March 1923

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

MARCH, 1923

Lent Services.

At the Sunday Morning Services in the Parish

Church the subjects of the Special Sermons are

taken from the Minor Prophets. On most of the

Sunday Evenings there will be special Preachers.

On Wednesday Evenings a series of Sermons on

" Lessons from the Church Catechism " will be

preached.

HOLY WEEK.

Services will (D. V.) be held in the Parish Church

each week evening during Holy Week at 8, except on

Saturday. The Services will begin on Monday,

March 26th.

COOD FRIDAY SERVICES,

11.30 a.m.—Morning Prayer and Litany.

8 p.m.—Evening Prayer and Sermon.

EASTER DAY.

8 a.m.—Holy Communion.

IL30 a.m.—Morning Prayer, Sermon and Holy Communion.

7 p.m.—Evening Prayer and Sermon.

The Offerings on Good Friday will be for the Jews'

Society, and on Easter Day for the Parochial Sunday Schools.

New Curate of Seagoe.

The Rev. William Twamley Wilson, P,A., T.C.D,

Curate of Maryborough, in the, Diocese of Leighlin,

has been appointed Curate Assistant of Seagoe. Mr

Wilson was. ordained, in 1920, for the Curacy of

Maryborough. He had, previously obtained the

Divinity Testimonium in Trinity College, Dublin.

Mr. Wilson is not altogether a stranger to Seagoe.

In 1918 he was here on a visit with the Rev, T. H.

Scanlon, his brother in law. We are sure Mr. Wilson

will receive hearty welcome on his coming to

Seagoe, and many amongst us will pray that the

Divine Blessing may accompany all his work in

this Parish. Mr. Wilson will not be able to enter

upon his duties here until May.

Generous Gift to Seagoe.

Mrs. Alan Bell has intimated her intention of giving

to the Parish, the interest of which, about

yearly, is to be applied to the relief of those in

need. The gift is given in memory of her late

husband, Mr. Alan Bell, R.M. Mrs. Bell writes as

follows

24th Feb., 1923.—Dear Canon Archer—For a long

time I have been thinking that I would like to present

a gift to Seagoe Church in memory of my

beloved husband. The last five years of our happy

life together were spent in that Parish, and you

have told me how he was loved and honoured there,

and it would be gratification to me to, feel that he

Would be remembered. What was thinking I would

like to do would be to send £500, which could be

invested (it would bring in about £20 a year) and

then I would like the income to be spent in giving

some little extra help in pleasure to poor people or

sick people, or anyone in need, just like what my

dear husband would have done himself.—Yours

very sincerely, E. S. Bell.

The Select Vestry met on Monday, Feb. 26th, and

after expressing their sincere gratitude to Mrs. Bell,

appointed a sub committee to draw up a scheme

for the management of the Fund.

We know how much the Parishioners of Seagoe

will appreciate this splendid gift in memory of Mr.

Alan Bell. Mr. Bell was loved by all in the Parish

and especially by the poor and the sick. A typical

example of his kindness is remembered by the

Rector. When Mr. Bell was leaving Seagoe for

Dublin he brought to the Rectory a box of Brand's

Meat Essence Tins and asked the Rector to give a

Tin to any sick person whom he thought might

need it. It is lamentable to think that a life marked

by such true Christian charity and sympathy should

have been cut short by the hand of the assassin.

Seagoe will always cherish the memory of Alan

Bell, and this thoughtful gift from his broken

hearted widow will perpetuate in the Parish the

remembrance of his many acts of kindness.

In the name of the Parish we thank Mrs. Bell for

her generous gift.

The Rev. O. Draper,

The Rev. A. O, Draper left Seagoe on February 1st

and motored with Mrs. Draper and his two little

girls all the way to Dunseverick. It was a long

run, but the day was fine. When they arrived they

found that some of the Dunseverick people had

lighted the fires for them. Fish is only 5d a pound

and rabbits 6d each. The latter sit round the house

in the morning, and when dinner time comes round

come up to the kitchen door to be caught and cooked

for dinner. The views from the Rectory are magnificent,

but when a storm comes it is desperate, and

there is a terrible howl in the Rectory chimneys.

Mr. Draper has been appointed Station Commandant

of the B Specials.

Jews' Society.

Edenderry and Seagoe, —Contents of Boxes

given out October 1st, 1922 :—Miss M'Clements,

8s 9 ½ d; Mrs. Vance, 8s; Miss Margretta Atkinson,

6s; Miss Lily M'Kerr, 4s; Miss Nannie Ilynes,

4s; Miss Emily Cox, 3s lid; Mrs. Robert Magee, 3s:

Miss Violet Fox, 2s 8 ½ d; Mrs. Flannigan, 2s 10 ½ d; Miss

Clara Kirby, 2s 6d; Miss Charlotte Allen, 2s 3d; Mrs.

Johnston, Is 4d; Miss Lily Morton, Is 2d; Miss Winnie

Patton, 1s O ½ d; Miss Agnes Wilson, 7d; Mrs. Best, 3d;

Miss Armstrong, 10s; Miss Halliday, 10s; Miss E.

Halliday, 10s; Mabel L. Best, 6s 6d; Maisie Birch,

5s 1d; David Rea, 3s 5d; John Harrison, 3s 6 ½ d; James

Fletcher, 4s 0|d; William Best, 2s 3d; Miss Jean England’s

S. School Class, 3s 3 ½ d; Miss Woolsey’s S.

School Class, 3s 9d; Miss R. England sub. 10s; collected

at Lecture, Edenderry Hall, £2 2s 4d. Total

paid to the Rev. I. E. Davidson, £8 6s 8d.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Parish Register for February.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized on 3rd February,

1923, in Seagoe Parish Church—

Rainey—Vera, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Rainey, of Edenderry.

Sponsors-—Sarah Rainey, Elizabeth Rainey.

Cull—William, son Of William and Emma Cull, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Sarah Gillespie, Emma Cull.

Irwin—Caroline Maude, daughter of William James and Sarah Jane Irwin, of Levaghery.

Sponsors—Lily Lewie, Sarah Jane Irwin.

Burials ,

February, 1923—Henry Neill, of Moyallon, Parish of Gilford, late of Hacknahay, aged 79 years.

Heaney—March 1st, 1923, Joseph Henry Heaney, late R.I.C., of Lylo, aged 28.

Death of Mr J, H. Heaney,

We record with deep regret the death of Mr.

Joseph Henry Heaney, which occurred at the Sanatorium,

Armagh, on Monday, February 27th. Mr.

Heaney had served in the R.I.C. during the awful

period before the "Treaty." He had risked his life

over and over again in defence of his King and

country. A native of the Co Longford, he was unable

to return to his aged father's home, but he received

a welcome from the people of Seagoe which

he treasured to his last hour. He was in splendid

health up to last September, when he was attacked

by pneumonia. The cough and lung trouble continued,

and after a few months he went to the

Sanatorium. Everything possible was done for him

by Dr. Robinson and the nurses, but the disease

advanced, and about a week before his death his

sufferings greatly increased. He received the Sacrament

of Holy Communion from the Rev. Canon

Tichborne of Armagh on the Friday before he died

The Rev. Canon Archer was also with him on that

day. Almost his last request was that he might be

buried in Seagoe, and his remains were laid to

rest under the shadow of the old Church on Thursday, March 1st.

Although coming so recently among us Joe Heaney

had made many friends. He was regular in attendance

at the Services in the Parish Church, and

attended Holy Communion every month, a custom

he had followed under all circumstances since his

Confirmation. His bright. faith and happy

disposition will be remembered for long. We offer our

sincere sympathy to his parents and brothers and

sisters, especially to his brother who shared with

him all the dangers of service in the R.I.C.

ITEMS.

Please send in your C.M.S. Boxes at once.

The Rev. J. S. Taylor, the Rev. R. H. White, Rector

of Holy Trinity, Belfast, and the Rev. Dr. Walker,

Rector of St. Matthew's, Belfast, have preached on

successive Sunday Evenings in Seagoe Church.

The Rev. F. J. Halahan, M.C., Rector of Drumcree

will (D. V.) preach in Seagoe Church on Sunday

Evening, March 11th, at 7 p.m.

The Rev. John Redmond, M.A., Rector of St.

Patrick's, Ballymacarrett, Belfast, will (D. V.) preach

in Seagoe on Sunday, April 8th, at 7 p.m.

A Special Meeting of the Select Vestry will be

held on Monday, March 12th, in Seagoe School, at

8 p.m., for the purpose of appointing new Trustees

for Edenderry Parochial Hall in accordance with

the Trust Deed. All the original Trustees are now

dead.

A Band of Hope Concert is arranged for Tuesday.

March 20th, in Levaghery School, at 8 p.m.

Mr. Thomas Metcalfe has been appointed Conductor

of Seagoe Men's Bible Class, which meets at 10

on Sunday Mornings in Seagoe School. The subject

of study is The Miracles and Parables of our Lord. "

The Girl Guides are contemplating an Entertainement

to be held after Easter. An attractive programme is being arranged.

The £100 given to Seagoe Parish some time ago

by Miss Macoun in memory of her mother has

been lodged by the Vestry to the credit of the Glebe

Purchase Scheme, which is now within £90 of

completing the £952 5s 3d required.

Mr. T. H. Wilson, Organist of Seagoe, has, we

regret to say, been laid up with an attack of sciatica.

Coffee freshly roasted and ground is a most refreshing

and wholesome beverage. You can get it

to perfection at T. J. Montgomery's, High Street.

An epidemic of Whooping Cough is prevalent in

the Parish. It is not of a very severe type, but care

ought to be taken, especially in the case of children

under 5 years of age.

South American Missionary Boxes and Cards

should be returned at once.

Our Sunday School Teachers are introducing

" expression work " with splendid results.

Please read our Advertisements; Please patronise

our Advertisers.

London Broadcast Concerts are now heard in

Portadown by Wireless

The Misses Dawson

We hear that the Misses Dawson have decided to

return to their Missionary work in South America,

and hope to leave. Belfast in May for that distant

Continent- They will bear with them the prayers

and good wishes of their many friends in Seagoe.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

A Letter from Queensland,

We have received the following letter from Miss

Ellen Matthews from Ayr, Queensland, where she

arrived on December 21st—

Just a few lines to let you know I arrived safe in

Ayr on 21st December. The Church Army met me

at Euston on 29th September, and brought me to the

Hostel and saw me off next morning at St. Pancras.

They are very nice people, and were very kind to

me. I had a very good voyage. We called at

Gibraltar, Toulon, Naples and Port Said. At Colombo

we spent from 7 in the morning till 11 that night.

Most of the people are blacks. We had a drive all

around—four of us together. We went to the Gardens;

Queen Victoria's Statue is there. It is a very

nice place, all sorts of trees and flowers. We had

a guide to bring us all around. There are large

bocks for visitors to sign their names. When we

were coming back we went into the Buddist Temple.

It is all marble; we had all to take our shoes off;

no one is allowed to go in with shoes on. Then we

came to Freemantle; it is a very nice place; a lot of

the passengers got off there; then next port,

Adelalde, and Melbourne. There was a strike in

Melbourne; 350 of the crew and stewards refused to

work the ship because they took 48 interstate

passengers on (their coastal boats run up and down

two and three times a week, so they make them go

on them). We landed in Melbourne on 8th November,

and we were due to leave on 9th, so we did not

get away till the 16th with the strike. Then we came

to Sydney I had an uncle 'and aunt meet me there,

so I had a real good time. Then I had two days'

sail to Brisbane. Another friend met me there, so

stopped there for almost a month. That is where

mother's sisters were and all their people had a

real good time there driving about in a 'Sulkey.' I

left there 15th December, and it took me a week to

get here. I like the place well, and I feel a lot

better since I landed. Moses is enjoying good health

-and wishes to be remembered to you; he has got 9

horses of his own, and has done real well this year

with his sugar cane. He is getting a new house

built; the one he is in is all right for himself, but

this one he is getting built will be more comfortable.

was out driving with him today, and we had a

real good time.

This was the warmest Christmas ever I spent.

Most of the people are dressed in white. Remember

me to Mr. Draper, also to Miss Atkinson, Bachelor's

Walk; let them know I got here all right, and like

the place well. I think I will draw to a close hoping

this finds you enjoying good health.—ELLEN

MATTHEWS, c/o Mr. Jim Kelly, Laurelvale Farmt

L. Burdekin, via. Ayr, Queensland.

Seagoe Notes.

Rail Road from Belfast to Armagh.—The following

is taken from the " Belfast News Letter" for Tuesday,

September 19th, 1826: It is headed "Rail Road.

—We are informed that a plan for establishing a

Rail Road betwixt Belfast and Armagh is now in

contemplation. The line of direction in which the

road is to pass betwixt Portadown and Armagh has

been already surveyed and estimated. This is by

far the most difficult part of the whole line for the

establishment of a Rail Road, yet there is now no

doubt entertained of the practicability of the undertaking

Dinner to Colonel Verner, 1826.—Extract from the

" News Letter. "—On the 8th September (1826) at 6

o'clock p.m. Colonel Werner arrived in Portadown

attended by a concourse of many thousand persons,

who met him at some distance from the town

drew him in, preceded by a band of music playing

loyal tunes, and accompanied by loud cheers. On

the same evening a number of Colonel Verner's

friends entertained him at Atkins' Hotel, Portadown.

At half-past six 72 gentlemen sat down to an excellent

dinner, Colonel Blacker of Carrick in the chair.

On the right hand of Colonel Blacker sat Colonel

Verner, Dean Blacker of Carrick on his left. We

observed Acheson St. George, Esq., High Sheriff;

Joseph Atkinson, Esq., of Crowhill, and W. Loftie,

Esq., of Tandragee, the latter two gentlemen acting

as croupiers. Many toasts were honoured, among

them—The principal Squireen o! the County,

Viscount Mandeville: also The Fair Heiresses of Rich hill.

(Immense cheering.) The High Sheriff returned

thanks in the name of his relatives, the Misses

Richardson, for this latter toast.

Speeches were

delivered by Colonel Blacker, Colonel Verner and

others. The dinner was a great success.

WITH THE "NINTH" IN FRANCE.

By Lieut.-C01. S. W. BLACKER, D.S.O.

(Continued from February Magazine.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3rd.

Only got back at 7 and then went on to dine with

Shooter—very pleasant. Duke, new Bde. Maj. , a nice

fellow. A grand strafe on! Gen.'s visit resulted in

'Q Branch coming round to inquire what they could

do. 'I'he Gen. came back, strafed them, and said we

didn't know Q Branch by sight! I said "Wells for 2

years you've been strafing us, now you are getting

your own back!." R.E. Officers came this morning

to ask what we wanted to make the Officers comfortable

huts, chairs, tables, etc., to be put in hand at

once. It's delicious and a grand strafe; men fairly

roused; the whole Staff boiling; and I will be horribly

disliked, but it's the order. Each Battalion is

to send 1 Officer and 3 other Ranks home for a

fortnight on a recruiting tour. 1 fear they won't do

much good. Shall send a representative from Lurgan,

Portadown, and Monaghan, giving preference

to those who went over the Parapet and who have

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

not yet been on leave. Same story, the fighting Officers

and men living in squalor, no one behind caring

a damn as long as they are comfortable themselves.

Am writing outside where we have all our meals.

Have got a Whitlow on my left hand, first finger,

why I can't think. Am staying in this p.m. as am

waiting on paper from the Bde. They are 8 miles

away. They've muddled the recommendations; it

should have been 5 per Battalion instead of 5 per

me. , and I am trying to extract them so as to settle

whom L should send in. They sent in yesterday to

cadge a mess Sergt. and cook. I said "Haven't got

either—let them live at the safel", Stuffy.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4th.

C.R.E. and G.B. came round this p.m. It's really

most amusing—all asking if we wanted anything.

Ensor goes with recruiting party. He was splendid

all the 1st and afterwards, and wants a change. He

is the youngest and such a splendid type of young

fellow. I'm glad of the chance of getting him home.

A change, and we don't go back to the same bit of

line; we side step to the Right, the bit I first looked

at. Not see comfy. It has turned much colder, and

looks like rain. As life here is carried on entirely

out of doors, we have only a dirty tumble down hut,

and have all our meals al fresco; the prospect is not

pleasing. Owing to rerarrangement of the line we

shall not actually go into the line again till about

the 9th, and then into another portion, which is a

nuisance. Rode over to see Transport and Stronge

after tea. Heard today 40 of our men, were with

2nd R.I.R. I shall not rest till I get them back! Another

Div. from our left going S. , and a shattered one

taking its place, hence rearrangement. P.S.—Of

course, if Austria made peace Germany could not

hold out long by herself. Yes, water here at 3 feet.

Suppose Bosche is the same, but they're above us.

SATURDAY AUGUST 5th.

Weather cold, but still fine. Going with Pratt to

Armentieres. Glad to see they've hanged Casement

all right. We've had to send 1 Coy into the line

to-night. 'A.' to help the Downs, who are so weak.

We now take over from them. Sorry to part with

12th. We and 12th will now be out together. New

Capt., Radbourne, hit on knee, night of relief.

Had to go to hospital with synovitis,

SUNDAY. AUGUST 6th

A pleasant dinner and chat with Ricardo. He is

in the line, yet his H.Q. are only 300 yards away

from this, and quite good. So you may imagine

our Rest Billets are not very far back. The difficulty

in this area is that all 'the towns and villages

are so heavily shelled that there is great difficulty

in finding accommodation for Battalions out of the

line. A— is a large place, but nearly every house

shows signs of shelling. A few shops are open, and

I found a hair cutter and had a cut and shampoo.

We wandered round the town. One church has been

battered to pieces, and another hasn't been touched.

A lot of New Zealanders here—very smart and

fine looking fellows. Still nice sunny weather, but

cooler and more pleasant. Ricardo suffered even

more heavily than I did, 575. Our guns here are

very noisy, and go on continuously. I hear Hubert

Gough commands the Push now, and pushing well.

Of course he is a and has youth on his side,

and the others are too old and I hope

we shall soon hear Thiepval is taken, but the Huns

are putting up a stiff fight, and seem to be obstinately

resisting the "Russkies."

Beaucourt station

was not long in our hands. Our people who got

there were cut off, and died fighting, and no one

who penetrated the German ever came back, as

far as I can find out. (N.B.—Lt. Barcroft did.)

SUNDAY EVENING

P.S —It's no good buoying oneself up with false

hopes of an early termination; it only leads to

disappointment. One must just harden one's heart.

It turned a bit warmer this p.m., but is cooler

again now. I went down to see 'A' Coy, and our

new bit of the line, with Shill Bn. H.Q. at Stinking

Farm—a well-named place. The smell which

pervades the whole place is possibly rotting flax,

but it might be anything rotten.

I shall try and

move elsewhere. St. F— has all the disadvantages

of buildings, shelled every night, and none of the

advantages as it is uninhabitable.

Bosche 'planes were very busy to-day. They started

by dropping, luckily a dud, near our transport?

and kept coming over all the evening, and being

heavily bombarded by our Archies just overhead,

and the fragments kept dropping about here. Fin.

ally, at dinner, a dud Archie shell fell about 50

yards in front us. We have 8 Officers on courses, leaving

only 9 Officers for the 4 Coys. to go into the

too few to share watches. Our guns have

just opened on Bosche dumps and roads, and are

making a hideous noise.

MONDAY. AUGUST 7th.

Another nice day. Hear we may go in Wednesday.

Finger much better. 9.45 p.m.—Have just been

out exploring with Pratt—a short way into the line,

as you ,cannot use the way by daylight (as it's in

full view). It adds to the difficulties, one has to

select a half light. Had a talk to Placeqsoi this

evening. A nice capable fellow. He says next, or

possibly early winter 17—18, may see the end, and

I'm afraid he looks like being right. The Bosche

is full of fight yet; very far from being beaten, and

they'll never allow Austria to be so licked that

they'd have to make peace, for Germany knows If

that happened all is over. The Push still goes on,

and will continue.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8th.

As I thought, we go into the trenches tomorrow;

go down again this p.m. to settle matters. The

Division have climbed down now about quintuplicate,

and say they will do it. A man in Royal Scots

—Mudie ?—has succeeded Spender, friend of Pratt's

Haven't seen him yet. Thank heaven they've left us

absolutely alone this rest tour.

(To be continued.)