May 1928

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

May 1928.

CLERGY:

Rev. Canon Archer, B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe,

Portadown.

Rev. W. A. Henry, 21 Edward St., Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS:

Rector's—Robert M'Clements.

People's—William Dermott.

Confirmation.

The Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore

(Right Rev. C. T. P. Grierson, D.D.) will (D.V.)

hold a Confirmation in Seagoe Parish Church on

Friday, June 8th, at 8 p.m. Candidates must be 14

years of age or over.

Confirmation Classes.

Classes in preparation for the Confirmation are now

being held as follows: —

Boys—Every Thursday, in Seagoe School, at 8 p.m.

Girls - Every Monday, in Seagoe School, at 8 p.m.

Adults—Every Sunday, in Seagoe School, at 4 p.m.

Young people who for any reason cannot attend

the week-night classes can attend the adult class on

Sundays.

A Cake Fair.

THURSDAY, MAY 10th, at 3 p.m.

IN EDENDERRY PAROCHIAL HALL.

The Committee of the Seagoe Mothers' Union and

Sunday School Teachers met to discuss how sufficient

funds might be raised to enable the poorer children

of the Parish to participate in the annual Sunday

School excursion.

A Cake Fair was proposed and agreed to. We will

have various stalls—Flower, Farm Produce, Needlework,

Pound and Afternoon Tea. The date fixed is Thursday,

10th May, at 3 p.m., in Edenderry Parochial Hall. We

will have a cake and bread baking competition, and

Miss Wallace, of Portadown Technical School, has

very kindly consented to judge the entries. Prizes will

be given and the classes are as follows: —Cake—sultana,

seed: Bread—soda, wheaten. Entries, with name of

competitor and entrance fee of threepence (3d), to be

handed in at the Parochial Hall, Edenderry, not later than

12 o’clock on day of Fair.

Price of Admission to Fair—Threepence.

Tickets may be had on application to the Secretary—

Mrs. John R. Reid, 5 Tavanagh Ave., Portadown.

Seagoe Select Vestry.

At a meeting of the Select Vestry held in the

Parochial School on Tuesday, May 1st, it was announced

that a sum of over £100 had been promised by the

parishioners towards securing the services of Mr. Robert

Gracey as a Lay Helper in the Parish. This is a very

gratifying response and Mr. Gracey will receive a very

hearty welcome from the Parishioners when he comes

amongst us as a permanent worker in the Parish.

Mission in Bocombra.

Mr. Gracey will conduct a week's mission in

Bocombra Orange Hall, beginning on Sunday, May

6th, at 4 p.m. Bring your Church Army Hymn book.

The members of the Bocombra L.O.L. have most

kindly lent the Hall for the Mission.

Sunday School Excursion.

The date of the Sunday School excursion has been

fixed for Thursday, June 21st. Further particulars

will appear in our next issue.

A Serious Accident.

We regret to record a serious motor accident in

which five of our Seagoe people were involved and

in which three of them were seriously injured. The

accident occurred last Sunday, some miles from

Banbridge, on the Newcastle road. Mr, James Vance

was driving his car and there were with him Mrs. Vance,

Miss May Johnston and Mr. and Mrs. Charles

Montgomery. Owing to a defect in the steering

apparatus Mr. Vance lost control and the car overturned,

pinning underneath it Mr. and Mrs. Vance, Mrs.

Montgomery and Miss Johnston. Mr. Montgomery was

thrown clear, but owing to the district being sparsely

inhabited he could not obtain immediate help. For

over twenty minutes the unfortunate occupants were

under the car. When help came it was found that Mrs

Vance had her arm broken, Mr. Vance's arm was crippled,

Mrs. Montgomery had sustained concussion of the brain,

and Miss Johnston's eye had been injured. The greatest

sympathy is felt for the sufferers and we are pleased

to know that they are progressing as favourably as

could be expected.

Seagoe in Florida.

The Rector acknowledges with many thanks the

receipt of a letter from Tom Webb, formerly of Railway

St., and now of Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Webb has

also very kindly sent the Rector a book of 350 pages

entitled "Florida in the Making," which contains many

illustrations and much interesting matter about that

beautiful country. Mr. Webb writes under date April 8th,

1928—"Dear Sir, —To-day is our beautiful Easter Day,

and like all people in this world there is everything

beautiful if one could only see the real beauty of life

itself. I hope you are well and all in your Parish

successful at everything. Florida is as ever beautiful.

I am leaving Jacksonville for St. Augustine, America's

oldest town.—Yours truly, TOM WEBB."

Canon Taylor in Jerusalem.

During last month the Rector received a post-card

from Canon Taylor, our old Curate, dated Jerusalem,

March 23rd, 1928. It contains a picture of the Church

of the Holy Sepulchre. Canon Taylor writes – “Just

a line from the Holy City. I never had a more interesting

tour, visiting Alexandria, Cairo, the Pyramids, Memphis,

Kantara and the Philistine country to Jerusalem. We

have had a donkey ride this morning round the Walls

and up the Kedron Valley, and tomorrow I am preaching

in Christ Church."

Holy Week and Easter.

The services during Holy Week and Easter were

largely attended. On Easter Day there were many

Communicants and the services were very bright.

The Church was prettily decorated. The special

preachers during Holy Week were—the Rev. H. J.

Armstrong, Rev. T. Martin (Loughbrickland), and

our old friend, Rev. George Bloomer, of Killyleagh.

Missions.

Since our last issue Mr. Robert Gracey has

conducted missions in Carne and Hacknahay. At both

places the buildings were crowded each night. The

services were very impressive and many have been

much helped in their spiritual life. We are glad to

think that further missions are being arranged, of

which due notice will be given.

Seagoe in New Zealand.

Mr. T. Maxwell writes from Belmont Avenue, Mt.

Albert, Auckland, New Zealand, under date 22nd

March, 1928: — "Dear Sir, I am sure you will pardon

me for seeking information under the circumstances

herein. My parents were married in Seagoe Church

in April, 1863. My mother still lives with her family

here in Auckland, whither she came from Seagoe as

a bride in 1863. Her faculties have about left her,

except for those memories of her girlhood up till

somewhere about the time she got married and left

Ireland. We, her children, are anxious for information

concerning her age and connections. My father's

name was James Maxwell, of Derryhale, Portadown,

and my mother's name was Matilda England, of

Ballydonaghy, Portadown. We think our mother

must be 90 or over. She is still able to stroll about

with a little difficulty and can talk and joke a little,

but we can see her getting weaker every day."

[According to the Registers, Matilda, daughter of

John and Mary England, of Ballydonaghy, was

baptized by the Rev. S. M. West, Curate of Seagoe,

on December 11th, 1837, and was married to James

Maxwell in Seagoe Church on 21st April, 1863.

Mrs. Maxwell is, therefore, 90 years of age and has

resided in New Zealand for the long space of 65 years.]

C.M.S. Box Collections, 1927-1928

TOTAL—£8 11s 8d,

Edenderry—£1 8s 11d—Miss Atkinson, 2s 6d; Mrs.

Stoops, 2s 6d; Mrs. C. Magee, 2s 1d; Mrs. Flannigan,

2s 7d; Mrs. Dawson, 6s 0 ½ d; Mrs. Metcalf, 3s 2d;

Miss. G. Atkinson, 10s.

Seagoe: —12s 11d.—Mrs. Ephraim Collins, 3s; Miss.

Isa Best, 6s 8d; Seagoe Girls' Bible Class (1924-1925)

1s 4 ½ d; Seagoe Afternoon Sunday School, 1s 10 ½ d.

Drumgor: - 17s 3d. Received after accounts closed.

—Mrs. Hopps, 1s; Mrs. Dickson, 8s 4 ½ d, Miss L.

Gracey, 7s 10 ½ d.

Hacknahay: - £5 12s 7d—Mrs. G. M'Nei11, 3s 1d, Miss

Rodgers, 6d; Miss D. Montgomery, 4s 4d; Mrs. H.

Neill, 8s 6d; Miss J. Currie, 3s Miss S. Maginnis,

7s 9 ½ d, Mrs. Bradshaw, 7s 9d; Miss G. Best, 3s 9d;

Miss L. Thompson, 1s 3d; Mr. W. J. Calvert, 3s; Miss

S. Gennett, 17s 3d; Mrs. Duke, 3s 9d, Mrs. T. Neill,

2s 3d; Miss M. M'Cormick, 3s 6d; Miss M. England

4s 9d; Mrs. N. England, 6s 5d. Miss Calvert, 10s 9d

Cake Fair.

Mrs. Val. Wilson, of Oakfield, Portadown, has

kindly consented to open the Cake Fair which is to

be held in Edenderry Parochial Hall on Thursday.

May 10th, at 3 p.m.

Parish Register for April.

Baptisms.

The following were baptized in Seagoe parish

Church on Avril 7th, 1928: —

M'Allister—Dorothy, daughter of David Frederick and

Sarah M'Allister, of Hacknahay.

Sponsors—David Frederick M'Allister, Lily Beattie,

Sarah M'Allister.

Costello—George, son of James Atkinson and Margaret

Maria Kinnear Costello, or Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone.

Sponsors — Amy Louisa Reid, Margaret Maria Kinnear Costello.

Simpson—Edward Desmond, son of William and

Deborah Maria Simpson, of Kilvergan.

Sponsors—Hannah Russell, Deborah Maria Simpson,

Marriage.

Conolly and M'Cormick—April 9th, 1928, James

Conolly, of Carne, and Selina M'Cormick,

Edenderry.

Burials.

Neill—May 3rd, Elizabeth Neill, of Ballymacrandle

aged 77 years. Interred at Tandragee.

M'Cann—April 16th, John M'Cann, of Ballyhannon,

aged 71 years.

White—April 20th, Anne Jane White, of Lylo, aged 7

years. (Interred at Knocknamuckley).

ITEMS.

Two copies of last month's issue of this Magazine

are, unsold and those who wish to obtain them should

apply at the Rectory.

***

The swallows arrived in Seagoe on Saturday, April,

28th, and the first cuckoo was heard on the same day

at the same place. The corncrake arrived two day

earlier, on April 26th.

The Easter Vestry.

The Easter General Vestry was held in Seagoe

School on Thursday, April 12th, at 8 p.m. The weather

was very inclement and the attendance not very large.

The Rector presided, and after prayer gave a short

address on the Parish and its various organisations.

The Hon. Treas., Mr. Hugh Stoops, read his annual

financial statement. The following appointments were

made:

CHURCHWARDENS:

Rector's—Robert M'Clements.

People's—William Dermott.

SELECT VESTRY:

Miss I. Atkinson.

Mr. W. H. England.

,, J. G. Gracey.

,, T. Martin.

,, T. E. Maginnis.

,, Isaac Dickson.

Mr. Hugh Stoops.

,, James Twinem.

,, Moses Gilpin.

,, John Lavery.

,, John Montgomery.

,, J. R. Reid.

SIDESMEN:

Mr. J. R. Reid.

,, T. E. Maginnis.

Mr. T. Martin.

,, J. G. Gracey.

,, Jas. Twinem.

,, Gilbert Price.

,, I. Dixon.

,, W. Cox, junr.

Mr. Jas. Allen.

,, Jas. Forde.

,, W. H. England.

,, J. Gee.

,, J. E. Lavery.

,, Arthur Allen.

HON. SEC.—Moses Gilpin.

HON. TREAS.—Hugh Stoops.

HON. AUDITORS—Messrs. John Dermott and J. R.

Reid.

"Seagoe" in the New Hebrides.

[The Rector has received the following letter, which

he thinks will be of much interest to the readers of the

Magazine. There are Seagoe people in many parts of

the world but we never expected to find them in the

New Hebrides and yet even there, there is to be found

one or more persons who are proud of the name Seagoe.

We have always hitherto regarded Seagoe as the name

of a Parish but in future we must think of it also as a

family name. Mr. and Mrs. Seagoe and perhaps Master

and Miss Seagoe will be familiar to us in the future.

The Rector has written to Mr. Seagoe and will hope to

publish his reply when received. The New Hebrides,

from which Mr. Seagoe writes, are a group of islands

far out in the Pacific Ocean, about 2,000 miles from

the coast of North Queensland. They are inhabited

by a race of cannibals who in some of the islands

still indulge their taste for human flesh. A peculiarity

of the islands is that they are under the combined rule

of the French and British Governments. It is called a

Condominium. Mr. Seagoe lives in the British

Residency at Vila, which is the Capital and

commercial centre of the Islands.]

Reverent Sir, —I take the liberty of writing to you

with the hope that you will be able to assist me in a

matter that has puzzled me for some little time; I

ask your indulgence for troubling you in a matter

which may perhaps appear to you somewhat trivial,

but which to me, although not of great importance,

is extremely interesting.

About 18 months ago I happened to be on a short

visit to England, the first for some 20 years, when

a newspaper cutting was brought to my notice which

contained a reference to you as Rector of the Parish

of Seagoe. I was immediately struck with the name

Seagoe, which happens to be mine own. It is rather

an uncommon name, and I must admit that outside

the members of our family I have not come across it

in my travels. I am ignorant of the origin of our

family, and the only extent of my information is

that we originally came from Norfolk. There may

possibly be some connection between the parish of

Seagoe and our family name.

If you would be so good as to furnish me with all

the information you possess on the origin and meaning

of the word Seagoe, and whether there are any

inhabitants with the name in the district in question; -

I should be, infinitely obliged. The cutting states that

you have made a search of the records and family

archives of Seagoe, so I think you would be in a

position to supply me with information on the point

as to whether any persons named Seagoe are living

in your district. I am simply actuated by a genuine

curiosity concerning the name of Seagoe, which I

have never before seen in print save in connection

with our family. Trusting you may be able to assist

me, believe me, yours faithfully, — E. G. SEAGOE.

P.S.—I would wish to enclose a small donation for

your poor, but in this remote part of the world money

orders and postal notes do not exist, therefore I

enclose a set of New Hebrides Condominium postage

stamps which may be of interest to you if you are

a collector (I am not), if not you may perhaps care

to dispose of them and hand the proceeds to some

needy person in your parish. If you are at all

interested in this part of the Pacific I should be most

happy to afford you all the information in my

power. —E. G. Seagoe_

An Old Seagoe Soldier.

Sergeant T. H. Russell, of Clanrole, has already

told us his experiences in the Matabele, Rhodesian

and Boer wars. He now sends us a further interesting

record of his experiences as a soldier. This time he

writes of his service during the Great War.

On the mobilisation of the 3rd Batt. Royal Irish

Fusiliers I joined up on 8th of August, 1914, at

Armagh. My services were accepted as being an

ex-serviceman. I was transferred to the Battalion in

Derry and afterwards to Lisburn, when the 11th R.I.R.

was formed. I went to Headquarters there as Sergeant

under Colonel Pakenham. Some drilling went on until

we arrived in Clandeboye camp. I was the Sergeant of

"D" Company. We went then to Seaforde Camp, in

Sussex, England, where we had some "evenings and

dawns” with the Ulster Division. I may say I was

pleased every field day in meeting old friends. The

biggest surprise I got one day was to meet my old

friend Johnston Robinson. I felt quite at home.

I also met my old friend Willie Gracey. This went

on all right till we came to Bordon Camp, where

we were fixed up for France. We had all our things

packed up and were waiting to go out when a few

of us got orders to go back to Belfast. I had to part

with some of my best friends but not for long.

I was posted as Drill Sergeant for a few months,

and I can tell you it was heavy work. Then the

Sinn Fein Trouble

broke out in Ireland in 1916. A company of us was

sent to Dublin from Victoria Barrack. Oh! Dublin

was in a terrible state for a few days; sandbags

across the streets and bullets flying in all directions.

In a few days we carne back and scoured the

country through Co. Tyrone. Mr. Harrison Wilson,

of Lisniskey was the driver of our armoured lorry,

a good, stout-hearted fellow. On our way back we

got a very warm reception coming through Portadown.

This was our share in the Irish trouble. As soon as

I came back I was told to hold myself in readiness to

go somewhere. One morning at 4 a.m. I got orders

to shift, and we were sent to Portobello Barracks,

in Dublin. I was then posted to "A" Battalion, R.I.

Fusiliers, in Tipperary. Suddenly we got the order

to move. We understood we were going to join our

comrades in France, but when we were five or six

days on the water we thought we were a long time

getting to France. About the ninth day out the sun

began to get very warm, and we found we were in

the Aegean Sea, near the coast of Macedonia. It

was a

Terrible Zig-Zag sail

around terrible rocks in the sea, off the coast of

Serbia, Adrianople and Greece. We landed in

Salonika on the eleventh day. In our Lord's time

the inhabitants were called Thessalonians. It was

a wonderful city, with fine, big flat-roofed houses

but bad sanitary arrangements. It was a town of

many nations, Frenchy, Turks, Greeks, Serbs and

many others. It was easy to know the Turkish quarter.

They always build on a hill and their place of prayer

seemed the highest building I ever saw. We marched

into Buccaneer Gardens, a little camp, until we got our

sea-legs. We then started for the central section on

the Macedonian front. You know in those days there

were no roads in that country. It was just like parts of

Egypt. Some days were a bit sandy, others were very

warm and others terribly cold. When we passed through

the villages the dogs were always barking and the sheep

bleating but you would seldom see the inhabitants.

The villagers, who were French or Serb, used to sell us

cigarettes. Sometimes when passing farmhouses, with

their flat roofs, outside the villages you would see a native

with a big humpy bullock treading out the corn and in

some places watering the vines. It is a great country for

vines and also for soda-water springs.

(To be continued)

Presidential Address.

Mr. S. Rennix, Principal of Seagoe P.E. School,

delivered his Presidential address at the annual

gathering of the Ulster Teachers' Union in Bangor

during Easter week. Mr. Rennix dealt with many

interesting features of the modern educational system.

The meeting was largely attended and amongst

the speakers were the Right Hon. J. M. Andrews,

Minister of Labour, and Sir Robert Lynn, under

whom the important Lynn Report was issued some

years ago.

SERVICES

THE PARISH CHURCH.

HOLY COMMUNION—1st Sunday after Morning

Prayer; 3rd Sunday at 8 a.m., and on the Chief

Festivals.

HOLY BAPTISM—1st Saturday of Month at 3 p.m.,

and during any Service in the Parish Church.

if notice be given; Two Sponsors at least are

required, and they must be Confirmed members

of the Church. Churchings are held at each

Baptism. Mothers are expected to bring a thank

offering. (See Book of Common Prayer.)

MORNING PRAYER—Sundays and Chief Festivals

8 a.m. during Advent and Lent.

EVENING PRAYER—Sundays 7 p.m., Wednesdays

8 p.m.

DISTRICT SERVICES.

Hacknahay—Last Sunday of Month at 3.30 p.m.

Drumgor—Second Sunday of Month at 4 p.m.

CLASSES, &c.

ADULT CLASS -Sundays at 10 a.m.

For Women—Seagoe. For Men—Edenderry School.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS—10 a.m. Edenderry Parochial

Hall and Seagoe School. 3 p.m. Seagoe, Edenderry

Parochial Hall, Levaghery, Hacknahay, Carne, Drumgor.

Men's Recreation Room, Bridge St., open every

night from 7 p.m.

Mothers' Union, Edenderry, 2nd Tuesday of each

month.

DAY SCHOOL—Seagoe, 9.30 a.m. Principal—Mr. S.

Rennix.

MARRIAGES must be performed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Licenses are issued by Rev Canon Hannon' Rectory, Lurgan. Due notice (48 hours) must be given to the Rector of intended weddings. FEES— By License—Labourers 5/-, Tradesmen 10/-, Merchants and Farmers 15/-, Professional £l. By Banns 5/-.

FUNERALS will be attended by the Clergy if proper notice be given. SICK CASES should be notified to the Clergy without delay. FEES FOR CERTIFICATES BAPTISM , 3/7; Children (Factory), 1/- and 2/- (non-residents); MARRIAGE, 3/7. An extra search fee is chargeable in certain cases. It will be a help to the Clergy if they are notified of the arrival of new Church families in the Parish.

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