July 1918

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

JULY 1918.

NOTE.

The Rector returned from France and resumed work in the Parish on June 27th. He had left

the Parish on January 26th. He had been in France from February 9th to June 11th, and before going out spent a week in a Church Army Hut at a Military Camp near Blackheath, outside London, He assisted in two Church Army Huts during his stay in France, both of which were in densely crowded military areas, The Church Army has over 700 Huts on the various fronts. Each Hut costs £1000 to build and furnish and each Tent £500. A splendid work is being done by the Church Army, and the men have got to know it, and whenever they have a chance they make their way to the C.A.

Hut. Other organisations are also doing a noble work, and at the fronts the only rivalry which exists is as to who will do the most to help the lads who are fighting and dying for us.

Anniversary Service.

A special Anniversary Service will be held (D.V.) in Seagoe Church on Sunday evening, July 7th, at 7 o'clock. Seats will be reserved for the Brethren who attend. The offerings at the Service will be devoted to the Lord Enniskillen Memorial Orphan Fund.

Protestant Orphan Society.

An appeal will be made in the Parish Church on Sunday, July 7th, on behalf of the County Armagh Protestant Orphan Society. The Parish of Seagoe has been very liberally helped by this Society. Many in our midst can look back to the time when the never-failing quarterly payment from this Society was the only thing standing between them and dire poverty. We hope that all the Parishioners, both those who have received direct help from the Society and those who know and value its splendid work, will give to it as God has prospered them. Children's hymns will be sung at the Service, and we hope the orphans who are at present receiving benefit will be present.

The Calvert Memorial.

The Tablet in memory of the late Mr. George Calvert is completed, and is on view at the premises of Messrs. Purdy and Millard, Sculptors, Howard Street, Belfast. It is a very handsome piece of work, and will shortly be erected in the Church.

Remember the Prisoners.

Please remember the collection for the Prisoners of War at the door of Seagoe Church, on July 14th, and the second Sunday of each month. Last month the collection amounted to £6 6s. The total number of prisoners belonging to the 9th Batt. Royal Irish Fus. to the present is 230. It costs over £3 to provide each man with the necessaries of life each month. At present the deficiency in the amount subscribed is made up by kind grants from other funds.

Camp Life in France.

The great Military Camps in France present many interesting features, apart from their special work in connection with Army requirements. The length of the war has served to develop a certain amount of home life. Wherever military necessity enjoins on any set of men a prolonged stay in a particular locality there immediately the spirt of home asserts itself. Almost the first symptom is the making of small flower gardens round the huts. The Britisher loves flowers, and wherever he goes he likes to have flowers round him. In the camp where the writer spent some time, there were some very pretty flower gardens. The men who designed them and took care of them were skilled gardeners. Several had acted as head gardeners to noblemen in England, and their skill produced wonderful results, in even the unpromising soil of level Flanders. Around the Camp Commandant's Hut there is a constant succession of flowers growing in beds cut out of the plots of grass. Many of the soldiers who were fond of flowers had in the early spring sown FLOWER SEEDS IN BOXES. They used to take great care of them, and often lifted them into sun or shade as they might need either. If notice were taken of them they were very proud. When the time came for planting out the seedlings they had places carefully prepared at each side of the Hut door. Among the flowers which seemed to thrive best and made the brightest show were the golden yellow and the red wallflowers. The former grows very vigorously in France, and is called by the peasants Le Bouton d'Or (Button of Gold). Asters were very much in evidence, and Sunflowers grew very vigorously and to great height. Many huts had a border of White Pinks, and climbing Nasturtiums added greatly to the brightness of the camp gardens. Earlier in the year Forget-me-Nots were much in evidence. The men took a great interest in tending the ground round the Church Army Hut, and some of the offcers also helped. Besides flowers many of the men, especially in the more isolated sections KEPT ANIMAL PETS. One Anti-aircraft section had a pig, of which they were very proud. It was partly fattened on weekly gifts from the Church Army Hut. At another isolated Hut there were three pet Magpies, which were a source of great amusement to their guardians. At another section there were several hutches containing families of young Rabbits. In the same Hut there was a pet kid called "Paddy," which had a sandbag dugout all to itself. In several places there were Blackbirds in cages, in which the men took great interest.

One of the prettiest gardens in the camp belonged to a Company of Engineers. The officers had arranged a series of allotments for the men, and substantial prizes were offered for the best plot.

A very interesting feature in many Camps is THE CHINESE LABOUR COMPANY.

Different views have at various times been expressed as to the advisability of introducing coloured labour into Allied Camps, but the general verdict seems now to be distinctly in its favour. The Chinks (as they are universally named at the front) do not cultivate flowers, but they are extra-ordinarily keen on vegetables, especially leeks and onions, but they make no effort to grow them themselves. Their favourite pastime is to go out to the neighbouring farmhouses when off work (and sometimes when on work, if they can escape the wary Corporal's eye), and they secure a huge bundle of leeks, which they carry in triumph back to their camp, and on which they and their

brother Chinks ruminate for succeeding days. Their Games are usually games to test agility and strength. To lift two immense weights, united by a steel bar, something like a pair of railway wheels on an axle, is a favourite pastime. The writer has seen a Chink lifting THREE SANDBAGS ABOVE HIS HEAD. Most men could not lift one for the weight is considerable.

The Chink never cares to use his hands in rough work. He can wheel a heavy wheelbarrow without touching the handles, by suspending a rope over his shoulders tied to each handle. He is specially partial to long bamboo sticks, which he balances on his shoulder, and from the ends of which the petrol tin or parcel which he may have to carry is suspended. A Chink one day was given a tin of petrol to carry. He fastened it to one end of a string tied to the end of a bamboo cane, but to balance it he had to find another weight equal to the petrol tin, and having found such he went gaily along carrying EXACTLY TWICE THE WEIGHT REQUIRED. The Chinese are very artistic, and have decorated their Huts and Offcers' Mess Rooms in true Oriental style. In one such room two very artistic Lanterns, hoped to exactly resemble two large Salmon, were suspended, from the roof. On the side table in another room rested a handsome Teapot made out of scraps of tin from old meat tins carefully soldered together. The cover of the Teapot was a Mandarin's Hat made of the same material. They are very clever at making rings out of French pennies in such a way that the ring is actually solid and not welded. At least one Chink in the Camp here referred to produced most artistic paintings of flowers, the colouring being perfect.

On another occasion the writer saw A TORTOISE APPARENTLY RESTING on the river brink, but it did not move when approached, it was made of mud, but so finely modelled as to be absolutely life-like. Most of the Chinese employed come from Northern China, where the climate very much resembles that of Northern France. There are many Christians among them, and services are often held for the Christian Chinese in the Camps. The Y.M.C.A. is doing a fine work for the Chinese, whom the war has brought to Europe. In many places Huts have been erected and canteens for Chinks alone. On a Canteen in this particular camp, one of them had smeared in red paint, on the brick wall of the new canteen, a large Chinese symbol or letter. The writer on enquiring its meaning was told it was the symbol for Heaven, and was intended to bring good luck to the canteen.

Seagoe Day School.

The School broke up for the Summer holidays on Friday, June 28th, and will (D.V.) re-open on Tuesday, August 6th. Mr. S. Rennix, the new Principal, recently issued a circular to the Parents of the Pupils directing attention to some important matters affecting the welfare of the school. Regularity of attendance on the part of the children is of primary importance. Irregularity leads to carelessness and slow progress. Some children remain at home on Fridays. This seriously hinders the efficiency of the pupils' work. The Lessons for the week following are set on that day, and so the child begins its work for the next week at a disadvantage. A punctual attendance also at 9:30 a.m. each morning is very necessary. Mr. Rennix is forming classes after the holidays for the teaching of extra subjects in the National Board Courses of Instruction.

Congratulations.

We offer our hearty congratulations to Mr. Fred Reid, of Lower Seagoe, on obtaining a Commission as 2nd Lieut. in His Majesty's Army. Mr. Reid joined the North Irish Horse at a very early age, and has served his country well, both at home and on the West Front. A good illustration of the spirit of Lieut. Reid is that some years ago he surrendered his stripes as Corporal, in order that he might get on the active service list, and be sent into the fighting line. Mr. and Mrs. Reid are also to be congratulated on Lieut. Reid.'s success.

A Dog for Tuppence!

In a letter from Malta, Private James M'Cabe, 5th Royal Irish Regiment, of Seagoe, writes

—"l am still working for the Y.M.C.A. I am glad you are getting warm weather at home. I have a little white dog of my own, and it thinks a lot of me. It will jump up and bark when I am coming into the tent. We were out one day and we got it from a little Maltese boy for 2d. It was terribly thin and poor, but I have it nice and fat now, but don't tell T. or S., or they will be wanting it sent home, as I know they are fond of dogs.

Nature Notes.

A company of Herons have taken up their residence in the Parish, and we give them a hearty welcome. The Heron is remarkable as the bird of slowest flight. The movements of its wings have been counted, and it has been found that it moves its wings only 120 times in a minute. Herons are very shy birds, and are always solitary during feeding. They are typical wading birds, and are rarely seen walking on dry ground. They are fond of standing motionless in shallow water, waiting for their prey, usually fishes, which are first speared with their long sharp beak, and then greedily swallowed, generally in one gulp. In addition to fish the Heron will also eat reptiles, young birds and insects. In ancient days the Heron was protected in England on account of the sport

it afforded with falcons.

Influenza.

Influenza is rife in the Parish, especially in Edenderry, but although the illness is severe while it lasts, recovery is rapid, and the after effects are not so pronounced as in former visitations of the "flu." There is a general impression that this epidemic began in France and Flanders, but this is apparently incorrect. Spain seems to have been the country of its origin. Open windows, plenty of fresh air, absolute cleanliness, exercise in the open air each day, the avoidance of hurried meals, are necessary preventives. A square of camphor in the pocket and disinfectants through the house are also useful. If attacked the only thing is to go to bed. The sooner one goes to bed the quicker will be the recovery, and the better the chance of escaping serious complications. Fatal results from Influ-enza are very few. Where a death does occur it is usually in the case of those whose constitutions have been weakened from other causes. The best way of all to get Influenza is to make up your mind that you are going to get it.

Wasps.

Lt. Colonel Blacker writes as follows regarding the destruction of Queen Wasps at Carrick-blacker during this and previous seasons. The record is a remarkable one.

It may be of interest to readers of Seagoe Magazine to learn the record of Queem Wasps destroyed at Carrickblacker.

1916 was the first year in which an accurate record was kept, and the total number killed in that year amounted to 535.

In 1917 only 191 were accounted for.

1918 has surpassed even the large record of two years ago, up to June 15th. 568 Queen Wasps have been killed in the house and garden.

In January, February, March the total was 18.

In April “ 159

In May “ 341

June 1 to 15 “ 50

Total— 568

Note.—Wasps are either solitary or social. Fifteen species of the solitary wasps are found in Great Britain and Ireland. These wasps construct small nests, either in a burrow or attached to trees or walls. The social wasps belong to the family Vespidæ. In the Spring, Queen Wasp emerges from the place where she has spent the Winter, and proceeds to construct a nest. This, at first, consists of only a few incomplete cells, in each of which an egg is laid. These eggs soon hatch, and the time of the Queen is occupied in feeding the young at first with vegetable food, and as their digestion strengthens with insects the Larvæ develop rapidly, and emerge from the cells as worker females. These workers relieve the Queen of the arduous task of feeding the young Larvae, and so the Queen has time to enlarge the nest by building new cells in which she lays more eggs. The young wasps are very sensitive to cold. A very cold Spring means a great reduction in wasps during the Summer

following. To protect the wasps from cold the nest is wrapped round in a papery substance manufac-

tured by the mother wasps. The nest is never used for a second season, and the original colony dies off each season, leaving only the Queen Wasps to continue the species. If they are killed the whole tribe of wasps is obliterated.

ITEMS.

The grove of trees opposite Seagoe Church, which was planted shortly after the Church was built, and which for so many years was a conspicuous feature in the landscape, has been cut down. The grove contained several fine specimens of the Castanea Vesca (Spanish Chestnut).

Mr. Rennix, Principal of Seagoe School, hopes to come into residence early in August.

Before the Rector left France he had the pleasure of visiting many of the Ulster Division, the Reinforcement Camp of the Division being located in a village just 4 miles distant from his Church Army Hut. They greeted him with the cry of “No Surrender " as he entered their Mission Huts. The old Ulster war cry has taken on a new meaning on the Battlefields of France.

A Chaplain with whom the Rector worked in France, had at the outbreak of war given up his

Parish and enlisted as a Private soldier. After a few months he was made a Chaplain to the Forces

and had been at the front for three years. He was then invalided home. A high explosive shell burst

beside him killing the men at each side of him and rendering him unconscious for five days. He then on recovery had gone back to France and was actively engaged in a military camp.

The Rev. T. H. Scanlon has left the Parish for a holiday.

The Editing of this Magazine from France during the Rector's absence was no easy matter, and but for the care exercised by the "Portadown News" staff in correcting the proofs, would have been much more diffcult. Our best thanks are due to them for the way in which they helped us to surmount the diffculty.

The Church Army.

The Rector has received from the Church Army Headquarters the following letter. He publishes it with diffidence, but as he went to France in a representative capacity as Rector of Seagoe, and not merely as an individual desirous of doing war work, it may enable the Parishioners to feel that the Parish through him has been the means of helping our men at the front.

The Church Army,

Naval and Military Department.

Headquarters—55 Bryanston Street,

Marble Arch, London, W.1.

25th June, 1918.

The Rev. Canon Archer,

Seagoe Rectory,

Portadown, Ireland.

Dear Mr. Archer,

The Committee desire me to express to you their great appreciation for the splendid services you have rendered in the name of the Church Army for the men of His Majesty's Forces on the West Front.

They wish me further to say that they have placed on record their high esteem for your unselfish devotion on behalf of our brave fighting men.

May I personally thank you.

Yours faithfully,

A. H. LLOYD.

PARISH REGISTER for JUNE, 1918.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized on 1st June, 1918—

Barriskill—Anne Elizabeth, daughter of David and Charlotte Barriskill, of Drumnacanvey.

Sponsors—Emma Moffett, Charlotte Barriskill.

Porter—Richard Wesley, son of Richard and Elizabeth Alice Porter, of Lower Seagoe.

Sponsors—Caroline Graham, Emma Moffett.

Heyburn—Margaret Jane, daughter of William James and Mary Jane Heyburn, of

Edenderry. Sponsors—Elizabeth Fleming, Mary Jane Heyburn.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

Magee—22nd June, 1918, Robert, son of Margaret and George Magee, of Kernan.

Burials.

Thompson—June 7^th, Jane Thompson, of Drumgor, aged 45 years.

Rudde11—June 20th, Margaret Ruddell, of Kernan, aged 64 years.

Magee—June 90th, John Magee, of Lower Seagoe, aged 82 years.

McMurray—July 3rd, Catherine M'Murray, of Drumgor, aged 25 years.

Offertories for June.

Sunday Mornings £6 19 0

“ Evenings 1 17 6

Week-days 0 5 6

Totals £9 1 11