September 1936

Seagoe Parish Magazine

SEPTEMBER, 1936

CLERGY :

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

Rev. F. Hayes, B.Ä., The Bungalow, Lower

Seagoe, Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector's— Mr. ROBERT SCOTT.

People's—Mr. THOS. E. MAGINNIS.

Service of Dedication,

On Sunday, August 16th, at Morning Prayer,

after the Second Lesson, the handsome new oak

Pulpit Balustrade and Brass Handrail, the gift

of Mr. James McDowell and his sister, Miss

Sarah McDowell, were dedicated by the Rector.

The gifts were given in memory of their parents,

I'hornas and Elizabeth McDowell, of Killicomaine,

who were honoured residents in the Parish

during a long lifetime. Mr. Thomas McDowell

passed to his rest seven years ago, at the age of

85. and Mrs. McDowell died four years ago,

the age of 87 years. There has been a difficulty

in connection with the Pulpit as regards its

approach. The beautiful marble steps were unproteeted

by a balustrade. When Mr. McDowell

heard of this he offered to give the balustrade of

oak and the necessary brass rail as gifts in memory

of his father and mother, who were so

closely connected with the Church. The Vestry

accepted this kind offer with gratitude, and a

design by Mr. Binks, of Portadown, was adopted.

At the Dedication Service the Rector asked Mr.

and Mrs. McDowell and Miss Sarah McDowell

to come to the Pulpit steps and also the Church-

wardens, Mr. R. Scott and Mr. T. E. Maginnis.

The Rector standing on the lowest, step and laying

his hand on the gifts. dedicated them in the, fol-

lowing words, while the congregation stood:—

To the Honour and Glory of Almighty God and

in Beloved Memory of Thomas and Elizabeth

McDowell, of Killicomaine, in this Parish, I

dedicate this gift of a Pulpit Balustrade of Oak

and Brass from a devoted son and daughter, in

the name of the Father and of the Son and of the

Holy Ghost.

The Rev. W. F. Hayes, curate, then said the

first collect from the Burial Office. After this

the Rector then said two collects from the Service

for the Consecration of a Church. Morning

Prayer was then resumed. Appropriate Hymns

were sung. The Rector preached from the text

Proverbs x. , 8 : ' 'The memory of the just is

blessed." He spoke of the form which memorials

of the departed had taken in primitive and later

Christian times, and dwelt on their value as preserving

the memory of holy lives and virtuous characters.

Our Sunday Schools.

Our Sunday Schools resumed work on Sunday,

August 16th, and there was a good attendance

of children and teachers. A few did not attend

on the first Sunday, but they have since put in

an appearance. We are fortunate in having a

most loyal and devoted band of teachers who

follow closely the Diocesan Calendar and use the

very helpful book of Teachers' Notes. It is very

important, that the teachers should see that the

children learn for each Sunday the portion prescribed

for " Repetition." There is a tendency

to teach only the study portion. What we learn

by heart in childhood is never forgotten. A correct

knowledge of the Church Catechism is something

that every Church child should possess.

Bocombra Church Hall,

This Hall has recently been extensively renovated.

The walls are now lined with timber

sheeting, and the windows have been covered

with coloured designs.

It is one of our finest halls and is fully equipped for all kinds of Parish.

work. Our energetic Superintendent, Mr. James

Twinem, is to be congratulated on the result of

his efforts.

Harvest Services.

September always brings with it the message

of Harvest, and this year the time of ingathering

seems to be earlier than usual. Great diffiulty

attended the hay harvest except for those

who took advantage of the early heat wave. The

heavy downpour of rain which followed made it

almost impossible to secure any prolonged period

of dry weather. Since then the weather has become

more seasonable and the crops are ripening

fast. The first of our Harvest Services will be

held (D.V.) in Hacknahay School on Sunday,

September 27th, at 3.30 p.m., and on Monday,

28th, at 8 p.m. The offerings on Sunday will

be for the local Sunday School, and on the Monday

for Foreign Missions. The dates for our

other Harvest. Services will be published in our

next issue.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Across the Seas.

Mr. and Mrs. McDowell, of Killicomaine, sail

for the States, leaving here on Saturday, September

5th. Their ship is the “Carinthia”. They

have had a longer stay usual among us this

year and we will miss them very much when they

leave us. Their visits to the old Parish are much

appreciated by their many friends on this side of

the Atlantic. We wish them a safe and pleasant

voyage to the New World and a happy stay in

their villa Seagoe, in Providence, Rhode lsland.

Another of our Parishioners, Miss Isobel

Atkinson, of Eden Villa, has safely reached her

destination at Salisbury, Northern Rhodesia.

She has had a very pleasant voyage to Capetown,

followed by a four days' train journey to Salisbury.

Passing through Bechuanaland she was

much amused by the groups of natives who

gathered at the railway station, selling home-

made toys. Another day was spent visiting

Cecil Rhodes's grave in the rocks of' the Matoppo

Hills. When the ship called at Las Palmas,

which belongs to Spain, a warning was issued to

the passengers. When Miss Atkinson returns

she will have many interesting stories to relate

of her adventures in Africa.

Improvements at Drumgor,

On returning to Sunday School after the holidays

the pupils attending Drumgor Sunday School

were delightfully surprised to find that during

their absence a new heating stove had been installed.

An examination of the old stove had

been made, and it was discovered that it was so

badly out of repair, that a new one was necessary

if the winter's work was to be carried on in

comfort. This "venture of faith" on the part of

the Superintendent and teachers has meant considerable expense.

As the balance in hands of

the school is considerably reduced, it is hoped

that this special effort will be remembered by

the residents of the district when the Harvest

Festival comes round. Drumgor Church Hall is

now one of our best equipped buildings. The fine

set of chairs for the teachers is a great improvement,

and the new stove will add greatly to the

comfort of the room. We heartily congratulate

our energetic Superintendent, Mr. W. Hutchinson,

on the great work he has done, and we hope

his appeal for generous gifts at the local Harvest

Festival will be responded to by the parishioners.

A Good-Bye Social.

On August 21st a good-bye social was held by

Seagoe Choir in Seagoe School to mark the departure

of Mr. and Mrs. McDowell from Seagoe

on their return to the States. There was a large

attendance, which included Mr. and Mrs.

McDowell and Miss Sarah McDowell. The Rector

presided, and after a hearty tea all present

enjoyed some of our favourite Seagoe games.

During an interval the Rector explained how the

choir felt that they must not let Mr. and Mrs.

McDowell go back across the ocean without marking

in some way how much all in Seagoe had

appreciated their presence amongst them. He

then said that the members of the choir were

giving their guests that night a small token of

their regard and affection for their visitors. He

then called on Mrs. T. H. Wilson to hand to Mr.

and Mrs. McDowell gifts from the choir.

McDowell, in reply, thanked the choir for their

thoughtful gifts and spoke of the pleasure which

theirs visit to Seagoe, the old parish, always gave

them. He then told a story of his schooldays,

how on a snowy day he was following Mr. T. H.

Wilson, then a boy, who was carrying a big open

umbrella.

Jim McDowell thought he would play

a trick on Tom Wilson, so he made a big, hard

snowball and lobbed it on to the top of Wilson's

umbrella. Unfortunately the snowball went

through the fabric and the umbrella collapsed.

This happened some 55 years ago, but the destruction

of the umbrella and its gaunt protruding ribs

had ever since been torturing his conscience.

Now on this auspicious occasion he

wished to make amends. Mr. McDowell then,

amid roars of laughter, presented to Mr. T. H.

Wilson a handsome umbrella. Mrs. McDowell

also thanked the choir for the gift they had given

her. Another presentation followed to another

member of the choir who was leaving for a post.

in England, Mr. Ashdown. The Rector handed

Mr. Ashdown the gift and Mr. Ashdown thanked

the choir for their kindness and regretted very

much his leaving the Parish, where he had had

such a pleasant time.

Further List of Brick Cards.

Amount already acknowledged £61 13 6

Mrs. Hutchinson (omitted from first

first list) £ 0 10 0

W. J. Watson £ 0 3 3

Mr. T. Porter, Melbourne, Australia £ 1 0 0

Miss Sally Gracey £ 0 6 0

Mrs. Dick Porter £ 0 2 0

Miss Millicent Coulter . £ 0 9 0

Miss Peggy Brownlee £ 0 2 6

Miss Elizabeth Grace.y, Balteagh £ 0 6 6

Mrs. Pickering, Edward Street £ 0 5 0

Total amount £64 17 9

Mrs. J. H. Twinem sends us the above encouraging list.

If any reader has not yet sent in their card will they

please do so without further delay.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

New Buildings,

Several new bungalows are being erected in

Upper Seagoe and in other parts of the Parish.

We hear also of several new roads about to be

made. We hope nice and appropriate names

will be given to all such, if possible embodying

some links with local history.

Saurin Lodge- "

Mr. McDowell, of Killycomaine, has given the

above interesting name to his fine house in Killicomaine.

It is a good example of a name embodying

a local historical reference. The Saurin

family had a large share in local history and such

name perpetuates their memory.

Parish Register for August.

Baptisms

Tedford—August 1st, 1936, John George son of

Thomas and Mary Jane Tedford, of

Portadown.

Sponsors—Thomas Tedford and Jane Currie.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

Robinson—August 12th, 1936, Alan, son of

Robinson—August 12th,

Thomas John and Anne Robinson, of

Edenderry.

Marriage

McDonald and Webb—Sept. 2nd, 1936, James

McDonald, of Ballyhannon, to Margaret

Webb, of Lylo.

Burial.

Anderson—Aug. 23rd, 1936, John Anderson, of

Balteagh, aged 83 years.

Baptismal Correction.

On our Parish Register for June the Christian

name of the infant daughter of Hugh and Phoebe

Roney should read " Joan" instead of Jean.

Sympathy.

We regret to have to announce in this issue

death of Mr. William John Anderson, of

Balteagh. Mr. Anderson was very highly esteemed

in the Parish. He was greatly interested

in everything. He was very fond of birds and

bees and to the very end showed great interest

in Nature. He did splendid service in the Ulster

Volunteer and War Days and served in the "B"

Specials when quite advanced in years. We symathise

very deeply with Mrs. Anderson and her

family. Only a short time ago we noted the

golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.

Board of Education.

The annual collections for the Diocesan Board

of Education will be made in the Parish Church

Sunday, September 13th, at Morning and

Evening Prayer. Special envelopes will be placed

in the pews on Sunday, September 6th, and we

ask for liberal offerings towards this most important

object. The Board of Education controls

the Religious Education given in our Day and

Sunday Schools.

Choir Excursion.

On Saturday, August 15th, the Choir had a

very enjoyable excursion to Newcastle. They

made an early start, the charabanc leaving

Seagoe at 8.30 in the morning. The route lay

through Banbridge and Kilkeel. A special permit

had been obtained so that the excursionists

might view the Silent Valley and the wonderful

Waterworks. Then the journey was continued to

Newcastle, where a splendid dinner was provided.

The return journey was made under fine conditions

and altogether the day was much enjoyed.

The Rev. W. F. Hayes accompanied the excursion,

also Mr. T. H. Wilson.

The weather, though at times threatening, kept fine and the

country in its summer growth looked its best.

Our C.L.B.

September brings the C.L.B. into action once

again. The officers are just now arranging the

winter programme, which is sure to be very attractive

and useful. The Brigade keeps the lads

on the lines which are most helpful. It encourages

boys in their attendance at Church and Sunday School,

and the older lads also at the Men's

Bible Class. There are just now many young

boys in the Parish who are reaching the age for

joining the Training Corps and others who are

old enough to enrol in the ranks of the Cadets.

They should come to the Parochial Hall on

Tuesday evening and give their names to Captain

Mitchell or any of the officers. The recent

magnificent display by the Seagoe Company at

the annual inspection proves what splendid results

have been achieved by our lads. Our Seagoe

C.L.B. football team heads the list of our

local corps in the number of matches they have

won. Come along. boys, and join the Brigade.

Seagoe Mothers' Union.

A meeting of the S. M. U. will be held (D. V.)

on Tuesday, Sept. 8th, in Seagoe School, at 7.30

p.m. Tea will be provided. Mrs. S. McCormick

has kindly consented to give an address.

Old Seagoe Notes.

The Great East Window, 1896.-—A particularly

interesting service was held in the Parish Church

of St. Gobhan, Seagoe, near Portadown, on the

6th March, 1896. The occasion was the dedication

of a beautiful east window just placed in

the Church by the Baroness von Stieglitz, of

Carrickblacker.

The weather was cold and

stormy, frequent squalls of rain following each

other; but, notwithstanding this drawback, the

Church was well filled.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Evensong began at three o'clock, when the

Bishop and his chaplain, preceded by twenty-

eight clergymen, entered the church during the

singing of "For all Thy Saints." Dean Dawson,

Dr. Quirk, and Mr. Leslie said the prayers; and

Archdeacon Harding and Canon Blacker read the

Lessons. Psalms 84 and 132 were chanted to

Elvey No. 27, and Bentham No. 128. Mr. C. M.

Wilson, Mus.Bac., organist of the Cathedral of

Down, played the accompaniments, and I was

glad to see him wearing his surplice and hood.

There was a large choir, and they rendered the

psalms, canticles, and hymns with precision and

devout expression.

A word of commendation is deserved by the

order of the Service, with copies of which all pre-

sent were supplied. It was well and clearly

printed, and contained the complete words, together

with a brief note of the special gifts that

were being dedicated.

Immediately after the Creed, the Bishop,

standing near the east window, with uplifted

hand, pronounced the form of dedication, saying,

' We dedicate this window to the praise and glory

of God, and in sacred memory of Stewart

Blacker: in the name of the Father, and of the

Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. "

The Anthem was by C. Darnton, from Psalm

68, " Thou art gone up on High,' etc., and was

creditably rendered by the choir. The hymn

before the sermon was " Golden Harps are

Sounding. ". The Bishop preached on the subject

of the " Heavenly Mansions, "

from St. John, xiv. After the sermon came the hymn,

“ See the Conqueror mounts in Triumph, " the

Collect for Ascension Day, and a prayer for the;

donors. While the clergy were leaving the

church the hymn, " Ten Thousand times Ten

Thousand," was sung.

The stained-glass window is a fine work of

art, and has been executed by Messrs. Heaton,

Butler, and Bayne, at a cost of £300. The subject

illustrated is the Ascension. Our Blessed

Lord, rising towards the glory which streams,

from above, occupies the centre; below in the

distance are the roof tops of the city of Jerusalem.

In the foreground are "the eleven" in

various postures of devout wonder, gazing up into

heaven. While in the tracery of the beautiful

perpendicular stone-work are angels and stars

the cloud, " the apex being occupied by

above a crown, presumably that of glory.

The colouring is delicate and subdued, and the drawing

most lifelike. Mr. Drew, the architect of the

Church, gave the instructions to the artists,

which is a guarantee for the propriety of the

treatment and execution.

On the north wall of the chancel has been

placed a large brass, the work of Messrs. Singer

& Sons, of Frome. This has been presented by

the parishioners to record their gratitude to the

generous family of Carrick-Blacker, to whom

their parish owe so much. This brass bears the

following historical and deeply interesting inscription

' To the glory of God, and in record of the

munificence of Stewart Blacker, of Carrick

blacker, Esquire, deceased anno 1881, and his

surviving sister, Dame Anna, Baroness

Von Stieglitz, to this parish of Seagoe."

SERVICES—The PARISH CHURCH

HOLY COMMUNION Sunday after Morning

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

Festivals.

HOLY BAPTISM— 1st Saturday of cach Month at 3

p m e, and during any Service in the Parish Church,

notice be given ; Two Sponsers at least are required

and they must be Confirmed Members of the Church.

Churchings are held at each Baptism. Mothers are

(See Book of

expected to bring a thankoffering.

Common Prayer.

MORNING PRAYER—Sundays and Chief Festivals,

11-30 a.m.

EVENING PRAYER—Sundays, 7 p.m

DISTRICT SERVICES

Hacknahay—Last Sunday of Month at 3-30 p.m.

Drumgor— Sccond Sunday of Month at 4 p.m

Edenderry—Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

MARRIAGES must be performed between 8 a.m. and 3pm

CLASSES,

BIBLE CLASS FOR MEN in Edenderry on

Sundays at 10 a m.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS 10 a.m. Edenderry Parochial

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

Parochial Hall, Levaghery, Hacknahay, Carne,

Drumgor, Bocombra.

MOTHERS' UNION—2nd Tuesday of each month

at 7-30 p.m.

CHURCH LADS' BRIGADE in the Parochial Hall

on Tuesdays and Fridays.

GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY in Seagoe School on

Mondays at 8 p.m.

SEAGOE P.E. SCHOOL, 9-15 a.m. Principal—Mr.

R. Scott.

3 p m. Licenses are issued by Rev. Canon Hannon,

Rectory, Lurgan. Due notice (48 hours) mus be given to the Rector of intended weddings. FEES—BY License—

Labourers 5/- Tradesmen 10/-, Merchants and Farmers 15/-, Professional, at. 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.

A copy of the Magazine will be sent post free to any subscriber for 3/- per anunm.