July 1928

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JULY, 1928.

CLERGY:

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

Portadown.

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

LAY READER (Bishop's Licence):

Mr. Robt. Gracey, Edengarth, Bridge St., Edenderry.

CHURCHWARDENS:

Rector's—Robert M'Clements.

People's—William Dermott.

Confirmation at Seagoe.

On Friday, June 8th, at 8 p.m., a Confirmation

was held in Seagoe Parish Church by the Right Rev.

C. T. P. Grierson, D.D., Lord Bishop of Down and

Connor and Dromore. The candidates assembled

in the Parochial School walked in procession to

the Church, the boys first and the girls following.

During the Service the Bishop gave two addresses,

one before and one after the Confirmation. He spoke

of the solemn nature of the Rite of Confirmation,

which had come down to us from the days of the

Apostles. He enjoined on the young people present

the blessedness of making an early choice in the

following of Jesus Christ and spoke of the duty

incumbent on them of a daily recourse to prayer, a

diligent study of the Bible and a frequent attendance

at Holy Communion in obedience to their Lord's

command. The candidates were then presented for

Confirmation, kneeling two at a time before the

Bishop at the chancel steps. As he laid his hands on

the head of each candidate he offered up the beautiful

Prayer of Confirmation—"Defend, O Lord, this Thy

child with Thy Heavenly Grace that he may continue

Thine for ever, and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit

more and more until he come unto Thy everlasting

Kingdom. Amen."

After the Confirmation the hymn Thine for ever

was sung, the whole congregation kneeling. The

service was most impressive and the large

congregation joined reverently in it. The following

clergy were present—The Rector (Rev. Canon Archer),

the Rev. W. A. Henry, curate, and the Rev. T. G. Moore,

curate of Shankill, who acted as Bishop's Chaplain.

Two candidates from Shankill Parish were confirmed.

The following is a list of the names of those confirmed

from Seagoe Parish, arranged alphabetically—

BOYS (36).

David Allen, Ernest Allen, James Allen, George

Brownlee, Reginald Elliott, George Ellis, Henry Ellis,

John England. James Girvan, Joseph Henry Girvan,

Thomas Victor Gracey, Thomas Ernest Guy, Joseph

Harrison, Harry Hynes, James Lavery, George

Alexander Magee, Samuel Abraham Mayes, Alfred

M'Dowell, Samuel A. M'Dowell, Harold M'Loughlin,

Arthur M'Keown, David Phillips, Joseph Preston,

Cecil Rehill, Richard Robb, Norman Roney, Samuel

Ruddell, Foster Shanks, William Sinnamon, Frank

Trainor. Dynes Turkington, James Twinem, Sidney

Walker, Thomas Watson, Thomas Henry Webb,

Robert White.

Girls (44),

Margaret Abraham, Margaret Best, Kathleen Boyce,

Elizabeth Cordner, Hannah Coulter, Mary Frances

Coulter, Elsie Dunlop, Gertrude Fletcher, Bella

Freeburn, Mary Freeburn, Sarah Jane Freeburn

Margaret Gracey, Mary Winifred Eliza Gracey,

Minnie Hewitt, Henrietta Hoy, Rhoda Hoy, Susanna

Jane Jackson, Sophia Jennett, Kathleen Maud

Livingstone, Margaret Major. Hannah Elizabeth Martin,

Margaret Mathers, Adeline Mayes, Emily Mayes,

Lily M'Kee, Edith M'Keown, Sarah Mary M'Keown,

Mary Jane M'Neill, Eveline Millar, Sarah Neill,

Sophia Nesbitt Porter, Emily Reid, Grace Robinson,

Anne Ruddell, Martha Jane Russell, Margaret Emma

Sherman, Mabel Agatha Stanfield, Margaret Trainor,

Rebecca Jane Turkington, Elizabeth Vennard, Hilda

Jane Watters, Elizabeth Webb, Sarah Walker. Lavinia

Webb.

Total Confirmed—80.

July 1st, 1916.

Sunday, July 1st, will be the, 12th anniversary of

the Battle of the Somme, where so many of our

brave Seagoe men made the supreme sacrifice for

God and King and Country. It is fitting that we

should reverently celebrate this sad but glorious

chapter in our history. The Services on Sunday

will therefore take the form of Memorial Services,

when in our worship we will bear in mind those

who went forth from our midst regardless of self

to uphold the honour and safety of the Empire

and to defend the cause of Truth and Righteousness.

The names of the fallen from Seagoe Parish will

be read out during the Services.

The collections at both Services will be on behalf

of the County Armagh Protestant Orphan Society.

Seagoe P.E. School.

The School will break up for the summer holidays

on Wednesday, July 4th, and (D.V.) resume work

again on Monday, August 13th, at 9-15 a.m. The

School has had a most successful term and the

attendance of the children has beaten any previous

record. Two important examinations were held, one

in the course prescribed by the Irish Temperance

Alliance and one by the Rev. J. Armstrong, Diocesan

Inspector in Religious Knowledge, on Tuesday, June

12th. The answering at both examinations was very

satisfactory.

Seagoe Prize Winners.

At Portadown Show on Thursday, June 7th, the

only two entrants from Seagoe P.E. School succeeded

in winning first and second prizes in the needlework

competition. Lily Ruddell won first prize and Hannah

Coulter the second prize.

Excursion to Newcastle.

The excursion proved a great success and everybody

was delighted with Newcastle. The morning of

Thursday, June 21st, did not look promising. Rain

was falling and thick clouds obscured the sun.

Only a few of the excursionists gathered at the

Church. Most of them went direct to the Station. A

short service was held in the Church at 8 a.m., and

then we walked to the Station. Fortunately, the

rain had stopped before we left the Church. The

Edenderry and Hacknahay children joined up with

us in Edenderry. There was a great crowd at the

Station. At 9 a.m. Bob Callison, the guard in charge

of the Seagoe train, blew his whistle and off we started.

The run to Newcastle was made in good time. It was

raining heavily when we arrived in the Station and a

rush was made to the Station Pavilion. Mr. M'Clements

and his good helpers had the tea ready and the hampers

full of appetising sandwiches and superfine buns were

quickly opened and as quickly emptied. The arrangements

were excellent and everything worked smoothly. When

the first refreshment was over the clouds had cleared

away and the sun came out. The excursionists

scattered in various directions, some went to the

shore and paddled, some walked through the town

and some went up the mountain. It turned out a

glorious day and the sea looked lovely with its long

white waves. Slieve Donard was wreathed in fleecy

clouds, and the white streams of mountain torrents

coursed down its sides. The tide was coming in

and the youngsters had great fun running away from

the long waves. The second refreshment began at

4 p.m., and before long the pavilion was again filled

with hungry excursionists. At 7.50 p.m. the return

train left for home and at 9 drew up at Portadown

platform. An enormous crowd of people and buses

and motors were awaiting us. There were twelve

big buses in the Station yard. The second train

left Newcastle at 8.15 but between Castlewellan

and Ballyroney spring broke in the engine. The

driver managed to get it into Ballyroney Station,

where a fresh engine was sent for from Portadown.

There was a delay of 1 ½ hours owing to the accident

but all arrived safely in Portadown at 10.53 p.m.

The Seagoe excursionists numbered 578. No less

than 950 separate refreshments were served. 488

children's tickets were sold. The Sunday Schools

from the Parishes of Drumcree and the Dobbin also

shared in the excursion. The two trains carried

over 1,000 excursionists. Everybody returned home

delighted with the day and are already making plans

for next year's excursion.

Enterprise.

Messrs. T J. Montgomery & Son are presenting

their customers with a handsome tea caddy as a

gift. It is of an attractive light blue colour and is

decorated in black and gold. We recommend our

readers to secure one without delay by purchasing

1 lb. of the famous Gold Medal Blend.

Seagoe in Manitoba.

[The Rector has received the following interesting

letter from the Lay Reader at Somerset, Manitoba.

Mr. Lewis has also most kindly sent a snapshot of

the Church of the Redeemer at Norquay, which is

attended by our Seagoe friends. We congratulate

Mr. Lewis on the good work he is doing amongst

the emigrants to Canada.]

Somerset, Manitoba, Canada.

June 4th, 1928.

Dear Canon Archer, - I was very glad to receive

your letter and to know how you liked the snap

I enclosed in my last letter. The Robinsons are

doing well. Last year was a bad year for the farmers

in this district, but this spring conditions have been

ideal for putting the crop in.

The parish of Somerset is one of the largest

parishes in the Diocese of Brandon, covering roughly

about forty-five square miles. It consists of four

points, St. Barnabas, Somerset; All Saints, Swan

Lake; St Christopher's, Rembina, and The Church of

the Redeemer, Norquay. Of these four the two

former are towns, and the latter school districts. The

Robinsons and the Rea boys attend Norquay Church,

which is located about nine miles from Somerset

and near the old town of Norquay, the home of one,

of Manitoba's first premiers, John Norquay. They

have about eight miles to come to Church, through

hill and bush-land, over some very bad roads. As

a rule in the winter, Jim Rea loads up the sleigh

with the Robinson family, but in the summer, Jim,

being the proud possessor of a Ford car, brings as

many as the car will hold.

The work in a parish like this, and under the

conditions which exist here is very exacting. One

has to spend so much time on the road, and in the

winter, with the intense cold and very heavy snow,

it is a great strain on one. But there are compensations

somehow. A country and conditions such as are found

in this country brings out all the best in people.

There is also a very strong Roman Catholic

community, there being a great many French and

Belgians settled here.

Norquay Church, where the Reas and the Robinsons

worship, is the smaller of the four Churches, seating

about fifty-five people, but it is very prettily situated

on a hill at the corner of four cross-roads and with

pretty tree-land to the south.

I will be glad to hear from you, sir, whenever you

can write me. —As ever, yours in the Faith,

ERNEST H. LEWIS.

The July Anniversary.

On Sunday evening, July 8, at 7 p.m., an

Anniversary Service will be held in Seagoe Parish

Church. The preacher will be the Rev. H. F. O.

Egerton. M.A., Rector of Mullabrack. The collection

will be on behalf of the Lord Enniskillen Orphan

Fund. Places will be reserved for the Brethren

attending the Service.

Legacy for Seagoe.

The late Mr. John M'Cann, of Ballyhannon,

bequeathed a sum of £20 to the Select Vestry of

Seagoe for any object which they may decide on.

Open-air Services.

Open-air Services are held on Wednesday evenings

at some centre in Edenderry prior to the Service

in the, Parochial Hall. Such services have already

been held in James St., Century St. and Foundry St.

Next Wednesday evening the open-air Service will

be held in Joseph Street. Open-air Services have also

been held on Sunday afternoons or evenings at

Church Lane, Balteagh and Seagoe Turns. A Service

was also held at Kernan.

Seagoe Mothers' Union.

At the meeting of the Mothers' Union held on

Tuesday, June 12th, Mrs. Henry, of Clones, kindly

gave an address. Her subject was "the Garden of

Life." There was a very large attendance of members,

who greatly appreciated Mrs. Henry's helpful

words. The next meeting will be held on Thursday,

July 5th. The Rector has invited the members to

tea in Seagoe School at 7.30 and to spend the

evening at the Rectory. He hopes to see a full

attendance of the members.

Bible Instruction in Schools

The recent discussion on Bible instruction in

transferred Day Schools has been again brought to

notice by the publication of the full correspondence

between the Minister of Education (Viscount

Charlemont) and the Armagh Regional Committee.

It can be had in pamphlet form, price 6d (per post 7d),

from the Government Stationery Department, Donegall

Square West, Belfast, or may be ordered through

Mr. John Waugh, Bookseller, Portadown. We

strongly recommend all our Parishioners to secure a

copy without delay. The correspondence has

arisen out of the fact that the Rectors of Shankill

(Lurgan), Ardmore and of Seagoe refused to transfer

the Schools of which they were managers unless

they got a satisfactory guarantee (by the insertion of

the rule as to Bible Instruction in the Deed of

Transfer) for the permanence of Religious Instruction

in the Schools. Their action has been amply justified

by the Ministry of Education in this pamphlet.

The Ministry administers a scathing rebuke to the

members of the Armagh Regional Committee.

Here are a few sentences from the pamphlet: —

"Managers were naturally averse to parting with

the control of the schools unless they had satisfactory

legal assurances for the continuance of Bible teaching.

The Minister of Education wishes to make a special

appeal to your Committee to reconsider this question."

In reply to this the Regional Committee wrote declining

to re-open the matter. The Minister replied describing

the action of the Committee as "incomprehensible," and

he adds, " Your Committee must have no doubts of the

legality of the insistence on the teaching of Bible

Instruction in the schools, seeing that it enforces this

duty on its teachers, and yet it professes to make the

existence of these doubts an excuse for refusing the

legitimate requests of certain of the managers. The

Minister of Education feels compelled to reiterate

his opinion that the action of your Committee in this

matter, unsupported as it is by that of any other

Education Authority in Northern Ireland is unfortunate

and calculated to imperil the harmonious and successful

working of the new legislation." The Belfast News-Letter"

expressed the following opinion in a recent leading article:

“The Armagh Regional Committee must come down off

its pedestal and if it refuses to do so legislation must be

introduced to compel it to do so." We hope the people

of Seagoe will study the pamphlet for themselves.

Visit of Inspector.

The Rev. J. Armstrong, Diocesan Inspector in Religious

Knowledge in P.E. Schools, examined the children

attending Seagoe School on Tuesday, June 12 ^th. The

following obtained Certificates—full marks: —Senior

Division—1st class, 100% - Harry Hynes, May Jones,

Martha Girvan, Annie Whiteside, Dinah M'Cabe, John

Fiddes, Lizzie Major, Eileen Dunlop, Mrytle Brown,

Florrie Forsythe; 90 per cent. —Lily Ruddell; Hannah

Coulter; 2nd class, 75 per cent - Sophia Porter, Fred Walker,

Sadie Harra, Alexander Heyburn, Maggie Ruddell;

3rd class, 60 per cent—May Vennard, Maud Livingston,

Emma Walker. Junior Division—James M'Cabe, Robert

Livingston, Olive Coulter, Peggie Forde, Lily Magowan,

Bertha M'Louglin, Florrie Hynes, Willie Donaldson,

May Dickson, Lily Dickson, Ernest Gibson, Sarah

Macaulay, Gertie Magowan, Irene Montgomery,

Victor Porter.

Admission of Lay Reader.

On the evening of Friday, June 8th, just, before

the Confirmation Service, an interesting and

impressive ceremony took place in Seagoe Church.

Mr. Robert Gracey was then admitted by the Lord

Bishop to the office of a Lay Reader for work in

Seagoe Parish. Sir Frederick W. Moneypenny, K.C.V.O.,

City Chamberlain of Belfast, and who also is President

of the Diocesan Lay Readers' Association, attended

the Service, having come from Belfast with the Bishop.

Mr. Gracey was presented to the Bishop by the Rector

and Sir F. W. Moneypenny. The Bishop formally

admitted Mr. Gracey to the office by handing to him

as he knelt before the Bishop the licence for a Lay

Reader. We congratulate Mr. Gracey on his admission

to this responsible office. We are glad to have him as a

member of the staff in this Parish.

Edenderry Parochial Hall.

The Wednesday evening Services now being held

in the Parochial Hall are largely attended. A strong

choir has been formed and the singing is very

hearty. Miss Twinem presides at the harmonium

and has given very valuable help all through the

Mission Services.

Hymn Singing.

Every Sunday evening at 6.30 a large number of

parishioners assemble in the Parish Church and for

half-an-hour join in singing hymns from the Church

Hymnal. The singing is very hearty and everyone

joins in. Come and help in the, singing next Sunday.

Sewage Tanks at Seagoe.

The Government Inquiry into the proposed main

drainage scheme for Portadown was held in Portadown

on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 5th and 6th,

by Mr. Bates, the Government Inspector. Strong

opposition was put forward against the placing of

the sewage tanks at Seagoe. Mr. Warnock, B.L.,

and Mr. Menary, solicitor, presented the case for

those who opposed the Seagoe tanks. The witnesses

examined were the Rev. Canon Archer, Mr. R.

Forsythe, of Seagoe Villa, Mr. Capel Reid, Mr. J.

Greeves, of Fairacre, Mr. Clement Courtney and

Mr. Peddie, sanitary engineer. The result of the

Inquiry has not yet been declared. The Inquiry was

conducted in a very good spirit and there was no

loss of temper on either side, and everything was

done in a straight and upright way.

Parish Register for June,

Baptism.

Henry—June 2nd, 1928, John, son of Joseph and

Elizabeth Henry, of Edenderry.

Sponsors - Mary Milligan, Elizabeth Henry.

Marriages.

M'Mullan and Webb—June 14th, 1928, Herbert

M'Mullan, of Portadown, to Amelia Webb, of

Lylo.

Lamb and Mayes—June 20th, 1928, James Lamb, of

Edenderry, to Matilda Mayes, of Carrickblacker.

Burial.

Malcomson—June 5th, Hannah Malcomson, of Edenderry,

aged 75 years.

Census of Seagoe.

The returns of the Census for the County of Armagh,

which was taken at midnight of 18th—19th April,

1926, have just been published and contain many

very interesting particulars about the Parish of Seagoe.

It costs 5s and can be had from the Stationery Office,

Belfast. Here are some of the returns for Seagoe Parish—

Balteagh has a population of 98 persons—42 males

and 56 females. This total is 24 less than in the Census

of 1911. Bocombra has lost nine residents since 1911.

Its total population is 43, consisting of 17 males and

26 females. Carne has also decreased in population.

It had 111 residents in 1911 but now has only 97, made

up of 44 males and 53 females. Clanrolla, another of

our Seagoe townlands, has only lost one resident in

fifteen years. In1911 it had 47 residents and in 1926

it had 46, of whom 21 were males and 25 females.

Derryvore, a small townland, numbered 48 residents

in 1911 and has increased by one in the 15 years. It

has now 49 inhabitants; the males outnumber the

females by five. The returns are 27 males and 22

females. Drumnagoon has lost heavily during the 15

years between 1911 and 1926. In the former year it

could boast of 146 inhabitants, but now it can only

muster 92, a loss of 54, or a third of its population in

that period. In this townland, as in Derryvore, the male,

outnumber the females by eight, the total being males

50, females 42. Kernan has done better, although it is

somewhat down in numbers. In 1911 it had 166 people

living within its borders but in 1926 only 151. It lost

15 people in 15 years, that is one a year. The sexes in

Kernan are almost equally balanced—there are 75

males and 76 females. Knockmena lost six of its

residents between 1911 and 1926. It had 48 in the

former year and only 42 in the latter, of whom 19

were males and 23 females. In this townland the

building of 12 new houses by Mr. James Twinem at

" Twinem Terrace" will make a great difference at the

next Census. It will possibly add 50 to the population

of the townland. Lisniskey has not suffered any

serious decline in its population. In 1911 if had 69

people and only diminished by six in the 15 years.

In 1926 it numbered 63 inhabitants but the females

Outnumbered the males, the former being 38 to the

latter's 25. Lylo increased by one in the fifteen years

1911—1926. It had 102 inhabitants in 1911 and 103

in 1926. Lylo has the distinction of possessing more

than twice as many women as men, for of the 103

persons who lived within its bounds in 1926 there

were only 3 men, while the women numbered 69. It

is remarkable, that Lower Seagoe increased in

population during the fifteen years while Upper Seagoe

declined. The figures are—Lower Seagoe in 1911

population 125 in 1926, 133, being 56 males and 77

females. The figures for Upper Seagoe are 142 in 1911,

and 134 (68 males and 66 females) in 1926. It will be

noticed that there is now only a difference of one

between the population of Upper and Lower Seagoe.

MARRIAGES must he performed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Licenses are issued by Rev Canon Hannon, Rectory, Lurgan. Due notice (48 hours) must be given to the Rector of intended weddings. FEES— By License—Labourers 5/-, Tradesmen 10/-, Merchants and Farmers 15/-, Professional £1. By Banns. FUNERALS will be attended by the Clergy if proper notice be given. SICK CASES should be notified to the Clergy without delay. FEES FOR CERTIFICATES - BAPTISM, 3/7; Children (Factory), 1/- and 2/- (non-residents); MARRIAGE, 3/7. An extra search fee is chargeable in certain cases. It will be a help to the Clergy if they are notified of the arrival of new Church families in the Parish.

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