June 1927

Seagoe Parish Magazine

JUNE, 1927.

CLERGY :

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

Portadown.

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

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector's—Thos. E. Maginnis, Breagh.

People's—John R. Reid, Portadown,

Whitsuntide.

Sunday, June 5th, will be Whitsunday, when the

Church all the world over commemorates the gift

of time Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. There

will be celebrations of Holy Communion in the

Parish Church at 8 a.m. and after Morning Prayer.

Trinity Sunday.

Tine Rev. J. R. M'Dona1d, M.A., Rector of Donaghcloney,

will (D.v.) preach in Seagoe Church at

Morning Prayer on Trinity Sunday, June 12th.

Special collections will be made, both at morning

and evening prayer on behalf of the upkeep of

Seagoe Parochial Schools. This School, which was

erected by public subscription in 1859 has for the

past 70 years, fulfilled a very important part in the

life of the Parish. It has proved itself in every way

the handmaid of the Church. Being situated in the

centre of the Parish, it is a most convenient rallying

point for all Church agencies. We ask the liberal

support of the Parish, so that the building may be

kept in adequate condition.

The Wednesday Service.

On every Wednesday evening a service is held

in the Parish Church at 8 p.m. It is the opportunity

offered to the parishioners for engaging in Public

Worship during the week. In these days when the

rush and turmoil of the world are so much with

us it is helpful even for an hour in midweek to

come into the quiet of God's house and to seek Him

on bended knee. He has said " Where two or three

are met together in My Name there am I in the

midst of them."

Hibernian Bible Society.

The Rev. Cecil Long, M.A., Deputation Secretary

of the Bible Society, preached in the Parish Church

on Sunday morning, May 22nd.

Interesting language, collecting books have been distributed

through the Parish among some of the Sunday

School children. The Bible Society deserves all the

help we can give it. Mrs. Martin, of Balteagh, has

sent £2 2s to the Bazaar Funds of the Society.

Choral Festival in Seagoe.

The Lurgan union of Church Choirs will hold its

annual Choral Festival in Seagoe Parish Church on

Saturday, ,June 11th. The service will begin at 4-30

p.m. The very Rev. R. S. G. Hamilton, M.A., Dean

Of Armagh, will preach. Four hundred choristers

will take part in the service

Jumble Sale.

A Jumble Sale will be held in Edenderry

Parochial Hall on Friday, June 17th, at 7 p.m. The

proceeds of the sale will be equally divided between

the Men's Recreation Room in Edenderry and the

funds of L.O.L 417. Mr. James Forde is acting as

secretary. During the summer months the Recreation

Room is not in use by the members, but the

rent has to be paid. It is of great importance that in

such a populous centre as Edenderry the men should

have a Recreation Room where they can play games

and read the papers on the long, cold winter evenings.

We ask the parishioners to kindly help by

making up parcels of any old goods which they do

not need. A post card or note to Mr. Jarnes Forde,

21 James St., will ensure its being called for.

A Seagoe Record,

Our readers will notice the long list of Baptisms

in this month's Parish Register. The Baptismal

Service on May 7th constitutes a record for the

Parish. Eleven children were on that occasion

admitted to the Church in Holy Baptism. The Service,

as is always the case, was preceded by the

beautiful Church Service from the Book of Common

Prayer. We are glad to think that the Office

of Public Baptism is becoming more than ever an

integral part of the Public Worship of the Church,

and that the responsibility of sponsors is more fully

recognised than in past days.

Mothers' Union

The of Seagoe Mothers' Union have been

kindly invited by their Hon. Treas., Mrs. James

Twinem, to have their next monthly meeting on

Tuesday, June 14th, at Lylo. We believe the visit

to Lylo will be preceded by a bus drive to the Bannfoot.

The mothers will, we are sure, greatly enjoy

this day's outing in such pleasant surroundings

Last month they spent a pleasant evening at Seagoe,

Rectory.

Sunday School Excursion.

Our annual excursion for the Sunday Schools will

(D.v.) take place to Warrenpoint on Thursday, June

23rd. The new Railway Hall at Warrenpoint has

been secured as a place for the refreshments. The

Sunday Schools, with (their Superintendents and

Teachers, will assemble at the Parish Church at

8-20 a.m. for a short service, and will then walk

in procession to the station. The train will leave

Portadown at 9-40 sharp, and leave Warrenpoint on

the, return journey at 8-30 p.m. The price of tickets

(including two refreshments) to children whose

names are on the Sunday School roll and who have

attended regularly since the beginning of the year

will be as follows 8 years, 6d; 8—14 years,

9d: over 14, 1s ; Bible Class members, Is 3d;

Outsiders, 2s (refreshments not included). Outsiders'

tickets are now on sale throughout the Parish.

Refreshment tickets for outsiders can be purchased

at 6d for each refreshment.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Seagoe in Queensland.

The Rector has received from Mrs. Trail, formerly

Miss Ellen Matthews, of James St., the following interesting letter

Dear Canon,—No doubt you will be surprised at

hearing from me. Firstly, to make known who I

am, I must explain, Ellen Matthews was my maiden

name; I lived in James St. I have been married

almost two years. My husband's name is Robert

Trail. His parents are from Scotland, but he is a

native of Australia. He has relatives in Aberdeen,

Scotland, of the same name. I happened on a real

good husband, a temperance man, and also an

Orangeman. My husband has a sugar cane farm;

one of the best in this district. It is irrigated by

electricity, which drives a seven-inch pump, and

the water flows through the cane as required, at

the cost of £5 per acre per year. All that has to be

done is to press the button and the water flows out

at the rate of 49,000 gallons per hour. It is a beautiful

stream of lovely, clear water, which comes

out of a huge well which is situated in the highest

corner of the farm. The well is eighty feet deep

and eight feet wide, with thirty two feet of water in

it. It is a splendid idea. The pump requires no

attention during the clay. Men look after the water

in the cane, so that it will not run too fast. They

have to keep it regulated so as to waste none of it.

They irrigate from two to three acres a day, when

the weather is dry. He also grows feed for his

horses, although he does not use them much, as

he does all his heavy ploughing with the tractor,

which ploughs from four to five acres a day and

harrows it at the same time. He intends to plant

Thirty acres of Cane

in May of this year. The cane about our place

grows very heavy, as the soil is so good. It grows

up to sixty tons to the acre, while that in the forest

land only grows about thirty tons to the acre. Some

of our crop is very heavy this year. Sugar cane

varies a lot in price, according to the quantity of

sugar in the cane. Sometimes it goes as high as

per ton, but mostly averages 5 per ton. It

gives good returns, but we always have to wait

twelve months for a return from it. There is a

good deal of expense in growing and harvesting

it ; and then there is a danger of fires, and not getting

it crushed at the mill owing to strikes. The

crushing will be starting some time in June. We

have only a short distance to take our cane to the

tramline, as it runs right past our door. Some of

our cane is only twenty yards off it. We live only

two and a half miles from the town, which is only

a small place, but very busy at times. We live on

the bank of the Burdekin River, which overflowed

its banks last month and caused a small flood, which

done little or no damage. We grow different kinds

of fruit, only for our own use, such as papaws, pine

apples, custard apples, mangoes, bananas, tomatoes,

and watermelons. We also grow different kinds of

vegetables. Cabbage is rather difficult to grows

owing to the grubs, therefore they are fairly dear,

two and Three Shillings for a medium size Cabbage.

Sugar farms are very dear here; they range in prices

from two thousand pounds to ten thousand pounds.

I like Australia very much, and I am enjoying good

health.

It has been very hot here lately—up to 105

in the shade. Of course we get some cold weather

also in the winter. The sun is mostly always shining,

and there is nearly always a bit of a breeze

blowing. My brother, Moses, lives only three miles

from here, but there is a big river between us, so

it takes fifteen miles to get to his place, as there is

no traffic bridge across the river. He is also engaged

in sugar growing. My sister, Mrs. M'Cann

and family, live with him. The two eldest boys

work on the farm, and the eldest girl has a situation

near us. The three younger ones go to school,

and my sister does the house work. They like this

country very well. The two youngest boys

are real Australians now.

They ride horses to school, which is about a mile

away. The Duke and Duchess of York are visiting

Australia, but we will not see them, as they are not

coming any further north than Brisbane.

The reason that I write you is that a friend of

mine sent me some Seagoe Parish Magazines, and

I see by them that you have been in France and

visited my brother's, John Matthews' grave in the

Communal Cemetery at Wimereux, and I am so

pleased to see it, for which I cordially thank you.

Some years ago you visited France, and brought

my mother some leaves from John's grave, which I

still have and treasure well. My husband was at

the war. He fought in Egypt and Palestine and all

around that front, with the 2nd Australian Light

Horse.

He got through pretty well, with only a

wound in the leg which never troubles him.

I think it is time that I drew to a close, as this

letter is rather long. My husband would very much

like to see the Old Country, so some day we may

take a trip home, and call on you. Trusting that

this will find you enjoying the very best of health,

as it leaves us here a writing. My husband and I

join in with best wishes.—From Robt. and Ellen

Trail, Box 109, Home Hill, North Queensland.

Bequests to Seagoe.

The late Miss Lizzie Reid, of Lower Seagoe, who

died last December, has in her will left several bequests

to Seagoe Parish. She left £20 to the Poor

of the Parish, also £10 for an annual prize in Seagoe

Sunday School, and a further sum of £10 to

the Dublin University Mission to Chota Nagpur, in

India. Miss Reid was always deeply interested in

the welfare of Seagoe Parish. Such bequests as

Miss Reid has made are not alone an expression of

the thoughtful loyalty of the members of the Church

to the Church, but they are also a recognition that

the Church is the permanent witness of Christ in

the world.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Parish Register for May.

Baptisms,

Hara—May 4th, Eric, son of Robert and Mary Hara, of Edenderry.

sponsors—Sophia Brownlee, Eva Harrison.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church May 7th, 1927 :—

Dickson—Norman, son of Henry and Agnes Dickson, of Drumnagoon.

Sponsors. Hetty Dickson, Agnes Dickson.

Carville—Amelia, (laughter of Valentine and Sarah Anne Carville, of Killicomaine.

Sponsors—Amelia Carville, Sarah Anne Carville.

Freeburn—Florence, daughter of Thomas Henry and Anne Elizabeth Freeborn, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Anne Elizabeth Freeburn (junr.) Anne Elizabeth Freeburn.

Roney—Albert, son of Samuel and Christina Roney, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Mary Roney, Christina Roney.

Murray—Herioert Eric, son of David William and Sarah Anne Murray, of Ballynery.

Sponsors Emily Jane Knipe, Sarah Anne Murray.

Liggett—-Josep11 Morris, son ot Isaac and Josephine Liggett, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Mary Patricia Birney, Josephine Liggett.

Kane—Vera Margaret, daughter of Henry and Sarah Kane, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Matilda Kane, Sarah Kane.

Hall—Ellen Margaret daughter of William John and Letitia Sophia Hall, of Lower Seagoe.

Sponsors—William John Hall, Letitia Sophia Hall.

Nicholl—Rachel Elizabeth, daughter of William Henry and Anne Margaret Nicholl,

of Drumnacanvey. Sponsors—Elizabeth M'Knight, Arme Margaret Nicholl.

M'Cabe—Anne Edna, daughter of Thomas and Mary M'Cabe, of Edenderry.

Sponsors: Ellen Lavery, Mary M'Cabe.

Russell—Dinah, daughter of William Alexander and Margaret Russell, of Drumgor.

Sponsors—Edith Quinn, Margaret Russell.

Burials.

3rd, John Carson, of Moyallon; aged 50.

Wilson—Joseph Henry Wilson, of Ballymacrandle; aged 5.

Classey—May 17th, Thomas Glassey, of Edendeny, aged one year.

Lavery May 28th, Mary Lavery, ot Edenderry.

Lyness—May 29th, Amelia Lyness, of Tamnificarbet; aged 75.

Robinson—June 1st, Thomas George Robinson, of Drumnagoon; aged 47.

Presentations.

On Thursday, May 19th, a social meeting of the

choir was held in Seagoe School. The Rev. W. A.

Henry presided. There was a large attendance.

he object of the gathering was to present Mr. and

Mrs. Gracey with a tangible token of esteem and

repect on the occasion of their recent marriage. The

presentation took the form of a handsome clock.

Mr. Gracey suitably replied. The evening passed

very pleasantly with music and games.

The children and teachers of Seagoe Morning

Sunday School gave Mrs. Gracey (MISS J.

England) with a silver teapot, on the occasion of her

marriage Miss Montgomery, Miss Selena Bradshaw,

Miss Nellie White, and Miss Maggie Coulter

acted as representatives. Mr Rennix kindly

motored the party over to Mrs. Graeey's new home

to present it.

Seagoe P.E. School.

At the examination in Religious Knowledge held in

Seagoe School on Friday, June 3rd. by the Diocesan

Inspector, Rev. J. Armstrong. the following

children were awarded certificates for proficiency:—

100 per cont.—Frank Jones, Mamie Coulter; 90 per

cent.—Robert White, Agnes Graham, Eileen Dunlop;

85 per Major, Sadie Nara, Martha

Girvan, Annie Whiteside, Maud Livingston, Dinah

McCabe, May Jones, Lily Paddell, Harry Hynes, Cecil

Rehill, 70 per cent—John Fiddes, Willie Robinson,

Myrtle Brown, Hannah Coulter, Emma Walker,

Maggie Ruddell.

Eleven Years Ago.

Extracts from the War Diary of the late Herbert M. Murray, P.P.C.L.I.

(Continued from our issue of November, 1926.)

Thursday, June 1st, 1916 (At Hooge in front of

Ypres). Stand to 1-30 a.m. to 2-30. Cooked breakfast

and went to sleep on the trench mat Huns

threw over quite a few shells. Weather fine and

warm.

Friday, June 2nd, 1916.

[The following account of the fighting in Sanctuary

Wood at Hooge, near Ypres, from June 2nd to June

5th, 19/6, is a first-hand description of one of the

fiercest conflicts of the Great War. Herbert Murray

was in No. 2 Company of the Princess Patricia's

Canadian Light Infantry. No. I Company which

(with No. 2 Company) occupied the front line, was

wiped out early in the engagement. Herbert Murray's

Company was then left exposed for almost

three days to a most intense assault. A slight rise

in The ground and the fact that it was right up

against the German line and therefore somewhat

protected from the German guns was the only thing

that saved it from utter extinction. Lord Beaverbrook

gives a, description of the fighting in his book

" Canada in Flanders," vol. ji., chap. viii. " The

Battle of Sanctuary Wood." He states it as his

opinion that if the. P.P.C.L.I. had not then held firm

the whole of the Ypres salient would at that hour

in the day have gone with it. Colonel Buller and

his men held the fort at the critical hour. It will

be a source of pride to us in Seagoe to know that

one of those brave lads who at such infinite cost

manned the breach at this awful moment was

Herbert Moore Murray, from this Parish, born and

brought up in our midst, known to us all, and who

at a later date in the Great War, April, 1917, laid

down his life in the cause of God and right.]

Friday, June 2nd, 1916—Terrific bombardment by

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Germans, beginning at 8-45 and continued for seven

hours, doing dreadful slaughter on our front line and

support trenches. At 2 0'clock in afternoon Germans

came over and took part of the trench occupied by

No. I Company, who were practically all killed or

wounded by the bombardment. Slight lull in

bombardment for an hour or so, but resumed in evening

fiercer than ever. I go! hit under the arm by a

small piece of shrapnel, but only a scratch, and took

no notice of it. At 8 0'clock, just as it was getting

dark, rapid fire was opened. Every machine gun

and rifle going at full speed. Such a sight ! What

with flares of all colours and shells bursting all

around it resembled " Hell let loose" to put it mildly.

that quieted clown after an hour or so. During

all this time we were cut off from all communication

with Headquarters. All our officers were

wounded. Captain Niven, although badly wounded,

stayed with us, and only left us when an officer

from No. 4 Company took us in charge. The Captain

was taken out on the stretcher and on the way

was again wounded. About a.m. another rapid

fire began, and we expected the Huns to come over

opposite us, and nothing would have pleased and

satisfied me more than to have seen them come over

the parapet. I was worked up to such a pitch of

madness and fury, I would have done anything. I

don't know how I escaped being hit either by bullets

or shells, for they were flying around in all directions.

Our Company suffered very heavy losses.

7 and 8 platoons being practically wiped out. Just

at daybreak the third attack and rapid fire commenced,

and owing to the fact of our Company being

in the most exposed position and being cut off from

all communication we had to retire as it was only

suicide to stay on any longer. We held our post

for nearly twenty-four hours under the most intense

bombardment. We retired into a support

trench across open country, falling into shell holes,

over barbed wire, with shells bursting all around

and ploughing up everything. It was nothing short

of miraculous how we escaped being blown to bits.

At this time reinforcements had begun to come up,

and took back part of the trench in Maple Copse

inflicting heavy loss on the enemy. Saturday, the

bombardment still continued, and in the evening

we manned the support trench and the counter

attack began. We took back part of the trench and

drove the enemy back with and rifle fire and

the bayonet. Nearly all our officers were killed 01

wounded. Colonel Buller was wounded in the leg

earlier in the fight, but kept on leading his men

and was shot through the heart and killed, shouting

to the men, " Give them Hell," and himself throwing

bombs to the end. He died a soldier's death.

Major Gault was severely wounded. Saturday night

there were two or three counter attacks, and we

gained nearly all the lost ground. Germans used

liquid fire on Friday night and during the attacks

the whole sky was illuminated and looked like

huge volcano, and could be seen for miles round,

at least 20 or .30 miles, the account in the papers

gave it. At three o'clock in the. morning we got

relieved and we managed to get down the communication

trench without being shelled, but I never

witnessed and never hope to see again the sight

I saw coming down that trench. The dead were

strewn all along, and some buried in the debris.

two and three on top of one another. We got, as far

as Ypres, where everything that could be, done for

us was done. The cooks were and had hot tea

ready, and lots to eat. We got into a cellar where

were places to sleep, which we needed pretty badly,

as we had no sleep for four days and very little

to eat. This was Sunday morning; we went to

sleep about six o'clock and slept for five or six

hours, go: up and had something to eat and spent

remainder of day finding out what I could of who

was killed and wounded, and at 9-30 p.m. we pulled

out of Ypres (I hope never to return), and walked

to Ypres Asylum, where we got buses that took

away for the time being from the scene of carnage

and slaughter, feeling nothing the worse after our

dreadful experiences. We arrived at C Camp about

12 0'clock midnight and got some soup and tea

before retiring to sleep.

SERVICES.

THE PARISH CHURCH.

HOLY COMMUNION

—1st Sunday after Morning

Prayer ; 3rd Sunday at 8 a.m., and on the Chief

Festivals.

HOLY BAPTISM

—-1st Saturday of Month at 3 p.m.,

and during any Service in the Parish Church

if notice be given ; Two Sponsors at least are

required, and they must be. Confirmed members

of the Church. Churchings are held at each

Baptism. Mothers are expected to bring a thank-

offering. (See Book of Common Prayer.)

MORNING PRAYER—Sundays and Chief Festivals

11.30 a.m.

EVENING PRAYER—Sundays 7 p.m., Wednesdays

8 p.m.

DISTRICT SERVICES.

Hacknahay—Last Sunday of Month at 3.30 p.m.

Drumgor-—Second Sunday of Month at 4 p.m.

CLASSES,

ADULT CLASSES--sundays at 10 a.m.

For Men—Edenderry. For Women—Seagoe

School.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS—IO a.m. Edenderry Parochial

Hall and Seagoe School. 3 p.m. Seagoe, Edenderry Parochial Hall, Levaghery, Hacknahay

Carne, Drumgor.

Men's Recreation Room, Bridge St., open every

night from 7 p.m.

Seagoe C.L. Brigade in Edenderry Parochial Hall

on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Mothers' Union, Edenderry 1st Tuesday, at 4 p.m.

DAY SCHOOL—Seagoe, 9.30 a.m. Principal—Mr. S

Rennix.