March 1913

Seagoe Parish Margazine

March 1913

WE present each purchaser of this month 's

issue of the Magazine

with a packet of Flower Seed.

We are enable to do this

through the kind co-operation

of Messrs. M 'Gredy, Royal

Florists, Portadown. Our

object is to encourage the

planting of flowers in Seagoe

Parish. Flowers teach us

many beautiful lessons by

their brightness, fragrance,

grace, growth, and humility.

Full directions as to the proper

time and place for sowing

the seeds are printed on each

packet. Follow the directions

carefully, and, when summer

comes, you will have a pretty

display of bright blossoms.

We would like to insert later

in the year in the Magazine

a photograph of the best plot

or box of flowers grown from

the seeds presented with this

copy of Seagoe Parish Maga-

zine.

If any purchaser of

the magazine does not possess

a garden, a window box or

flower pots will provide a

suitable place for sowing the

seed. Please be careful to

see that you get a Packet of

Seed with this copy of the

Magazine. Those who are

sending the Magazine abroad

should send the Packet of

Seed with it, so that Seagoe

people in distant lands may

have the pleasure of growing

flowers from the old land.

Lent and Easter,

Before the next number of

this Magazine appears we will

have passed through the season

of Lent with its reminder

of sin, and through Holy

week with its solemn memories of our Lord's suffering as

the Divine Sin-Bearer, and

through Easter with its glad

message of Resurrection and

Life. Only those among

us who frequent the Services

in the Parish Church can fully enter into all that

these Sacred Seasons mean. It is when God's people

assemble together for worship that the greatness of

these annual seasons becomes a real thing. This

year we are holding special services on Wednesdays

in the Parish Church at 8 0'clock, chiefly for Parish

workers. During Holy Week, beginning with the

Evening Service on Sunday, March 16th, the Rev.

O. W. Scott will give a series of addresses on " The

Seven Words from the Cross." The addresses will

be given each evening during that week (except

Saturday). The services will commence at 8 0'clock.

On Good Friday there will be Services at 11-30

a.m. and 8 p.m. On Easter Day there will be

celebration of Holy Communion at 8 a.m., and also

after Morning Prayer. We hope that very many of

the Parishioners will attend the Services each night

during the week before Easter, and that on Easter

Day many will kneel in Solemn Worship in the

House of Prayer, and there partake of the Sacrament

of the Body and Blood of our Lord.

The collection at the Offertory on Good Friday

will be in aid of the Jews' Society, and on Easter Day

at all Services on behalf of the Sunday Schools of

the Parish. A collection will also be made throughout

the Parish during the week before Easter on

behalf of the Sunday School Funds.

Our Lay—Reader.

Mr. J. J. Dobson has taken up his residence in

Edenderry, and has already made the acquaintance

of many of the Parishioners. We welcome him and

his mother, Mrs. Dobson, to Seagoe Parish Mr.

Dobson was for several years a member of the Bel-

fast Theological Society, and also took an active part

in the work at Willowfield Parish, Belfast, under its

Rector, the Rev. Canon Harding.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Our Sunday School

We recommend our teachers to read carefully the

articles in the current number of the Sunday School

Magazine. They contain valuable lessons in Doctrine

and Practice. Our Sunday Schools are just now in

a very flourishing condition. The attendance of

children is larger that for some time past, the staff

of Teachers is more efficient, and what is better still

more regular in attendance, than ever before.

Regularity in attendance on the part of the Teachers

helps more than anything else to the efficient working

of the Sunday Schools.

Nature Notes.

March is a very important month for Nature

Observations. All nature now springs into life.

The Primroses will soon be been in every hedgerow

and in the open meadows the Cowslips will lift up

their little cluster of fragrant golden bells. Primrose

is derived from the Latin Prima Rosa meaning

the Early Rose. It is curious that Cattle will not

eat the Primrose, the only animals that like it are,

strange to say, the Swine. The first wild flower to

blossom freely after winter is the Daisy or Day's

Eye.

The Swallow, Cuckoo and Corncrake usually

appear in this Parish on April 4th, 13th, and 24th

respectively, but quick observers may possibly note

them in March. The beautiful Star seen so brightly

in the West those nights is Venus. She will attain

her greatest brilliance on March 19th. On M arch

21st Day and Night are exactly equal in length.

Our New Stationmaster,

We welcome to Seagoe Parish and Portadown

Station our new Stationmaster, Mr Gillespie, who

comes to us with a good reputation from the important

Station of Lisburn. It is a responsible and

onerous post, but Portadown is fortunate in getting

one who is possessed of so much tact and experience.

Presentation to Mrs. T Martin.

A handsome Presentation was made to Mrs.

Thomas Martin on the occasion of her marriage by

the Superintendent, Teachers and Children of

Drumgor Sunday School. The gifts consisted of a

handsome Clock and Lamp, and were handed to

Mrs. Martin on Sunday, February 16th, at the

Afternoon Sunday School. The Rector presided,

and in a few words expressed his pleasure at being

present and his appreciation of the interest which

Mrs Martin had always displayed in Drumgor Sunday

School. There was a very large attendance of

children who quite filled the room, and showed

great interest and pleasure in the proceedings.

Seagoe Select Vestry,

At a meeting of the Select Vestry held on Monday

February 10th, a Resolution of sincere Regret at the

lamented death of the late Canon Blacker, and of

sympathy with the members of his family was passed

in silence all standing.

On the same occasion a vote of hearty Congratulation

was unanimously passed to the Rev. W. J.

Macaulay on his election to the Moderatorship of the

General Assembly. Mr. Macaulay is very highly

respected by all classes in the district where be has

resided for over 30 years, and the people of Seagoe

will join with Mr. Macaulay's congregation in

congratulating him on the honour conferred on him.

Church Army Mission.

The Church Army Diocesan Van with Captain

Lancaster and his Cadet will arrive in Drumgor on

on Saturday, March 1st, and begin a 10 days Mission

there on Sunday Evening, March 2nd, at 7 0'clock.

The Mission will be continued each night duping the

week (except Saturday) at 8 0'clock. On Tuesday,

March 11th, the Captain will begin a Mission in

Tamnificarbet at 8 0'clock, which will be continued

through that week (except Saturday) and until

Monday, March 17th. We hope much blessing will

result from the Mission Services in these Districts.

We feel assured the residents will give a hearty

welcome to Captain Lancaster and his Lieutenant.

Jumble Sale.

The Jumble Sale will be held in Edenderry

Parochial Hall on Saturday, March 8th. It will

open at 6 0'clock, Admission 2d. We ask our helpers

to kindly gather together all suitable things so that

they may be ready for the Collectors when they call

on Friday 7th, Old Clothing, Furniture, Broken

Toys, Pictures, etc., etc., will be very useful. The

proceeds of the Sale will be given to the Seagoe

School Enlargement Fund. Circulars and hand

bills will be issued before the Sale. The Sale will

remain open for two hours only, from six to eight

o'clock.

The Bible Classes.

The Course of Study which is being taught in the

various Bible Classes this year is of great interest,

and should prove very profitable to the Members.

It is entitled " Lessons on Genesis," and the notes

used by the Conductors in the Classes were put

together by the late Primate of Australia, the Right

Rev. Saumarez Smith, D D. The opening Lessons

have been very interesting, dealing with the Story of

the Creation and the Fall. Next Sunday the Classes

will consider the record of Cain and Abel, and the

narrative of the Deluge. The numbers attending

the Classes continue large, there were 38 men

present at the Seagoe Men's Class on a recent Sunday.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

ITEMS.

Next months issue will contain Portraits of Mr. T.

J. Atkinson and Mr. W. R. Bickett our Churchwardens for 1912-13.

We notice a large number of new apple orchards in the Parish.

It has been proposed to asphalt the road from Portadown to Lurgan.

There was a very large attendance at Ballinacor

for Rev. W. J. Macaulay's Lecture on " Temper."

It was delivered on Tuesday, February 18th. The

Rector presided.

The Choir is engaged in practising the Easter

Anthem.

We are glad to announce a great improvement in

Dr. Quirk's health.

The Misses Dawson are now engaged in Missionary

work at Temuco, South America.

A good many of our young men in the Parish are

beginning to learn to play the Violin. Recently we

have noticed violins hanging up in many of the

houses. Those who intend to learn should get a few

lessons from a competent teacher.

Since our note on Topsy, the old Seagoe pony, in

last month's issue, we have heard of several other

veterans but none has beaten Topsy's record of 33

years.

The Rector delivered his Lecture on " Denmark "

in the Parochial Hall on Tuesday, February 25th.

We referred recently to Ballinacor as our Military

Townland, and in an early issue we hope to give

particulars regarding the exploits of Lieutenant

Colonel Kirk, who fought under Wellington in the

Peninsular War and who was a native of that

district.

There were 120 children present at Edenderry

Morning Sunday School on February 23rd.

We omitted to note in our last issue that Mary

Jane Atkinson, of Seagoe Sundav School, was

awarded a Special Prize for having attended every

service in the Parish Church during 1912.

We ask our Readers to read carefully the advertisements

in this issue and to patronise the advertisers.

The collections for the Sustentation Fund have

now been almost completed and the returns so far

are satisfactory.

There are 14 different varieties of seed in the

packets supplied with this Magazine by Messrs.

M'Gredy.

Dr Orr of the Belfast Theological Society has recently

taken several of the Sunday Evening Services

in the outlying parts of the Parish.

There was a great demand for the February number

of the Magazine, and we regret that over twenty

persons who wished to get copies, were unable to

obtain them.

The recent dry weather has enabled the farmers

of Seagoe Parish to get through their ploughing in

record time.

The title of the Easter Anthem is " Hallelujah,

King of Kings." It is composed by Edwyn .A. Clare.

Top spinning is now a source of great pleasure to

the children of the Parish, and a very healthful pasttime it is.

Hymns for March, 1913.

" Sing ye to the Lord."

		MORNING
2nd	9th	16th	23rd	30th
------	---	---	---	---
127	152	160	187	193
134	245	164	Anthem	533
461	158	166	530	252
591	319	159	590	249
			605
		EVENING
137	520	161	188	196
284	285	171	Anthem	277
466	518	163	465	199
130	485	148	189	541
25	640 (I)	637(II)	14	26

Offertories.

The silver and gold are mine."

Sundays Mornings £7 1 8

Evenings 2 9 9

Wednesdays 0 13 2

--------------------

Total, £10 4 7

The Special Collection for Missions on Sunday

February 23rd, amounted to—Morning, £2 l5s 9d

Evening, £0 16s ld.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

PARISH REGISTER FOR FEB.

Baptisms.

Jesus healed the child."

BAPTIZED ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 1913.

Wilson—James Henry, son of William and Rebecca Wilson, Portadown.

M 'Dowell—Alfred, son of William James and Anna Best Maria M 'Dowell, Levaghery.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

BAPTIZED ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 1913.

—Maurice Neville Frederick, son of Albert and Susan Best, Edenderry.

Burials.

" I go to prepare a place for you."

Livingstone—February 9th, Mary Livingstone, Edenderry, aged 69 years.

England—February 17th, Ellen England, Park Road, Portadown, aged 72 years.

Wilson—February 20th, Edward Wilson, James Street, Edenderry, aged 10 months.

Best—February 28th, Maurice Neville Frederick son of Albert and Susan Best, Edenderry.

Old Seagoe Notes.

John Wesley in Seagoe Parish.—In the year

1772 the Rev. John Wesley passed through Seagoe

Parish on his way from Portadown to Lurgan. He

rode along the old Lnrgan Road, through Killycomaine

and Bluestone. There is a tradition that he

preached in the latter place. When at Lurgan he

tells in his Diary that he walked out through Seagoe

Parish to the shores of Lough Neagh," and that while

walking he read a most interesting book—" Lectures

on Lough Neagh "—by the Rev. Richard Barton,

B.D., then Curate of Shankill. A copy of this book

can be seen in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin,

and is very interesting reading. It tells us that in

1746 many people used to travel all the way from

Dublin to bathe in the waters of Lough Neagh at a

place called Fisherman's Bay. Another interesting

fact recorded is that the Rev. J. Carrol, Curate of

Seagoe, and in charge of the Moyntiaghs District,

was an ardent naturalist and was much interested in

searching for fossils along the Lake Shore. He

lived at Ardmore, and we are told that at one time

he dug a hole 19 feet long, 9 feet wide and 5 feet

deep, and discovered a quantity of fossil wood. One

specimen of fossilised wood, the root of a tree,

weighed 692 lbs. The place where this hole was

dug was called Tradubach Bay, in the Parish of

Sego.

Mr. Barton also tells us that a Bann or Lough

Neagh salmon in his day (1746) cost two guineas

when sold in the London market.

Famine in Seagoe, 1745.—In 1745 a terrible

Famine occurred in Ulster. The lives of 50,000

inhabitants in Seagoe and the surrounding Parishes

were in jeopardy. Mr. Barton records that thousands

of lives would have been lost but for the Newry

Canal, which had been recently constructed. Food

for the starving was brought from Newry by the

Canal and along the Bann, and then distributed to

the districts bordering on the Lough. The years

1728, 1729 and 1730 were also years of great

scarcity ; and, according to Mr. Barton, were always

referred to in his day as the three dear years."

A Seagoe Proverb of 1745.—In 1745 there

was a proverb current in this district that " A dear

Peck of Meal makes a cheap Pack of Yarn."

At first sight it is not easy to interpret it, but it means

that, when food became dear the weavers began to

work harder at their looms to raise money, and so the

linen market got overstocked and the price of yarn

would fall, when food was cheap the weavers did not

exert themselves, and so the supply of yarn became scarce and the price rose.

A Sermon Preached in Seagoe in 1709. —A

sermon preached by the Rev. John Campbell, Vicar

of Seagoe in the year 1709, is to be seen in the

Library of Trinity College, Dublin. It is an able

and spirited defence of the Christian Ministry. It

was first published by James Blow, Printer, Belfast,

in 1709, and a Second Edition appeared in 1710.

The Text is " Endeavouring to keep the Unity of the

Spirit in the Bond of Peace," Ephes. IV., 3. The

Second Edition is dated from Lilo," June 1710.

Apparently the Vicar of Seagoe Parish at that time

resided at Lylo. It would be interesting to know in

what house he lived in that townland. There is a

written correction of the printed text in the margin

at one place in the characteristic writing of Mr.

Campbell. The Pamphlet is printed somewhat

roughly in the style current 200 years ago.

Archdeacon Saurin's Report of Seagoe,

1868.—This Report, from which we made some

extracts in former issues, contains some further

interesting particulars concerning Seagoe. Archdeacon

Saurin says that the name Seagoe in derived from

Suidhe Gobhan, meaning the abode of the Blacke

smith, and he adds that the Blacksmith was the man

who made weapons for the O'Neill Clan who formerly

inhabited the District Archdeacon Saurin does not

give his authority for this statement, and it does

not agree with that usually accepted, that Seagoe

means the abode of Gobhan or Gowan, who is

identified with the Gobhan Saer, the builder of the

Round Towers of Ireland.

In the same Report the Archdeacon says that the

Old Rectory of Seagoe was nearer to the old

graveyard than the present building, but this also seems to

be based on no certain evidence. When the Railway

Gates were in course of erection at Seagoe Crossing

traces were discovered of a Causey or Causeway Of

great antiquity leading up to the present Rectory