September 1918

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE,

SEPTEMBER, 1918.

Letter from Miss C. Dawson.

MY VERY DEAR FRIENDS,

I want all our old friends in Seagoe and Portadown (who so kindly gave such useful and pretty things to me for the Cholchol Sale of Work) to know that the Sale took place in Cholchol on Saturday, March 27th, and they made about £33 alone on the things sent by you. We all thought it was splendid, and everyone was very grateful to the unknown friends in old Ireland who had been so good to them. The money was used specially for the Cholchol work and the Out-Stations, and only for your things they would not have been able to have a Sale of Work at all, as money was and is very scarce in these parts, so there was none forthcoming to buy material for the work-party. The work in the Cholchol goes on and prospers, and is being blessed by God. There are now five or six Out-Stations started and maintained by “old boys and girls”—Sunday School in some places and in others they are holding a Day School too. The teachers of the latter of course have to be paid as these boys would otherwise be earning their own living.

Miss Dawson and I had a very eventful and easy journey, as I'm sure you have all heard, and we know that God answered the prayers of our many friends at home, and brought us safely through many dangers.

We have both settled down to work for this year, Miss Mary in her old place with her boys, but I'm sorry to say that my little hospital will probably be closed at the end of this year. It is on probation at present. Unfortunately it was closed for a year and a half, and now the Society can't send us enough money to take in the Mapuches free, so they prefer to go to an R.C. Charity Chilian Hospital, and another Hospital has arisen which supplies the wants of private patients, so I am just working and waiting here from week to week hoping for patients to come in. At present I have one Mapuche woman patient who pays for 7 days' treatment with a Sheep, as she couldn't pay money.

I've had a few patients from time to time since I came back, and God has helped me greatly in healing their bodies, and I hope they have learnt also even a little about the Great Physician of souls. You will help us both with your prayers, for life out here as well as at home has its many diffculties.

You are all often in our thoughts and prayers these times of sorrow and stress. The same God is over all and in His own good time He will send His Peace. Oh, that it may be soon.

May He bless and keep you in His loving care, will ever be the prayer of your old friend,

CHERRIE P. DAWSON.

Our Prisoners of War.

[On the second Sunday of each month a collection is made at the door of Seagoe Church for

our Prisoners of War. The following note will give our readers full information as to the food and clothing sent to the men.]

Every British Prisoner of War in Germany is supplied by the Care Committee of the Unit to which he belongs with the following articles—

1. Six Parcels of Food per four weeks , each of which is approximately 11 lbs. in weight, and costs not less than 10/-.
2. 26 lbs. weight of Bread per four weeks , despatched from Copenhagen or Berne according to the geographical position of the Prisoner's Camp. The cost of this supply of Bread is 7/6 per month per man.
3. Clothing. Each Prisoner is provided—with a complete outfit of Clothing every six months.
4. Personal Requisites. Immediately on receipt of his name and address a "first capture" parcel is despatched to each Prisoner containing such articles as hair brush, comb, tooth brush, tooth powder, razor, shaving soap and brush, socks, underclothing, shirts, handkerchiefs, &c. Every man receives ¾ lb of soap per month, this being the regulation allowance. Further requests subsequently received from individual prisoners are always complied with, provided the articles asked for are not prohibited by the War Office Regulations.

(5) Tobacco and Cigarettes.

Where Prisoner's Relatives can afford to do so, they are expected to subscribe towards defraying the cost of the six monthly Parcels of Food (No 1. above), and in order to encourage them to assist in this way, the Ulster Women's Gift Fund is prepared to send one or more of these 10/- parcels in the name of a subscribing relation for 5/- each.

With regard to Tobacco and Cigarettes, the Ulster Women's Gift Fund gives every man under its care his choice of the three following parcels, one of which is despatched to each Prisoner once a month—

(a) 400 Cigarettes.

(b) 240 Cigarettes and ½ lb. of Tobacco.

(c) 1 lb. Tobacco.

The Food Parcels despatched by the Ulster Women's Gift Fund contain such articles as the following— Army Biscuits, Cheese, Ham Loaf, Sausages, Suet Pudding, Bacon, Syrup, Milk, Soup Squares, Potted Meat. ½ lb. Tea, Pork and Beans, Mixed Vegetables, Dripping, Liver and Bacon, Jam, Veal Loaf, ½ lb. Chocolate, Roast Beef, Maconochie Rations, Sliced Ham, Butter, Dates.

Cocoa, Salmon, 1 1b. Sugar, Bovril, Quaker Oats, Sweets.

The total cost to the Fund per month per man is approximately £3 15s 0d.

Seagoe Day School.

Mr. W. E. Dickson, Assistant Teacher in Seagoe School has joined the Army. He carries with him the good wishes of his pupils and of many others in the Parish on volunteering to fight for King and Country. We wish him God speed in his noble work. The children of the school have subscribed for a Presentation to Mr. Dickson. to mark their appreciation of his action. Mr. Dickson began his work at Seagoe in January of this year, having previously been a teacher in a Dublin School.

Mrs. Rennix, wife of Mr. S. Rennix, principal of Seagoe School, has been appointed as substitute in Mr. Dickson's place. Mrs. Rennix has had a wide experience in teaching, having been assistant teacher in Bleary National School before coming to Seagoe.

The Late Driver Norman Holmes.

Some very pathetic details have come to hand relative to the last hours of Norman Holmes, who, as will be remembered, died of wounds on Easter Sunday morning last in France. His officer gave him and his chum Jack Howard orders to recover some ammunition which was lying in a dangerous place under shell fire from the enemy. It was a risky job. On the previous night a driver who had been sent out was blown to pieces by a shell. When Norman Holmes got the order at four o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday (Easter Eve) he disappeared for a quarter of an hour, and could not be found, but his chum, who knew him well, says it was to read his Bible and to pray. He came back with a bright smiling face, and at seven o'clock went out on his errand. They had just reached the ammunition when a shell wounded Howard's horse. He called to Holmes to bring him one of his, and as he was bringing it another shell fell just beside them, wounding both of them. Holmes

was the more severely wounded. They were both brought to the same Casualty Clearing Station, and were placed in beds beside each other. In the morning it was clear that Holmes could not live. His chum asked that he might be allowed to hold Holmes' hand, and pushing back the screen that surrounded the bed of his dying friend he grasped his hand and held it until the end came. Holmes' last words were of wife and home. He was greatly esteemed by all who knew him for his goodness and manliness.

ITEMS.

A Barometer and Thermometer are now part of the furnishing of Seagoe School.

The task of clearing the grove at Seagoe of the heavy trunks of timber is a slow and arduous one. It has, however, provided the young people of the neighbourhood with many opportunities of recreation. The roads in the neighbourhood have been well swept by the branches which have been dragged along them by young and old within the last few weeks. “The long, long trail” is very much in evidence just now at Seagoe.

The Rev. George Bloomer, Rector of Woods Parish, preached in Seagoe Church on Sunday, August 25th, at Morning Prayer. He takes up work in his new Parish on Sunday, September 1st.

Willie Hynes, of Edenderry, has joined the Royal Air Force.

A letter from the front says—The crops here (in France) are fine. Even No Man's Land is covered with wheat, corn and beans, though somewhat flattened out by sundry shells.

If you are getting good wages invest in War Bonds, securing an income for the future, and ensuring victory for our lads at the front.

The recent visits of Aeroplanes over the Parish have led to a great outburst of kite-flying on the part of our juvenile parishioners. The telegraph wires bear sad witness to the frequency of failure in these "flying" operations.

Flax-pulling is hard on the hands, as some of our emergency workers have learned within the last week or two.

A man at the front told the Rector that he had got the C.B. for being V.C. His honours were not after all so substantial. He had been Confined to Barracks for being Very Careless.

Lce-Cpl. George Preston who was wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans in September, 1914, is now interned in Holland, and it is hoped that in the course of few months he will be permitted to return home after his long imprisonment.

Mr. J. H. Stevenson, Rector's Churchwarden, has seriously injured his knee in a cycling accident, and will be confined to his room for some weeks.

During Mr. Stevenson's enforced absence Mr. James Twinem, M.S.V., has kindly consented to superintend Edenderry Morning Sunday School.

The Forms of Special Intercession for our Sailors and Soldiers have been used recently on many occasions in the Parish Church.

George Miller, of Upper Seagoe, who has been absent on active service in Serbia, Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and France for years, paid a visit to Seagoe Day School recently, and was enthusiastically welcomed by the pupils of his old school.

The Swallows will soon be departing for Southern climes. They usually leave us at the end of August unless the weather is very mild.

We deeply regret to record the death from wounds of Willoughby Frazer, formerly well known in Seagoe Parish.

PARISH REGISTER for AUGUST, 1918.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish Church, on 3rd August, 1918—

Ellis—Thomas James, son of James and Agnes Ellis, of Killicomaine. Sponsors—Jane Pentland, Agnes Ellis.

Montgomery—Irene, daughter of Thomas John (Private 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers, formerly

of N.I.H., B.E.F., France) and Martha Montgomery, of Lower Seagoe. Sponsors —Jane Porter, Martha Montgomery.

Burial.

McMurray—4th August 1918, Ida McMurray, of Drumgor, aged 20 years

Death

“for King and Country”

Frazer—August 16th, 1918, from wounds received in Action, Willoughby Frazer, 1st

R.Ir.F., formerly of Edenderry, and a member of Seagoe C.L.B.

Offertories for August.

Sunday Mornings £11 6 3

“ Evenings 2 1 6

Week-days 0 4 10

£18 12 7

Included in above, August 4th, for Red Cross —£8 0s 7d; Prisoners of War Fund (collected at Church Door), August 11th, 1918 —Morning, £6 1s 1 ½d. Evening £l 2s 0d.

Seagoe Succeeds in Canada.

It is always pleasant to record the success of Seagoe Parishioners at home or abroad. It is our pleasing duty to record the success of a firm in Toronto which has developed a great trade under the direction of a native of Seagoe Parish. The firm to which we refer is The Ideal Bread Company, of Toronto, Canada, and the guiding hand in its success is Mr. Robert MacMullen, son of our esteemed parishioner and churchworker, Mrs. MacMullen, of Drumgor.

Some idea of the extent of Mr. MacMullen's bakery business may be gathered from a most interesting and elegantly printed Booklet containing the record of the firm's business.

The premises are situated in 183—193 (a block of 10 houses) in Dovercourt Road, Toronto. The Bakery is fitted with the most complete automatic machinery for the manufacture of the finest bread. No human hand touches the bread at any stage. Even a spiral shoot is employed to deliver the loaves to the vans. The firm has a fleet of 57 cars constantly on the road delivering bread. 1900 bags of flour are consumed each week, and a staff of several hundred workers are employed in carrying on the various branches of the trade.

A striking photograph of Mr. MacMullen adorns the Booklet, which is also copiously illustrated with photos of the staff and the machinery buildings. We congratulate Mrs. MacMullen on her son's success.

Rev. T. H. Scanlon, B.A.

We announee with regret the approaching departure from Seagoe of the Rev. T. H. Scanlon, who has been appointed to the Curacy of Enniskillen by the Rector, the Rev. Canon Webb. Mr. Scanlon takes up duty in his new post on October 1st. During his stay in Seagoe he has made many friends. While the Rector was absent in France the whole responsibility for the work of the Parish was willingly undertaken by him, and was carried through with care and efficiency. Our readers will join with us in wishing Mr. Scanlon all success and blessing in his new sphere of labour.

Old Seagoe Notes.

How the Site of Knocknamuckley Church was Chosen. — [The following is an extract from a letter signed "VERITAS," which appeared in the "Portadown News" for May 9th, 1863.] — An anecdote Will best convey the late Colonel Blacker's way of thinking and acting in Church matters. Some years ago a district of country, Comprising portions of different parishes in the counties of Down and Armagh, was made into a separate Parish. The Clergyman, a tenant of Colonel Blacker's, consulted him as to the proper locality in which to place the Church. Now, the acquisition of a Church, with its appendages, is no undesirable object; on the contrary, it raises the value of any property it may be placed on, or contigious to, and a spot was pointed out very con-venient both to the Clergyman and to himself, but it was on the very verge of the district to be accommodated. Colonel Blacker asked to see the map of the new Parish, and having measured it with a compass, stuck the point into the very centre.—" There," said he, "place the Church there, and no one can reasonably complain. It is, besides, on the very boundary of both counties, and the wildest bit in the whole district. Many a time have I singlehanded pulled down threatening notices and quieted tumultuous meetings on the hill it will be close to. I am a loyal subject, and as fond

of a grand sight as many a man, but I would rather see a decent church-going congregation winding

their way along that hill, and the wild marshes at its base, than see Queen Victoria and all her Court, with the Lord Mayor of London himself going in state to St. Paul's." I am happy to say the good old Colonel had his wish, for a more gratifying sight than the Sunday School and Congregation coming to, and dispersing from, Knocknamuckley Church every Sunday is not to be seen in the whole country, which now, instead of being disturbed or disorderly, is a model to both counties.

Archdeacon Saurin's visit to Spain, 1855.— On one occasion during his long tenure of the Rectory of Seagoe, Archdeacon Saurin paid a lengthened visit to Spain. He left Seagoe in July,1855, and returned in July, 1859. During his absence the Parish was in charge of the Rev. Capel Wolseley, and Rev. Annesley Beers. While in Spain Archdeacon Saurin, with Mrs. and Miss Saurin, resided at Malaga in the South of Spain. Traces of the influence of their Spanish experiences are still to be seen in Seagoe Rectory. In the drawing-room there is the large window, called the Spanish window, an exact reproduction of the windows for which Malaga is famous. Their peculiarity is that they are glazed in the lower as well as the upper panels, the object being to admit as much sunshine as possible. The same type of window reappears in the small verandah, near the side door. In the inner garden are two Quince trees brought from Spain, and the large Mulberry tree in the same garden was no doubt planted in remembrance of the Mulberry trees for which Spain is famous. Outside

the inner garden was a fishpond, which was an object of great interest for many years to visitors, and which was made after the manner of the fishponds of Southern Spain.

An Interesting Ballad.— [The following Ballad which was recently found amongst MSS. at Carrickblacker, was written some 70 years ago. The authorship is uncertain. It deserves publi-cation, not alone for its literary merit, but because it also enshrines an interesting historical fact relating to the famous Battle of the Diamond, that the lead used for bullets on that occasion was stripped from the roof of Carrick Blacker.]

Auld Carrick.

CarrickBlacker is a bonny place,

A mansion o' renown;

Fair for its Leddie's lovely face.

And eke her Orange gown.

Its Lordlie aiks so proud that wave

Around the Ancient Ha',

The Silver Bann so calm that laves

The shady Birchen shaw.

But it is not the Ancient Ha',

Nor stream nor Birchen trees;

Nor Leddies eyes so sparkling bright

That doth my fancy please.

It is the old and shingled roof,

That gave its charge of lead,

To serve the boys at the Diamond fight,

And on them lustre shed.

It is the memory of him*

Who forward for the Right,

Stripped off the lead from the shingled roof,

For the Boys at the Diamond fight.

*Colonel Wm. Blacker.

Weeds.

[The following is an extract from a letter addressed to the Tenantry on the CarrickBIacker

Estate in the year 1857. The subject is of great importance, and of present-day interest, when so

much depends on conserving the food supply of the Allies.]

My Dear Friends,

Impressed with a strong conviction of the vast injury and loss which arise from not paying

proper attention to the destruction of weeds, and anxious as I am for your welfare, I entreat your

earnest attention to the subject.

All plants which grow naturally among a crop that has been sown, may be regarded as enemies to that crop. The destruction of some plants, therefore, must be considered as one of the most important branches of the agricultural art; for if that is neglected, or even but slovenly performed, the crops may be reduced to the amount of one-fourth or one-third of a fair average crop, even upon the very best soils. Besides, it merits consideration, that if weeds are suffered to exist, the full advantages of manuring land, and many other improvements, can only be partially obtained.

Few understand or estimate the immense fecundity of various destructive weeds. A single plant of groundsel produces 6,500 seeds. The common red poppy, 50,000. The sow-thistle, which meets us in every ditch, produces 19,000. Each stem of dandelion brings to maturity 2,040; and the chamomile 40,650; while the long-rooted dock produces on each plant 13,000.

It cannot be too earnestly urged that weeds be destroyed before their seeds are ripe, or indeed nearly ripe, as the ripening process is often completed by the juices in the stems, especially of pulled weeds; hence groundsel and thistles, when pulled and laid by, ripen much seed; and their involucres, opening in the sun, are wafted on the breeze to an indefinite distance. And it should be recollected that one—the primary head---may ripen long before the rest; so that a tolerable weed-growth may follow from a delay which has allowed only this one head to perfect its seed. Each plant of groundsel might in this way be increased 50 fold, each plant of cow-thistle 190 fold, and a single head of musk thistle may produce an increase of 150 fold.

Some good might be effected, if your respective children were instructed to pull up the weeds as they pass along to and from school, and through your farms, as even in this way a quantity of injurious seed could be destroyed.

I hope these observations will be well received and acted upon; and that I may have the sat-isfaction of seeing visible improvement in the cleanliness of your farms, which, with your general welfare and happiness, believe me, is the sincere wish of your landlord.

L. BLACKER.

London, August, 1857.