October 1917

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

OCTOBER, 1917.

Roll of Honour.

" for King and Country."

The following Names have to be added to the List published in our

Issue of last month.

Lt.-Col. Stafford James Somerville, ROLF.

Captain Thomas Shillington, R.I.F.

Robert J. Cordy, Lancashire Fusiliers.

Samuel Robinson, N.I.H.

Wounded,

Sergeant William H. Gracey, R.I. F.

Lance-Corporal David Boyce, R.I.F.

Private Harry Forsythe, twice wounded.

MISSING NOW REPORTED WOUNDED AND PRISONER OF WAR.

William Maxwell, R.I.F.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services,

HE Annual Services of Harvest Thanksgiving

will be held (D, V.) in the Parish

Church on Thursday, October 11th, and

on Sunday, October 14th. Our readers

will be glad to hear that the Rev. W. T.

Grey, M.A., a Missionary in Japan under the

Society for the Propogation of the Gospel, and

formerly a Curate of Seagoe Parish, will be the

Special Preacher at the Thursday Service. Mr. Grey

is at present on furlough and is taking duty at

Kilbride Parish Church, Bray, Co. Wicklow, The

offerings will be on behalf of Foreign Missions. At

the Sunday Evening Service the preacher will be the

Rev. G. Bloomer, B.A., Curate of St. Mark's Portadown,

who has just returned from the Front after

three months services with the Y.M.C.A. in France.

At Morning and Evening Prayer on Sunday the

offerings will be given to the General Parochial Fund

of the Parish.

District Harvest Services.

Hacknahay—Sunday, September 30th, at 3-30.

Monday, October 1st, at 8.

Carne—Sunday, October 7th, at 3-30.

Monday, October 8th, at 8.

Drumgor—Sunday, October 21st, at 3-30.

Monday, October 22nd, at 8, preacher

—Rev. W. Milligton, B.A., Curate of Donacloney.

Tamnificarbet—Sunday, October 28th, at 7.

Monday, October 29th, at 8, preacher

—Rev. A. V. Smyth, B.A., Curate of Shankill.

Edenderry—Sunday, November 4th, at 3-30.

Monday, November 5th, at 8,

Levaghery—Sunday, November 11th, at 3-30.

Monday, November 12th, at 8.

The offerings at all the District Services on

Sunday will be on behalf of Local Expenses, and on

Monday for Foreign Missions.

Harvest at Hacknahay.

The first of our Harvest Thanksgiving Services

was held in Hacknahay School, on Sunday, September

30th, at 3-30. The School was most tastefully

decorated, an enormous pumpkin, presented by

Mrs. Bell, was conspicuous among the decorations.

The Rev T. H. Scanlon preached, and the Congregation

was very large. On Monday, at 8, the Services were

continued, the preacher being the Rev. H. E. Hardy,

Curate of Portadown. There was again a large

gathering of worshippers. The Offerings were for

Foreign Missions. The Musical portions of both

Services were efficiently rendered by a large choir

under the direction of Mr. Gracey, who kindly

presided at the Harmonium.

Rev. G. Bloomer

Mr. Bloomer's many friends in the Parish of Seagoe

welcome him back again after his three months in

France. He had a strenuous time, but looks none

the worse for his experience. He has kindly consented

to deliver a Public Lecture on " With the

Y. M.C A. in France," on Tuesday, Oct. 16th,

at 8 p.m., in Carne Church Hall. Tickets now

on sale, 1/- and 6d. Proceeds in aid of the recent

Painting and Repair of Carne Hall. We anticipate

a crowd.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

New Parochial Nominator,

At a meeting of the General Vestry of Seagoe

Parish, held on Tuesday, September 18th, 1917, Mr.

Thomas Edward Maginnis, of Breagh, was elected a

Parochial Nominator of the Parish to fill the vacancy

created by the death of Mr. George Calvert. We

congratulate Mr. Maginnis on his election to the most

responsible position in the gift of the Parish. It is

not the first time that Mr. Maginnis has held the

position of Parochial Nominator, he having held that

office in Knocknamuckley Parish for some years when

resident in that Parish. In every Parish there are

three Parochial Nominators who are elected triennially.

When the appointment of Clergyman to the

Rectorship of a Parish has to be made, the three

Parochial Nominators meet with the three Diocesan

Nominators under the Presidency of the Bishop, and

form the Board of Nomination, which fills the

vacancy.

Presentation.

On Thursday, September 6th, a Social Meeting of

the members of the Choir was held in Seagoe School.

There was a large gathering of the members to meet

the guests of the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas

England. After tea and a short musical programme

round games were enjoyed for some time, and then

the event of the evening occurred in the Presentation

to Mr. and Mrs. England of a Silver Gipsy Kettle

and Lamp, on the occasion of their recent marriage.

After a short speech by Rector, the gift was

handed to Mr. and Mrs. England by Mrs. Bond. Mr.

England thanked the Choir very heartily for all their

kindness, and expressed the pleasure with which he

engaged in the work of the Parish, whether in Choir

or Sunday School. Speeches were also made by the

Rev. T. H. Scanlon, the Rector's Churchwarden (Mr.

D. W. Murray), Mr. David Livingstone, and Mr. Tom

Leake, and many good wishes were expressed for Mr.

and Mrs. England. Games were then resumed and

continued to a late hour. A vote of thanks to Mr.

and Mrs. Wilson, who had kindly arranged the

pleasant evening, brought the gathering to a close.

Death of Lt.eC01. Somerville.

Much regret has been expressed at the death, on

August 16th, 1917, of Lt.-Col. Stafford James

Somerville, who early in this year succeeded Lt.-Col.

Blacker as Commanding Officer of our local Battalion

of the Royal Irish Fusiliers in France. Although

unknown to us here in Portadown, he had gained the

regard and goodwill of our lads at the front He was

wounded in the trenches by shell, and succumbed

shortly afterwards in the dressing station to which he

was brought. He was the youngest and last surviving

son of the late Rev. Dudley Somerville, Chaplain to

the Forces, and grandson of Captain John Somerville,

R.N Knight of the Tower and Sword of Portugal.

He was educated at Wellington College and Sandhurst,

and received his Commission in 1890. He took part

in the Tirah Campaign, and in the present war was

at the landing at Gallipoli in 1915, being afterwards

severely wounded.

In December, 1916, he went to

France, and last M arch was given command of the

Battalion of Royal Irish Fusiliers. His elder son,

Captain Dudley Somerville, K.O.Y.L.I„ was killed in

July, 1916. Lt.-Col. Somerville was 46 years of age

at the time of his death.

Offertories for September,

Sunday—Mornings, £10 13 3

Evenings, 2 1 2

Week Days 0 11 4

£13 5 9

The above total includes £4 10s offertory for

Board of Education on September 9th.

Seagoe on the Battlefield.

9th September, 1917.

DEAR MR, ARCHER,—Just a few lines in answer

to your kind and welcome letter, which I received all

right. Glad to hear you are still keeping in the best

of health. I told the chaplain to write to you the day

I went through the operation, as he come to visit me

when I came out of it.

I was glad to see he did so.

I had a very nice letter from Miss Armstrong. Well,

I am sure you would like to hear how I was wounded.

We went over about 3-30. and I was wounded just

about a quarter of an hour afterwards in front of the

German front line.

I just got seeing them, when

I got hit on the right leg below the knee, and I

dropped into a shell hole, and lay there till

sergeant major of the Rifles carried me back about

300 yards along the ground. There was heavy

shelling going on, and I thought I would have been

knocked out, as I had about a quarter of a mile to go

back to the nearest dressing station,and as I could see no

stretcher bearers I made up my mind to try it myself.

I started to crawl into shell hole and out of shell hole

till I got near the dressing station.

I shook my hand, and two chaps came out and carried me in.

That was 4 0'clock in the evening, so you may guess

I could not go very quick. I got into hospital about

9 0'clock that night, and I went through an operation

in France and one in England. The last one I went

through they took a shrapnel bullet out of my leg.

When I get home I will show it to you. I hope the

boys in the Bible Class are still attending and going

on well. I think I have said nearly all. I am

thankful to God I am in dear old England once

more, and my life spared. When I was coming in

that morning I saw lots of my comrades lying on the

battlefield dead and wounded who were not able to

come in. All we can say is that they have done

their duty for King and country. You will excuse

this writing, as I am lying on my back in bed. This

is all at present, so good-bye.—Yours faithfully,

L.-Corp. DAVID BOYCE, R.I.F.

Certificates of Gallantry,

Two Certificates for Gallantry on the Battlefield

have been awarded to men from this Parish during

the past month, No better testimony could be given

to the bravery of our Seagoe lads than these Certificates

signed by the General Commanding the Ulster

Division. We congratulate very heartily those who

hove received such special testimony to their bravery.

The Certificates are as follows—

Certificate awarded to Lance Corporal Fred

Ruddell, 14635, 9th R. Irish Fusiliers, for gallantry

on July 1st, 1916. He pushed on right up to the

German wire with only a small remnant of his

Platoon, and was wounded when trying to get through

the wire.

O. S. NUGENT, Major-General.

25th August, 1917.

Certificate awarded to Company Quarter-master

Sergeant John Robinson, 9th (Service) Batt.

R. Irish Fusiliers, for gallantry in attack at Hamel

on July 1st, 1916. He dressed wounded men and

helped them back to our Trenches under heavy

machine-gun fire.

O. S. NUGENT, Major-General.

25th August, 1917.

House-to-House Mission Collection,

Eva Best, Ballyhannon & Ballymacrandle £0 5 0

Lizzie Quaile, Balteagh 0 9 6

Cissie Price, Ballinacor & Tamnificarbet 0 5 2

Cissie McDowell, Breagh ... ... 0 5 9

Annie Johnston, Bridge Street 0 5 6

Maggie Rainey, Bright Street 0 2 9

Mollie Cox, Carrickblacker Road 0 4 2

Christina Flannigan, Carrickblacker Ave. 0 1 9

Emily Cox, Century St. & Killycomain Rd. 0 10 0

Maggie Simpson, Carne ... 0 9 0

Kitty M'Mullen, Clonrolle & Knockmena 0 4 0

Hettie Dickson, Drumnagoon & Kilvergan 0 10 9

Hannah & Christina Anderson, Drumgor 0 10 7

Grace Best,Drumnacanvey &Drumlisnagrilly 0 7 3

Eva Allen, Joseph Street ... 0 3 11

Agnes Johnston, Foundry Street 0 2 0

Theresa Ramsey, Kernan (part) 0 3 9

Priscilla Smart, Kernan (part) 0 7 0

Minnie England, Knock ... 0 2 9

Georgina Levingston, Killicomain (part) 0 1 9

Myrtle Holmes, Killicomain (part) 0 6 1

Evelyn Webb, Lylo 0 4 6

Nellie Lewie, Levaghery ... 0 7 3

Sarah Martin, Lurgan Road 1 4 2

Ethel Ruddell, Lisniskey 0 4 8

Sarah Coulter, Railway btreet 0 5 2

Lily McKerr, Seagoe (part) 0 5 7

Mrs, Porter. Seagoe (part) 0 17 1

Bessie Dawson, Town Residents 0 5 6

Hannah Caddell, Tarson ... 0 11 3

£10 3 7

The above return is very satisfactory. We offer

very sincere thanks to the Collectors who did their

work so weu, and to the many kind friends who

contributed.

The Rev. W. R. Crichton,

We had hoped that the Rev. W. R. Crichton would

have been able to pay a farewell visit to his many

friends in Seagoe before he sailed for India,

It was his intention to do so, but the boat sailed a week

before the date arranged, and so with regret he was

unable to come. On Monday, September 10th, an

interesting valedictory meeting wast held in Clarence

Place Hall to bid farewell to Mr. Crichton and to the

Rev. J. Treanor prior to their departure for India.

We noticed several present from Seagoe and Portadown.

Mr. Crichton sailed from England on a fast liner on

Wednesday, September 26th, for Madras Presidency,

where he will be stationed as Government Chaplain

to the British and Eurasian Community. The voyage

to India just now is beset by many dangers, and we

are sure that many prayers will be offered up in

Seagoe Parish that Mr. Crichton may reach his

journey's end in safety.

When in Seagoe Mr. Crichton did a splendid

work and made many lasting friends.

Work in so populous a Parish as Seagoe

must always partake largely of a missionary

character no doubt, under God's good providence

the inspiration to engage in the Foreign Work of the

Church came to Mr. Crichton as he went in and out

amongst us. Our readers will join in wishing Mr.

Crichton much blessing in his work in our Eastern

Empire. We hope shortly to print in these columns

a letter from him descriptive Of his voyage and the

first impressions of his work in India,

PARISH REGISTER for SEPT., 1917

Baptisms.

Liggett—September 1st, 1917, Magy Jane, daughter of Joseph,

(Private R.F.A.„ B.E.p., France), and Julia Liggett, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Julia, Liggett, Martha Liggett.

Boyce—September 5th, 1917, Elizabeth Eveline, of James and Sarah Boyce, Of Bocombra.

Sponsors—Elizabeth Eveline Sarah Boyce.

Private Baptism.

Magee—October 2nd, 1917, James, son of Joseph and Sarah Margaret Magee, of Edenderry.

Funerals,

—4th September, 1917, Samuel Webb, of Lurgan, aged 14 years.

—18th September, 1917, George Sloan, late Of Drumnagoon, aged 79 years.

Magee—4th October, 1917, James Magee, of Red Row Edenderry, aged 2 ½ years.

Deaths.

8^th August, 1917, at Toronto, Canada

Mary Ellen Stoops, late of Edenderry, wife of Maxwell Stoops,

aged 50 Interred at Toronto, on 10th August.

28th August, 1917, at Jerome, Arizona, U.S.A., David Porter, late of Lower Seagoe, aged 56 years. Funeral service conducted by the Rey, Clyde W. Demming, at Jerome on August 31st

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Portadown Women 's Emergency Corps.—Seagoe Branch.

Our readers may remember that in the Magazine

of November, 1916, we announced that as there was

still a balance in hands, the collecting boxes would

not be sent through the Parish to ask for money to

buy wool for socks, etc., for our sailors and soldiers.

Now, however, the money has come to an end, and

we hope our collectors will consent to go round this

month, and that they will find everyone willing to

contribute as generously as before to this most urgent

claim. Between March and August our workers have

sent in 112 pairs socks for 9th R.I.F. ; 18 pairs socks

for 16th R.I.R. ; 2 pairs socks for Comforts Committee

Fund, making a total of 132 pairs.

ISOBEL ATKINSON.

E. M. BLACKER.

ITEMS.

Edenderry Parochial Hall has recently been

painted and repaired externally, and is greatly

improved in appearance by this much needed

renovation.

The Rev. G. Bloomer, when in France, visited the

grave of Lance-Corporal Herbert Murray at the

Military Cemetary of Barlin, west of Lens.

It is neatly kept and marked by a Cross.

The Employees of Messrs. Robb are to be heartily

congratulated on their enterprise in organising

sports for Saturday, October 6th, in the Recreation

Grounds on behalf of the Red Cross Funds. We

wish them great success in their good work.

Notwithstanding the war there has been a wonderful

period of good health in the Parish for the past

8 months. None of the usual epidemics of Measles

and Scarlatina have occurred. In Lurgan Infirmary

nearly half the beds are vacant. The number of

Deaths in the Parish has been very small. Should

not all this be another reason for Special Thanksgiving

at our approaching Harvest Services. What

shall we render unto the Lord for all His benefits " ?

The mild season has caused the swallows to remain

with us in these Northern climes much longer than

in other years, but they are now flying South. On

September 26th a large flock wag seen passing over

Seagoe in a Southern direction, but as late as October

2nd swallows were moving about in short flights.

The Misses Dawson have not yet been able to

return to their work in Chile owing to Government

precautions against submarine menace.

We regret to record in this issue the deaths of

Mrs. Maxwell Stoops and Mr. David Porter which

occurred in Canada and in the United States

respectively. Many in the Parish will lament their

loss. Mrs. Stoops had been ill for many months.

When is Portadown to get the German Machine

Gun promised as a gift some months ago ?

Sergeant James Shepherd returned home during

the past month. His many friends were glad to see

him once again, so well recovered from his severe

wound.

Bob Woolsey has brought a Canary home from

the Trenches.

The Diocesan Synod will meet in Belfast on

Tuesday, October 30th.

We are glad to notice that the Congregations on:

Wednesday Evenings in the Parish Church have

greatly increased of late. The Services on Wednesday

Evenings have now been held continuously for

twelve years. We notice there is a regular Wednesday

Evening Service held now in three other places

of worship in Portadown and neighbourhood.

Bells of the three Parish Churches ring out together

every Wednesday Evening and make sweet music.

Dr. Starkie, Resident Commissioner of the National

Board of Education, accompanied by Mr. Bonaparte

Wyse, Secretary, and Mr. Welpley, Inspector, visited

Seagoe School last week. Dr. Starkie expressed to

the Manager (Rev. Canon Archer) favourable

opinion regarding the school buildings and the recent

improvements made.

Miss Bessie Dawson has been appointed Assistant

Teacher in St. Matthew's National School, Belfast.

Old Seagoe Notes,

Curious Version of the Bluestone Murder,—

A reader of the recent Notes on the Bluestone Murder,

which appeared in these columns, has handed to Mr.

John Waugh, of Portadown, the following curious

version of the murder, which he has kindly passed on

to us for publication :—As I have often heard it from

old people ever since I was a small girl of the

Towlertong who killed their uncle McNeilly for his

land and home ; and the murder was never found out

till the dead man appeared to a man named Holmes,

carpenter, whom he was very fond of, it appeared.

He came to him and sat on the bench with him, and

told him to bring out the murderers. The first time

he appeared to him it was in his bloody gore ; he

gave him a great fright, and he told him not to

appear to him in that way again, so he said he

wanted him to prosecute these people. He also told him

he would not be a-believing in court, and at the time

when he would be amisbelieving that the candles

would burn dim, and for him to tell the judge to look

over his right shoulder, and that he would see him

there, which was done. Accordingly did Holmes,

and when the Judge did so he said aloud in court

that there was evidence enough, and he condemned

the Towlertons to be hung. So they were hung and

burned at Bluestone Loanen. This is the story of

that murder as I have heard it all my life.—M.