October 1919

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

OCTOBER, 1919.

Seagoe War Memorial.

A MEETING of those who subscribed to the War

Memorial for Seagoe Parish will be held (D.V.) in

Seagoe School on Tuesday evening, October 7 ^th, at

7-30 to consider what form the Memorial should take.

Lieut.-Colonel Blacker will attend. This will be an

important meeting, and we hope there will be a full

attendance of the subscribers. Over £800 is in hand

from subscriptions. A few who promised to subscribe

have not yet paid their subscriptions, and we hope

they will do so at or before the meeting. It may be

that there are some others who have not subscribed.

If so, they can send in their subscriptions to Lt.-Col.

Blacker, Carrickblacker, or to Mr. W. R. Atkinson,

of Eden Villa, Portadown. The names of those who

fought on our behalf in the great conflict must be

worthily perpetuated in their Parish. It is hoped

that the Memorial will be in the truest and fullest

sense a Memorial, and not merely some useful

improvement in the Parish Church, or its surroundings

which might be done by the parish apart from any

memorial.

Seagoe Select Vestry.

The Balances from the Anniversary Stalls at

Carrickblacker and Scarva having been handed over

to the Select Vestry by the Stall Committee, the

Vestry at a recent meeting decided to allot them as

follows— £15 to the Church Parochial Fund, and

£10 for the repair of Seagoe School. The gross

Receipts at the Stalls totalled over £70, but the

expenses being very heavy, the nett Balance only

amounted to £25.

A Memorial Portrait.

On the occasion of the Harvest Service at Levaghery

School a Memorial Portrait of the late Mrs. Kyle,

superintendent of the school, was unveiled by the

Rector. It is the kind gift of Mr. Kyle, of Edenderry.

The portrait is very pleasing one, and will for many

years be a reminder of one who was most highly

esteemed throughout Seagoe Parish for her kindly

Christian character, and for her zeal in all good work.

The portrait is handsomely framed and bears a suitable

inscription on a brass plate. The Rector in unveiling

the Portrait spoke of Mrs. Kyle's great interest in

Levaghery School, and thanked Mr. Kyle (who was

present) for his kind thoughtfulness in presenting the

memorial. The portrait reflects much credit on Mr. Moffett,

photographer, Edenderry, in whose studio it was

prepared and completed.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services.

The Services of Thanksgiving to Almighty God for

His gift of the Harvest will be held (D.V.) in the

Parish Church on Thursday, October 9th, at 8 p.m.,

and on Sunday, October 12th, at Morning and

Evening Prayer. The celebration of Holy Communion

on Sunday, October 5th, will have special

reference to Thanksgiving for the Harvest. We ask

our Communicants to bear this specially in mind, and

we hope they will all try to be present.

The Rev. R. H. White, M.A., Rector of Holy

Trinity, Belfast, will preach at the Thursday evening

service, when the offering will be given to the Foreign

Missions. On the Sunday following, the preacher

will be Rev. J. E. Browne, B. D., Rector of St. Mary's

Church, Belfast. At this service the offerings will

be given to the Parochial Fund of the Parish.

Maunder's fine Anthem, “Praise the Lord O

Jerusalem." will be sung by the choir. There is, we

Believe, a true spirit of Thanksgiving abroad among

the people for the gracious gift of the Harvest in this

Year of Peace. In Orchard, Garden and Field, the

bounteous hand of the giver of all has blessed us.

In what more fitting way can we thank Him than by

joining in an united act of worship in our Parish

Church.

District Harvest Services.

Levaghery.

On Sunday, September 21st, at 3-30, Harvest

Thanksgiving Service was held in Levaghery School

house. The School has recently been repainted, and

with its decorations of flowers and fruit it presented

a very pretty appearance There was a large attendance,

and the musical part of the service was heartily sung

by a choir, under the guidance of Mr. T. H. Wilson,

who kindly presided at the harmonium. The Rector

preached on "The Promise of the Harvest." The

Services were continued on Monday evening, when

an address was given by the Rev. G. W. Millington,

M.A., Curate of St. Mark's, Portadown. The offerings

were on behalf of Foreign Missions.

Hacknahay.

The Harvest Services at Hacknahay, were held on

Sunday, September 28th, at 3-30. The room had

been prettily wreathed with fruit and flowers, and

the Service was attended by so many that places could

scarcely be found for all. A strong and well trained

choir was present. The Harvest Anthem was Simper’s -

“The Barns shall be filled with plenty." Much credit

is due to Mr. Gracey, principal of Bleary National

School, who trained the choir, and played the

harmonium. The Rector preached on "Our Daily Bread."

On Monday evening the School was again crowded.

The Rev. El. E Rennison, Curate of Drumcree, preached

on "The Labourers in the Vineyard." A liberal offering

was made by those present for Foreign Missions.

Collections at District Services.

Levaghery—Sunday. £1 4 1

Levaghery—Monday, 0 19 5

Hacknahay—Sunday, 2 15 10

Hacknahay- —Monday, 1 11 9

District Harvest Services.

The following Harvest Services will be held (D.V.)

during October -

Carne October, 5th, Sunday—3-30 p m,

6th, Monday— 8 p.m.

Edenderry October, 19th, Sunday—3-30p.m.

20th, Monday— 8 p.m.

Drumgor October 26th, Sunday—3-30 p.m.

27th, Monday— 8 p.m.

Tamnificarbet Nov. 2nd, Sunday—7 p.m.

Nov. 3rd, Monday—8 p.m.

The offerings at the Sunday Services will be on

behalf of local Sunday School Funds, and at the

Monday Services on behalf of Foreign Missions.

Contributions of fruit, corn and flowers are asked for

in connection with the services, and may be sent to

the various centres on the Saturday preceding the

services.

Seagoe Day School.

The "Rural Science" Course, outlined by the

National Board of Education has been adopted in

Seagoe School. The importance of a knowledge of

this most useful subject is now widely recognised,

and the pupils of Seagoe School will now have an

opportunity of studying it in its various branches.

Seagoe School is the third school in County of

Armagh to take advantage of the scheme.

Clocks in Portadown.

Hitherto it has been very difficult to get correct time

in Portadown and the neighbourhood. Most people

set their watches by the Post Office Clock, this Clock

being of cheap construction, varied at times in a most

uncertain manner. Thanks to the enterprise of the

G.N.R there need no longer be any uncertainty as to

the correct time. Four immense electrically controlled

clocks have been installed in the Station, which

keep absolutely correct time. They are controlled by

an ingeniously constructed clock, or rather skeleton

clock, in the Stationmaster's Office. This central

clock consists only of a pendulum and a single

ratchet wheel, and yet it is capable of keeping exact

time itself, and of governing four other clock faces. A

system of electric batteries forms the motive power,

and if perchance they should run down or weaken, an

alarm bell is automatically rung. The minute hands

of the clocks are moved forward every half-minute,

When will the town authorities have the town clock

regulated by electric control and secure for the town

an adequate Time-piece?

Seagoe in the States.

The following letter has been received from Mrs.

W. J. Allen, of the Red Row, who, with her three

little boys has, we are glad to hear, arrived safely at

their destination—

Three Rivers, Mass.,

August 28th, 1919.

Just a few lines to let you know, I arrived here

safe and sound yesterday evening. We all had a very

pleasant voyage. I was only a day sick, and Jimmie

was a couple of days sick. Ernest and Jack were not

sick. We had very nice weather, only one bad day.

We landed in New York late at night.

The minute we landed the Red Cross Nurse took

us in charge, and brought us to a nice house, a

soldiers' home. We spent the night there, and she

put us on the train the next morning.

The people are all very good and kind. I am sure

I shall get along very well, and it shan't be long

before I shall be settled.

Give all my regards to my friends. My love to

them all.

I wonder if you will speak to the Rev. Canon Archer

and ask him if he would send me a nice letter for the

children to give to the Sunday School Superintendent here.

Thank you very much.

Well I guess I'll say good night for now. My love

and kind remembrances to you all.

Love and kisses from Jackie, Jimmie and Ernest

to you all.

***

Mr James MacDowell, of Killycomaine, has sailed

for the States. He, like many others, found some

difficulty in getting a return passage. Mr. MacDowell

owns pretty Bungalow at the famous seaside resort

of the New Yorkers, Narragancas Bay. A conspicuous

feature of the Bungalow is its name, which appears

printed in clear characters across its front—" Seagoe."

He says many people have asked him “What is Seagoe?”

or " Where is Seagoe?" and many of them make the

remark, "What an appropriate name Seagoe is, for a

Villa by the Sea." Of course, Mr. MacDowell then

explains to the inquisitive Yankees that Seagoe has

nothing whatever to say to the sea, but that it is the

name of a famous and historical parish in the Old Country,

where he and his forebears were born. Mr. MacDowell's

two elder boys served during the war, one in the

U.S. Army and the other in the Navy. At the last

Presidential Election Mr MacDowell "plumped" for

Teddy Roosevelt because he was the man of action,

but he has very high respect and admiration for

President Wilson.

***

The Rector had a visit last week from Mr. W. J. Craig,

a native of Drumlisnagrilley, who has for the

past 28 years been engaged in Shipbuilding in New

York. Mr. Craig is interested in his native Parish.

***

Mr. and Mrs. MacMullen and their little daughter,

who have been on a visit with Mrs. MacMullen, in

Drumgor, hope to return to Canada on Monday on

the liner "Scandinavian," They have much enjoyed

their holiday to the Old Country.

A Letter from the Rhine.

[The Rev. Alfred Murray who is doing good work in a

Church Army Hut on the Rhine sends us the

following interesting letter, dated September

22nd, 1919. Mulbeim, Army of the Rhine.]

I came back to Cologne from Gladbach to take the

place of a man who had to return to England before

his term of service had expired. He is a Rector in

England, who had to return to his Parish at the

urgent request of his Bishop. I only stayed a few

weeks there, and am now in a place called Mülheim,

which is about 20 minutes in the train from Cologne,

it is really a suburb of Cologne. It has a population

of about 60,000, and was a very important place

during the war, as it had many big munition factories,

in one factory alone I am told they turned out shells

at the rate of 5,000 a day, and much poison gas was

also manufactured here, and it is also a place

of interest, in that it has received many private

visits from the Crown Prince of Germany,

so Mülheim is no doubt a place of interest.

There are two Church Army Canteens in

Mülheim, one in the Infantry Barracks, and the

other in the Town Hall (Stadt-Halle). I am in

charge of the canteen in the Infantry Barracks.

There are a good many troops still in the Barracks,

though the men are being “demobbed” very quickly

just now. One of the orderlies in the Barrack

Canteen is an Irishman and comes from the town

of Carlow; he knows Mr. Scanlon. I think I

mentioned in my last letter that the value of the

German mark had gone down so low that £1 was

equivalent to 61 marks. Well, it has decreased in

value very much more since then. The official army

rate of exchange for September is 96 marks to the

£l, and some of the German banks last week were

giving at the rate of 124 marks to the £l. I

received myself last week at the rate of 120 marks

for £l. Before the war the German could have

purchased a good suit of clothes for 120 marks; now

it would cost him about 600 marks, and during the

war as much as 1000 marks (£50. Germany is

very quiet just now and one sees little signs of

revolution anywhere. Perhaps it is because they work

so hard that they have little time to think of anything

else. Everybody works in Germany, both old and young.

I saw many German prisoners coming home last week,

and this week. They all seemed pleased to get back to

Germany. I cannot say definitely when I shall be

returning back to Ireland—of course I don't mean to

suggest that I have been a prisoner out here. I think it

has been very much the other way—but I hope to get

away within the next few weeks. My co-worker at

Berg-Gladbach has gone to Egypt with the Church Army.

ITEMS.

Everyone regrets the departure of Summer Time.

We hope no clocks were broken in the process of

being put back.

***

We are glad to notice an increased interest in the

neatness and care of the graves in the grounds around

the Church, but some of the plots are still uncared

for and much overgrown. Some of the tombstones

also need cleaning and repair. The Select Vestry has

arranged that for an annual payment of 5s it will

guarantee the special care of any grave plot.

***

Old Seagoe Graveyard has been very bright with

flowers this year. Never before have so many graves

been made bright with lovely flowers. Snow-white

Violas have been planted on many graves and look

very pretty.

***

On All Saints' Day, November, 1st, the graves of

our dear ones who fell in France will be decorated

and tended by loving French hands. How nice it

would be if on the same day this year all our Home

Graves were made clean and bright.

***

New Rails of a much heavier pattern have been

recently laid down on the Railway through Seagoe.

They are almost twice as long as the rails which they

displaced. The fast heavy traffic necessitated heavier

rails.

***

Mushrooms are very plentiful this year and are

found growing in large quantities in most unusual

places. One farmer had his turnips trampled down

by children gathering mushrooms in a tilled field.

***

The Diocesan Synod for the election of a Bishop of

the Diocese will meet in Belfast on Thursday,

October 9^th. Four laymen from Seagoe Parish being

elected Representatives have the privilege of voting.

***

The Swallows departed from Seagoe on their

Southern flight on September 24th.

***

A pre-war Baptismal Ewer of fine design is available

at a cost of £5 15s. It would make a very handsome

and useful memorial gift to the Parish Church.

Who will present it?

Congratulation.

We congratulate Miss Mary Wilson, daughter of

Mr. T. H. Wilson, Organist of Seagoe, on her

appointment as Organist of Knocknamuckley Church

in succession to Mr. Mann, of Lurgan, who has

resigned owing to College duties. Miss Wilson

received her musical education from Mr. Smith.

Organist of Shankill (Lurgan) Parish Church.

PARISH REGISTER for SEPT., 1919.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church on September 6th, 1919—

Best—Ida, daughter of Henry John and Helena

Best, of Portadown.

Sponsors—Henry John Best, Helena Best,

Finn Samuel Norman and Joseph Albert, twin sons

of Moses Henry and Margaret Finn, of Portadown.

Sponsors—Moses Henry Finn, Margaret Finn.

Reid—Anne Jane, daughter of Samuel John and

Anne Reid, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Anne Reid, Mary Elizabeth Reid.

Neill—Howard, son of James and Sarah Neill, of

Killicomaine.

Sponsors—Mary Rachel Neill, Sarah Neill.

Watson—Cherry, daughter of Joseph and Anne Watson,

of Killicomaine.

Sponsors—Cherry Bell, Anne Watson.

Donaldson—Mary, daughter of Isaac Robert (Pte. A.S.C. B.E.F.,

1914-1919), and Mary Donaldson, of Killycomaine.

Sponsors —Sarah Jane Craig, Mary Donaldson.

Marriages.

Erskine and Nesbitt—10th September, 1919, James Erskine, of

Edenderry, to Sarah Nesbitt, of Drumnagoon.

Allen and Watson —26th September, 1919, William Allen, of

Edenderry, to Sarah Watson, of Portadown.

Burials.

Dickson—August 27th, Henry Dickson, of Drumnagoon,

aged 69 years.

Rowlands — September 15th, John Alexander Rowlands, of

Ballymacrandle, aged 2 ½ years,

Gilpin—September 19th, Sarah Gilpin, of Tarsan, aged 75.

Ruddell—September 24th, Sarah Jane Ruddell, of Balteagh,

aged 25 years.

Obituary.

Our Parish Register for the month records the

deaths of several who were well known in the Parish

and whose departure from amongst us has caused

regret to many.

We referred last month to the death of Mr. Henry

Dickson, the notice of which was omitted by an

oversight from our last issue. The death of little

Alick Rowlands from Tetanus, the result of an accident

was very sad. He was a very winning little fellow

and precocious beyond his years, and a favourite with

everyone, and the loss to his parents and brothers

and sisters is deeply felt.

The death of Mrs. Ruddell is also much regretted.

At an early age she has been called to her Eternal

Rest. We sympathise deeply with the husband and

relatives. Her funeral to Seagoe was largely attended.

Mrs. Sarah Gilpin had been in failing health for

several years, and never recovered from the shock of

her son's death some years ago. The end come suddenly,

and a patient sufferer passed to her rest.

OLD SEAGOE NOTES.

Archdeacon Saurin and his Horses —The

Archdeacon was very fond of horses, and always had

5 or 6 riding or carriage horses in the Rectory stables.

He was a skilful horseman and prided himself on

being a first-rate judge of horses. Mr. Thomas

Dawson, of Corcraine, who has so recently supplied

us with so many interesting facts of local Parish

history, tells the following story illustrating the

Archdeacon's interest in horses. One day in the

“sixties" of last century Mr. Dawson happened to be

driving a grey cob past the Rectory gate. Just at the

same moment the Archdeacon chanced to be driving

a grey cob down the Rectory avenue. He hailed

Mr. Dawson and remarked on the curious coincidence

that they were driving animals exactly similar in

size and appearance. “Will you bring your cob

up to the Rectory yard and we will see if they are

an exact match." Mr. Dawson drove up to the

Rectory, and when the cobs were unharnessed

they were placed side by side. The animals seemed

to be a perfect match, colour and shape, except that

Mr. Dawson's was perhaps an inch less in height than

the Archdeacon's. Mr. Dawson said—"l think,

Archdeacon, they are perfectly matched," but the

Archdeacon looked dissatisfied. “I don't think they

are," said the Archdeacon. "Well," replied Mr. Dawson,

there may an inch of difference in their height, but

that is not of much consequence." “Well, Dawson”

replied the Archdeacon in very grumpy tones,

"You may not think so, but an inch one way or the

other makes a great difference in a man's nose,

[The following note on Gobhan is not altogether

complimentary to the founder of Seagoe, but we

print it as we received it some years ago.]

St. Gobhan the Builder, 7th Century, Priest,

Architect. Anchorite and Martyr. — Distinguished

as a builder of Ecclesiastical edifices. He is believed

to have built the Round Towers of Antrim,

Kilmacduagh, and Glendalough, as well as many

Churches. He followed St. Fursey to France, and

became a hermit in the forest near the river Oise.

Later he built a church near the Oise, named after

him, St. Gobain. His head was cut off by German

barbarians, who were unable to appreciate the odour

of sanctity which surrounded him.

It is said that during the latter part of his life he

was smitten with blindness as a punishment for the

excessive charges made by him for building churches.