June 1928

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JUNE, 1928.

CLERGY:

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

Portadown.

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

LICENSED LAY READER

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

CHURCHWARDENS:

Rector's—Robert M'Clements.

People's—William Dermott.

Confirmation.

The Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore

(Right Rev. C. T. P. Grierson, D.D.) will (D.V.)

hold a Confirmation in Seagoe Parish Church on

Friday, June 8th, at 8 p.m. The candidates are

requested to be at Seagoe School not later than 7.30 p.m.,

when they will receive their cards of admission to the

Confirmation.

The Lord Bishop has signified his intention of

publicly admitting Mr. Robert Gracey as a Lay

Reader for the Parish of Seagoe at the Confirmation

Service.

Special celebrations of Holy Communion will be

held in Seagoe Church on Sunday, June 10th, at

8 a.m. and after Morning Prayer for those who will

be confirmed on Friday and for any others who

may desire to receive it.

Belfast Church Extension.

On Sunday, June 10th, morning and evening,

collections will be made in Seagoe Church for the

Bishop's Church Extension Fund. Special envelopes

will be placed in the pews on Sunday, June 3rd, in

which the offerings should be placed and brought

the next Sunday. It is most important that satisfactory

provision should be made for our Church people in

Belfast, large numbers of whom have gone to reside

there from the country parishes. The growth of the

Church population in Belfast has been very remarkable.

In 1828 there were 3 churches and 16,000 Church

people, in 1928, 100 years later, there were 37 parish

churches and 133,000 Church people. Five new

churches are needed for five new Parochial Districts

which are being formed. Let every parishioner of

Seagoe avail himself or herself of the privilege of

giving to such a good and necessary object. "We are

members one of another."

Home from Madras.

The Rev. W. R. Crichton has arrived home from

Madras. He was in Dublin during the week of the

General Synod. He looks in robust health, having

for some time been at a hill station in India. Mrs.

Crichton and their son and daughter came home

with him. They had a very pleasant passage but

it was very hot in the Red Sea. Mr. Crichton hopes

to see some of his old friends here sometime about

August.

Foreign Missions.

South American Missionary Society, 1927-1928 .

Boxes—Miss Calvert, 14s 6d; Miss A. Guy, 5s;

Mrs. Lewie, 6s 6d; Miss S. Montgomery, 12s 6 ½ d,

Mrs. M’Dougall, 13s, Miss Reid, 10s; Miss Jane Porter,

6s; Miss Price, 4s Mrs. J. Walker, 3s

Card—Miss Atkinson, £6 3s 0d. Offertory —

Hacknahay, £10 7s 9 ½ d.

Parish Register for May.

Baptisms.

The following were baptized on May 5th, 1928

Preston—Lilian Margaret, daughter of Samuel

Edward and Violet Olga Preston, of

Killicomain and Belfast.

Sponsors —Samuel Edward Preston, Margaret

Millar, Violet Olga Preston

Lester—David Rowland, son of Joseph and Elizabeth

Lester, of Lower Seagoe.

Sponsors – (1) Elizabeth Lester. (2) Elizabeth Lester.

Moore—Mildred, daughter of David and Caroline

Moore, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Sarah Turkington, Caroline Moore.

Hewitt—Rachel Margaret, daughter of Moses and

Rachel Jane Hewitt, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Alice Hewitt, Margaret Matchett.

Robinson—Maurice Johnston, son of Johnston and

Sarah Robinson, of Drumgor.

Sponsors—Johnston Robinson, Sarah Robinson.

PRIVATELY BAPTIZED.

Magee—May 30th, 1928—Elizabeth and May, twin

daughters of Joseph William and Emma

Elizabeth Magee, of Kernan.

Marriage.

Brown and M’Neill - May12th, 1928, William James

Brown, of Portadown, and Sarah M'Neill, of

Killicomain.

Burial.

M'Loughlin—May 20th, Joseph M'Loughlin, of Lisniskey,

aged 56.

Excursion to Newcastle.

This year it has been decided that the Sunday

School excursion will be to beautiful Newcastle, the

seaside village by the silver sea at the base of the

mighty Slieve Donard. Everyone is looking forward

to it with delight. The children of the Sunday Schools

are getting their tickets cheaper than ever before,

thanks to the kind help of the Mothers' Union. The

following are the prices of the tickets: —

Infants (8 years old and under) 3d; children between

the ages of 8 and 14 will get their ticket for 6d, and

those who are over 14 will be charged 9d for their

ticket. In order to get the tickets at such a low

rate the children must have made at least 8

attendances at Sunday School since January 1st, 1928.

The Sunday Schools will assemble at the Parish

Church at 8 a.m. on Thursday, June 21st, when a

short service will be held. The procession will then

start for the station, and the train is timed to leave

at 8.50 sharp. The children's tickets will include the

journey to Newcastle and back and two splendid

refreshments. This year we are going to have not

only buns but delicious ham sandwiches as well.

The first refreshment will be at 11 a.m. and the

second at 4.30 p.m. Outsiders' tickets will cost 3s

each and refreshment tickets (for two refreshments)

can be bought for 1s by outsiders, but such

refreshment tickets will only be on sale up to the

evening of Tuesday, June 19th. Outsiders should

secure their railway and refreshment tickets at once.

They are on sale at all the principal shops in Edenderry

and Portadown.

Bocombra and Levaghery.

During the past month Missions have been held

by Mr. Robert Gracey in Bocombra Orange Hall

(kindly lent for the Mission) and in Levaghery

School. The Mission in Bocombra began on Sunday,

May 6th, and concluded on Wednesday, May16th.

The Mission in Levaghery had its opening service

on Sunday, May 20th, and the last service there was

held on Wednesday, May 30th. Many were influenced

during these Missions and every night the room was

crowded. The closing service of each mission was

very impressive. No other Mission has been arranged

in the near future but we hope at a later date to arrange

special services in outlying parts of the Parish. We

extend a hearty welcome to Mr. Gracey as a permanent

worker in the Parish. He becomes our recognised

Lay Helper from June 1st.

Parochial Hall Services.

A service on each Wednesday evening will be

held in the Parochial Hall, beginning on Wednesday,

June 6th, at 8 p.m. The Church Army Hymn book

will be used.

Cake Fair.

The Mothers' Union Cake Fair was held in the

Parochial Hall on Wednesday, May 16th. The

opening ceremony took place at 3 p.m. and was

gracefully performed by Mrs. Val Wilson, of

Oakfield. Mrs. Wilson expressed her pleasure at

being present and declared the sale open. Mr. Val

Wilson was also present and replied to the hearty

vote of thanks passed to Mrs. Wilson. The Fair

proved very successful and a sum of almost £40

was raised towards helping the funds of our Sunday

School Excursion. One of the workers, we hear,

raised £6 by her special effort and many others did

splendid work.

Lay-Reader's Fund.

We feel sure there are many in the Parish who

would like to contribute a monthly subscription to

the Lay Reader's Fund. A sum of over £100 covering

a period of twelve months has been already promised

but further promises will be gladly received. The Hon.

Secretary is Mr. William Dermott, Bridge St., and

the Hon. Treasurer Mr. S. Rennix, either of whom

will acknowledge any subscriptions which may be

promised or sent.

Seagoe in Manitoba.

The Rector has received the following letter from

James Rea, formerly of Balteagh: —

Dear Canon Archer, —I now take the pleasure of

penning you these few lines. I have been out of

touch with you for a long time, so I think it is about

time I was doing some corresponding with my

old parish again. David is getting along fine and

wishes to be remembered to you, and for the Robinson

family they are getting along splendid. They had our

minister, Mr. Lewis, visiting them last week. He

spent three hours with them and left for home after

supper. I think he must take great interest in the Irish

people. We do not get to our Church as often as we

would like to, as it is around seven miles away, and

it is pretty hard getting around in the winter with

the snow being so deep, but we hope to attend

oftener now that the good weather is here. Mr. Lewis

was telling us he had a letter from you. We would

be pleased to hear from you at any time. —

Yours faithfully, JAMES REA, c/o Mr. S. A. Vance,

Somerset P.O., Manitoba, Canada.

Seagoe in New Zealand.

Mrs. Joseph Collins, a member of the Mothers'

Union, formerly of Bright St., writes from Gate Pa.,

Taurange, New Zealand—"We have the Rev. Mr.

Hall in Tauranga. It is a lovely place, one night,

sailing from Auckland. Gate Pa, where we live is

a suburb of Tauranga. There is a small church

built to the memory of the British who fell in the

Maori War. There is a large Church in the town.

There is a book published giving the history of

Gate Pa. If you would like to have it I will gladly

send you a copy.

Playmates of Ninety.

The letter from Mr. Maxwell, of Auckland, New

Zealand, published in our last issue has been the

means of revealing an interesting fact in our Parish

history. Mr. Maxwell's mother, about whom he

wrote, is now over 90 and has been residing in

New Zealand since 1863. We have in Seagoe, Mrs.

Sally Neill, who is now over 90. She happened to

read Mr. Maxwell's letter in the Magazine and at

once recalled the fact that she and Mrs. Maxwell

(Matilda England) were playmates together 80 years

ago. Mrs. Neill also remembers distinctly how Mrs.

Maxwell as a young bride went out to New Zealand

in 1863. Mrs. Neill, notwithstanding her great age,

is in excellent health and has a most retentive memory.

She is at present residing at Moyallon. She had not

heard of Mrs. Maxwell for more than sixty years and

thought she must be dead until she read the letter in

the Magazine.

New Gates at Seagoe.

New gates of an improved pattern have been

erected by the G.N.R. at Seagoe crossing. This is

the third set of gates erected there. The first gates

were until recently at Seagoe Brickworks, and the

second were the large and heavy gates recently

moved. The foundations of the gate-pillars were

solid that they had to be removed by blasting

with gelignite.

The Magazine in Queensland.

A Queensland subscriber (Mrs. M. Nesbitt) writes

from Ashgrove, Brisbane, under date April 9th:

The Magazine arrives regularly and is if possible

more appreciated than ever. I have removed from

Paddington to the suburb of Ashgrove, to which

place please send the Magazine in future." [We thank

Mrs. Nesbitt for sending several illustrated Brisbane

papers, of much interest, especially the one containing

an account of a remarkable service held in Brisbane

Cathedral for the safe return of Herbert Hinkler, the

Australian airman who recently flew from London to

Australia.]

Silent Wireless Sets.

On several frequent occasions when visiting the

infirmary in Lurgan the Rector noticed that the

wireless sets were not working. He asked the reason

and was told that although the splendid sets were in

working order, no provision was made for the

necessary expenses of upkeep in the charging of

batteries, etc. The result is that the patients are

deprived of the great pleasure and entertainment

which they might otherwise have enjoyed. Perhaps

some of those who read this and who realise the

pleasures of wireless will send a subscription to

Mr. J. H. O'Neile, the Master, Workhouse, Lurgan,

for this object. Anyone who has seen how thoroughly

the patients enjoy the wireless will be sure to help.

It takes their thoughts away from their own pain

and weariness and not merely gives them infinite

pleasure but materially helps towards their recovery.

The Rector would gladly forward any sums he may

receive for this object.

Correction.

In acknowledging in a recent issue the amounts

forwarded to the Armagh Protestant Orphan Society

Mrs. Joyce, of Levaghery, should have been credited

With the sum of 5s instead of 2s 6d as printed.

The Tower of St. Mark's.

We heartily congratulate the Parish of St. Mark's,

Portadown on the beginning of the great work of

building the Memorial Tower. The work was begun

on Monday, May 21st. The old tower, which is as

old as Portadown, will be dismantled but the new

tower will be a great ornament to the town. We

hear that the foundations of the great tower are to

be laid in Seagoe bricks and we are glad to think

that Seagoe will thus have a material share the

work.

A Kind Letter.

Mr. E. H. Lewis writes as follows from Manitoba.

We appreciate very much the kind interest which

Mr. Lewis takes in our Seagoe people. We have

asked Mr. Lewis to write an account of his work

in Somerset for the Magazine. The snapshot he

sends of the Robinson family shows a smiling group

of seven, father, mother, daughter and four sons,

gathered in the sunshine outside their wooden

farmhouse and looking the picture of health and

happiness: -

Church of the Redeemer, Norquay; All Saints, Swan

Lake; St. Barnabas, Somerset; St Christopher,

Pembina.

Rectory, Somerset, Man., April 30th, 1928.

Dear Canon Archer, —A few lines to let you know

I have been able to locate the Ray brothers. They

are both well and seem to be very happy. They

come to Church as often as it is possible. I was

also out to see the Robinson family last week and

am glad to say they are doing well. I took a snap

of the family and am enclosing a print in the hope

that you like it. I think it is exceptionally good

of them. If there is anything more I can do for

you, please command me. —Very sincerely yours

in the Faith.

ERNEST H. LEWIS.

ITEMS.

Colonel Blacker paid a brief visit to Carrick

Blacker last week.

***

A shower of black rain fell over Seagoe in April.

The blackness is caused by soot in solution and is

carried across the Channel from Lancashire.

***

Mr. Sam Hall is building a handsome villa in

Upper Seagoe.

***

In this dry weather great care should be taken

to keep wells free from dust and contamination.

Typhoid fever and other serious ailments result from

drinking such water unless it is first boiled.

***

We are glad to know that those of our parishioners

who were injured in the recent motor accident are

recovering. Mrs. Vance, who was most seriously

injured, is still in the Carleton Home but is gaining

strength.

An Old Seagoe Soldier.

[We continue the interesting notes on his campaigns

which have been written for the Magazine by

Sergeant Thomas Russell, of Clanrole.]

In a few days' march from Salonika we joined

the 27th Division. They had been on the Struma

front for some time. It is a terrible place, especially

down in the valleys. There the mosquito fly abounds

and gives you malaria fever, which makes you very

sick. We were ably supported by the 26th Division on

our right, who occupied the Vardar sector. The 28th

Division on our left occupied the Lake Doiran sector.

They were supported by our old friends the old 2nd

Faughs. We went through Dudulas, Jennis, Molovski

and Federova. Beyond Lake Doiran we came to Hoop

Hill, where some months ago the Bulgarian guns and

Jerries used to play on us. The Bulgarians were fine

Big Men and Fair Fighters.

Here the King's Liverpool Regiment joined us, and

we marched to the borders of Serbia. We went in and

out of Serbia. I met some who told me that they were

at the retirement from Serbia when the Bulgars and

Germans surrounded it. I was surprised one day to

meet our old friend Gregson, of Drumgor, also Willie

John Gilpin, of Tarson and R. Webb. of Lisniskey.

We stayed here until we got well into 1918. We

had only a few men left; some were laid down with

malaria fever, some had gone to other regiments.

We were then sent down to a place called Headquarters

I was posted to a pack mule Corps, worse and more

of it! The half of my drivers were Greeks from the

island of Cyprus, others were from Mudros, others

from Lemnos, Greek islands. It was a long time before

I picked up with this batch but after a while I got on

all right. I picked up a little Greek such as "Oris" the

clock, " Megalos" big person, " Mikros" small boy,

"Butris" stones and "Mecca" a waggon. On Easter

Day, I and the Greek boys were going for some rations.

We were at a small station when

Jerry Came Over

with sixteen planes and bombed us bravely. Our two

leading mules were killed and one of time boys

severely wounded. For my services in this act

I got mentioned for good service, receiving a

parchment certificate from King George and a

silver medal. I stopped with the pack mules for

sometime after the big air raids but I longed to see

the Old Faughs again and so when I left the pack

mules I joined up with them somewhere in Macedon.

We had a great day—or rather hour—celebrating

Barossa Day on 5th March, and you will be

surprised when you hear where it was. Well, it

on Mount Kukis,

Where St. Paul Preached

to the Thessalonians. You will see some of the

marks there to this day. Later on, in 1918, I took

sick and went to hospital, having been in two

hospitals down country. I was then sent to a

convalescent camp and afterwards sent across the

Mediterranean to Alexandria. From there I went

to No. 9 General Hospital at Kantara, down the Nile.

After being there for some time I was sent to Valetta

in Malta, lovely place, much better than the dirty

Nile. It is composed of three islands, Valetta Grand

Harbour, Gozan and Comeno. Valetta is a great

military centre. Florina, St. Elmo and St. Andre

are lovely places. Afterwards I was sent home

medically unfit for war service. I was discharged

on November 2nd, 1918. During the Great War, I

was "mentioned" for special service and obtained

a King George's certificate for good service and a

silver medal. I also obtained the King's War Medal

and Victory Medal.

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

8 a.m. during Advent and Lent.

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, &c.

ADULT CLASS -Sundays at 10 a.m.

For Men—Edenderry. For Women—Seagoe School.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS—10 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.

Mothers' Union, Edenderry, 2nd Tuesday of each month.

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

MARRIAGES must be 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 £l. By Banns 5/-.

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 helpful to the Clergy if they are notified of the arrival of new Church families in the Parish.

A copy of the Magazine will be sent post free to Any subscriber for 3s per annum.