June 1922

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JUNE, 1922.

Confirmation.

The Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore will

(D.V.) hold a Confirmation in the Parish Church on Friday,

June 23rd, at 3.30 p.m.

The Candidates will assemble in Seagoe School at 3

o'clock punctually. Each Candidate will receive a Card

of admission to the Confirmation. The Candidates will

then proceed from the School to the Church where places

will be reserved for them.

Special Celebrations of the Holy Communion for the

Candidates and their parents and sponsors will be held

in the Parish Church on Sunday, June 25th, at 8 a.m.,

and after Morning Prayer at 11.30 a.m.

Whitsunday.

Sunday, June 4th, being Whitsunday there will be

Celebrations of Holy Communion in the Parish Church

at 8 a.m. and after Morning Prayer.

The Collections at Morning and Evening Prayer will be

for the upkeep of Seagoe Parochial School. The School

Buildings require constant repair and are used both for

Sunday and Day Schools.

Sunday School Conference.

A useful Conference of our Sunday School Teachers

was held in Seagoe School on Thursday, May 18th. There

was a good attendance. The Conference began at 4 and

concluded at 9.30. There was an interval for Tea and

Recreation from 5.30 to 7.30. Most useful papers were

read by the Rev. J. T. Belton, Rev. A. O. Draper, and

Mr. S. Rennix. Each paper was well discussed, and at

the close of the Conference the subject of Sunday School

Organization was considered. During the afternoon the

members visited the Rectory garden and grounds.

Gift to Seagoe.

Miss Macoun, a former parishioner, and who has always

taken a deep interest in Seagoe Parish, has sent to

Mr. Hugh Stoops, Hon. Treas., a cheque for £100 in

fulfilment of a wish expressed by her mother (the late

Mrs. Macoun) that that sum should be given to Seagoe

Parish. The Select Vestry at their last meeting passed

a special vote of thanks to Miss Macoun and decided to

place the amount on deposit receipt in the Bank until

a final decision was come to as to its disposal. Legacies

to Seagoe Parish have in the past been very rare. How

many can say "All things come of Thee, and of Thine

own have we given Thee."

The Mothers' Union.

The monthly meeting of the Mothers' Union will be held

(D.V.) in Edenderry Parochial Hall on Tuesday, June 6th,

at 4 p.m. This is an important meeting and a full attendance

of the members is requested. New members will also be

enrolled. A meeting of the Mothers' Union was held in

Carne Church Hall on Wednesday, May 31st, at 4 p.m.,

for the purpose of forming a branch of the Union in that

district of the Parish. The Branch will meet on the last

Tuesday of each month.

Sunday School Excursion.

The Annual Sunday School Excursion will take place

(D.V.) on Thursday, June 15th. It will be held in a field

at Breagh, kindly lent by Mr. T. E. Maginnis. The field

is beautifully situated and is an ideal place for an

Excursion. The children will meet in the Parish Church

at 2 p.m. The price of the Tickets and other particulars

will be duly announced.

C.M.S Boxes, 1921—1922,

Total Collection £12 15s 6d

Edenderry—£l 5s 8d.—Mrs. C. Magee, 2s; Mr. W.

Tedford, 1s 6d; Thos. Metcalf, 6s 7 ½ d; Mrs. H. Stoops.

3s; Mrs. Flannigan, 1s; Mrs. Ellis, 6d; Mrs. T. Dawson,

6s 11d; Misses Atkinson, 3s 3 ½ d.

Drumgor—£l 8s 2d.—Mrs. Hopps, 2s 6 ½ d; Miss L.

Gracey, 8s 10 ½ d; Mrs. S. Best, 3s; Miss M. Gracey, 2s

6d; Miss H. E. Martin, 9s 3d; Mrs. W. Gracey, 2s.

Seagoe - £2 18s 2d.—Miss I. Best, 5s 4 ½ d; Miss M. Ruddell,

6s 10d; Mrs. Ramsey, 2s 6d; Mrs. Rennix, 11s 2d;

Miss L. M'Donald, 4s 1d; Seagoe Girls Bible Class, 8s 11 ½ d;

Seagoe Afternoon Sunday School, 9s 2 ½ d; Seagoe

Morning Sunday School, 10s O ½ d.

Carne—14s 8d.—Mrs. Price, 2s 6d; Mrs. Murray, 3s

8d; Mrs. Martin, 2s; Miss Lavery, 2s; Mrs. G. Simpson,

1s; Mrs. Caddell, 2s; Mrs. A. Costelloe, Is 6d.

Hacknahay—£6 8s 9 ½ d; Mrs. Bradshaw, 3s 11 ½ d; Miss

R. Black, 4s 7d; Miss M England, 5s 6d; Miss M. M'Cormick,

2s; Mrs. Livingstone, 2s 6 ½ d, Mrs. Quinn, 4s 9d; Mrs. Neill,

2s 5d; Mrs. T. Neill, 2s 7 ½ d; Mrs. H. Neill, 5s 8d;

Miss Abraham, 9s 6d; Miss S. Maginnes, 7s 3d; Miss Jane

Currie, 3s 11d; Miss Rodgers, 6d; Miss G. Best, 6s;

Miss E. M. Rowland, 3s 9d; Mrs. Craig, 2s; Mr. S. Jennett,

7s 6d; Mr. W. J. Calvert, 3s; Mrs. N. England, 6s 7 ½ d;

Miss Rebecca Calvert, £2 4s.

Parish Register for May.

Baptisms.

Wilson—May 6th, 1922, Harold, son of Ralph and Anne

Wilson, of Portadown.

Sponsors—Isabella M'Mahon, Anne Wilson.

Porter—May 17th, 1922, Susan Ellen daughter of Robert,

John and Margaret Porter, of Lower Seagoe.

Sponsors—Mary Elizabeth Ruddell, Margaret Porter.

Marriage.

Jennett and Reid—May 12th, 1922, William Jennett, of

Ballynaghy, Parish of Knocknamuckley, to

Evelyn Reid, of Edenderry.

Burials.

Russell—May 4th, Thomas Russell, of Belfast,

aged 60 years.

Best —May 28th, Samuel James Best, of Lurgan,

aged 14 years.

Lecture by Rev. A. O. Draper, B.A.

The Rev. A. O. Diaper, B.A., has kindly arranged to

deliver a Public Lecture on "How we got our Bible" in

Drumgor Church Hall on Tuesday, June 27th, at 8 p.m.

The subject is a very interesting one. The proceeds will

be given to Drumgor Sunday School Fund. Tickets 1s

each are now on sale.

Seagoe Day School.

The Annual Inspection in Religious Knowledge was

held in Seagoe School on Monday, May 15th, by the Rev.

John Gordon, M.A., Rector of Hilltown. A large number

of children received Certificates. The Inspector reported

as follows—"The Examination in this School was very

satisfactory, the Answering and Repetition in all the

Divisions being very good."

The Weekly Envelopes.

Next month we hope to publish a Barometer designed

by Mr. James Twinem showing at a glance the

subscriptions to the Sustentation Fund from the various

Districts.

The answers to the three Questions asked in the

Magazine last month are as follows—

Answers to Questions

1. Acts viii. 17, Acts xix. 6, Heb. vi. 1 and 2.

2. In Article vi. of the Thirty Nine Articles the following

reference is made to the Apocrypha “These Books

the Church doth read for example of life and instruction

of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish

any doctrine.”

3. The Church was marked out into Dioceses. Tithes

were imposed, and the independence of the Church of

Ireland was usurped by the Pope.

We offer a new Prayer Book and Hymnal for the best

short Essay on "The Scripture Proofs of Confirmation"

to be sent with name and address of the writer to the

Rector before June 25th, 1922. The essay is not to

exceed 500 words in length.

The "Specials.”

A large number of our men, young and old, have joined

the "Specials," and are doing a splendid and difficult

work. We owe a great debt to them. Tact, judgment

and great courage are needed at this serious crisis. Night

and day they are ceaseless in their vigilance.

Organ Recital.

Mr. G. Hardcastle, Organist of Gilford Parish Church,

will give a short Organ Recital in the Parish Church on

(to-morrow) Sunday evening, June 4th, after Evening

Prayer.

The Programme arranged for Mr. Hardcastle's Organ

Recital in Seagoe Church on Sunday, June 4th, after

Evening Prayer is as follows—

Pastorale in A, by Alex. Guilmant.

Rondo-Caprice, by Dudley Buck.

Aria, by Joseph Holbrooke,

Concerto in F. by Handel.

ITEMS.

Seagoe Choir attended the Lurgan Choral Festival in

Shankill Parish Church on Saturday last.

***

Several refugee families from the South have come into

the Parish. Show these poor people all the sympathy

you can.

***

A great Girl Guides' Rally for the whole County of

Armagh takes place at Seagoe this Saturday afternoon,

June 3rd. Seagoe Guides will take part.

***

New branches of the Mothers' Union are being started

in Carne, Seagoe, Drumgor, and Hacknahay Mothers

join up.

***

The Rev. J. Long, M.A., Sec. of the Bible Society,

will (D.V.) preach in Seagoe Church on Sunday, June

18th, morning and evening. At the Evening Service he

will specially address the Confirmation Candidates.

Seagoe Prize Winners.

Exhibitors from Seagoe did remarkably well at

Portadown Show held last Thursday. In fact, it was a

case of Seagoe first and all the rest nowhere. They shone

especially in the Home Industries Department. In Plain

Sewing Miss Gertie Montgomery was easily first with a

beautiful piece of work. Miss Edna Watson, a pupil of

Seagoe School, got First for the best Laundered Tray

Cloth. Miss Isabella Best, of Seagoe School, got First

prize for a very neat piece of Needlework. Miss Lily

Gracey and Alfred M'Laughlin, of Balteagh N.S., got

First and Second respectively in Drawing. Miss Nellie

Montgomery carried off First Prize for a beautiful Walnut

Cake, and a Second Prize for Preserved Plums.

In the Driving Competitions Mr. David Murray carried

off several good Prizes. He also won First Prize with

his great Pony at the Belfast Show. Mr. John Hoy, another

Parishioner, got First Prize in open competition for

his Jersey cow. He also won the Clarendo Cup. Mr.

W. J. M'Dowell, of Levaghery, won a Silver Cup for the

best 3 year old Heifer. Miss Maggie Reid had exhibits

by several of her pupils from Balteagh School which

secured Prizes. The Atkinson Memorial Perpetual

Challenge Cup given in memory of the late Mr. W. R.

Atkinson was won by Mr. W. C. Lutton.

We congratulate all these Prize winners on their success,

and Mr. and Mrs. Rennix are to be congratulated

on the Prizes secured by the Pupils of Seagoe School.

Old Seagoe Notes.

After 107 Years. — lnteresting Records Found in

Thatched Roof. — While repairing the roof of a house in

Knocknamuckley there was discovered concealed in the

thatch a book containing "part of the rules and regulations

of the Boyne Club, commonly called Orangemen" (No. 388),

which met at Ballyhannon (near Portadown) in 1815.

The book is in a good state of preservation, and the

minutes of the club are very neatly and accurately recorded.

The secretary was evidently a remarkably good penman,

for the lettering in the title page is so perfect, the lines so

attractively displayed and evenly spaced that at first sight

it looks to be the work of a modern letter press printer.

The same taste and neatness is apparent in the keeping

of the accounts, the items of income and expenditure

being set out and balanced in a manner that would do

credit to an accountant.

The officers of the Lodge at that time were—W.M.

Robert Craigie; D.M. Thomas Joice; secretary, John

Montgomery; treasurer, James Purdy. Committee —

Daniel Monrow, Pierce Summeral, John Pentland,

John Harrison, and Cross Twinem.

WITH THE " NINTH" IN FRANCE.

By Lieut.-Co1. S. W. BLACKER, D.S.O.

1916.

[Colonel Blacker's letters this month cover a most

interesting period during May, 1916. The variable

weather of a French Spring is noted. Raids into the

enemy's lines are frequent and usually successful.

A typical day's work of the O.C. is given us, and

shows what a constant strain war imposes on the

officers. Some local names of officers and men are

introduced. We begin to realise the preparations for

the great advance of July 1st.]

(Continued from May Magazine).

Friday, May 12^th. - just sent a wire cancelling

table of reliefs sent us yesterday based on 6 days reliefs,

which means 8 days, or a move somewhere, I suppose I

would; sooner stay on here for a bit, anyway, and then

go back for a rest. Saturday, May 13th. — Such a wet,

day. We don't go in to the line till Monday or Tuesday,

and then for 8 days and then back for a fortnight, I think.

Pratt and Padre tried fishing yesterday, but caught nothing,

as Whizz-Bangs were coming near them, and they

left of after an hour. They are going to give us 14 Officers

over Estab., which means another 9. Had tea with

How. By. yesterday. Geoffrey White is a Brigadier now,

and Malcolm Peake C. R.A 29th Div. vice old Stockdale,

who has been sent home. I always thought he was too

slow. Have got my chair up here and am most comfy.

The soil here is like C.B and gets 'lifty' after rain and

takes some drying. Sir R. Chalmers was Gov. of Ceylon,

and was weak, I hear. Socks will be welcome.

Hope They Sack the Sinn Feiners

from Gov. employ. We are not working on the Elephant

R.E. and 107th Bde. We are to have daylight saving out

here. Do wish they would do away with the Irish time.

Walked over to Brigade Office; with Infinite care got

Gen. to agree to cancel our working party for to-night, of

150. The weather is too dreadful pouring rain, and no

work could be done. Still uncertain whether we go in

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Col. Kentish

just sent me an account of the raid carried out by 1st

R.I.F. in daylight. Highly successful. They killed 1

Officer and 12 Germans, counted them, and got a few

prisoners. A train load of ammunition has just broken

down on the line here, and we have to turn out a party

to unload it. Lucky, I got the working party cancelled,

Sunday, May 14^th — Rain stopped, but still dull and cold.

The old train managed to get on last night without

unloading. Had another bath this morning, and am getting

all the men a second bath before they go into the line.

Expect we're getting your bad weather now. No doubt

everyone who's been out since the beginning wants a

complete change home for some months. No more Hun

spot cases. Hollywood has returned; no other new Officers

so far. No, never heard a word against the Indian Troops.

There might have been a few isolated cases but I doubt

any general disaffection. We come out to Mesnil each

time, but when we come out for 14 days will go further

behind H—e. The only badly wounded last Sunday was

Hall, who comes from Tyrone.

L/Corpl Huston, from Armagh was wounded on a fatigue

party, the same night, but before the strafe. Have not

heard how Sergeant Pollock is going on, but I fear he

will not come back to us. Don't know yet when we go

in. Have been reading Dillon's speech – a lot of

impassioned rot! A— has been put out of bounds for all

below rank of Maj-Gen! Monday, May 15 ^th —A wild

wet, day from 12 midnight; now cleared and blowing.

We go in to-morrow (Tuesday). Wednesdays May 16^th -

Such a lovely sunny day after the downpour yesterday.

We go in this evening and stay in, I expect, for 8 days.

A violent strafe broke out about 12.30 a.m. this morning,

a little N. of us, of which the tail end just missed our sector.

It lasted an hour, and our guns round here were, active and

made night hideous. I suppose a raid, but don't know

any details. Pratt and Bob Maxwell went off on leave at

6 a.m. this morning. Am taking my bath in this time,

as water is plentiful there, and we are in for so long.

I find we can buy lemons here. Wednesdays May 17^th -

Another lovely day, and so hot. Relief went off all right.

Such a perfect night and a full moon, not cold; one

could sit outside. The Elephant may be ready in a week;

I doubt it. Padre has taken Pratt's bed in the cellar.

50 of the Pioneers and 2 Officers are doing work in the

line. We have to feed one of them. Allen (16th) fell

from his horse yesterday and is suffering from shock!

Another Pioneer Officer fell off his horse and has since

died. Had a very hot walk round this morning. The

Trenches very airless. The 12th did a lot of work while

they were in. There was an aeroplane over us last night.

Don't know whose. Bosche captive balloon up to-day

observing. The cellar is delightfully cool today, but

everyone coming into the line comes here so there's never

any peace or privacy, which is trying. We are busy

deepening all Trenches in the village, as during a strafe it

is impossible to move about, until they are deep. I think

I told you there is a beautiful spring of water here, which

is a great boon. Water at, M— has to be carted about

2 miles, and then isn't much. This cellar is to be turned

into a Regtl. Aid Post or dressing station when we clear

out to the Elephant. Thursday, May 18th . — Old Ensor

suddenly appeared yesterday. I am very glad. Such a

hot day.

Simply Roasting and Airless in the Trenches .

We had a disturbed night, as we had a secret test of our

communications with the Artillery at 2 a.m.—rockets,

telephone, signalling and by runner. It worked out all right.

The morning was very foggy so neither rockets or signalling

were visible. After that was over, I visited the marsh Posts

with the padre, and returned to bed at about 5.30. Slept till

7.30 a.m. Tin hats very hot. A fairly peaceful day; they

burst some shrapnel over the village in the p.m., and

M. G, 's are active as usual to-night. Probable that we shall

not go back for rest for a bit yet. Friday, May 19th, 9.30 a.m.—

They turned a M G. on our wiring party last night and hit

that nice boy, Dickson, a Sub in 'C' Coy. He was hit

high up in the chest, and the bullet is still in. He was

in considerable pain. We got him away in the motor

ambulance, about 1.30 a.m. and the Padre, like a brick,

went with him, and has not yet returned. Another

roasting day; they are putting Whizz-Bangs over the

new Elephant to try and stop working parties, I suppose.

A good many Trench mortars into the Battalion on our

right. Just off round the line. Our Gunner Officer for

this 24 hours came out as a Bombardier in 'J.' Rapid

promotion. 12.30 p.m.—Just back and rather warm,

but the cellar is beautifully cool. 'D' Coy have just

got into their new dug-out mess: very nice. We

started it when we were here in Feb., and when we,

came in last month it was still much in the same state.

However, we got on to it and now it's done; it is very

satisfactory. Very deep and safe. Centre Coy ‘C' also

have a good one, but the right Coy has a bad one and

it's hard to improve it. However, the accommodation

is greatly improved, which is as well, as we are a

good deal stronger in Officers now. Padre returned at

7 p.m.—not a very good account of Dickson. They have

taken him into a good hospital, about 10 miles from here,

and we are to hear to-morrow what they think of him.

He suffered a good deal, I fear. Three oil cans landed

just now in Right Coy. No damage. Papers still very

erratic. No "Times" since Tuesday. Saturday, May

20th, 10 a.m. - Another gorgeous day. Am just going to

have a bath. Went round last night all the outlying

posts and a bit of the line.

It was a Heavenly Night.

Fairly quiet except for M.G. fire. J. J. had a narrow

escape from the oil can (trench mortar). It landed close

to where he was in the Trench, and he had just time to

skip before it exploded, and only got covered with mud.

I saw him about an hour afterwards. He was quite

Imperturbable - great fellow. Menaul did some useful work

last night, and got within a few yards of a Bosche working

party. Padre is going over to see Dickson to-day.

He is running a mess. We're getting a grand lot of work

done, and all in the cool after Stand Down in the morning,

about, 3.30 to 7.30, and again 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

leaving the hot part of the day for resting. We downed

a Bosche 'plane this afternoon with our 'planes. I didn't

see it. Sunday, May 21st.—Another lovely day, with a

shade more breeze. Dickson is going on well, but they

haven't located the bullet, and will send him, when fit

to move, to a base for X-rays. My day at present is: -

A little office work after breakfast, and then out round

the line; back to lunch, Coy Commanders' conference at

2.30, which lasts till 4 p.m.; then post in (post leave at 3

p.m.), and then tea, and round the line again till dinner,

after which heavy correspondence in and has to be

attended to. Then I wander out again and see what work

is being done and needed, and sometimes an early trek

round after daylight. A quiet night except for M.G. fire.

Menaul had an escape on Patrol last night; bumped into

a small covering party of Bosches, who fired at about 6

yards, but missed, and

Menaul was Able to Get Away.

pursued by rifle and grenade fire. He was out on a

special reconnoitring job and had only 1 man with him.

He was so close to the German line he had to skip as fast as

he could. 2 p.m.—Had a very hot walk round the whole

line from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p m. Everything peaceful,

except occasional sniping, and a few H.E. shells on the

front line. We've had grand weather this time, and a

lot of good work has been done. Monday, May 22nd. —

Another glorious day, the hottest we've had. Last night

was very warm. Padre accompanied me out to the Marsh

Posts about midnight, the pleasantest time really in the

24 hours, and warm even then. The gloves look very

good; they arrived last night and shall be tested at once.

A draft of 25 turned up about 1 a.m. this morning. It's

extraordinary how men melt away. Each Coy can only

muster about 100 Privates, out of a strength of 250, for

the Trenches. 2 p.m.—It's a fair roaster to-day. Inspected

the Elephant this a.m. Should be ready by our

next tour. I see by Programme of Reliefs we only go

out for 6 days, i.e., we return to 6 day reliefs. Tuesday,

May 23rd.—Slight rain yesterday 5-7 p.m. Fine again,

and warm to-day. Menaul had a scrap with a Bosche

patrol last night; he was lying in wait and 8 passed

below him at foot of a bank, and he gave them 16

grenades. Unfortunately, he couldn't lift the bodies as the

bank was 20 feet high, and very steep, and the Bosche

turned on a hot fire. He got back without a scratch to

his patrol. Just been all round the line. Atkinson and

I watched a M.G. place about 400 yards away, and saw

a German Officer observing their Artillery fire. As each

shell burst he popped up his head for a second. It was

a quieter night, though a certain amount of M.G. fire.

We've never had such a good, tour in the line; never

impeded by the weather, and done such a lot of good work.

I'm quite sorry to leave; it has been very interesting

and one is getting to know a lot about this bit. 2 p.m.

—The Gen. (Griffiths) came in about 1 p.m. Passing

through he told us to convey his

Appreciation to Menaul and his Scouts ,

for the good work they had done. We have been very

lucky—2 scraps this tour, and a good deal of shelling

and M.G. fire, and no casualties, except young Dickson,

who is still going on well. 10 p.m .—-Both Mahaffy's

letter and Elliott’s, I thought excellent. I visited the Marsh

Posts, that are accessible by daylight, after tea. It was

lovely down by the river (Ancre). This certainly is a

pretty spot. I have thoroughly enjoyed this tour, and I

think everyone has. Inspected the cemetery. Padre has

taken it in hand and got it very nice. Had a look at the

cows, who are looking well, come on a lot since they got

on the grass. We go out tomorrow night. Am quite

sorry to leave. We have deepened and improved the

trenches enormously. Wednesday, May 24th, 2 p.m .—

A very noisy night with M.G. fire, and a certain amount

of Artillery on both sides all the morning. Warm, heavy

a.m., has now turned to rain; expect it will clear before

Relief. Atkinson got his coat torn with a small splinter

of a shell that burst near him this morning. They find

the Bosche can read our messages in Ft. line with a

sensitive instrument, so everything has to be sent by

hand, or in cypher, which is laborious.

(To be continued.)