March 1920

Seagoe Parish Magazine

MARCH, 1920.

Holy Week and Easter, 1920.

This year, as in past years, Special Services will be

held in the Parish Church during Holyweek. We are

glad to be able to announce that the Rev.W. T. Grey,

M.A., Librarian, St. Finn-Barre’s Cathedral, Cork,

and formerly Curate of Seagoe, has kindly consented

to give a series of Addresses on each night in Holy

Week. The Services will be held at 8 p.m. On the

Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday) the Rev. John

Taylor, M.A., Rector of St. Jude's, Belfast, and

formerly Curate of Seagoe, will preach in the Parish

Church.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Rev.

W, T. Grey will speak on "The Way of Sorrow,” and

on Thursday his subject will be " The Lord's

Supper.”

On Good Friday, April 2nd, the following Services

will be held -

11-30 - Morning Prayer, Litany,

Address by Rev. W. T. Grey.

8 p.m. - Evening Prayer and Sermon.

Preacher: Rev. W. T. Grey.

Subject - " The Cup of Sorrow."

The offerings at the Services on Good Friday will

be given to the Jews Society.

Easter Day.

8 a.m. - Holy Communion.

11-30 - Morning Prayer and Holy Communion.

3-30 - Children's Service.

7-0 - Evening Prayer and Sermon.

The Rev, W. T. Grey will preach at 11-30, 3-30

and 7.

Subject for Easter Day--"Sorrow turned into Joy."

The Easter Day offerings will be on behalf of the

Parochial Sunday Schools.

Flowers for the decoration of the church may be

Sent on Saturday (Easter Eve) at 10-30 a.m., to the

Church.

Lent Services and Subjects.

On Sunday Mornings Sermons will be preached on

“The Church Catechism," as follows -

March 14th, "The Ten Commandments."

21st, "The Lord's Prayer."

On Sunday Evenings the subject of the addresses

will be "How we got our Bible.'”

March 14th, "The Bible of the Reformation."

21st, "The Bible since the Reformation."

On Wednesday Evenings at 8, addresses will be

given as follows;

March 17th (St. Patrick's Day), - “St. Patrick as a

Christian Missionary."

24th, "Missions in South America."

Missionary Boxes.

The Missionary Boxes will be collected this month.

Please see that your Box is quite full. Owing to the

altered rate of Exchange, Missions are in deplorable

difficulties. Never was generous help so much

needed.

Organ Recital.

Mr. Hardcastle's Organ Recital was given in the

Parish Church on Thursday, February 12 ^th. There

was a large gathering, and much reverent interest was

displayed in the music. The soloists were Miss

Winnie Anderson and Master David Thompson, the

former singing Gounod's setting of "There is a

Green Hill far away," and the latter the solo

from Jephthah, "Angels ever bright and fair." Both

solos were sung with much feeling and fine expression.

The musical selections were taken from a wide circle

of composers, beginning with Boyce and ending with

Costa. Our fine organ sounded well, and its varied

stops and pedals were used to the best advantage by

Mr. Hardcastle, who displayed much skill and

expression in his treatment of the music. Seagoe is

fortunate in possessing an organ of such fine tone

and quality. It was built by Foster and Andrews, of

Hull, the famous Organ Builders. It was dedicated

At a Special Service on Thursday, 2April 19th, 1900, by

the Bishop of Down (Dr. Welland).

The Bishop preached from Rev. xix, 5 - 6. The Organ was

erected by the Parishioners as a Memorial to the Baroness

von Stieglitz, of Carrickblacker, who died 23rd

January 1899.

The offering at the Recital amounted to £2 16s.

Expenses amounted to £2 0s 6d. Balance 15/6 sent

to St. Dunstan's Hostel.

General Vestry of Seagoe.

The following names were added to the list of the

Registered Vestrymen of Seagoe Parish at the recent

Annual Revision - James Fleming, Edenderry;

William Gregston, Drumgor; John Hoy, Edenderry;

Henry Lavery, Kilvergan; Thomas Lyness, Drumgor;

Charles Montgomery, Portadown; Robert

M’Clements, Killicomaine; Thomas M'Nulty, Drumgor:

Gilbert Price, Ballinacorr; George Reid, Kilvergan;

Thomas J. Robinson, Drumnagoon; George

Simpson, Lylo; Joseph Warnock, Edenderry. The

Registered Vestrymen of the Parish meet at the

Annual Vestry held in Easter week and select from

their numbers the People's Churchwarden and the

members of the Select Vestry for the ensuing year.

We are glad that so many new names have been

added this year and we hope the new members will

attend and vote at the Easter Vestry.

Congratulations.

We offer hearty congratulations to Captain J.

Dobson on his marriage as recorded in the Parish

Register of this issue. Captain Dobson has just

returned from Syria where he was engaged on

special mission in the French sphere of influence.

He will shortly be demobilised. He has had a varied

experience since he left Seagoe in August 1914. He

was severely wounded in France, and, on his recovery,

did active service in Macedonia and went through

the Palestine campaign with Lord Allenby. He

then undertook special work as transport officer on

troopships in the Mediterranean visiting Morocco,

(page 2)

Algeria Tripoli, Egypt, and Greece. We offer to

Captain and Mrs Dobson out heartiest good wishes

for their future welfare and happiness.

We also offer hearty congratulations to Mr. and

Mrs. Thomas E Maginnis on the occasion of their

marriage.

Mrs. Maginnis was until her marriage a parishioner of

St. Jude's, Belfast, whose Rector, the

Rev. J. Taylor, is so well known to us in Seagoe.

We welcome her to Seagoe Parish, and we are

confident that in the days to come she will share in the

good work which Mr. Maginnis has for so many years

accomplished in the parish.

A Welcome Letter.

[We publish the following letter, which we have

received from an old friend and former parishioner

of Seagoe Mr. William J. Bickett, formerly of

Drumnagoon, and now resident in the States. Mr. Bickett

holds an important post as Principal of Bernardsville

Township Schools, New Jersey, U.S.A. But though

he has been absent from Seagoe for many years yet

he does not forget the old parish at home. The offer

contained in Mr. Bickett's letter is a very generous

one, and we have written to him accepting it with many

thanks. We hope his kindly action will inspire others at

home and abroad to do likewise.]

The Public Schools, The Township of St. Bernards,

Office of Wm. J, Bickett, Supervising Principal,

Bernardsville, New Jersey, U.S. A.,

Rector, Seagoe Parish, Portadown, Ireland.

DEAR SIR, I have not received the Parish

Magazine for some months and presume that my

subscription has expired. Will you kindly let me

know the amount due and I will send it to you. I

would like to send you about £5 (pounds) each year

to be offered as prizes in the Parish Schools

according to your judgment. If you care to have me do

this let me know and I will be glad to send.

Sincerely Yours, MR. J. BICKETT,

February 7, 1920.

Nature Notes.

Signs of the approach of Spring multiply around

us, and the recent mild weather has hastened its

advent. Some of our readers may like to know the

dates when the singing migrants arrive in this

neighbourhood. Wheatear, mid - March; Chiff-Chaff,

end of March; Willow-Warbler, early in April; Wood -

Warbler, end of April; Garden Warbler, end of April;

Blackcap, mid April; Grasshopper-Warbler, mid

April; Sedge-Warbler late in April.

Where Birds build their Nests – Missel Thrush in

trees; Song Thrush in bushes and hedges;

Warbler on the ground Chiff Chaff on or near the

ground; Sedge Warbler in bushes and reeds; Skylark

on the ground; Wren in banks, thatch, walls;

Chaffinch in tree forks, bushes, etc.; Linnet in thorn

hedges and furze; Cuckoo in nests of Hedge Sparrow,

Wagtail, etc. The Sedge Warbler is often called the

Irish Nightingale. The only bird able to walk down

a tree head foremost is the Nuthatch. There are 55

summer migrants. And 45 winter migrants in Ireland.

No Irish Owls hoot. Large flocks of Seagulls have

in recent years flown inland. The war, owing to the

scarcity of ships, has deprived them of the living they

usually got at sea.

PARISH REGISTER for FEBRUARY.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church on February 7th, 1920 -

Watson - Harold, son of George Annesley and Mary

Watson, of Edenderry.

Sponsors - Annabella Grimason, Mary Watson.

Collins - Gilbert Henry, son of Joseph and Mary

Collins of Kernan.

Sponsors - Annabella Grimason, Mary Collins.

Gracey - lsabella, daughter of William Joseph and

Martha Jane Gracey, of Edenderry.

Sponsors - Elizabeth Clarke, Martha Jane Gracey.

McKeane - James Henry, son of Henry and Sarah

McKeane, of Edenderry.

Sponsors - Mary McKeane, Sarah McKeane.

Wallace - Dorothy Irene, daughter of Acheson and

Mary Josephine Wallace, of Edenderry.

Sponsors - May Wallace, Mary Josephine Wallace.

Watters - Samuel Harold, son of Samuel and

Rebecca Watters, of Edenderry,

Sponsors - Margaret Montgomery, Rebecca Watters.

Killops - Norah Jasmine, daughter of Joseph and

Florence Isabella Killops, of Edenderry.

Sponsors - Clara Kirby, Florence Isabella Killops.

Caddell - Baptized in Seagoe Parish Church on

Wednesday, February 11th, 1920, Margaret

Jane, daughter of William John and Priscilla Caddell,

of Kernan.

Sponsors - Martha Smartt, Elisabeth Anne Cordner

William John Caddell.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

Watson - February 16th, 1920, Irene Doris, daughter

of James and Elizabeth Watson, of Edenderry.

Marriages.

Sharpe and Campbell - February 6th, 1920, John

Sharpe (late 9th Batt. R.I.F.), of Edenderry,

to Margaret Campbell, of Edenderry.

Maginnis and Ruddell - February 11th, 1920, by

Special Licence, at the residence of the

bride, Emohwen,” North Parade, Belfast,

by the Rev. J. B. Taylor, M.A., Rector of

St. Jude's, Belfast, Thomas E. Maginnis,

Fortwilliam, Portadown, to Ruth, daughter

of the late Thomas Ruddell, Knockramer,

Lurgan,

Dobson and Johnston - March 3rd, 1920, at St.

Anne's Church, Dublin, by the Rev. J. C.

Irwin, M.A., John J. Dobson, Captain

R.I.R., of Belfast, to Mary Florence,

daughter of R. Johnston, Esq., of Bawnboy

House, Co. Cavan.

Burials.

Craig - January 30th, 1920, Sarah Craig, of

Levaghery, aged 83 years.

Doherty - February 19th, 1920, Maria Doherty of

Tirsogue, Waringstown, aged 88 years.

(page 3)

Sunday School Socials.

A most successful Social was held in Levaghery

on Thursday, February 5th. After tea the Rector

presided. There never were so many people in

Levaghery School before. The programme was very

interesting. It included Dialogues, Set-pieces, Songs

and Recitations. “Britannia and her Children” was

very effective. Miss Sarah Montgomery made a fine

Britannia, who received in succession representatives

of all the Colonies and Dominions arrayed in

characteristic garb. One of the best things done was

the Dialogue "Winning a Widow," by Miss Lily

Lewie and Mr. J. McDowell. Miss Lewie was

specially good and delighted her audience. Some of

the Levaghery Juniors sang and recited with good

effect. Miss Agnes Guy and all who helped are to

be congratulated on the success of their efforts.

At Carne a Sunday School Social was held on

Friday, February 6th. A splendid programme had

been arranged by Mr David Murray. Messrs. T.

and J. Ruddel, R. McClements and J. Caddell gave

Violin and Mandoline items with great success. Mr.

Binks in his comic songs surpassed himself. Miss

Robb sang several of her Scottish songs with great

Expression. A little visitor from Drumcree Parish

gave several Recitations of unusual merit, Gilbert

Price recited as well as ever, and among the Juniors

J. Simpson, B. Rock and T. Connolly gave very

successful Recitations, Mr. T. H. Wilson also very

kindly helped with a song.

Missionary Lecture.

The Rev. J. A. McCleery will give a Public Lecture

on "Missions in India," in Seagoe School

Thursday, March 11th, at 8 p.m.

ITEMS.

The Bann floods are subsiding and the meadows

seem none the worse.

* *

Nine Baptisms are recorded in our Parish Register

for February.

* *

Every copy of last month's Magazine was sold.

* *

Seagoe Almanacs can yet be had. Apply to

Rector.

* *

The weather was unusually mild and warm in

February. The Thermometer on several days

registered over 60 degrees in the open.

* *

Mr. Thomas Joyce, who has for the past eleven

months been staying at Eden Villa, sailed last week

on the "Empress of France," for Canada. He intends

to visit Montreal, Toronto, New York and Providence

before returning to his home in Cincinnati.

* *

The Select Vestry are organising a Parish Social,

to be held in Seagoe School (D.V.) on Thursday,

May 6th.

* *

The date of the Lurgan Choir Festival has been

altered to Saturday, May 8th. It will be held

Dromore Cathedral.

* *

A most interesting relic known as " St. Colman’s

Pillow" of great antiquity has recently been presented

to Dromore Cathedral by Rev. Canon Lett, Rector of

Aghaderg. It has been set in position in the

Cathedral, and a Brass Plate has been placed under

it giving particulars regarding its history. It is

a rounded pillow-shaped stone with incised with

Celtic Crosses.

* *

Large Scale Ordnance Survey Maps of Portadown

and District (6 inches to the mile) are now on sale at

the Portadown Express Office. Every farmer

should possess one. All details of importance are

most carefully marked on these maps. The survey

was made in 1905.

* *

Two very bright stars are now visible, the planet

Jupiter due south about 10 p.m., and the Star Sirius

somewhat lower in the heavens towards the South-West.

* *

The Girl Guides had a tea party on Monday, February 16 ^th

in Seagoe School and much enjoyed themselves.

* *

Sergeant Jackson and Constable White, of Edenderry R.I.C.

are on special duty in County Tipperary.

* *

The sudden and severe illness of the Lord Primate

is much regretted by his many friends in this

neighbourhood. According to the latest reports be

is somewhat better.

* *

We hope shortly to have a visit in Seagoe from our

new Bishop (Right Rev. O, T. P. Grierson).

* *

The Rev. Frederick George McNally, Vicar

of Sawrey, Ambleside, England, is a native of

Edenderry, having been born there so far back

1843. Mr. McNally is a graduate of Dublin University

and Licentiate in Music of Trinity College.

London. His sister, who lives with him, is 86 years

of age. She also is a native of Edenderry and lived

there with her parents until, she was 11 years of age.

She remembers Archdeacon Saurin as Rector

Seagoe 80 ago. Mr. M'Nally is an enthusiastic

Unionist and great admirer of Sir Edward Carson.

He concludes letter with the words - “I presume

your Parishioners are ready for any steps which the

Sinn Feiners may take. What humbugs they are!

Like the Germans they think that everyone is a fool

Except themselves. I hope Carson will speak out

plainly.”

* *

The Rector has had a letter from Major W. S.

Stewart, of Staten Island Club, St. Mark’s Place,

New Brighton, New York, U.S.A., whose

great grandfather, Robert Stewart, resided in the Parish

of Seagoe for many years in the middle of the

18^th century about 1750 to 1783.

(Page 4)

OLD SEAGOE NOTES.

Flooring Seagoe School, 1873. At a meeting

in Seagoe Parochial School House on the 30th

July 1873, it was unanimously agreed that a

subscription be raised for the Flooring and otherwise

repairing of the Schoolroom. It was also resolved

that a School Committee be appointed of the following

persons, viz., Messrs Robert Reid, Valentine

Sands, Alexander Russell, Robert Best and James

Atkinson, and that James Atkinson be appointed

Treasurer of said subscription.

At a subsequent meeting on February 11th, 1874,

it was agreed that the Tender given in by Daniel

Campbell to complete the work for the sum of £25

be accepted.

* *

Financial Difficulties, 1875. Some idea of the

financial difficulties through which Seagoe Parish

passed after Disestablishment may be gathered from

the following record of a Vestry Meeting held on

May 25th, 1875, the Rev. T. A. Jones being in the

chair. Proposed by Mr. James Atkinson and

seconded by Mr Wolsey Atkinson-

1^st - That this Vestry request the Diocesan Council

sanction the appropriation of the Church Officer's

Composition Balance towards the saving of Rev. Mr.

McWalter's Composition.

2^nd - That the Council would recommend the

Representative Body to grant to the Parish of Seagoe

extension of time to secure the said balance.

3^rd - That the Council would recommend to the

Representative Body to allocate to the Parish of

Seagoe the sum of £500 out of the money at its

disposal for the relief of Poor Parishes to enable the

Select Vestry to purchase the Glebe and secure the

proposed endowment.

Present at the meeting - Rev. T. A. Jones, Major

Blacker, Wolsey Atkinson, Esq; John B. Atkinson,

Esq; Messrs Leonard Jennett, James Calvert, James

Collins and James Atkinson.

On January 12th, 1876 the following important

and far-reaching Resolution was passed – “That we,

the Select Vestry of Seagoe Parish, do not wish to be

included in and have no claim upon the Diocesan

Scheme."

* *

Edenderry in 1781. - April 17th, 1781 - John

Askin and John Cook were this day approved of as

Applotters for the Town Land of Edenderry, in the

Parish of Sego, by the Minister, Church Wardens and

Parishioners agreable to the Certifycate of the High

Constable, Thomas Haughton.

RICHD BUCKLEY, Minister.

JOHN MITCALF,

JOHN IRWIN, Churchwardens

* *

Seagoe Sunday Schools in 1810 - 0n Sept.

1810, it was agreed by the minister and parishioners

of Seagoe that the sum of Six Guineas per

annum be paid to George McCaughaley, schoolmaster,

for teaching a Sunday School, and also the poor

scholars of the parish as may be recommended by the

minister of it.

RICHARD OLPHERTS, Curate.

* *

Churchwarden's Account, 1765 - At a Vestry

held in the Parish Church of Sego, on Easter Tuesday,

the 9th of April 1765, it is recorded that “The late

Churchwardens beg leave to defer making up their

accounts till Whitsun week. To repairing the

Ridge boards and Shingling of ye Church, £5 0s 0d. It is

agreed that the Thirty Shillings in the hands of Wm.

Robinson, late Churchwarden, be paid into the hands.

of Mr. Thos. Newel for flooring the New Isle

immediately. To Matts for the Communion Rails, and

the font 5s 5d. To repairing ye Pulpit Cushion.

£1 0s 0d.

* *

Curing a Broken Leg, 1760 - At Vestry held

in the Parish Church of Seagoe, July the Eighth,

1760, pursuant to an adjournment the late

Churchwardens made up their accounts with their vouchers

after the following manner - To cash paid motherless

child, £2 0s 0d. To cash to Henry Steward for

keeping a child 2 years, and for the cure of his

Broken Leg, £4 11s 4d. To Thos. Mayes for ye gate

and Shingling part of the Roof of the Church, £5.

HUGH TISDALL, Minister.

* *

Seats for Ardmore Church, 1761 - At a Vestry

held 31st March 1761, sums were levied as follows -

To Robert Walker's distempered daughter £2 0s 0d.-

To buy Forms for the Chappel in Ardmore £1 10s 0d

To John Dixon, a poor man, £2 0s 0d.

* *

Appointment of a Sexton, 1769 - We, the

Minister, Churchwardens, and Parishioners of Sego,

at a Vestry held in the Parish Church of Sego, after

due notice given, do nominate, constitute, and appoint,

Mary Porter, sexton for the said Parish, in the room

of the late sexton, Henry Porter, deceased, on the

same terms as the former sexton was, as witness our

hands this 3rd day of January 1769. The following

sum was also laid on at the same time to defray the

expense of a foundling child. Mary Shade, sent to

Dublin, One Pound Eight Shillings and three pence

Halfpenny.

Richard Buckby, Minister.

W. Blacker.

* *

Selling a Pew, 1749 – “I hereby acknowledge to

have sold my wright and title of a seat in the Parish

Church of Sego, Belonging to my husband John Ray,

for Five Shillings, str., to John Wattson, senr., and

John Wattson, junr., Ezekiel Cherry, and John

McDowell, as witness my hand this 13th day of July

1749.

her

ELIZA X RAY.

mark

Witness present - Mary Yemans.

James Ruddell, Thos. Gilpin.

Sworn before us at a Vestery held at Sego, on

Easter Tuesday, 1779, John Mathers, Nicholas

Purdy, Churchwarden's,

A True Copy of this is in John Wattson's hand.

*