March 1933

Seagoe Parish magazine.

MARCH, 1933.

CLERGY :

Chancellor Archer, B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe.

Rev. W. F. Hayes, B.A., Edendale, Carrickblacker

Road, Edenderry, Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector's—Mr. Robert Scott.

People's—Mr. Isaac Dickson.

LENT, 1933

The season of Lent brings with it a special

reminder of the need of Repentance. The sin

which doth so easily beset us is an offence

against the God who created us, redeemed us

and sanctifies us. Repentance is not merely

sorrow for sin but the determination not to be

overcome by it. During Lent there will be

special services in the Parish Church. On Sunday

March 5th, the subject of " Temperance"

will be brought before our people

The Parish Social.

Our annual Parish Social was held in Seagoe

School on Thursday, Feb. 9th. The rooms had

been prettily decorated and when the tables were

laid they presented a very pretty sight. A committee

of ladies related to the members of the

Select Vestry had charge of the arrangements.

There were 12 tables, each accommodating 30

guests. We have seldom seen such a splendid

selection of cakes at any social gathering. One

of the guests said that she thought Seagoe must

be the " Land of Cakes." Grace was sung and

then all settled down to a very hearty repast.

All the townlands of the Parish were represented.

The tea was specially drawn in separate teapots

and was very good. Each of the presiding ladies

supplied tea-sets for her own table, and there

was a splendid display of fine china. After tea,

the Rector presided and a hymn was sung. A

very attractive programme of music and recitations

was then given. The Eden Quartet were

specially appreciated for their songs. Mr. T. H.

Wilson had charge of the programme. Short

speeches were made by the Rev. W. F. Hayes,

Messrs. M. Gilpin, J. Twinem and Lieut.

Mitchell, of the C.L.B. Everybody seemed to

enjoy the family spirit of the social. A very

friendly and homely atmosphere prevailed

throughout the evening. A hearty vote of thanks

to all who had helped was proposed by Mr. Scott,

sand econded by Mr. Jas. Twinem, and passed

with acclamation. The meeting was closed with

the Benediction. The proceeds of the social,

which may realise £12, will be given towards

the building of the wall at the new Church plot.

Bocombra Church Hall,

On Thursday, Feb. 9th, the Foundation Stone

of the new Church Hall at Bocombra was laid.

The day was fine, and as the hour of the ceremony

approached large numbers came on foot,

some by 'bus and some by motor car. Lord

Justice Best very kindly presided, and brought

with him from Belfast Mrs. Thompson (wife of

the Recorder of Belfast) , who had kindly agreed

to lay the Foundation Stone. A platform had

been erected at the rere of the site of the Hall.

The Lord Justice having taken the chair, the

Rector said prayer. Lord Justice Best, in an

interesting speech, described how the idea of the

Hall originated and dwelt on the importance of

having such Halls to enable the Church to keep

in touch with the young people of the Parish.

He then called on Mr. James Twinem to speak.

Mr, Twinem told how he had set before his mind

the erection of a Church Hall in Bocombra. He

spoke of the generous way win which people had

responded to his appeal, resulting in the raising

of £169 towards the Building Fund. He described

the good work which was being done in

the newly formed Sunday School held in the

Orange Hall and thanked the members of

Bocombra L.O.L for their kindness in lending

the Hall without any charge. He said that he

felt the parishioners would help him and that

being so he went forward, believing that he

would succeed. Like Napoleon, who when he

had to cross the Alps said, " For me there are

no Alps, " so he went on and succeeded.

The next stage in the ceremony was the laying

of the stone. All present went to the front of

the Hall. The Rector and the Rev. W. F.

Hayes, with Lord Justice Best, Mrs. Thompson

and Mr. Twinem were near the stone. Mr.

Twinem then presented an inscribed trowel to

Mrs. Thompson. Alex. Guy then placed the

stone in position, and Mrs. Thompson declared

it well and truly laid " In the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”

The Rector then offered prayer and the Hymn

“The Church's One foundation is Jesus Christ

her Lord" was heartily sung by the large crowd

present. The service closed with the Benediction.

All the guests then adjourned to the Orange

Hall, where tea very kindly provided by the

ladies. Votes of thanks were heartily passed to

Lord Justice Best and to Mrs. Thompson and to

all who had helped in the ceremony. In the

preparations for the laying of the stone splendid

help was given by members of the Vestry and

others. Many lent horses and carts and worked

strenuously to have everything ready and in

good order.

Further List of Subscriptions to Bocombra Church Hall,

We acknowledge with many thanks the following

subscriptions received by Mr. James

Twinem, which brings the amount collected by

him up to almost the £200, and we congratulate

him on his energy in the good work he has undertaken.

Further subscriptions are invited. They

should be sent to Mr. James Twinem, Lylo Villa,

Portadown, or to the Rector (Rev. Chancellor

Archer) at Seagoe Rectory.

Already acknowledged £168 5 6

Collected at gate when laying the

Foundation Stone 5 15 6

Lord Justice Best 3 3 0

Mrs. Thompson, Belfast 3 3 0

Miss Minnie Preston, Lylo

—collecting card 2 12 0

Mrs. Watson Walker, Seagoe Farm ..2 0 0

Mrs. C. Rennix, Seagoe Farm 2 0 0

A Friend 1 10 0

Mr. W. J. M'Kinney, Rosedale

cottage, Ballinacor 1 1 0

Mr. Alphonso Kirk, Ballinacor 1 0 0

Mr. John Dermott, 52 Bridge St. 1 0 0

Miss Agnes Webb, Lylo 1 0 0

(collecting card)

Mr. David Carrick (Drumcree Parish) 0 10 0

Mrs. Sarah Robb, Parkmount, 0 10 0

Portadown

Mr. James Shepherd, Levaghery 0 10 0

A Well-wisher 0 10 0

Mr. Victor Hawthorn, Knockmena . 0 10 0

Mr. Wm. Wilson, Woodhouse St. 0 10 0

Sophie M' Murray, Lylo

(collecting card) 0 10 9

Mr. Russell Tlewitt, Tullygalley,

Lurgan 0 5 0

Mrs. Lewie, Levaghery . 0 5 0

Miss Mary Gracey, Toronto,

(Canadian Dollar) 0 4 9

Mr. John Flannigan, Bridge St. 0 5 0

Thos. M 'Murray, Lylo

(collecting card) 0 3 0

Samuel Preston, Lylo

(collecting card) 0 1 0

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

£198 4 6

Seagoe Mothers' Union.

The Mothers' Union will meet (D. V.) in Seagoe

School on Tuesday, March 14th, at 7.30

p.m. A punctual attendance of the members is

requested.

Concert in Drumgor.

A splendid programme is being arranged

the concert to be held in Drumgor Church

on Thursday, March 16th, at 8 p.. m.

tickets, 1/- each, are now on sale. The

proceeds of the concert go towards providing funds

for the support of Drumgor Sunday School. The

Sunday School is largely attended and the teachers

take great interest in their work. A service

is held once a month on the 2nd Sunday of the

month, in the Hall.

Seagoe G.F. S.

A very jolly evening was spent by the Seagoe

G. F. S. on Monday, 20th February. The occasion

was the annual social of the Branch,

including the members and guests, about six

sat down to tea. The schoolroom was prettily

decorated and the tables looked tempting and

dainty, laden as they were with good things.

The merriment during tea-time was much

enhanced by the pulling of crackers, and many

hearty laugh was caused by the amusing things

and mottoes which tumbled out. After tea, some

familiar games were thoroughly enjoyed, including

many farmers found wives and families with

amazing ease. A pleasant interlude, which was

brightened by songs and recitations then came

and the surprise of the evening in the guise of a

treasure hunt was then entered into with zest.

A pretty silk tea cosy was found by Miss Cissy

M 'Elroy, and a safety razor in case was found by

Mr. Isaac Dickson. The Rev. W. F. Hayes

B.A presided in the unavoidable absence of the

Rector.

Inspection and Drill Display,

On Thursday evening, March 23rd, an inspection,

drill display and attractive entertainment

will be held by the members of Seagoe C.L.B.

in Edenderry Parochial Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets

6d each, are now being sold. Captain Me????

and Lieut. Mitchell are preparing a fine Brigade

display. The Brigade has been very active of

late. On Sunday, Feb. 19th, the Seagoe Company

took part in the Diocesan Parade Service

in Belfast Cathedral. The preacher was the

new Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev. W. S. Kerr

B. D. There was a fine turn-out of the Brigade

Lieut. Mitchell had arranged to bring the Seagoe

Training Corps to Belfast on Saturday, the

25th, but owing to the severity of the weather

their visit could not take place. A C.L.B. shop

was open for a week in Howard St., Belfast.

We hear it was very interesting and successful.

Each night of the week ending Saturday, the

25th, there were route marches by various companies

in Belfast, accompanied by bands. The

forthcoming display on March 23rd by the

Seagoe Lads will show how effcient our company is.

Rev. Robert Gracey.

We are glad to announce that the Rev. R.

Gracey, Curate of St. Donard's, Belfast, will

preach at the Lent Service in Seagoe Church on

Wednesday, March 8th, at 8 p.m. Special Lent

Services are held in the Parish Church on each

Wednesday in Lent at 8 p.m.

Missionary Boxes.

All Missionary Boxes should be sent in to the

Secretaries not later than the middle of this

month. See that your boxes are well filled.

Prize Distributions.

February was a very busy month with Sunday

School Prize distributions. After an experience

of many years, we think the prize distributions

this year were more enjoyable than ever before.

The programmes were very interesting and attractive.

Drumgor had its innings on Tuesday,

February 7th. The Hall was crowded with

young people and their teachers. After a splendid

tea, games were indulged in for a time, and

when an interesting programme of songs and

recitations was given. The prizes were then

distributed by Mrs. Scott. Short addresses were

given by the Rector, the Rev. W. F. Hayes and

Mr. R. Scott. At the close the Doxology was

heartily sung. A novelty during the evening was

a giant Christmas Tree whose branches were

laden with beautiful gifts for the children. Each

child got a gift from Father Christmas, whose

presence caused great excitement. On Friday,

Feb. 10th Hacknahay held its evening. There

was a large attendance. After tea a most interesting

programme of music, singing and reciting

was performed, ending up with a sketch

which was greatly enjoyed. The title of it was

“Lame Dogs. " Mrs. Atkinson, of Gleneyre,

kindly distributed the prizes and gave several

prizes herself to children who had not missed

a Sunday during the year. Miss Calvert kindly

gave a gift of an orange to each child. The

pleasant evening concluded with a hearty vote of

thanks to Mr. T. E. Maginnis and all who had

helped. Edenderry enjoyed a splendid social on

Thursday, Feb. 23rd, at 7.30 p.m. The Parochial

Hall was crowded with young people and their

teachers. The best of tea, with a bag of luscious

pastry, was given to each child. A delightful

programme of recitations and a violin solo by

Harry McCourt followed. Every item was first rate.

The distribution of 160 prizes followed.

The books were handed to the successful children

by the Rector, the Rev. W. F. Hayes, Mr.

McClements and Mr. H. Hynes. The senior

girls' class, taught by Miss Halliday agreed not

to take prizes so that the School Prize Fund

might be spared. This was very good of them.

Short speeches were made at the close of the

meeting. Seagoe enjoyed itself splendidly on

Monday, Feb. 27th. The fine schoolrooms looked

very bright and gay. Children in pretty dresses

were everywhere. The tea tables were nicely

arranged, and there was a great supply of good

things. A programme of songs and recitations

followed and a very amusing sketch in which

Mrs. Stiggins" was trying in vain to sell her

jackets. Florrie Porter and Doris Hall did a

very pretty " Fairy Dialogue." Mrs. Watson

Walker, who had very kindly given a gift of

oranges for the children, distributed the prizes.

The meeting was most enjoyable.

Carne held high festival on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 28th.

The Rev. W. F. Hayes presided and after a

hearty tea games were played with great zest.

Then a short programme of music and recitations

was given by the children. Miss Lavery,

of Kilvergan kindly distributed the prizes. Mr.

David Murray had made all the arrangements

with great care and the evening was very enjoyable.

The New Church Plot,

The plot of ground beside the Church is being

rapidly transformed. A substantial boundary

wall is being built on the west side and when it

is finished the ground will be properly levelled,

drained and laid out, Already it is possible to

see what a great improvement the new plot will

be. Plans for ornamental gates and pillars are

being considered by the Select Vestry.

Of course all this implies a considerable outlay and

it will be necessary to call on the Parishioners

for further help before long. If it, had not been

for the money raised at the last, Bazaar it would

have been quite impossible to carry out these

improvements. The recent outside pointing of

the Chancel end of the Church has caused the

ugly damp spots to disappear.

Seagoe PE School.

The School was closed for a fortnight, from

February 13th to Feb. 27th.

The schools in Portadown were closed owing to the influenza

epidemic, and as many of the Seagoe children

come from the urban area the Manager thought

it better that the School should be closed. The

heavy fall of snow which occurred on Friday

evening, Feb. 24th, buried everything under a

deep white blanket.

Some of our motoring parishioners

were caught in deep drifts and could

not get backwards or forwards. Fortunately no

serious accident occurred. The weight of snow

pulled down some of the ivy from the Church

walls. The children in Seagoe School are much

enjoying the splendid soup which our kind

friends forward every day from the town. Gifts

of vegetables of all kinds should be sent to the

Soup Depot at, Carleton House so that the supply

of soup may be available for the schools,

including Seagoe.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Service of Song.

The proceeds of the Service of Song recently

held amount to £ 12 10. This will be a great help

towards our Seagoe Sunday School Funds.

Parish Register for March,

Baptisms.

Magee—Feb. 4th, 1933, Cyrus David Wilfred,

son of Alfred David and Judith Magee, of Drumnacanvey.

Sponsors—Emily Ryans, Margaret Anne Magee.

Johnston—Feb. 4th, 1933, Doreen, daughter of

Robert and Helen Clow Johnston, of Lower Seagoe.

Sponsors—Margaret Megahey, Helen Clow Johnston.

Marriage.

Carvill—Haire—March 3rd, Hugh Carvill, of Killicomain,

to Cora Holroyd Haire, of Laurelvale, Parish of Mullavilly.

Burial,

Millar—Feb. 27th, Henry Millar, of Lower Seagoe, aged nine months.

ITEMS.

We regret that the Railway strike still continues

and shows no signs of coming to an end.

Special prayer has been offered up in the Parish

Church at all the services that all may be guided

aright.

Much sympathy has been expressed with Mr.

and Mrs. Millar, of Lower Seagoe, on the death

after a brief illness, of their little son Harry.

The recent storm from the south-east seemed

to have swept with special severity across the

townlands of Lylo, Lisniskey and Upper Seagoe.

There were deep drifts in these townlands.. Lylo

Lane was impassable.

The Rector lectured on " Old Portadown" before

the Portadown Literary and Debating Society

on Monday, February 20th.

The daily verses in Seagoe Parish Almanac

are short but carefully chosen. The special

Prayer, " A Prayer for the Week," is very helpful.

There was a Magazine Famine last month.

Copies were all sold within a day or two.

Old Seagoe Notes.

Early days of the G.N.R. in Ulster.—on an

iron fender in the Parcel Office in Portadown

until recently were the letters U. R. Co.

There may be other fenders of the same type

at other stations of the Great Northern Railway

Company, and they are the only property

still in use belonging to the Ulster Railway

Company, which was amalgamated with the

Northern Railway in 1876 to form the Great

Northern Railway (Ireland) .

The Ulster Railway, which was one of the

earliest systems in Ireland, was incorporated

in 1836 with the object of constructing a line

from Belfast to Armagh. The line was partly

opened in 1839, the extension to Portadown

being completed in 1842. Some years later the

line was extended another eleven miles to Armagh,

and in 1855 the company was authorised

to construct an extension to Monaghan.

In the following year power was obtained to

extend the line to Clones, and the Ulster Railway

also undertook the operation of the Portadown

and Dungannon line.

Subsequently the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast

line was constructed by a private company

and was leased by the Ulster Company from

1862, while the Dublin and Antrim Junction

opened for traffic in 1871, was also worked by

the Ulster Company under an agreement.

Running rights over parts of the Belfast Central

line were also acquired. The chairman of

the company was Mr. Wm. Coates, Belfast; and

the deputy chairman, Mr. James Gray. The

directors were—Dr. Wm. Thompson, Lisburn

Messrs. J. G. Winder, Armagh; Samuel Murland,

Castlewellan; Francis Watson, Lurgan

George Pim, Dublin; J. W. Greer, Lurgan;

H Thompson, Belfast; C. A. W. Stewart,

Carrickfergus; John Brady, Clones; and A.

Mackenzie Lyle, of Donaghmore.

The Dublin and Drogheda and Dublin and

Belfast Junction lines had been amalgamated in

1875, and when the Irish North Western, which

linked up Dundalk, Enniskillen, and Derry

joined with them on 1st . January, 1876, the

Northern Railway Company was formed. Three

months later the Ulster and Northern companies

merged, and the Great Northern Railway of Ireland

came into being. At this time there were

nearly thirty different railway companies in

Ulster and no fewer than 427 in the United

Kingdom, so that it was not surprising amalgamations

were taking place. Competition was

very keen, and though many amalgamations too

place from time to time it was not until the

war that it was realised that, economy of expenditure

could best be secured by merging smaller

companies into a series of larger undertakings.

'Bus competition created further problems for

the companies, but, that is a far cry from the

days of the Ulster Railway.