Armstrong,

amounted to £8 14s 3d; the expenses were £9 11s l ½ d, leaving

a deficit of 16s 9 ½ d. Mr. Tom Carson, of Portadown, most kindly

presented a quantity of ice cream for the Refreshment Stall, and

very many Parishioners gave gifts, too numerous to mention.

Altogether the 1912 Excursion to Carrickblacker must be

pronounced a splendid success.

Anniversary Service.

On Sunday Evening, July 7th, a Special Anniversary

Service will be held in Seagoe Parish Church, at

7 o'clock. The offerings will be given to the County

Armagh Protestant Orphan Society and the Enniskillen

Orphan Fund.

At the morning Service on July 7th, the Annual

Appeal will be made on behalf of the Protestant

Orphan Society. There are at present in Seagoe Parish

24 Orphans receiving grants from the Protestant

Orphan Society, and 4 from the Enniskillen Fund,

making a total of 28 Orphans. Each Orphan receives

£l 5s. per quarter, or £6 per year up to the age of 14,

so that the total sum paid by the Protestant Orphan

Society to Seagoe Parish each year amounts to the

large sum of £144, while the Enniskillen Fund pays

£24. The sum contributed by the Parish to the

Protestant Orphan Society in the year ending last

Easter, amounted to the small sum of £15 9s., and

to the Enniskillen Fund £2. We trust this total

will be largely exceeded in the Current year.

Sum received £168 0s

Sum contributed £17 9s

The Summer Fete,

Thursday, August 29th, 1912.

A Summer Fete and Variety Sale will be held (D.V.),

in Seagoe School, on the above date. The members

of the Committee and Stall-holders are working with

great energy, and already a good deal of material has

been obtained for the Stalls. Collecting Cards have

also been issued and some substantial subscriptions

have already been received. Red Letter Money

Boxes have been distributed through many houses in

the Parish and should bring in a good deal.

It is very necessary that without delay, a Class-room

should be added to the present School at Seagoe.

The numbers attending the school have recently

shown signs of considerable increase, and we anticipate

a still larger influx of pupils after the holidays. An

Old Pupils Fund is being started to cover the cost of

furnishing and fitting up the new building. We ask

all those who have had the advantage of being

educated in Seagoe School to contribute to this Fund.

There are many in America and other distant lands

who could send us a dollar or dollars without

missing it.

The following have kindly undertaken to help in

various ways at the Sale:—

WORK STALL —Mrs. C. Collins, Mrs. Preston, Mrs.

M'Mu11an, Mrs. T. J. Montgomery, Miss Bailie,

Mrs. Irwin.

CAKE AND SWEET STALL—Miss Sands, Miss Montgomery,

Miss M'Mullan, Miss Chambers, Miss Templeton.

FARM PRODUCE STALL—Miss Calvert, Mrs. T. Reid,

Miss Monroe, Mrs. E. Collins, Mrs. T. E. Maginnis,

Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Lavery.

FLOWER STALL—School Children, with Mabel Reid

as President.

BACHELOR'S STALL AND AMUSEMENTS—Rev. G. Bloomer,

S. R. Chambers, C. H. Doyle, D. W. Murray, H. M. Murray,

J. E. Lavery.

REFRESHMENT STALL—Mrs. W. R. Atkinson, Eden Villa.

Day School Sports.

A very interesting series of competitions has taken

place at Seagoe school each day, during the play-hour

recently. The boys competed in a Quoit Competition

for Prizes offered by the Rector. The games were

played off each day, and finally, Tom Johnston was

declared the winner, D. H. Porter obtaining the

second place. The first prize was a Penknife and the

second a Pencil Box. James M'Murray obtained

1st prize in the junior Running Race. The girls

have had a great Skipping Competition. One girl,

Ethel Forsythe, ran up the extraordinary total of

2,100 skips without a miss, and would have continued

longer had time not run out. We think this must be a

record in the skipping line. Eva Forsythe won 2nd prize.

The attendance at the school has increased considerably

of late, and extra accommodation will soon be urgently required.

Parish Register for May.

Baptisms.

"Children are an heritage of the Lord."

Private Baptism, May 29th.

Robert, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Anne Freeburn.

On Saturday, June 1st.

Jessie Isabel, daughter of Robert James and Jessie

Fitzpatrick Beckett.

Martha Jane, daughter of Thomas Henry and Anne

Russell.

George, son of James and Agnes Ellis.

Thomas George, son of Francis and Susannah

Anderson.

At Wednesday Evening Service, June 12th.

James Joseph, son of James and Elizabeth Twinem.

Jane, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Watters.

Burials.

"When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee."

June 5. —Martha McCann, Killicomaine, aged 61.

,, 15. —James Fletcher, Killicomaine, aged 84.

,, 17. —Sarah Hawthorn, Joseph Street, Edenderry, aged 42.

,, 19. —Nancy Morrison, aged 92.

,, 22 —Sarah Legett, Derrymacash, aged 52.

,, 24. —William Metcalfe, Tarson, aged 50.

Hymns tor July.

"Your heart shall rejoice."

7^th M. 335, 346, 361, 374, 465

E. 90(ii) 378, 594, 379, 25

14^th M. 52, 71, 541, 399

E. 50, 295, 376, 518, 332

21^st M. 247, 439, 631, 113

E. 275, 238, 535, 425, 392

28^th M. 228, 561, 285, 467

E. 217, 466, 629, 215, 557

The Hymns for July contain several Children's

Hymns. On Sunday, July 7th, Hymns suitable to

the subject of the Orphans have been chosen for the

morning, and some stirring Hymns of Christian warfare

are arranged for the evening. The Vesper Hymns have

been carefully chosen for each evening, and some new

Hymns are inserted which have never been sung in Seagoe before.

Offertories for June.

(Four Sundays.)

“She brake the box and poured it on His head."

Sunday—Mornings, £4 2s. 5d.

Evenings, £2 5s. 4d.

Week-days, £0 8s. 9d.

Total, £6 16s. 6d.

Items.

Mr. Studdert Kennedy, ex-auditor of the Dublin

University Theological Society and a member of the

Trinity College Mission in Belfast, took the evening

Service at Tamnificarbet on a recent Sunday.

***

Mr. David Murray is kindly undertaking the task

of arranging a competition in singing among the

children of our Sunday Schools.

***

Structural improvements have recently been effected

in Seagoe Orange Hall, which will add greatly to its

usefulness.

***

Tamnificarbet Orange Hall has recently been renovated.

***

The Annual Report bringing the Statement of

Parish Accounts up to Easter will shortly be

published.

***

The Sunday Evening Services in Drumgor and

Tamnificarbet are now attended by regular

congregations, which are steadily increasing in numbers.

The musical part of the service is conducted most

efficiently in Tamnificarbet by Miss M. Dickson, and

in Drumgor by Miss M. Archer. The worshippers

join heartily in the responses.

***

At a meeting of the County Armagh Protestant

Orphan Society held on Tuesday, June 18th, two

Orphans from Seagoe Parish were elected.

***

Old Nancy Morrison, who for so long a time lived

opposite the Church gate, and was so well known to

the people of Seagoe, died in the Infirmary at Lurgan

last week at an advanced age. In accordance with

her constantly expressed desire her remains were laid

to rest in Old Seagoe graveyard.

***

Mr. Tom Best is, we are glad say, recovering

from his terrible injuries, but the sight of one of his

eyes has been destroyed, and it will be a considerable

time before he will be able to resume work.

***

The Rev. W. R. Crichton paid a visit to the Parish

last week on his motor bicycle.

***

The congregations during the past few Sundays

have been large, notwithstanding the great

inclemency of the weather.

***

During the past month death has carried away

several well-known residents in the Parish, as our

list of Burials testifies. We sympathise with the

many bereaved ones.

***

Mr. Thomas Dawson, of Park Road, attended as a

delegate at the great Albert Hall Unionist

Demonstration in London last week.

***

Mr. and Mrs. George Porter have arrived safely in

North Queensland.

***

The Rector's Donellan Lectures have been published in book form.

***

The Sale of Work at Ardmore last week was

great success, and we hear, realised a substantial sum.

***

Drumcree Sunday Schools like Seagoe, are having

their Excursion this year to a place in the Parish,

instead of to Warrenpoint. The raising of the Railway

Fares has not proved an unmixed disadvantage. It has

shown how much enjoyment can be had out of a local

Excursion.

***

Interesting articles appear in this month's issue of

this Magazine on "Boy Scouts" by Canon Paterson

Smyth, a former Curate in Lisburn, also on "Fonts,"

which will remind our readers of the ancient Font

which we possess in Seagoe.

***

We hear that some members of the Cheney family

are about to visit this country. Messrs. Cheney own

the Silk mills in South Manchester U.S.A., where so

many of our Seagoe people are employed.

The Churchwardens have called on many of the

Parishioners during the past month, and have succeeded

in raising a considerable sum towards covering

the balance due on the new Heating Apparatus.

Seagoe Day School.

SCRIPTURE.

COURSE I.

CERTIFICATES—Samuel Magee, Jack Stoops, Thos. H. Porter,

Emma Best, Florrie Irwin.

COURSE IV.

CERTIFICATES 1^st Class—Sarah Martin, 93 per cent.

2nd Class—Thomas Johnston, Mabel Reid, Ethel Porter,

Letitia Quaile.

SILVER MEDAL—Sarah Martin.

PLAY-HOUR COMPETITIONS.

Quoits—lst, Thomas Johnston; 2nd, Thomas H. Porter.

RUNNING (Juniors)—lst, James M'Murray.

SKIPPING—1st, Ethel Forsythe; 2nd, Eva Forsythe.

Prizes presented by Miss Bailey.

NEATEST COOKERY Exercise—Sarah Martin.

COOKERY (Soda Bread, 1st year) —1st, Pearl Reid.

(Wheaten Bread, 2nd year)—lst, Mabel Irwin.

ATTENDANCE.

SILVER MEDALS for not missing a day during year:

Jack Stoops,

Sarah Martin,

Ethel Forsythe.

SPECIAL SILVER MEDAL presented by Miss Armstrong

for best pupil, both at work and play, awarded by votes

of pupils—Thomas H. Porter.

The Church Grounds,

A beginning has at last been made in getting the

Church grounds into order. The Churchwardens,

Messrs. T. J. Atkinson and W. Bickett have set a

good example in devoting an afternoon to the work,

and several others have since helped in freeing the

grave plots from weeds. We would like to see each

grave neatly marked off. With this object in

view, a special wire border of neat pattern is being

placed on view near the grave plots. A wire border

sufficient to enclose one grave can be had on application

to the Rector or Churchwardens for 6/-, and for two

graves 8/-. We hope that those who own grave plots in

the Church ground will endeavour to purchase borders

so as to assist in making the ground neat and tidy.

Hacknahay Day School

The following have been awarded Prizes for good

attendance and general proficiency: Elsie Thompson,

Robert Best, Lewis M'Avoy, William M'Avoy,

John M'Grattan, Lily England, David Thompson,

Adelaide M'Murray, Eliza Thompson, Rachel Fowler,

Wm. Levingston.

Lurgan Infirmary,

The benefits conferred on Seagoe Parish by the

excellent Infirmary at Lurgan should not be overlooked.

The skill and care devoted to the nursing of the sick and

aged cannot be too highly praised. The fact that the

Hospital is supported out of the Rates should not cause

us to forget the kindness and sympathy of the Staff towards

the many patients from this district.

Letter from Queensland.

We print a portion of a further letter from Mr. Sam Porter

describing his voyage to Queensland: —

In sailing through the Suez Canal, we went

slowly through it from we entered Suez until we

got about half-way, the natives were working,

on our left we had Arabia, and on our right

was Egypt, they are both sandy desert. In Arabia the

natives were all working in the sand, they live in

little wooden huts stuck up along the canal, they

bogie the sand away up in the desert; they are drawn

by mules.

On the Egyptian side it is much nicer, the trains

run along the canal side, and also you can see the

natives with little tents put up herding goats, they

go about on donkeys and camels, they live in these

places, and the Railway Stations are very nice, and

they are always dredging the canal to keep it clean.

When we got a good bit through the canal there was a

big boat tied up to let us pass by, we then went a bit

further, then we had to tie up to let the boats pass that

were homeward bound. There were 10 passed by, most

of them being of the Orient Line. One of them proved

to be the Australian Mail Boat, and everyone of them

carries a searchlight in front, and a pilot also to take them

through, we gave them a few good cheers as they passed

by, and they were shouting at the top of their voices that

we were going the wrong way, but we thought not.

Old Seagoe Notes.

Pullen in Lough Neagh. —It is generally supposed

that the Pullen or fresh-water herring which is

caught in Lough Neagh is not found elsewhere, but

the Lake of Geneva in Switzerland abounds with

a species of fish called by the inhabitants Ferra,

which, in size, flavour, and appearance exactly

resembles it. In Bala Lake, North Wales, the same

fish is found, and is called by the Welsh people

Gwyniad. It is remarkable however that the fish is

so rarely found in fresh-water Lakes.

The Channel of the River Bann at Seagoe.

The formation of the river Bann at Seagoe presents

several features of interest. Looked at from the high

ground near the Church, it resembles a great blue

snake winding its way through the green meadows.

But what was the cause of the curious and regular

curves in the river? The river should naturally have

flowed in a straight channel through the meadows.

The existing curves must have been formed by some

great and sudden flood in the river perhaps in

prehistoric times, when the water was forced out of its

natural channel.

The Standard Lonin—The Lane running from

the present waterworks on Drumclough or

Drumclougher Hill towards Seagoe is sometimes known

as " The Standard Lonin." It is so called from the

standard that used to be flown from the hill, where

the reservoir now is. In the early days of the 19th

century, when Napoleon was contemplating an invasion

of England, it was arranged that in case of emergency

a standard would be flown from the flagstaff on the hill

as a signal for the summoning of Seagoe Infantry.

Churchwardens of Seagoe (continued).

1785. Thomas England.

Henry Best.

1786. William Maze.

Charles Twinem.

1787. Abraham Walker.

Richard Robinson.

1788. William Robinson, Esq.

Graves Aikin.

1789. Thomas Dickson, of Kilvergin.

Geo. Ruddle, of Aughacommon.

1885. George Calvert.

James Collins.

1886. Joseph Murray.

John Lavery.

1887. William Gough.

John Montgomery

1888. James Atkinson,

John Watson.

1889. Thomas Gilpin.

David W. Walker,

The above List covering portions of two centuries,

contains some interesting names familiar to Seagoe

ears, both in ancient and recent years.