March 1934

Seagoe Parish Magazíne.

MARCH, 1934.

CLERGY :
Rev. Chancellor Archer, B .D ., The Rectory,
Seagoe.

Rev. W. F . Hayes, B .A ., The Bungalow, Lower
Seagoe, Portadown.

CHURCHW ARDENS :
Rector’s— Mr. James Twinem.
People’s— Mr. Wm. White.

The Confirmation.
The Lord Bishop of the Diocese has altered
the date of the Confirmation in Seagoe. It will
be held (D .V .) on Friday, Ju n e 22nd, a t 8 p.m .
Classes for the candidates will be held from the
beginning of May, and the dates and hours of the
classes will be announced in a later issue of the
Magazine. Candidates must be 14 years of age
or over.

Consecration of the New Burial Ground.

The Lord Bishop has arranged to consecrate
the new burial ground at Seagoe Church on the
afternoon of Ju n e 22nd, a t 4 p .m ., the day on
which he holds the Confirmation in Seagoe.
New rules and regulations for the management
of the new burial ground are being arranged by
the members of the Select Vestry. A special
meeting of the Vestry is to be held on Tuesday,
March 6th, for this purpose. The paths on the
new ground have been improved, and a new path
has been made through the old ground near the
Church gate to the new ground. It is hoped
that the boundary walls will be cemented and
completed before the day of consecration. When
the Bishop consecrates the new ground he
will also consecrate the old ground round the
Church. Although burials have taken place in
jt since 1874 it was never consecrated. Parishioners should read the beautiful service for the
consecration of a churchyard or other burial
ground in the Book of Common Prayer. The
Psalm (16 or 31 or 143) is followed by four collects. The first refers to the practice followed
Christians in all ages of “ assigning peculiar
places where the bodies of Thy people may rest
in peace and be preserved from all indignities .”
the second collect prays that those who bring
forth their dead to this place may be comforted
and strengthened. The third collect prays that
the mourners may realise here the fellowship of
the Saints. The fourth collect prays that those
who in this place call upon the name of God may
be raised from a death of sin unto a life of righteousness.

Special Services
During Holy Week, which begins on Sunday,
March 25th, special Services will be held each
evening in the Parish Church at 8 p .m . On each
evening, beginning on Monday, March 26th, an
address will be given on “ The Cross and Passion
of our Blessed Lord .”

Good Friday.
On Good Friday, M arch 30th, the following
Services will be held: —
11.30 a .m .—Morning Prayer and Litany.
8 p .m .—Evening Prayer and Sermon.
The offerings on Good Friday will be on behalf
of Missions to the Jews.

Easter Day.
This year the Festival of Easter falls on April
1st. The following Services will be held in the
Parish Church: —

8 a .m .—Holy Communion.
11.30 a.m.-—Morning Prayer, Sermon and

Holy Communion.
7 p .m .— Evening Prayer and Sermon.

The offerings on Easte r Day will be on behalf of
our Parochial Sunday Schools. There are nine
large Sunday Schools in the Parish— two, Seagoe
and Edenderry , held a t 10 o ’clock on each Sunday morning, and seven on each Sunday afternoon at 3 p .m . The seven afternoon Sunday
Schools are— Bocombra, Carne, Drumgor, Edenderry, Hacknahay, Levaghery and Seagoe.

The Easter Vestry.
The Easter Vestry will be held (D .V .) on
Thursday, April 5th, in Seagoe School at 8 p.m..
It will be preceded by a meeting of the Select
Vestry at 7.30 p.m . A t the Easter Vestry the
Churchwardens for the ensuing year are nominated and elected, and also the members of the
Select Vestry.

The Guest Tea.
The “ Guest Tea” will be held in Seagoe
School on Thursday, M arch 8th, a t 7.30 p.m .
It promises to be a great success. Each of our
Sunday Schools has a table, and the Superintendent and Teachers act as the inviters of the
guests. Each guest is expected to pay at, least
one shilling, but many will, of course, give more.
After tea, a musical programme will be given.
The proceeds of the entertainment will go towards wiping out the debt on the last Sunday
School excursion. Mr. R. Scott is Hon. Sec.,
and Mr. R . McClements, Hon. Treasurer.

Missionary Boxes.
Please remember that all who have Missionary
Boxes or cards for the C .M .S., S .A .M .S. or Jews
Society should send them in during March. See
that the boxes and cards are well filled. The
work of the faithful Missionaries abroad is very
much hampered through lack of funds.

A Noteworthy Record.
Mr. T. H . Wilson completes his sixtieth year as
Organist of Seagoe.
Our readers will join with us in heartily congratulating M r. T. H . Wilson on the completion
of his 60th year as Organist of Seagoe. On Sunday, February 4th, of this year he had held the
post for no iess than 60 years. In February,
1924, when M r. Wilson had completed 50 years
as Organist it was considered an eventful record, but now he has exceeded it by no less than
ten years. He was appointed Organist by the
Select Vestry in February , 1874, Archdeacon
Saurin presided at the meeting. We copy here
some facts which were recorded in Seagoe Parish
Magazine for February , 1924. From the year
1816, when the presen t Church was built, the
Choir occupied places in the gallery, which at
that time and until the Church was restored in
1890, reached half-way down the Church to
where the Font is now placed. In those days
there were no such things as harmoniums or organs, and the singing was accompanied by violins or flutes. Sometimes there was no accompaniment. The Rector has in his possession a
square wooden pipe or flute with a moveable inset of wood which was used in those days to
give the starting note to the Choir. It is 18
inches long and I 1/2 inches wide. A harmonium
was first introduced into Seagoe Church in 1863.
The harmonium with which the choir used to
practise in the hall of the Rectory and which
Mrs. Saurin played, is still in existence and is in
the possession of Mrs. Robinson, of Lisniskev,
Lurgan Road. In 1873 Mr. Charles Wilson, a
brother of Mr. T. H . Wilson, was appointed
Organist, a post which he held until February ,
1874, when his brother was appointed. Mr. Wilson was a member of the choir in the sixties,
and remembers well the practices which Mrs.
Saurin held at the Rectory. The last occasion
on which the Choir sat at a service in the old
gallery was a t Evening Service (7 p .m .) Sexagesima Sunday. February 9th, 1890. The Rev.
Robert Quirk, then Curate of Seagoe. preached
the sermon. During the Restoration of the
Church services were held in Seagoe School until
Friday , August 7th, 1891. at 3 p .m ., when the
re-opening Service was held. The present organ
was dedicated by Bishop Welland on Thursday,
April 19th, 1900. It was erected as a memorial
to the .Baroness Von Stieglitz, who died on
January 23rd, 1899. The organ was built by
Messrs'. Foster and Andrews, of Hull, and cost
£350. M r. A. Macoun had kindly lent an American organ which had been used from 1891 to
1900. W e hope next month to give further particulars about M r. Wilson and the history of
Seagoe Choir.

Seagoe in the States.
The following letter has been received by Mrs.
James Twinem from Mrs. Bella Ruddell and
Mrs. Charlotte Guy, members of the Seagoe
Mothers’ Union, who recently went to the
United States. It is very pleasant to receive so
nice and kind a letter. Although oceans roll between, yet the ties of true friendship and affection are not broken.

“ 63 1/2 Lafayette St., Jersey City,
“ New Jersey, U .S.A .,

‘ “ Dec. 19th, 1933.
“ Dear Mrs. Twinem, and Members of the
Mothers Union,— Now at the coming of a New
Year, Mrs. Guy and I want to wish you all a
very Happy and Prosperous New Year. I am
visiting Mrs. Guy to-night, and we have been
talking about the Mothers’ Union, and we miss
our friendly cup of tea with you all. W e want to
keep our dues up, so we are enclosing 2 Dollars.
I receive the Magazine every month from home,
and we always see by it that the Mothers Union
is still to the fore. W e have had a terrible snowstorm this past week; it is 15 inches deep, and
at the present time it is about 5 below zero, so
you can guess how cold it is. I like Jersey City,
and am only one hour’s journey from Mrs. Guy’s.
Yvonne has not started school yet, but I hope to
get her started in February . I trust that we will
all be spared to meet again in Seagoe Mothers
Union, and listen to our Rector’s helpful talks.
I hope this will be a very successful year for
you all, and may you all have God’s Blessing.—-I
remain, yours sincerely, B E L L A R U D D E L L
and C H A RLO TTE G U Y .”

The Weather.
During February the weather has been abnormally fine but very dry. On the 14th the
barometer touched 31 degrees, which bas scarcely
ever been reached before. The highest pressing
ever recorded in the British Isles was at
Ochtertyre, in Perthshire , Scotland, on January
9th, 1896, when a reading of 31.108 was observed.
The lowest reading ever recorded also came from
the same station on January 26th, 1884, "
the pressure fell to 27.333 inches. The want of
rain is causing serious inconvenience in many
places.



Seagoe Mothers’ Union.
A very pleasant musical evening was held in
connection with the Mother’s Union on Tuesday,
Feb. 13th, in Seagoe School, a t 7.30 p .m . There
was a crowded attendance of the members and
their friends. Tea was handed round, and after

tea, an attractive programme of music and recitations was given. Every item was very good
and encores were frequently demanded. At the
close of the meeting the Rector, who presided,
thanked all who had so kindly helped, especially
Miss T. Wilson and Mr. Sydney Robinson. No
meeting will be held this month but the members have arranged to attend in a body the service in the Parish Church on Wednesday, March 4th, at 8 p .m .

Our Sunday Schools.
During the past month Prize Distributions
took place in several of our Sunday Schools,
Carne held its festive evening on Monday, February 5th, at 7.30. The school was crowded and
full justice was done to the splendid, supply of
pastry and tea provided. After tea, games were
enjoyed and at intervals songs and recitations
were given. Later in the evening prizes were
distributed to the best attenders. The Rector
presided, and the Rev. W . F. Hayes was also
present. On Tuesday, February 6 th , the annual
distribution of Prizes took place in Levaghery
school. There was a large attendance. The
Rev W. F. H ayes presided, and after a splendid
tea there were games and recitations. A feature
of the gathering was a splendid Christmas Tree,
from which each child received a gift. At the
close the prizes were distributed to the successful
children. Monday, February 12th, was the
evening fixed for the Prize Distribution at Edenderry Parochial Hall. This is always a great
event, and the Hall was crowded. The children
were arranged according to their classes, and a
plentiful supply of tea and cake was provided for
them. A long and most enjoyable programme
followed. Every item was good and was loudly
applauded. The Distribution of Prizes then begun. There were no less than 180 books given to
the Morning and Afternoon Sunday Schools.
The prizes were handed to the children by the
Rector, Rev. W . F . Hayes, Mrs. Magee, M r. R.
McClements and M r. H . Hynes. Many parents
of the children were present. The gathering
closed with the singing of the Doxologv and the
giving of the Benediction,
Hacknahay held its Distribution of Prizes on
Friday , Feb. 23rd, at 7 p .m . The room was
crowded even more so, we think, than in other
years- The Rev. W . F . Hayes presided. After
tea a very varied and attractive programme was
given by the children and some grown-ups. The
singing of the children was very good and
showed careful training. Quite long pieces were
recited by very small children, who displayed
great powers of memory. The prizes were distributed by Mrs. Bunbury Atkinson, of Gleneyre,
who also very kindly gave prizes to nine children
who had not missed a Sunday during 1933. At
the close the Rector thanked all who had helped,
especially Mr. T. E . Maginnis, the Superintendent, Miss Calvert and Mr. Sydney Robinson,
who had played the accompaniments. The Rev.
W. F . Hayes also spoke and congratulated Mr.
Maginnis on the efficiency of the Sunday School.
As the children passed out Miss Calvert kindly
presented each child with an orange.

Parish Register for February.
Baptisms.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish
Church on 3rd February , 1934: —
McNeill—Douglas Mervyn, son of Samuel Geo. and Elizabeth Anna McNeill, of Ballymacrandle.
Sponsors— Anne Jane Neill, Sarah Ellen Gray.

Robinson—Lorna Elizabeth , daughter of John and Ethel Marjorie Robinson, of Upper Seagoe.
Sponsors— Anne Elizabeth Kirkpatrick , Ethel Marjorie Robinson.

Henry— Doreen Elizabeth , daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Henry , of Edenderry.
Sponsors— Eva White, Elizabeth Henry.

Campbell—Margaret, daughter of William Jas. and Jean Anna Campbell, of Balteagh.
Sponsors— Elizabeth Hunniford , Jean Anna Campbell.

Brown— Charles, son of Francis and Sarah Brown, of Edenderry .
Sponsors— Elizabeth Myrtle Brown, Sarah Brown.

Dickie— Thomas, son of Francis Henry and Rachel Dickie, of Edenderry .
Sponsors— Wilhelmina Gracey, Rachel Dickie.

Marriage.
Webb and McEIroy—March, 2nd, 1934, William James Webb, of Clanrolla, to Elizabeth Jane McElroy, of Dromart, Parish of Ballymore.

Burials.
Mawhinney— February 3rd, 1934, Elizabeth Mawhinney, of Levaghery, aged 77 years. Interred at Maralin.

Teggart—February 25th, 1934, Jane Teggart, of Belfast, aged 60 years.

Weir— March 3rd, 1934, Margaret Weir of Edenderry, aged 65 years.


Seagoe Electrified,
Seagoe has been electrified during the past
month. Practically every householder has
agreed to have his house fitted up with electrical
installation We congratulate the parishioners
on their up-to-dateness. A good supply of light
and heat is essential to comfort, and these are
provided through the medium of electricity without the accompaniment of noxious fumes which
are injurious to health .

Twenty-five Years Ago.
MARCH, 1909.

The issue of the Msgazine for March, 1909,
contains a long and interesting account of
“ Seagoe Sixty Years Ago.” These notes are the
reminiscences of Mrs. Annie Wolseley, widow of
Major Wolseley and daughter of the Rev. Capel
Wolseley, who was Curate of Seagoe in the
fifties of the last century. She tells of the class
for Sunday School Teachers which he held in
Seagoe Cottage, where he lived, on each Tuesday evening. Every Sunday the Church was
filled for the Sunday School, the old square pews
making excellent little classrooms. She remembers the children singing the hymn “ Oh, that
will be joyful.” Three times a year rewards
were given. Punctual attendance for 4 months, _
without a break, gained first prize, either a Bible
or Prayer Book, one miss meant second prize,
twice absent or late, a third prize, after that nothing ; She was very fond of her dear teacher,
Misa Jane Corner, afterwards Mrs. H . Atkinson,
of Bannfoot. Other matters referred to in this
issue are a race in Belfast by the Seagoe Harriers, when Sam Currie came in the first of the
Seagoe team . Eight Baptism s are recorded, also
one marriage and two burials. One of the burials
is that of William Smart, of Kernan, aged 80
years, on Feb. 7th, 1906.

Old Seagoe Notes.

The Cunningham and Kirk Families in Seagoe
Parish.—The Rev. Cunningham Farwell, of
Salem , Massachusetts, U .S .A ., is a descendant
of the Cunningham family who resided in the
Parish of Seagoe during the 17th and 18th centuries. They lived in the townland of Tullygalley and in ter-married with the Kirk family
whose representatives are still in the Parish
The first of the Kirk family who came to Tullygalley was named Dinah. She was a member
of the Society of Friends. The Cunningham
and K irk families also intermarried with the
family of Halliday. A remarkable example of
the continuity of Christian names in a family
is illustrated by the fact that a son of the Kirk
family was baptized by the name Alfonsus in
the year 1658. The settlement of members of
the Society of Friends in Seagoe Parish in the
townland of Moyraverty in the middle of the
17th century is an interesting episode in the
history of the Parish . The old burial ground a
Moyraverty is a testimony to the quaint simplicity of the followers of' George Fox. We hope
in next issue of the Magazine to publish in more
detail the records of the families of Cunningham and Kirk.

ITEMS.
We greatly regret the serious illness of Miss
Eva Conolly, of Carne, but are glad to know
that the lates t reports are more reassuring.

* *

The fixing of the electric standards and wire
in Upper Seagoe is now completed and seems to
have been very efficiently done.

* * *

Will Distributors and Subscribers to the
Magazine please pay in their accounts for 1933
at the earliest possible moment. Some account
are still outstanding.

* * *

Lough Neagh is now a t a lower level than it
has ever been known to be owing to the prolonged dry weather. At one time, up to the
year 1765, Seagoe Parish extended to the shore
of the Lough.

* * *

The Irish Free State is threatening to put a
tax on “ Religious Books.” This may affect the
supply of Hymn Books and Prayer Books which
are published by the Association for Promoting Christian Knowledge in Dublin. The Books are
at present printed in Oxford and bound in Dublin. If a tax is imposed it is possible that in the
future a large proportion of the books will be
bound in Northern Ireland .