June 1924

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JUNE, 1924.

Whitsuntide.

On Whitsunday, June 8th, the following Services

will be held in the Parish Church.

8 a.m.—Holy Communion.

11.30 a.m.—Morning Prayer, Sermon, and Holy

Communion.

7 p.m.—Evening Prayer.

At Whitsuntide we commemorate the great fact

of Pentecost when the gift of the Holy Spirit was

bestowed upon the expectant Church. It is one of

the great Christian Festivals.

Trinity Sunday,

On Trinity Sunday, June 15th, there will be a

Celebration of Holy Communion after Morning

Prayer.

Free Gardeners' Service.

Ou Sunday evening, June 22nd, at 7 p.m., a Service

will (D. V.) be held in Seagoe Parish Church.

It will be attended by the Free Gardeners of Portadown

and neighbourhood. The Free Gardeners are

a flourishing Benefit Society, and deserve the support

of all who value thrift and brotherhood.

With the Ninth in France.

The long series of Letters which have been appearing

from month to month in our columns since

June, 1921, came to an end last month with the

letter dated March 13th, 1917. These Letters, written

almost daily from the Front, were sent by

Lieut. Colone1 Blacker to Mrs. Blacker. We are

greatly indebted to Colonel Blacker for so kindly

allowing us to publish them. They form a unique

record of the part played by our Ninth Battalion

during the most stirring events which have ever

occurred in the history of the world. They possess

the additional advantage of having been penned

by the Colonel of the Battalion, and they present

us with a day to day picture of the life of our

Battalion at the Front. Still further interest is

imparted to them from a Parochial point of view

because of the fact that they have been written by

a member of a family who for at least 250 years, if

not for a much longer period, has been associated

very closely with Seagoe Parish. History records

that in the year 1666 the Church of Seagoe, which

had been destroyed in the Rebellion of 1641, was

rebuilt by Valentine Blacker, who then resided at

the Manor House, where Blacker's Mill now stands,

and who was a direct ancestor of the Carrick

Blacker family.

Those of our readers who have kept the copies

of the Magazine containing Colonel Blacker's Letters

possess a splendid record of what Seagoe men did

in the war—a record which will increase in interest

and importance as time goes by. We hope in a

short time from other sources to continue the record

of the Ninth Battalion's War Service up to the

close of the war. Colonel Blacker returned home

from active service in March, 1917, having

commanded the Battalion with great efficiency and

success from August, 1914. Colonel Blacker is at

present residing in France with his family, but

we hope that before long he will return to Carrick

Blacker, the residence so long associated with his

family.

We reprint here the " Foreword " written by

Lieut. Colonel Blacker and published in our issue

of June, 1920—

FOREWORD .

I have been asked by the Rector to write

something for the Seagoe Magazine on the doings of

the " Ninth " in France. I have. come to the

conclusion that Extracts from letters written home from

day to day would be perhaps the best record of

the doings of the Battalion.

These letters cover the period from October, 1915,

till March, 1917, and are just a daily record of our

life out there. They were written under various

circumstances and conditions, and of course

without any idea of publication.

Naturally there are many abbreviations and allusions

which will puzzle the ordinary reader, but

think any of my old comrades in the 9th will be

able to understand them, and I hope they may

serve to call to their mind memories and

recollections of our life, in France and Flanders.

I would ask the indulgence of all in publishing

these somewhat egotistical records, but would ask

you to bear in mind the conditions under which

they were written.

The Letters extend from October 3rd, 1915, to

March 13th, 1917. The first extract under the former

date is—" Battalion moved out with no prisoners,

no absentees, and no one drunk."

This good record

which marked the beginning of the campaign was

continued by the Battalion to the end.

The Finances of the Parish.

During the past month the Select Vestry have

given special attention to the Finances of the Parish.

The appointment of a Second Curate which

has been made possible by the very generous grant

of £150 a year for five years by the Representative

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Church Body, will entail the raising of a sum of

£70 per annum by the Parishioners. The Weekly

Freewill Offering Scheme, which has now been in

operation for three years, has done much to help

our Sustentation Fund, but at the present time we

are just paying our way and no more. We appeal

to all who have taken the sets of Envelopes to bring

them in with regularity . Only in this way will we

be able to keep things going We also ask those

who have the Envelopes to increase their Weekly

Subscriptions. No less than fifty of our Subscribers

are giving only 1d per week, a sum which does

little more than pay for the envelope in which it

is placed. We hope in future from month to month

to give a statement as to the condition an d results

of the Weekly Offering Scheme in the various

Districts. A new Finance Committee was appointed

by the Select Vestry at their meeting held on

Monday, May 19th, to supervise the organisation

of the Weekly Offerings and to make the scheme

more efficient.

Rev. W. R. Crichton

Our old friend and former Curate, the Rev. W.

R Crichton, paid a brief visit to the Parish last

week. He was looking very well and strong. The

Indian climate agrees well with him. He is a

Government Chaplain in the Diocese of Madras, and

has been stationed at Secunderabad Malabar and

Octacarmmd. Mr. Crichton hopes to return to India

on July 11th, and will arrive at Bombay in August

on his way to Madras. It may be possible for Mr.

Crichton to pay another visit to Seagoe before he

sails for India, but as his time is very limited he

may not be able. He would have liked if it had

been possible to have seen his many friends in

Seagoe Mr. Crichton became Curate of Seagoe in

1907, and left the Parish to become Curate of Hillsborough in 1911.

A call for Help

A much needed improvement is being made in

Edenderry Parochial Hall. The heating arrangements

there were never satisfactory , as the stove

was insufficient to heat the Hall properly. A few

month s ago the stove and chimney pipe needed

repair, but when the attempt to repair them was

made repairs were found to be impossible. The

Committee of the Hall decided that the only satisfactory

solution of the difficulty was to install a proper

heating apparatus. An estimate was got

from Messrs. Musgrave, Ltd., Belfast, for their

narrow bore high pressure system. The cost of the

furnace house and installation will amount to over

￡100. An excavation was made last week in the

grounds of the Hall for the purpose of building the

Furnace House. When the workmen reached the

require depth of 7 feet they touched several

springs of water, which poured into the opening.

This has created a fresh and unexpected difficulty.

After consulting with the builder and others the

Committee felt that the only solution was to run

a shore at a depth of seven feet from the furnace

house to the main sewer in Bridge St. This is now

being done, but it will entail an extra expenditure

of a considerable amount, and the Committee feel

that they are justified in calling on the Parish at

large to help them. Edenderry has subscribed and

is subscribing liberally to the improvement of the

Hall, and we feel sure that others throughout the

Parish will be kind enough to help them. The

Hall is now more than ever before used for general

Parish purposes, and so the whole Parish benefits

by it. Subscriptions will be received by Miss

Atkinson, Eden Villa, on behalf of the Committee.

The Care of Graves.

We would be greatly obliged if those who own

grave plots in Seagoe Churchyard would kindly

clear them of weeds so that the ground may be

made neat and tidy as a graveyard ought to be.

A few flowers planted now will keep the graves

bright and fresh for the rest of the summer. Tombstones

that have got green and discoloured by

exposure to the weather should now be cleaned

and washed. Attention to these matters will make

a great improvement in the surroundings of the

Church.

Mr. W. E. Dickson .

Mr. W. E. Dickson, who has been Assistant Teacher

in Seagoe School since January , 1918, has been

appointed Principal of the Maze N.S., Hillsborough.

We congratulate Mr. Dickson on his appointment.

He has done good work in Seagoe School for the

past six years, and has made many friends in the

Parish and neighbourhood. He is highly esteemed

in football circles and has played for Edenderry

in many matches. He has always played a straight

game, and is consequently much esteemed by all

who value true sport. Mr. Dickson has acted as

Superintendent of Seagoe Afternoon Sunday

School since he came to the Parish . There is a

note of sadness associated with Mr. Dickson’s

appointment, as he succeeds to his father’s place,

who passed away with tragic suddenness on May

20th. While we offer our congratulations and good

wishes to Mr. Dickson, we sympathise also with

him and his family in their bereavement.

M others Union.

The Mothers’ Union will not meet on Tuesday,

June 3rd, but at a later date,

which will be announced to the members.

S. A M.S.

The Report of the Box and Card collections will

appear in our next issue.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

The Sunday School Excursion.

This popular event takes place (D. V.) on Thursday,

June 19th, to Warrenpoint. At this season of the

year everyone loves a day at the seaside. Parents

and children are looking forward with delight and

expectation to the time when they will once again

hear the waves breaking on the shore, or climb up

through the woods to Fiddler's Green or the Big

Stone.

The following Prices of Tickets have been arranged by the Committee—

Return Fare to Warrenpoint and Two Refreshments

Children under 8 Is.

Children 8 to 14 1s 6d.

Children over 14 Is. 9d

Outsider's Ticket (Refreshments not included) 2s. 6d.

if bought before the day of the Excursion,

3s if bought on morning of Excursion.

The Tickets will be on Sale at the various Schools

through the Parish on Tuesday evening, June 17th,

at 7.30.

The children will assemble at the Parish Church

at 8 a.m. The train will leave Portadown at 9 a.m.

The Return train will leave Warrenpoint at 7 p.m.

The Refreshments will be distributed in the Town

Hall at Warrenpoint.

Tickets for the Excursion—price 2s 6d each—are

now on Sale at the following places—Vance's,

Bridge St. ; Wilson's, corner of Joseph St ; Rainey's,

Bridge St. ; T. J. Montgomery's, High St.; Wallace's,

High St. ; Twinem's Factory, Edenderry ; J. H

Twinem's, High St.; and from the Sunday School

Superintendents. Outsiders should secure their

Tickets at once as the supply is limited.

Advice to Emigrants.

In every part of the world a welcome awaits you

as a member of the Church of Ireland, if you will

but ask for it. Wherever you determine to settle

in our Colonial Empire, or in the United States, you

will find there services similar to those that you have

been accustomed to at home. The first point to note

is that you should obtain letters of introduction and

commendation from your Clergy and others at

home, to the Clergy and Laity of the place to which

you are going. These should be sent on two or

three weeks in advance, so that your arrival may

be expected. You should also carry duplicates of

these, which you may present in person. The

Second point is to get in touch with the Chaplain

at the port of departure. He will then be on the

look-out for you, and give you many useful hints

regarding the voyage. When you get to sea

you Should Inquire for the Chaplain' of the ship and

make yourself known to him. There are many

ways in which lay people can render real service to

a Chaplain during the voyage. If it should happen

that you are not provided with any commendatory

letter, the Chaplain of the ship will gladly give

this to you.

W hen you disembark, look out for

the port Chaplain, who usually meets the ship,

and seek his counsel and advice.

When you reach your destination be sure to call

upon the Clergy or Laity to whom you have

introductions, and to whom commendations have been

already sent. If for any reason your plans are

unsettled, or should be so changed that eventually

you go to some place for which you have no

introduction, ask to see the Clergyman in Charge and

present your letter to him.

Prayers for Those Emigrating.

O Lord, our heavenly Father, 'Who didst call

Abraham from the home of his fathers and bring

him to the promised land, prosper, we beseech Thee,

our going out and coming in.

Show us, we pray Thee, what has been amiss in

our past lives, and for Thy dear Son's sake forgive

all our sins, negligences and ignorances.

Set us free from the bondage of sinful habit that

we may do Thy will on earth, and at length be

found worthy to serve Thee in heaven ; through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers for Daily Use,

O God, the protector of all that trust in Thee,

without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy

Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy ; that,

Thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass

through things temporal, that we finally lose not

the things eternal ; Grant this, O heavenly Father,

for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. Amen.

That it may please Thee to preserve all that

travel by land, by air, or by water; We beseech

Thee to hear us, good Lord.

Our Father, Which art in heaven, Hallowed he

Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.

in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our

daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we

forgive them that trespass against us. And lead

us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil

For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

A Midday Prayer.

Blessed Saviour, Who at this hour didst hang upon

the Cross, stretching forth Thy loving arms : Grant

that all mankind may look up to Thee and be saved

Amen.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

A Prayer for King and Empire.

Bless, we beseech Thee, merciful Lord, our Country

and all its colonies and dependencies. Give Thine

abundant grace to our King and to all who bear

office throughout the Realm, that in all things we

may be governed righteously and in Thy fear. Grant

to us not only such outward prosperity as is according

to Thy will, but above all things such virtue

and true religion, that Thy Holy Name may be ever

glorified in the midst of us ; through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

Parish Register for May.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church on May 3rds 1924—

M'Cabe—Thomas, son of Thomas and Mary M'Cabe, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Emma Jane Lavery, Mary M'Cabe.

Wright—Samuel James, son of Samuel James and Emma Wright. of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Mary Jane Hall, Emma Wright.

Simpson-—Myrtle Elizabeth, daughter of George and Susanna Jane Simpson, of Bocombra.

Sponsors—Frances Edith Livingston, Elizabeth Simpson.

Marriages.

Ruddell and Gilliland—May 14th, 1924, Joseph Ruddell, of Lisniskey,

to Tilly Gilliland, of Edenderry.

Metcalfe and Costello—May 27th, 1924, Thomas Henry Metcalfe, of Lower Seagoe,

to Margaret Costello, of Tamnificarbet.

Burial.

Walker—May 13th, Thomas Walker, of Levaghery, aged 70 years.

Examination in Religious Knowledge,

The Annual Examination in Religious Knowledge

was held in Seagoe School on Friday, May 30th

The Rev. J. Martin, Rector of Loughbrickland, acted

as Examiner. The following Certificates were

awarded—

Senior Division—Special (Green) Certificates-

William Livingston, John Reid.

First Certificates (Red)—John Hill, Wolsey White,

Robert M'Reynolds, Maud Coulter, Annie Ruddell,

Margaret Coulter, Letitia Preston, Norman Guy.

Middle Division.—Certificates—Pear1 Best, Isa

Walker, Eileen M'Loughlin, Margaret Duke, Elsie

Dunlop, Evelyn Magee, Mamie Coulter, Henrietta

Sweeney, Eileen M'Murray, James Allen, Robert

White, Charles Magowan, Israel M'Cready, James

Walker, Sam Johnston, George Brownlee, Ernest

Allen.

The Infant Division sang and answered very

satisfactorily.

ITEMS,

The General Synod held in Dublin last month

was attended by the Rector and by Mr. James

Twinem, who is a representative of this Diocese in

the General Synod

The Choral Festival this year will be held on

Saturday, September 6th. It, is usually held on an

earlier date.

A large number of young people are emigrating

to Canada and the States at present. Two whole

families are leaving us in July.

The new railings round Edenderry parochial Hall

are much admired.

The Annual Appeal for the protestant Orphan

Society will (D. V.) be made in the Parish Church

on Sunday, June 29th, at Morning and Evening

Prayer. The Society deserves our special help.

The Prayers printed in this issue are for the

special use of Emigrants.

Tickets for the Excursion are on Sale at Dawson's,

Fruiterers, Portadown, and other centres.

Please study our advertising columns, it will be

to your advantage.

Shankill (Lurgan) Parish has started a Parish

Magazine. It is well got up and full of useful

Parish news. The Rev. J. T. Belton is the capable

Editor.

Are you bringing in your Weekly Envelopes

regularly ? It will help us much in our work if you

do so.

Seagoe School pupils are exhibiting some of their

work at the forthcoming Portadown Show on June

5th.

Drumgor has decided to renovate the Church Hall.

It has postponed to a future date the building of a

new one.

Canadian Visitors.

We expect a great many visitors this year from

Canada and the States. They will come to see

Wembley, and will no doubt visit Seagoe also. Mr

Jack Stoops, of Toronto, has been here on a

business holiday. He left here 11 years ago when a lad

at Seagoe School, where he was very popular with

all his schoolmates. He has done well in Toronto,

and now represents a firm in the wool trade. He

is much interested in Church work, and attends

St. Monica's Parish Church, Toronto. His many

friends were glad to see him once again. He sails

shortly for Canada.