July 1914

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

JULY, 1914

The Misionary Week.

DURING the week beginning on Whitsunday,

May 31st, a series of Missionary Services

and Meetings were held in the Parish.

Meetings were held at the following centres

Hacknabay, Drumgor, Edenderry; and Tamnificarbet.

The afternoon gathering took the form of a Social

Meeting, Tea having being kindly provided by friends

of the Missionary cause in the Parish. The special

speakers were Rev. W. Williams, M.A., a Member of

the Dublin University Mission in Fuh-Kien, China,

Rev. W. R. Crichton, Assistant Deputation Secretary

of the Jews' Society, Miss Greer, of Lurgan,

formerly a Missionary in China, and Miss Armstrong

who gave a stirring Missionary address at the

Afternoon Meeting in Edenderry Parochial Hall.

The meetings, especially in the afternoon, were well

attended, and created much interest.

In connection with the meetings a special effort was

made in the form of a house to house Missionary

Collection. A band of distributors left a small

envelope in every Church house in the Parish during

the week previous to the meetings, and called for the

envelope and contribution on the following Saturday.

We print here a list of our Collectors and the sums

Upper Seagoe, Lily McKerr and Christina Cordy 4 6

Tarson, Wm. John and Hanna Caddell 9 6

Knock, Minnie England 5 7

Hacknahay, Ellen Noble 3 0

Ballymacrandle, Jenny England 3 6

Drumlisnagrilly, Grace Best ... 3 6

Killicomaine, Georgina Livingstone 3 10

James Street, Mrs. Stothers ... 3 7

Balteagh, Annie Quaile 7 3

Drumgor, Edith Anderson 6 0

Tamnifiglasson, Minnie Dickson 5 3

Lylo, Annie White 7 0

Bright Street, Maggie Rainey 2 4

Levaghery, Miss Monro 14 6

Bridge Street and Lurgan Rd. S. Martin 5 5

Kernan, Priscilla Smartt 6 10

Bridge Street, Agnes Johnston 3 4

Carne, Maggie Simpson 4 1

Ballinacor, Pearl Grimshaw5 6

Tamnificarbet & Kilvergan, Sarah J. Price 6 1

Drumnagoon, Teresa Ramsay 7 3

Bocombra, Minnie Watson 2 0

Breagh, Sophia Bradshaw 6 7

Drumnacanvey, Judith McNeill 6 9

Drumgor, K. McMullen 5 3 ½

Carrickblacker Road, B. Magee 5 1

Kernan, C. Shanks 3 7

Florence Court, M. Smith 1 8

Lower Seagoe, Mrs. Porter 6 7

Bridge Street, C. Flannigan . 2 0

Clanrole, J. Hoy 4 3

Joseph Street, M. Allen 5 4

Ballyhannon, N. Best 4 2

Carrickblacker Avenue, Mrs. Stoops 7 8

Killicomaine Road, Mrs. Stevenson 11 0

No Name 1 10

Bridge Street, M. Crawford 2 1 ½

Killicomaine, M. Holmes 6 2

In Offertory 2 0

Lisniskey, Ethel Ruddell 3 10

Foundry Street, C. Kirby 2 2

Railway Street, S. Coulter 7 6

Total £10 15 5

Summer Holidays,

The day schools (Seagoe and Hacknahay) broke up

for the summer vacation on Thursday, July 2nd, and

will (D. V.) open on Monday, August 10th. During

the past session the new class room in Seagoe School

has proved very useful. In the hot weather it was

delightfully cool, and being so well lighted and

ventilated it made an ideal place for educational class

work. ' The health of the children attending the

schools has been remarkably good during the past six

months. There has been a total freedom from the

epidemics which have in other years been prevalent

such as measles or whooping cough and scarlatina.

This is due no doubt partly to the improved lighting,

heating, and ventilating, of the school buildings and

partly to the Dental Clinic begun in April, 1913, and

now more than 12 months in operation. Several of

the parents of children attending the school have

expressed to the manager their gratitude for the care

bestowed on the children, Seagoe School was the

first school in this district and almost the first in

Ulster to establish a dental clinic, and for the trifling

sum of sixpence paid annually parents can obtain the

services of a skilled dentist .for their children when

attending Seagoe Day School.

Offertories for June.

Sundays—Morning, £4 6 10

Evening, 3 3 6

Week Evenings, 3 6 4

Total, £7 15 10

A Collection for the Protestant Orphan Society,

amounting to £1 16s 6d is included in above.

Anniversary Service.

On Sunday, July 12th, an appeal will be made in

the Parish Church at Morning Service on behalf of

the Protestant Orphan Society, and at Evening

Prayer, at 7 p.m., the usual Anniversary Service will

be held, and the collection will be in aid of the

Enniskillen Orphan Fund.

Baptisms.

Baptized on Saturday, 6th June, 1914.

Steenson—Edith, daughter of George and Mary Steenson, Meadow Lane.

Sponsors—Martha Marshall, Sarah Totten.

Stanfield—Olive, daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane Stanfield, Edenderry.

Sponsors—Mary Elizabeth Weir and Mary Jane Stanfield.

Coulter—Mary Frances, daughter of Robb and Mary Coulter, Carne.

Sponsors—Agnes Hicklamd, Mary Coulter.

Ruddell—Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Joseph and Mary Jane Ruddell, Seagoe.

Sponsors—Jane Ruddell, Mary Jane Ruddell.

Wright—Catherine Jane, daughter of John and Elizabeth Wright.

Sponsors — Henrietta Wright, Elizabeth Wright.

Marriages.

Robinson and Parr On June 13th — Samuel Robinson, Balteagh, to Jane Parr, Lisniskey.

McDowell and Carville—On June 15th—Alexander McDowell, Edenderry,

to Anne Carville, Edenderry.

Porter and Allen—On June 19th—Robert Henry Porter, Seagoe, to Jemima Allen, Edenderry.

Burials.

Bradshaw — June 3rd — Leonard Bradshaw, of Levaghery, aged 62 years.

Holmes—June 11th—At Capetown, James Holmes, of Killicomaine.

Smith—June 18th — Elizabeth Smith, Florence Court, aged 54 years.

We record with much regret the death of James

Holmes, son of Mr. David Holmes, of Killicomaine,

He had been in weak health for some time and in

February last went to South Africa, in the hope that

a change of climate would be beneficial. At first he

seemed to benefit greatly, but after a few months his

health again failed, and he passed peacefully away on

June 10th in the Hospital at Somerset, Capetown.

He was interred in Maitland Cemetery, Capetown on

Wednesday, June 11th, the Rev. Oswald Hogarth, the

Rector of St. John's Church, Capetown, who had

attended him faithfully during his illness, officiated at

the graveside. Much kindness was shown to him by

Mr. Douglas, formerly of Belfast, who met him when

he landed, and in every possible way assisted him to

the end. We express our sincere sympathy with Mr.

and Mrs. Holmes and family in their sad loss.

Another parishioner, Leonard Bradshaw, of

Levaghery, was called away with startling suddenness

on Monday, June 1st. He was present in Seagoe

Church at evening Prayer' on the evening before, and

acted as one of the collectors, being sidesman for

some years. While walking along the road at

Levaghery School he staggered and fell and almost

at once expired without uttering a word. Immediately

before the fatal seizure he seemed to be in his usual

health and spirits. By such sad and sudden events

we are sternly reminded of the uncertainty of all

earthly things, and of the duty of preparing while we

have time for an approaching Eternity.

THE EXCURSION,

Thursday, June 11th, 1914, was a very important

day for Seagoe Parish. Our annual Sunday School

Excursion is an event looked forward to for many a

day by the children of the Parish. This year it was

thought by the Committee that owing to the political

crisis it would be better to have our excursion to a

local rendezvous, and so it was decided to go to

Carrickblacker, which Major Blacker had most kindly

offered for that purpose. The children, teachers

and superintendents assembled at the church at

9-30 a m., when a short service was held. The

children then formed into processional order, and at

10 0'clock started on the march of miles to

Carrickblacker. Two of the schools, Hacknahay

and Levaghery, joined in at Killicomaine turns and

added greatly to the length of the procession. It

was a glorious Seagoe weather—and the

bright banners and summer dresses of the children

made up a very pretty picture. The head of the

procession reached the field at a few minutes after

11 a.m., and before long the great field was crowded

with a happy throng of holiday makers. A well

stocked stall had been erected under a spreading

chestnut tree, and before evening all the good things

provided had been sold off. During the day the

excursionists engaged in all kinds of amusements,

swinging and round games being apparently the

favourites, while many walked along the

pretty banks of the Bann. In the afternoon a large

number of visitors came out from Portadown, and

there could not have been fewer than 1200 people on

the field. At about 7 0'clock all gathered near

Carrickblacker House, and in the name of the

excursionists the Rector thanked Major Blacker for

so kindly offering the use of his demesne. Major

Blacker expressed the pleasure he felt at having the

Sunday Schools of the Parish at Carrickblacker, and

hoped they had enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The

march home was uneventful, and all separated after

a delightful days enjoyment. Messrs. Inglis & Co.,

Ltd., catered for the excursion, and their buns gave

full satisfaction to the keen appetites of the excursionists.

Mr. Moffett, of Bridge Street, took a series

of splendid snapshots of the excursion. [Copies may

be had, price 2d. each, at Mrs. Metcalf's, Bridge

Street,] The weather was remarkably fine although

the day before and the day after the excursion were

dark and cloudy. We hear that the Ladies Chestnut

Tree Stall realised over £10 net. This amount, by

the decision of the Committee, has been invested in

the bank and will form part of a reserve fund for

future excursions.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

ITEMS,

The new ground at Seagoe Graveyard has been

levelled, and a substantial boundary wall is in course

of erection.

We are glad to notice that many of the Cottagers

in Seagoe Parish have planted flowers round their

cottages. Climbing roses and creepers of various

kinds may now be seen trained up the front of many

Cottages.

The Select Vestry at a recent meeting decided to

proceed at once with the recolouring of the interior of

the Church. They have chosen a deep stone-colour

as the most suitable tint.

The Free Gardeners attended a special Service in

Seagoe Church on Sunday evening, June 21st. The

members looked very nice in their bright sashes and

insignia. A large number of Juniors were also

present. The Rector preached from the text,

Gen. ii., 18, " The Lord God planted a garden."

On Friday, June 12th, an Aeroplane and Hydroplane

for the first time flew over Seagoe Parish. Mr.

Salmet on the former, and Mr Raynham on the

latter, passed above us at a height of 1,000 feet on

their way from Lurgan to Warrenpoint. Mr.

Raynham on his 80 horse-power Hydroplane passed

directly over the Church. It was necessary for him

to keep near the river as he could only alight on

water. We wonder what Seagoe looked like from a

height of 1,000 feet.

Mrs. Money, formerly for many years House

keeper to the Rt. Rev. Dr, Holbech, Bishop of St.

Helena, is on a visit to Seagoe Parish. She has

kindly furnished us with a copy of St. Helena Parish

Magazine, a most interesting little publication.

Choir Excursion.

The members of Seagoe Church Choir had their

annual excursion this year to Dungannon, on

Saturday, June 20th. Unfortunately the weather

conditions were not propitious, and rain fell at intervals

throughout the day. The members met at the

Parish Church at 10 a.m., and journeyed in two

brakes to their destination. Notwithstanding the

inclemency of the weather, the drive through the

pretty country bordering on Lough Neagh was much

enjoyed. Dinner was ready on arrival at Dungannon,

after which a visit was paid to Lord Ranfurley's

demesne, which had been kindly opened to the party

by the noble owner. The beautiful park looked

perfect in its summer verdure. Tea was then partaken

of and a start made for home, which was

reached in good time. The Rev. G. Bloomer

accompanied the excursion.

A Successful Seagoe Man.

We are always glad to record the success of a

Seagoe man at home or abroad. Former parishioners

are today, in many parts of the world, filling

important and responsible positions. From time to

time we hope to give short notices of such successful

careers in these columns. This month we desire to

congratulate Mr. William James Bickett on the

success he has achieved. Mr. Bickett is a son of the

late Mr. James Bickett, of Drumnagoon, in this

Parish, where he was born some 36 years ago. He

emigrated to the States in early manhood and

adopted an educational career. After occupying with

distinction some minor posts, he was recently

appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of

Rahway, New Jersey, a most important district, some

19 miles from New York. Mr. Bickett controls

schools with 1700 children and 55 teachers, and is

himself Principal of the High School, Rahway, a

very fine educational institution, and the most

important school in the city. Mr. Bickett has kindly

supplied to the Rector series of photographs of the

schools under his superintendence, and also the card

or prospectus issued by the Board of Education for

the City of Rahway. The Parish of Seagoe may be

justly proud of this son of Drumnagoon, and we

anticipate for Mr. Bickett a still more influential

position in the future.

Examination in Religious Knowledge,

The annual examinations in Religious Knowledge

were held in Seagoe and Hacknahay Day Schools on

Tuesday, June 2nd, by the Rev. T. G. Wilkinson,

M.A., Diocesan Inspector. There was a full attendance

of children in both schools, and a searching

examination was given by the Inspector. Three

children failed to pass in the senior class, one failed

in the junior. 85 infants passed out of 112 examined.

The Inspector awarded a " Very Good " to the

Infant Division and a " Good " to the Senior Classes.

In Hacknahay School the children obtained a

" Very Good " in Repetition and a " Good " in

Answering.

Local Enterprise.

Many of our readers, especially those who live in

Drumnagoon and also those who travel through

Seagoe Parish by train, will have noticed a large and

substantial building of two stories in course of

erection at Drumnagoon. It is a Factory for Silk

Thread Linen Embroidery work which the enterprise

of Mr. Moses Gilpin has introduced into the Parish.

Mr. Gilpin has had a long experience of this work in

the United States, and the Parish and District are to

be congratulated on having in their midst a public

Benefactor in the person of Mr. Gilpin, for no greater

advantage can be conferred on a district from an

industrial point of view than the erection of a new

Factory. We desire here to express our gratitude and

appreciation of Mr. Gilpin's enterprise, and our hope

that his new venture may meet with lasting success.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

OLD SEAGOE NOTES.

The First Train on the Ulster Railway.—

The first train on the Ulster Railway started from

Belfast station at 7 a.m. on Monday, August 12th,

1839. It travelled at the rate of 30 miles an hour

The line and was drawn by the engine " Express."

at first was only opened as far as Lisburn. Great

crowds watched the start of the first train, and 3,000

people were carried the first day. Unfortunately

towards evening the engine ran off the line just

outside Belfast, but a second one was soon obtained and

continued the traffic. The line was opened to

Lurgan on November 8th, 1841, and to Seagoe on

January 31st, 1842. The opening of the line to

Seagoe occurred just at the time when the great

Roman Catholic Temperance orator, Father Matthew,

was holding his Mission in Moira, and no less than

7,000 people travelled over the line on the day it was

opened.

An Interesting Find.—During the levelling of

the ground for the extension of Seagoe Graveyard

last month, one of the workmen turned up six teeth

of large size and curious shape. They were found

about 4 feet below the surface level and some

distance beneath the roots of a large tree on the

highest part of the ground. Each tooth is three

inches long, and 4 inches in circumference. The

upper surface is worn evidently by grinding hard

food. The sides are deeply grooved to fit firmly into

the socket of the Jawbone. They are the grinder-

teeth of an animal long since extinct termed by

Naturalists Equus , Nomadicus, " The Wild Horse,"

and similar remains have been found in almost every

country, even as far as Illinois in the United States.

The horse was smaller than the horse we are familiar

with and it had a three-toed hoof.

It does not seem

ever to have been tamed by the natives, but was used

for food as we know from the remains found in

caves in some parts of Ireland. Its chief food was the

wild heather which being very tough caused the

surface of the grinder teeth to be worn. A good

collection of the bones and teeth of the Wild Horse

may be seen in the Natural History Museum in

Dublin. Such a find as this brings our minds back

to a prehistoric time when wild animals roamed

through dense forests and across wide plains on the

site where Seagoe Parish now stands.

The Recent Excavations at Seagoe Graveyard.

—The recent levelling at Seagoe Graveyard

extension has revealed the fact that the mound at the

north side of the old Church is not an artificial

mound as some thought, but is of natural formation.

The sections of the strata which were laid bare by

the spades of the workmen showed it to be what is

commonly called an " Esker," or a mound left after

the subsidence of a flood. The layers of earth, sand,

and gravel could be traced just as they were formed

by the action of water. Geologists tell us that in the

Ice age a great glacier or river of ice extended from

the top of the Mourne Mountains to the shores of

Lough Neagh, and no doubt many of the features of

the land surface in this Parish are due to the action

of ice and water. It is possible that the hollow

which the waters of Lough Neagh now fill up was.

caused by the drainage of water from the glacier.

Churchwardens of Seagoe (continued.)

1826—Robert Watson.

Robert Mays.

1827—Mr. Robert Calvert, of Breagh.

Mr. John Watson, of Upper Seagoe.

1828 —Mr. Samuel Ruddell jun., of Ballinacor.

Mr. James Jones, of Levaghery.

1829—Mr. Thomas Joyce, of Drumlin.

Mr. Samuel Ruddell, of Turmoyra.

1830 —John M'Conn, of Mocraverty.

Wolsey Atkinson.

The Jews Society.

The Rev. W. R. Crichton on his recent visit stirred

up much interest in the Society for Promoting

Christianity among the Jews. He preached in the

Parish Church twice on Sunday, May 10th, and

also gave addresses to the members of Seagoe Men's

Class and to the afternoon Sunday School in Edenderry.

As result of the visit a large number took

Penny Collecting Books for the Society, and the

following sums have been handed in :—

SEAGOE SUNDAY SCH00L—B. McKerr, 3/1 ; M.

McCormick, 2/8; C. Magee, E. Webb, H. Porter,

W. Holland, E. Best, L. Harrison, M. Mathers, 2/6

each ; E. Carson, 2/4 ; M. Best, 2/1 ; L. Webb, 1/8;

N. Hamill, 1/7 ; R. Boyce, 1/-; J. Kelly, 1/2 ; M. J,

Atkinson, 3d. Total, £l 13s. 4d.

EDENDERRY SUNDAY SCHOOL.—2/6 each, C. Allen

E. cox, J. McKinstry, A. Allen, M. McCrory, S.

Coulter, S. Martin, A. Graham, A. Cox; M. Ellis,

3/- ; E. Webb, 3/3; L. Dawson, 1/6 ; T. Flannigan,

2/- ; M. J. Best, 2/4; H. Johnston, 1/7; M. Rainey,

3/- ; S. Haliiday, 10/- ; M. Forde, 1/2; M. Hynes,

1/10; E. Best, 1/3; L. Clench, 1/10. Total, £2 15s. 3d.—Fu11 Total, £4 8s. 7d.

Insurance—Collections for June, £4 3s 1 ½ d

total collections, £18 3s 6d ; sum required, £21 Os Od;

balance to be raised, £2 16s 6d.

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IT IS NOT A DYE.

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1/- & 1/6 EACH,

SOLD IN BOTTLES AT

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PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST.

THE MEDICAL HALL,

PORTADOWN.