June 1919

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JUNE, 1919.

Confirmation Classes, 1919.

In each week (beginning Monday, May 19th), the

following Classes will be held at 8 p.m.

Monday—Edenderry (Boys).

Tuesday—Hacknahay.

Wednesday—Drumgor.

Thursday—Edenderry (Girls.)

Thursday—Seagoe.

Friday—Carne

N B.—The Confirmation will take place (D.V.) in

Seagoe Parish Church, on Sunday, July 6th, at 7

p.m. No person under the age of 14 will be

Confirmed.

New Parochial Appointments,

At a Meeting of the Select Vestry held on

Thursday, May 8th, in Seagoe School, the following

appointments were unanimously made to fill the

posts of Hone Secretary and Hon. Treasurer recently

vacated by Mr W. R. Atkinson, Hon. Secretary —

Mr J. H. Stevenson. Hon. Treasurer — Mr J.

Sands.

The following resolution was unanimously passed —

That we, the Members of the Select Vestry of

Seagoe Parish, desire to place on record our high

appreciation of the services rendered to the Parish of

Seagoe by Mr Wolsey R. Atkinson as Hon. Secretary

and Hon. Treasurer during the long period of nineteen

years, and we cannot allow his resignation of these

offices to take effect without expressing on behalf

of the Parishioners our gratitude to him for his

unwearying diligence in furthering all the best interests

of the Parish. We regret that he has found it necessary

to resign these offices, but we are glad to know that

he will still remain a Member of the Select Vestry,

and that we shall still have the benefit of his counsel

and advice in all matters connected with the Parish."

Whitsuntide.

Special Services will be held in Seagoe Parish on

Whitsunday, June 8th. There will be celebrations

of Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and after Morning

Prayer. The Offertories will be on behalf of the

Board of Religious Education.

Dedication of Memorials.

On Saturday, May 10th, a Dedication of Memorials

took place in the Parish Church. They have been

erected by Mr, and Mrs. W. R. Atkinson, of

Eden Villa, to the memory of three members of their

family, The Memorials consist of an Oak Screen

and Marble Steps at the entrance of the Chancel and

a Sanctuary Mat. They are very handsome, and add

greatly to the enrichment of the Church. A Brass

Tablet placed on the wall near at hand bears the

following inscription: —

"The Chancel Rail and Steps are given to the

Glory of God, and in Memory of the beloved Children

of Wolsey Richard Atkinson, and Alice his wife.

Wolsey Arthur, 20 Dec., 1876—22 July, 1899,

the result of an accident. Charlotte Elizabeth

Buckby, 11 May, 1880—15 April, 1906. Thomas

Joyce, 30 Jan., 1878, Temporary Major 9th Royal

Irish Fusiliers, 36th (Ulster) Division, killed in

action at the Battle of the Somme, 1 July, 1916."

The Service of Dedication began at 4 o'clock.

There was large gathering of friends and parishioners.

The Rector and the Rev. H. G. de L. Singleton took

part in the service. The Hymn 165, Rock of Ages,

was sung at the opening, then followed Easter Collects,

and Collects from the Burial, PS. xxiii. was sung by

the Choir, and the Lesson 1 Thess. iv., 13. was then read.

The Rector dedicated the gifts and said a Collect of

Dedication. The Hymn Abide with me " (a favourite

Hymn of the late Major Atkinson) was sung, and then

after the Closing Prayers and the grace, the “Nunc Dimittis”

was sung by all kneeling. The Service was very solemn

and touching. These appropriate and beautiful gifts will keep

in the remembrance of the worshippers in Seagoe Parish

Church the memory of some who once worshiped with us,

but who now worship in “the Temple not made with hands

eternal in the Heavens."

“Welcome Home” Reception.

On Thursday. June 12th, a Welcome Home Reception

will be given in Seagoe School to the men of Seagoe

Parish who have recently returned home from the great

War. All men connected with Seagoe Church who served

during the War will receive a Card of Invitation and they

are invited to bring with them a lady friend. A large

committee under the direction of Miss Atkinson, of Eden

Villa, has been making preparations for the Reception,

which will, we believe, be a great success. A large

number of Invitations are being issued. It is hoped

that the great Parish Roll of Honour will be on view

that evening for the first time. Every care is being

taken to see that everyone who served in the War

will receive an Invitation, but if by any chance some

one is by accident omitted will such a one please apply

to Miss Atkinson and he will receive a Card of Invitation.

It may be difficult owing to the number of names to make

the list quite complete.

Seagoe at Archangel.

Seagoe men are usually to be found wherever there

is tough work to be done. The Bolshevists are trying

to push England out of Russia, through the back

door at Archangel, and along the Murmansk coastline,

but there is at least one Seagoe man there who is

determined to hold on, and that is James Pentland,

late of Century Street, now of Ballymocrandle.

He has joined the Royal Air Force, and, is now with

the British Force in North Russia. We wish him all

success and Godspeed.

Sunday School Excursion.

The War is over and Peace is in the air, so it has

been decided to have once again an Excursion for

our Sunday Schools. Colonel Blacker has, with his

usual kindness, given us the privilege of gathering at

Carrick Blacker. The Excursion will take place on

Thursday, Juno 26th. A short service will be held

in the Church at 10 a.m., after which the procession

will start for Carrick Blacker. There will be swings

and races and buns and tea and all sorts of good

things, also a stall, under a spreading chestnut tree,

well stocked with all kinds of attractive goods for

young and old. Tickets for Children under 8—3d,

over 8—6d. If any child has not attended, without

good excuse, at least 10 Sundays at any one Sunday

School since January 1st, 1919, that child will have

to pay 6d or 1s, according to age. The Tickets will

entitle to two Refreshments, and will be on sale at

all Schools on the Wednesday and Saturday preceding

the Excursion from 7 to 8 o’clock.

A Letter from Canada,

We print an interesting letter from Jack Stoops

who was some years ago well known in Seagoe. We

are glad to know he is getting on well, and doing

good work in his home beyond the seas.

TORONTO, MARCH 10th, 1919.

My Dear Aunt,

I suppose you will think I have altogether

forgotten you, but to tell you the truth I have not,

although I do not often write to you. I hope when

you receive these few lines that you will be a little

better with regard to your eyes, as A, tells me that

they have been troubling you quite bit.

We are quite well, and working every day, at least

I am supposed to be, but as they are not too busy

where I am working there is not much for me to do.

The weather out here is exceptionally good. They

say that there has never been a winter like this one,

so mild, since 1878, for we have not had one real

cold day yet, and I do not suppose we will now, as it

will soon be April, when we begin to have the nice

sloppy days which we all enjoy so much in Portadown.

Tell Mr. Archer that the Church I belong to out

here is not, by a long shot, as big as Seagoe, but

conducts the same service, the name of which is St.

Monica. We have a Boys' Auxiliary here for which

I am Secretary, and we also have a Boys' Bible Class

and I am President of that, and they are starting a

Men's Club next Thursday night, and I was elected

Secretary-Treasurer, so you see I can find lots of

time outside my working hours to attend to these

things.

Give my best regards to Miss Armstrong, and tell

her that although I do not write to her as often

as I should, that I certainly appreciated her kindness,

shown to us when we lived in Portadown. I also

have the Bible which she gave me when coming

away. and I value it a great deal. Perhaps she would

like my address to drop me few lines, as I should

very much like to hear from her. Of course, all these

people could be dead and buried for all I know, for I

never hear anything about them, and I would like

very much to.

If Charlie Montgomery is still in Portadown tell

him that I was asking about him, and do not forget

the Sunday School to which I once belonged, and

where I was taught by him. You might also tell

him that I am teaching a class in Sunday School

myself.

I am sure that you are very lonely since grandmother

died. I am sure you miss her a great deal, but of

course all these things must happen, and we just

have to make the best of them, although it is

really sad sometimes. But I want you to cheer up,

and although your eyes are troubling you to look at

the brightest side of things, until such times as you

will be feeling better than you are today, and I only

hope that they may get better as soon as possible.

Give my best regards to all my old school chums,

if you happen to see any of them.

I cannot think of anything more at present to tell

you, so hoping that you will soon find your way clear

to cheer up, and with best regards to everyone.

FROM JACK.

PARISH REGISTER for MAY, 1919.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized on May, 3rd, 1919—

Preston—Samuel, son of James (late of 17th R.I.R.,

B.E.F.) and Sarah Jane Preston, of Lylo.

Sponsors—Hannah Malcomson, Sarah Preston.

Ruddock—Robert George, son of George and Sarah

Ruddock, of Drumnacanvey.

Sponsors—George Ruddock, Sarah Ruddock.

Marriages.

Ruddell and Stevenson—15th April, 1919, at St. Paul's

Church, Fortwilliam, Ontario, Canada, by the Rev.

W. H. Trickett, Rector, William James Ruddell,

formerly of Tamnifiglasson, to Elizabeth Stevenson

of Drumgor.

Preston and Atkinson—7th May, 1919, Joseph Henry Pierson,

of Portadown, late L.-Corp. R.E, B.E.F., 1914-1919,

to Mary Anne Atkinson, of Edenderry.

Hunniford and Webb—16th May, 1919, Charles Hunniford,

of Portadown, to Elizabeth Webb, of Lylo.

Burials.

McKee—May 11th, James Henry M'Kee. of Kernan, aged 40.

Morton—May 16th, John Morton, of Florence Court, aged 22.

Interred at Ahorey Graveyard.

Metcalfe—May 25th, Richard Metcalfe, of Belfast, aged 64.

Johnston—May 26th, William John Johnston, of Carne, aged 75.

Interred in Drumcree Churchyard.

ITEMS.

The two conspicuous stars in the western sky each

evening are Venus and Jupiter. Venus is the brighter

of the two, and is at present a beautiful object. Her

shape, like a crescent moon, can almost be seen just

now by the naked eye.

***

Several of the graves in Seagoe graveyard, around

the Church, have during the past month been made

tidy and cleared of weeds. We hope all who have grave

plots will attend to them.

***

Unprecedented scenes are witnessed in the Parish

at present. Our people are "on the Exchange," and

in receipt of unemployment pay, so that the country

roads are full of pedestrians enjoying the glorious

weather and the splendid country sights, and although

doing no work are in receipt of substantial pay.

***

Special Services were held in the Parish Church,

on Sunday, May 25th (Rogationtide Sunday), and

prayers were offered for the Divine Blessing on the

growing crops.

***

Large numbers are joining the Confirmation

Classes.

***

The Rest Room at the Station is about to be closed

after doing a splendid work for our fighting men for

four years.

***

A new Club, called St. Goban's Football Club is

being formed in the Parish. We congratulate the

members on ranging themselves under our local

Patron Saint. We do not know for certain that

Goban played football, but we have sufficient evidence

from ancient tradition that he was of a decidedly

athletic disposition. He could hurl logs of wood a

considerable distance, and on occasion could so bend

his supple joints as to conceal himself inside a wooden

box of narrow compass. He was in every sense a

manly Christian, and was never ashamed of his

religion, or afraid to confess it, and in this respect

is a fine example for our young men to follow.

***

It is proposed so to control the rise and fall of the

waters of Lough Neagh as that they may supply

power for electric lighting in this and the surrounding

neighbourhoods.

***

Twelve Choirs are taking part in the Choral

Festival at Seagoe, on Saturday, May 31st. The

Service is at 4-30. The combined Choirs will number

345. The preacher will be the Rev. Canon Moeran,

and the Rev. J. Bentley, Rector of Jonesboro', and

formerly a member of Armagh Cathedral Choir, will

conduct.

***

Aeroplanes coming from Aldergrove Aerodrome

use Seagoe as their pint of direction in flying west

or south.

***

Some weeds, especially Dandelions and Nettles, have

this year attained abnormal growth. A Nettle 6-ft.

high, and a Dandelion blossom 4-ft. high have been

noticed in Seagoe.

***

It is proposed to plant red and white roses in

memory of our fallen Seagoe men at each side of the

porch of Seagoe Church.

***

Seagoe Weather during May. — The following is

our School Weather Report for May, with the names

of the pupils who took the Records

Barometer —Highest, 29.5 ins., May 7th, 26th,

27th, Tom Rainey, Hilda Walker, Lizzie Loney;

lowest, 28.9 ins., May 2nd, Edna Best,

Thermometer (in sun), noon—Highest, May, 27th,

91 degrees, Hilda Walker; lowest, May 8th, 50

degrees, Willie M'Clements.

OLD SEAGOE NOTES.

Rev. Richard Olpherts, Curate of Seagoe, 1810-1816

[We extract the following note from the Rev. J. B. Leslie's

"Armagh Clergy and Parishes" published in 1911.

It is the first complete record we have seen of the Rev. R.

Olpherts', career after he left Seagoe, but strange to

say his tenure of Seagoe Curacy is omitted from

Mr. Leslie's book.] Rev. Richard Olpherts collated to

the Parish of Charlestown, Diocese of Armagh, on

March 13^th, 1823, son of Richard Olpherts, descended

from Wybrants Olpherts, a Burgess of Armagh. Born

in Co. Armagh, entered T.C.D. October 2nd, 1802,

aged 17, educated at Royal School, Armagh. B.A. 1805;

M.A. 1827. [Curate of Seagoe 1810—1816]. Licensed

to Curacy of Desertlyn September 27th, 1816. He died

on 17th December, 1849, aged 64 years, and was buried in

Armagh Cathedral Churchyard, where the tombstone

records the burial of his 1st wife Anne, who died 11th

June, 1828, aged 30; and of his 2nd wife Mary, and

11 of his children. A tablet to his memory in

Charlestown Church has the inscription—"Sacred to

the memory of Rev. Richard Olpherts, for 27 years

Vicar of the Union of Charlestown. "This tablet is

inscribed as tribute of affectionate respect and

esteem by his grateful parishioners of all denominations,

and a few privileged friends—Obiit. December,

1848 (?) Aetat 65."

During Mr. Olpherts' tenure of the Parish of

Charlestown a new church was built there in 1827,

with a, tower spire 108 feet high. The Parish of

Seagoe has good reason to remember with gratitude

the name of Rev. Richard Olpherts, for when the

project of the building of the present Church was on

foot, he advanced the sum of £500 toward the

building fund.

In the Vestry Records for 16th April, 1816, the

following note is added—Whereas it appears that the

Rev. Richard Olpherts has advanced the sum of £500

in finishing the new church, it is hereby agreed on as

the easiest method of paying him, that one Half of

the Pews in the New Church be disposed of to the

Highest Bidder, together with 4d. per acre, to be

levied off the Parish this year, and whatever balance

shall appear due after sd. £500 after the sale of the

said Pews, and the produce of the sd. laid on 4d per

acre, we do hereby bind ourselves to pay sd. Ballance

in such manner as shall appear most beneficial to

both Mr. Olpherts and parishioners at the following

Eastry Vestry.

Mr. Olpherts' initials R.O." appear on the

lozenge shaped stone, set into the right hand side

wall of the Church porch,

A proof that Mr Olpherts did not always get the

money to which he was entitled is forthcoming from

this note scribbled on the back page of the Vestry

Registers—£3 5s 2d in John Overend's hands

which I never could get from him.— R Olpherts."

Archdeacon Saurin and the Labourers, 1865

The late Mr. Robert Lynass, of Carne, told

the present Rector the following characteristic story

of Archdeacon Saurin: —Sometime in the Sixties of

the last century when the Archdeacon was getting on

in years he found the steep incline in the path across

the field from the Rectory to the Church, trying to

wind and limb. So one day he sent for Mr Lynass,

who was an old and tried friend of his, and asked him

if he could get his workmen someday to come and

cut the hill so as to render the gradient less steep.

On the appointed day Mr Lynass came with his men

and commenced the work. Soon after, the Archdeacon

appeared on the scene, and seemed to be very

much interested in the men and their work. He sent

one of them to the Rectory for a chair, and when it

was brought he sat down and watched them

intently. No doubt the patriarchal presence of the

Archdeacon caused them to work with greater zeal.

After watching them for some time the Archdeacon

called Mr Lynass and said to him in a puzzled way

“Robert, do your men always work as hard as that?"

Mr. Lynass replied— “Oh, yes, Deacon, they always

work very hard." The Archdeacon looked dissatisfied

for a moment, and then summoning up all his

energy and suppressed indignation he vigorously

slapped his knee and said—"Well, I'm robbed!"

The Saurin Vault in Seagoe Church —On

Monday, May 5th, during the alterations at the

Chancel steps the workmen accidentally made an

opening into the Saurin Vault under the floor of the

Chancel. As it seemed a suitable opportunity for

learning the condition of the Vault, the opening was

widened sufficiently for a person to enter. The

Rector went into the Vault and found it in good

condition. On the left-hand side lay the coffin of

Archdeacon Saurin, and laid on it was that of Mrs.

Saurin, his second wife. At the other side of the

Vault was a cemented receptacle which contains the

body of Archdeacon Saurin's first wife, and also the

bodies of two of his children who died in infancy.

The coffins (lead in a wooden shell) of Archdeacon

and Mrs Saurin were in good preservation and much

in the same condition as when they were placed there

some forty years ago. The Inscription on Mrs.

Saurin's coffin read as follows—"Emma Elizabeth

Saurin, born September, 1805, Died December, 1891.”

Mrs. Saurin's coffin measured 6ft. 4ins. in length by

1ft. 3ins. deep. The Archdeacon's coffin was 7ft. in

length by 1ft. 3ins. Deep. Owing to its great size

some of the wall of the Church had to be removed so

as to let it get into the Vault. The head of the

Archdeacon's coffin lies towards the Chancel end of

the Church, and Mrs. Saurin's coffin is in the reverse

direction. Some massive brass rings which had been

attached to the Archdeacon's coffin were found lying

on the top of the cement ledge. They had become

detached at the time of Mrs Saurin's interment.

The measurements of the Vault are —Length, 6ft 6ins.

Breadth 5ft. 11ins., Height, to centre of Arched

roof, 5ft.

PLAN OF VAULT.

1. Coffins of Archdeacon and Mrs. Saurin.

2. Other coffins in cement ledge. 3 and 4, Base of

Chancel Arch. 5 and 6, Chancel steps. The coffins

having been cleaned and dusted, the Rector placed

some flowers on Mrs. Saurin's coffin and the Vault

was again carefully closed up. The arched roof of

the Vault forms the floor of the Chancel. It is made

of brick with a concrete covering. The support

lining (wood) of the arch has naturally decayed and

fallen on to the floor of the Vault.

Recovery of Drumcree Missing Registers.

• The Vestry Records of Drumcree Parish for the

years 1803-1827 have within the past month been

restored to the Parish. They were found in the

Library of Mr. J. Obins Woodhouse, of Omeath.

They contain many items of interest to Seagoe people,

and we hope to insert them in future issues. The

present spire of Drumcree Church was built by Dean

Blacker, Rector of Seagoe, while Rector of Drumcree.

It cost £717. The Balls on the Summit cost £10.