October 1916

Seagoe Parish Magazine

OCTOBER 1916.

MAJOR T. J. ATKINSON,

9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers ,

killed in action near Hamel, France, on July 1st, 1916, while serving with the Ulster Division.

“We in the valley stumble through the mist; they on the mountain top behold the Morn."

Harvest Festival.

The Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Services will (D.V.) be held in the Parish Church, on Thursday,

October 5th, at 8 p.m. Preacher—the Rev. W, H. Kerr, B.D., Rector of Seapatrick. The offertory at

the service will be in aid of Foreign Missions.

On Sunday, October 8th, the Services will be continued, and the offerings will be given to the

Parochial Expenses Fund.

Contributions of Fruit, Flowers and Corn for the decoration of the Church may be sent to the Parish

Church on Thursday morning, at 10 0'clock. Special music will be sung at the Services.

The Harvest Anthem by Dr. J. Frederick Bridge is based on the words “Great and Marvellous are Thy works, Thou Lord of Hosts."

The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis will be sung to special settings, composed by a well-known Seagoe Musician, Mr. Charles M. Wilson, brother of Mr. T.H. Wilson, Organist of Seagoe. This will be the first occasion on which portion of our Harvest Music

will have been composed by a native of the Parish.

Hacknahay.

The Annual Harvest Services was held in Hacknahay School on Sunday, September 24th, and on

Monday, September 25th. At both services, the Schoolroom was filled to overflowing. The Rector

conducted the service on Sunday and preached, and the Rev G. Bloomer, Curate of St. Mark's, Portadown, preached on Monday evening. The offerings amounted to (Sunday) £2 3s 0d, and (Monday) £1 12s, the latter being for Foreign Missions.

A strong Choir had been carefully trained, by Mr S. R Chambers, and the Anthem and Hymns were well and heartily sung.

The rooms had been skilfully decorated with flowers and fruit. We noticed that a bundle of locally grown flax very fittingly formed a part of the decorations.

District Harvest Services.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services will (D v.) be held at the following centres in the Parish, on the dates and at the hours mentioned. The Collections at the Sunday services will be in aid of Local Expenses, and at the Monday services on behalf of Foreign Missions.

Carne—Sunday, October 15th, at 3-30 p.m.

Monday, October 16th, at 8 p.m.

Drumgor—-Sunday, October 22nd, at 3-30 p.m.

Monday, October 23rd, at 8 p.m.

Edenderry—Sunday, October 29th, at 3-30 p.m.

Monday, October 30th, 8 p.m.

Tamnificarbet—Sunday, Nov. 5th, at 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 6th, at 8 p.m.

Levaghery—Sunday, Nov. 12th, at 3-30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 13th, at 8 p.m.

Bocombra—Sunday, Nov. 19th, at 3-30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 20th, at 8 p.m.

Special Services, Nov. 5th—12th.

By direction of the Lord Bishop of the Dioceses a series of Special Services will be held (Dev.) in Seagoe Parish Church, beginning on Sunday, November 5 ^th, and concluding on Sunday, November 12th.

The Services will be in connection with the National Mission of Repentance and Hope. During the week a service will be held in the Parish Church each evening at 8, and also on Wednesday and Friday at 11-30 a.m. There will be celebrations of Holy Communion on Sunday, November 5th, after Morning Prayer, and on Sunday, November 12th, at 8 a.m. and 11-30 a.m.

A complete list of Services and subjects will be published in our next issue.

Motoring in East Africa.

Writing from East Africa, Dr. William Walker, M.B., R.A.M.C., of Seagoe Farm, gives a vivid

description of his campaigning difficulties by road and river,

"1 am driving a Ford car now, and can manage very well. I have 15 here, sometimes 17,

but some are usually smashed up by the bad roads. I can tell you there is a great difference steering here and on the smooth roads at home. There are holes in which you can bury dogs or sheep, with ease and of course, the roads are just clay roads cut out of the bush, so when it rains you could

just imagine what they are like. In fact, Tom Wilson has “loaned “up to Golf Links is not a patch.

There are always somebody to give you a push up if the river is too deep or the ruts too bad. We

have a novel method of crossing rivers here. Of course the Germans blew up all the bridges, so we

just dash the first car into the river, having stripped first, and then by pushing and pulling with a rope we manage to get the car to the other side.

Then we tie a rope from this car right across the river to another car and start engines, and in a little while we have all the convoy across. The rivers here are rather phantoms, they are

Rushing in awful torrents today and in a week of dry weather they are dried up and

nothing remains but the hard river bed.

At present, I am camped at the base of the fourth highest mountain in Africa—Mount Kilimanjaro, which is Swahili for White Mountain. There is perpetual snow on top and it is a very wonderful sight in very hot weather.

It is very seldom that this mountain is visible owing to clouds. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. its summit is

usually visible, but during the day it is veiled with clouds. I am in a very comfortable mess just now, with black boys to cook for us they can put up a four-course dinner with very little material, so we are doing well.

Write soon. Best wishes.

House-to-House Collection -

Envelopes were left at every house in the Parish this week (September 24th—30th) in connection

with our Foreign Missions Fund. The envelopes will be called for on Saturday, September 30th. Please have your offering placed in the envelope and ready to hand to the Collector when it is called for.

The Foreign Missionary Work of the Church is her greatest task. Give what you can to help it forward. If anyone has been overlooked by accident in, the distribution of the envelopes the Rector will gladly acknowledge any offering sent direct to him. No less than 39 voluntary distributors and collectors are engaged in the work of collecting this week. We hope all of them will endeavour to surpass even the good results of last year's collection,

Death of Rev, Dr. Macaulay,

Widespread regret has been expressed at the death of the Rev. Dr. Macaulay, Minister of the First

Presbyterian Church, Portadown, where he had laboured faithfully for 35 years. He was highly

respected by all who knew him. His relations with the clergy and people of the Parish of Seagoe were always very cordial, and he upheld at all times that quiet dignity of Christian work and worship, which in these days of strenuous competition is a spiritual

asset of incalculable value. The clergy of the Parish of Seagoe were present at the Funeral, and the bell of the Church was rung as the sad procession passed on its way to the old graveyard.

A Brave Deed.

We hear that two Red Cross men, Andrews (?) and Barr, both from Belfast, did some splendid work on the fateful July 1st in rescuing wounded men of the 9th R.I.F. Arriving at the Fusiliers trench that afternoon, they at once went out into the bullet swept No Man’s Land, and for 10 hours continued to bring in the wounded in full view of the German snipers.

Their escape from death was miraculous. For their valour, they have each been awarded, the Military Medal. Brave deeds like this should be and will be remembered.

A Seagoe Prisoner of War. Private Joseph McNally, of Carrickblacker Road,

writes to the Rector under date 18th August, 19 16,from the Internment Camp at Munster, Westphalia, Germany.

Received your welcome letter dated 18th July. I am in good health. Hugh Honey's address is the

same as mine. Very glad to hear from you, I do not know of any others here, so remember me to all

Seagoe folks. Hoping to be back soon.

Yours truly,

Joseph McNa11y.

Death of Mr. T. Armstrong, J.P.

The death of Mr. Thomas Armstrong, J.P., on September 16th, at the great age of 97 years, removes

from our midst not merely our oldest Parishioner but one who was in many respects among the most capable and energetic of our Ulster Leaders of Industry. He was born in Lurgan on April 22nd, 1819 (the year of Queen Victoria's birth.)

In the old coaching days being an expert driver he sometimes took the reins from the coachman and drove the coach to Belfast. He is said to have been the third man in Ireland to build a, power loom factory, and the splendid building in Railway Street is monument to his ability and enterprise. He was one of the first to perceive the possibilities of Portadown as a progressive centre of trade and industry, and in many senses may be regarded as one of the founders, if not the founder of Portadown.

At one time in early life his health was not robust, and he used to amuse his friends by telling them that in the year 1845 his Medical Adviser told him that he had but three weeks to lives. He filled many important offices in connection with the Parish of Seagoe, and acted as Parochial Nominator for many years after Disestablishment.

He was a most considerate employer, and was always interested in the welfare of his workers. His

conversation constantly turned to this subject, and at the out-break of the present war in order to provide work for them he purchased flax at a considerable loss to himself. He was regarded with much respect and even affection by the people of Edenderry “The Old Master," as he was commonly called, filled a large space in the thoughts and hearts of his

workers. His familiar figure as he made his way to the station, for his almost daily visit to Belfast, brought back to all who saw him, thoughts of the olden days. It was with a kind of wonder and amazement mingled with admiration that we saw him making the journey thither three times a week until he was well into his 97th year.

During the past nine months, his health had been steadily declining, but up to within the last few days of his life his interest, in all his surroundings were well maintained as keenly as ever.

His funeral was very simple, as he would have wished it to be. He is interred in the Family

Burying Ground in Old Shankill Graveyard.

Much sympathy is felt in the Parish for Miss Armstrong and for Mr. Franklin Armstrong in their

bereavement, and the whole Parish and community feel that they have lost in the death of Mr. Armstrong a patriotic citizen a loyal Churchman and a humble minded follower of the Divine Master.

Offertories for September 1916 .

Sunday—Mornings, £4:10:2d

Evenings, £1:5:6d

Week Days £0:5:3d

£6:0:11d

The Late Mr. William Best-

Death has been busy in our midst, and we mourn to-day the loss of Mr William Best, of Killicomaine, who passed away quite suddenly on September 7th.

Mr. Best was very well known and highly esteemed in Portadown, und its neighbourhood, and since he came to reside in Seagoe Parish some years ago, he has taken a great interest in all parochial affairs.

He was a member of the Select Vestry, and was elected as People's Churchwarden in 1911. He and

his family were never absent from the House of Prayer during Public Worship. To miss the

opportunity of worship would have been to miss one of the greatest privileges of life, nor did he ever fail to be present (even when oftentimes ill and weak) at Holy Communion.

His quiet demeanour, his deep seriousness of manner, broken oftentimes by a light and genial humour, combined to make him a trusted confidant and friend of all.

As one has said who worshipped close to him in the Parish Church, "to see him at prayer was in itself an inspiration."

Portadown is the poorer by the loss of such a man. We trust that his high example will lead many to do as he did in the service of God and man.

The interment was very well attended. The procession extended for almost half a mile in length.

The Rector and the Rev. G. Bloomer, Curate of Portadown, officiated in Drumcree Church and at the graveside.

.

Adjutant Cather, V. C,

The award of the Victoria Cross to one of the 9th Batt. Royal Irish Fusiliers, Lieutenant and Adjutant Cather, is something more than an honour conferred on an individual, it reflects lustre on the whole Battalion.

With our pride is mingled regret that the recipient perished in the doing of his brave deed.

He fell on July 2nd while helping wounded soldiers, and after he had voluntarily spent many hours in this noble task.

We print a letter written by Adjutant Cather two days before his death to Mrs. Kirkpatrick, of

Mount Pleasant, Seagoe, about her son who had been wounded and has since died of his wounds. The tone of the letter reflects as much credit on the writer as on the lad about whom he wrote :—

28TH JUNE.

MY DEAR MRS. KILPATRICK,

Your son Tom asked me to write you a line to let you know that he hopes to see you fairly

soon. He was wounded here two days ago, with a splinter of shell that hit him in the back.

He went away to hospital very cheerfully, and the doctor says he should be all right again before long. I was his Platoon Commander for six months, and of course knew him and his brother very well.

I am glad to have the opportunity of congratulating you on the possession of two such fine sons.

Tom told me that his brother is quite well again and doing duty in Dublin, which is excellent news.

Please give him my kind regards and best wishes when you write.

Hoping that you will soon have good news of Tom.

I am,

Yours sincerely,

GEOFFREY S. CATHER,

Lieut 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers.

ITEMS,

The last issue of our Magazine, according to our local agents in Edenderry, was bought up in “fours and sixes."

Seagoe School was inspected by Mr. Hughes Senior N.B. Inspector, on Wednesday, September20th. There was a full attendance of the pupils, and the Inspector specially noticed the neatness of the children and their healthy appearance. It is said that the view from the road just above Seagoe Church looking towards Killicomaine, is almost exactly like the ground over which our men advanced in France on July 1st, if all trees, hedges and grass were omitted. The Germans were entrenched on the summit of the ridge (Killicomaine) and commanded

the positions held by our men. A hollow, corresponding to the Lurgan Road, had to be crossed by

our men in the advance.

Colonel Blacker has returned to Carrickblacker for a brief holiday.

The pathways in James Street have been re-laid with asphalt pavement. We congratulate the Council on this much-needed improvement. The residents in the street are greatly pleased with it. Cobblestones are out of date in the 20th century.

A Mr Buchanan who resided at Duneglish Seagoe, in the later Sixties and early Seventies, built

a fine transit Telescope there, and through it was able to observe the famous Transit of Venus in 1874. One of his pupils, Mr Wm. Armstrong, of Belfast, remembers having seen the planet passing across the face of the Sun.

The Red Cross Fete on Thursday realised considerably over£100 everyone was anxious to help so

good a cause. The astronomical notes supplied each week to the “Portadown News " by Mr. Patterson, of Burnbrae Avenue, are very interesting and deserve to be carefully read.

Baptisms-

The following were baptized in Seagoe Parish Church on 2nd September 1916.

Montgomery—Dorothy Mulvany, daughter of Thomas John (Private, N.I.H., France) and

Martha Montgomery, of Lower Seagoe.

Sponsors—Jane Porter, Martha Porter,

Simpson—Gertrude, daughter of George (R.F.A., Athlone) and Susannah Jane Simpson,

of Killicomaine.

Sponsors—Edith Livingston, Susannah Jane Simpson.

McNulty—Margaret Bell, daughter of William Henry and Mary McNulty, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Margaret Jane Bell, Mary McNulty.

Porter—Victor Harry, son of Robert Henry and Jemima Porter, of Edenderrv.

Sponsors—Margaret Allen, Maria Magee.

Marriages-

Finney and Dawson—On 21st September 1916,

James Finney of Edenderry, to Ellen Dawson of Portadown.

Boston and Stevenson—On 26th September 1916,

Thomas Boston of Belfast, to Rachel Stevenson of Drumgor.

Burials,

Best—September 10th, 1916, William Best, of Killicomaine, aged 64 years.

(Interred in Drumcree.)

Armstrong—September 18th, 1916,

Thomas Armstrong, J.P., of Eden Hall, aged 97

years. (Interred in Shankill graveyard.)