Seagoe parish /H>aga3íne. M ARCH, 1931.

Q LER G Y : Prayer. Readers will find it in the Prayers which; Rev. Canon Archer, B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe, ai'- inserted after ihe Litany. It is a beautiful Rev. W. F. Hayes, B.A., Edendalc, CarriskBlacker Prayer and we ask sponsors and candidates to use: Road, Edenderry, Portadown. ii in their private prayers each day.] • O God who through the teaching of thy Son CHURCHWARDENS ; Jesus Christ didst prepare thy disciples for the Rector’s— Wm. H. England. coming of the Comforter; Make ready, we beseech People’s—Gilbert Price. thee, tile hearts and minds of thy servants who at this time are seeking the gifts of the Holy Ghost Special Services. through the laying on of hands, that, drawing near During Holy Week, which begins this year on with penitent and faithful hearts, they may be filled Sunday, March 29th, special Services will be held in with the power of His Divine presence; through the the Parish Church each evening at 8 p.m. Addresses same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” will be given on subjects connected with the Passion ;Seagoe Parish. Hacknahay held its festival interesting address on “ South America” in connec­ on Friday, Feb. 6th. The large schoolroom was tion with the South American Missionary Society. filled with a gathering of children and grown-ups. With the aid of a large map he pointed out the A very attractive programme had been prepared, various centres of Missionary work. The members which followed a | li.nnfuly supply of tea and cake. expressed their appreciation of the lecture by a The Rev W. F. Hayes pu sided. Mrs. Atkinson, of hearty round of applause. Gleneyre, kindly distributed the prizes and also gave The members of the Mothers” Union will not held some special prizes, x kii.d gift from herself, to a meeting this month but are invited to attend in a children who had not missed a Sunday during the body the Lent Service in the Parish Church on Wed­ year. The Rector, in a concluding speech, thanked nesday, March i 1th, at 8 p.m. Mr. T. E. Maginnis, the Superintendent, for his efficient management oi the School, and also Miss Old Seagoe in Australia. Calvert for the good work which she had done as a A Seagoe_ correspondent in Queensland sends us teacher and trainer of the choir. Each child as it file following cutting from a Sydney newspaper:— passed out received a gift of an orange from Miss W om an's tilth Birthday—Mrs. Kathleen M’Ginley, Calvert. On Tuesday, Feb. 10th, Levaghery S unday ot East Maitland, has celebrated the 111th anniver­ School held its prize-giving. There wras a large at­ sary of her birth. She was born in Ardmore (for­ tendance. After tea, games were enjoyed and then merly in the Parish of Seagoe, Co. Armagh) on a splendidly decorated Christmas tree laden with December 24th, 1819. Her father was a small cattle­ gifts appeared and each child got a gift from it. man who travelled through the country with his The prizes were distributed by the Rev. W. F. Hayes, herd. Mrs. M'Ginley came to Australia in the sail­ who presided. On Monday, Feb. 16th, two distribu­ ing si)ip “ Lady Alma Bruce.” in 1859. She has three tions were held—Seagoe an d Carne. At Seagoe daughters and two sons, the youngest of whom is the Rector presided. Tea was spread on nearly 70 years of age. neat tables and cakes (without bags) dispensed to the eager pupils. Mrs. Scott had prepared a splen­ The Climate of Seagoe. did programme, which the audience greatly enjoyed. The Meteorological Department of the Air Minis­ The prizes were handed to the successful pupils by try lias supplied the following interesting particu­ Mrs. Scott. The Rev. W. F. Hayes presided at Carne. lars (based on at least 10 years of continuous ob­ There -was a large gathering. A fine display of tea servation) as to the average annual rainfall in and cake was handed round. Games followed, and inches in Northern Ireland—Lurgan is the driest the prizes were then distributed. Mr. David Murray, place with 29.70 inches, Donaghadee 30.60, Armagh the Superintendent, had made excellent arrange­ 31.70, B anbridge 32.10, W arin g sto w n 32.20, Seagoe and ments for the gathering. Edenderry came in on Portadown 32.60, Belfast 34.60, Warrenpoint 35.50, Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 17th, at 7.30 p.m. The Hall Foffany, where the Portadown water conies from. was filled with children arranged in their classes. 64.40. It is remarkable that the rainfall at Seagoe Mr. M‘Clements and his helpers had everything exceeds that at Lurgan by 3 inches annually. 1lie well arranged. An interesting programme of songs general deduction from the above figures is that tD® and recitations followed. The prizes were very neighbourhood of Lurgan and Seagoe and P o rta ­ numerous and were handed to the children by the down is the driest part of Northern Ireland. 8EAG0E PARISH MAGAZINF, Parish Register for February. songs by the Everest Quartet from Belfast. They sang win I perfect precision and time. The proceeds Baptisms. of the entertainment were given to the Seagoe Sun­ The hollowing were baptized in tlie Parish Church day School Prize Fund. m February 7th, 1931:— iusseil—W illiam John, son oi W illiam A lexander A Games Evening. and Margaret Russell, of Drumgor. A novel entertainment has been arranged to be Sponsors—William Alexander Russell, Margaret held in Seagoe School on Friday, March zoth, irom Russell. 6 p.m. to 10.30. All kinds of games of skill will be Bonis—Jane, daughter of Robert John and Elizabeth arranged—shooting, dart throwing, midget golf, Bonis, oi Kernan. etc., etc. Valuable prizes will be given to successful Sponsors—Elizabeth Webb, El'zabeth Bonis. competitors. The proceeds will be on behalf of the i'Crory—Bertha, daughter of Joseph Alexander and Parochial School Repair Fund. Mr. John H. Twinem, Margaret M'Crory, of Edenderry. with a committee, is organising the entertainment. Sponsors—Cliristina Roney, Margaret M'Crory. The charge for admission will be threepence. trown—H annah, d au g h ter of F rancis and S arah Old Seagoe Notes. Brown, of Edenderry. The Hesilrige Fam ily in Seagoe.—An interesting Sponsors—Ellen Pepper, Saral) Brown, connection exists between the ancient and distin­ flillar—Amy, daughter of Robert and Edith Florence guished family of Hesilrige and the Parish of Millar, of Edenderry. Seagoe. The Hesilrige and Buckley grave is in the Sponsors—Caroline Guy, Edith Florence Millar, chancel of Old Seagoe Church. The link which loyd—Winifred Margaret, daughter of David and united the Parish of Seagoe to the Hesilrige family Minnie Boyd, of Edenderry. was the fact that the Rev. Richard Buckley, Vicar Sponsors Eva Porter, Minnie Boyd. of Seagoe from 1763 to 1796, married on June 5th, Thompson—Sarah Jane, daughter of William and 1 760, at Kibworth, in Leicestershire, Elizabeth, the Charlotte Thompson, of Edenderry. eldest daughter of Sir Arthur Hesilrige., the 7th Sponsors—William Thompson, Charlotte Thompson. Baronet of Nosely Hall, Leicester. They had a large M arriage family of 9 children, 5 sons and 4 daughters. The iloan and H ill— Feb. 27th, 1931, Ernest Sloan, of Bally- most distinguished member of the Hesilrige family gawley, Co. Tyrone, to Clara Hill, of Eden­ was the 2nd Baronet, Sir Arthur Hesilrige. He was derry. Oliver Cromwell’s right hand man, and threw him­ self with whole-hearted zeal into the work ol the Burials. Commonwealth. Cromwell made him Governor o f ■iggett—Feb. 3rd, George Liggett, of Edenderry, Newcastle with a general oversight of the Scotch aged 17 years. Interred at Drumcree. border, especially around Berwick -on-Tweed. Hesil­ lall—Feb. 6th, Ellen Margaret Hall, of Edenderry, rige had a fiery tempei and before long he fell out aged 68 years. Interred at Annaghmore. with Oliver and for a time became his bitterest Ctaig—Feb, 13th, Jam es Craig, of D rum gor, aged 81 enemy. Thomas Carlyle in his “ Letters of Crom­ years. well” publishes one of Cromweli’s letters to Hesil- A cknowledgment. tige. On one occasion Cromwell refused to allow The Rector thanks very heartily those who have Hisilrige to enter the House of Commons, of which ;ent their good wishes for Seagoe and the he was a member. Sir Arthur, after a stormy Magazine—Mr. and Mrs. England (New York), Mr. career, died on January 7th, 1661. The present tnd Mrs. David Johnston, of Thompsonville, Conn., liatonet, who spells his name Hazleng, still resides and Mrs. Greenhalgh, Neepawa, Canada, Mrs. at the family seat of Noseley Hall, Leicestershire. Nesbitt, of Brisbane, Queensland (Christmas number * * •* 5i “The Australasian” and “ Brisbane Cathedral Seagoe in the Olden Days.— 40 years ago th ere w ere notes” safely received), Mr. and Miss M‘Dowell, still some surviving who remembered the old church, Port Jackson, Florida, and Mr. James Porter (photos and who in their youth worshipped within its walls, oi Melbourne received). It is very pleasant to hear about the close of the first decade of the last, cen­ lv°n> so many old friends across the sea. We here tury. It was lighted on the south side, and in the home do not forget you. Transept, by small square-headed windows. Those Service of Song. in the east and west gables were narrow and Thursday. Feb. 12th, the Service of Song ‘'W on pointed; and all, like the whole edifice, were entirely lj.V a Song" was given in Seagoe School. There wras devoid of ornament in any form. The roof was a terge attendance, who greatly enjoyed the music covered with oak shingles, as was usual in all large aiul Pictures. The story was read by Mr. Scott, and buildings in early days. It was only in 1795, that accompaniments were played by Miss Isa Best. Carrickblacker house discarded shingles for slates. Messrs. Isaac Clayton and Willie Best were at the Tn 1827 the offices of the rectory were still covered aiitern. a m uch appreciated featu re of the p ro ­ with shingles when they were consumed by an acci­ gramme was the singing of several gleee and part dental fire. To this day, the spire of the quaint old SEAGOFl PARISH MAGAZINE, parish church at Waringstown retains its covering ‘ To the Memory of the 01 shingles. The church was entered at the south­ Bev. George Blacker, late vicar of west corner by the small porch in which was a seat this Parish. on either side. There was a descent of two steps A sincere Christian, a warm friend, into the nave. Tlie sidewalls appear to have been an exemplary clergyman: little more than ten feet high, but the ceiling being who illustrated by his actions coved some additional height was gained in the the Gospel which he preached centre. On the left of the entrance, inside the church, He lived beloved and rose the steps or stairs leading to the gallery. Here Died deeply lamented hung down the bell rope from the belfry overhead, May 1st, 1810, aged 46. and the bell-ringer stood on the stairs when he per­ An Israelite without guile.’ formed the duties of his office. The first seat on the Another tablet to his memory was afterwards gallery was occupied by the successors of ‘ the sing- erected in the new church. ing-boys,' to whom it had been appropriated, and Among Mr. Blacker’s labours were efforts to bavi they were aided by three 01 four flutes—‘ black flutes,’ a new church built for the increasing need of thi it is specially noted—and a great bass fiddle. In the parish. Six years before his death, there is recori oppositte corner, under the gallery, was the dressing of his beginning the provision for the great work room, with the old font beside it, as lias been but he had passed away four years ere the founds already described. The pews were made of black tion stone of the present church was at length lait oak, and conspicuous on the middle of the south Mr. Blacker was succeeded by his eldest brothei wall, and facing tlie transept, was the structure, also Stewart Blacker, Dean of Leighlin. Dean Blacke of oak, which provided for the clerk’s seat, tlie read­ h a d been collated Rector of Seagoe and Archdeaeoi ing desk and the pulpit. The latter had a sounding- of D rom ore in 1777. These offices he now resigned board resting at the back on a panelled frame of and became vicar of Seagoe. Soon after he aj oak, and supported in front by two turned pillars. pointed his assistant, his cousin, Rev. Richari On the front ledge of the sounding-board was carved Olpherts, who ‘ commenced curate June 1810,’ a» date which has been variously stated by eye­ lived in the Glebe-house. The Dean is remember» w itnesses to have been ‘ 1056,’ ‘ 1661,’ and ‘ 1666.’ It coming in stately fashion on Sunday morning froi is hard to decide in such a case, but, on the whole, Carrickblacker, arrayed in his surplice, or his gowl the earliest date appears correct. In Mason’s sta­ (probably when about to preach), and always wear tistical Survey (vol. II. p. 524), C-.'onel Blacker is ing the clerical peruke—familiarly known as ‘ th( justly indignant at the taste which three years before cauliflower wig’—reserved for occasions of ceremony he wrote (1815) had painted the line old black-oak or official occupation. His impressive reading o pulpit and reading desk 1 a muddy yellow.” Beyond the lessons is recalled; and some of his sermons the pulpit, in the south-east corner was the Blacker incised by repetition, were long remembered. On pew. It was a large structure with curtains, and favourite text has escaped the oblivion of sevent] bearing a canopy overhead, supported on pillars, and years and is still repeated with traces of tb having pendent draperies, suggesting to an aged in­ preacher’s manner:—‘ Give me neither poverty not formant the bravery of ‘a tester bed-stead.’ Beside riches, feed me with food convenient for me, W it was the little communion table enclosed with rails; I be full and deny Thee, and say, who is the Lori and in the opposite corner was the minister’s pew, or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name s’ which reached to the intersection of the transept. the I.ord in vain.’ (Prov. xxx., 8, 9). On a Sunday morning, the Vicar, Bev. George [The above is an extract from the “ portado*» Blacker, might Rave been seen walking from the News” of March 3, 18S3, written by tile late Dean Glebe-house, by the private way (still in great part Dawson.] existing) to the church, wearing his ministerial ITEMS. town. On reaching the dressing-room he put on the The proverbial good health of Seagoe is illustrât?» surplice, which he changed again for the gown be­ by the fact that while the town schools are closed fore he ascended the pulpit. Mr. Blacker died in 1810, with “ Flu” Seagoe P.E. School continues its norm3! at the early age of 46, after being fourteen years attendance. vicar of Seagoe. His memory is still revered as * * * that of a pious and devoted minister. One who has The new villas at Seagoe are of nice design. TM now passed his fourscore years retains yet the are built in groups of two and are finished w ’11 solemn impression made upon his boyhood by the fine pebble-dashing. We hope they will be giVPi bitter wailing of the many poor who followed his nice names. We suggest “Spire-view” (Drum w’et corpse to its resting-place in the old church. The spire), “ Saurin-dale” (a memory of the Sauri* only tablet which has kept its place upon the old family), “ Sydney Villas’” (in memory of the grl>a walls is that sacred to his memory. It has not been Sydney patriot, Mr. Wentworth of Killicomain moved, it is said, from its position on the wall over “ Etragh-ville” (as a survival from the time the family pew. Under an urn the tablet is thus Upper Seagoe was known as “Seagoe Etragli ■ inscribed:— “ River view” or “ Bann-vale” might also be suita }