賴永祥長老史料庫 ( Elder John Lai's Archives )

 Some Facts Concerning Shaw An-ku, His Relatives, and His Descendants 

Written by Rev. Dr. David S. Chen


Rev. Shaw, An-ku

He was a competent scholar on Chinese classics and a Presbyterian minister who served as a chaplain and a teacher of the Bible and Chinese classics at Tamsui Christian High School for many years. On account of his academic competence, his Christian character of love and gentleness he was highly respected by missionaries, faculty, and students. He had many grand children and always treated them with grace, tolerance and smiling face. He was a serious Bible teacher and preacher. He faithfully upheld the Christian principles of love, justice, and forgiveness and refused to speak ill of others. When his grand children behaved lawlessly he only said, “Chheh, bo-chhu-su," and never uttered angry words. He always got up early in the morning to clean the tables and sweep the floor. Spiritually and physically he lived a very clean life to inspire many. He often came to see us in Taipei, and each time he came he always showed a big smile gave us a bag of delicious Chinese pastry.

His wife was an excellent brewer of soy source and produced enough soy source each summer to last for one full year. The quality of the soy source was such that when it was slowly cooked with chunks of pork and yellow onions to produce “lo-bah," its special aroma traveled widely around the house, and the students would smell it and tell each other that Mrs. Shaw is cooking delicious “lo-bah" again. Bi-chu, the oldest daughter, also learned from her mother to produce her own soy source every summer. She produced enough each summer to give some to her brother the Rev. Shaw, Lok-sian and his family to make use of. Thus, Bi-chu´s children and Lok-sian´s children all enjoyed eating the “lo-bah" cooked with the special soy source produced according to the recipe and method handed down from Mrs. Shaw An-ku.

Shaw, Khek-chhiong

He was the second son of Shaw, An-ku. He was a straight A student both in primary school and in high school. His competitor for the top position in high school used to be the one who later was known as the Rev. Tan, Iau-chong, long-time minister of Lo-tong Presbyterian Church. Tan, Iau-chong often spoke of Shaw, Khek-chhiong as being a brilliant and gifted student. Khek-chhiong being our uncle often came to Taipei to take us out for visiting places of interest. He loved us and we felt close to him. Unfortunately while he was studying in Japan he contracted tuberculosis and died at the young age of 27. When he was suffering from high fever I was about 15, and bought lots of ice to cool him off. When he died we all cried for being deprived of such a wonderful uncle.

Tan, Keng-hui

He was Mrs. Shaw An-ku´s sister´s son, and was a famous artist in Taiwan. In addition to teaching art in Tamsui High School to produce many artists, he also worked very closely with the Rev. James Dickson, an American missionary, sent by the Presbyterian Church in Canada to build Taiwan Theological College in a newly purchased location in Nia-thau, Taipei. The architecture of the main building and the chapel were based on the art produced by Tan Keng-hui. Tan Keng-hui is no longer living, but his art still shines in the seminary campus to show forth the glory of God. Besides, as we approach the gate of the seminary we can see the five large characters: “Tai Oan Sin Hak I" written by Shaw An-ku. These five characters beautifully written by him ever remind people of how he faithfully and ably served as a Chinese scholar and as a capable Christian minister.

Tan, Sek-chong (Rev. Dr. David S. Chen)

He was Shaw An-ku´s oldest daughter, Bi-chu´s third son. During the Second World War, when Japan was fighting USA, Christian believers and their churches were under constant surveillance of the government. Many stopped going to church and few dared to study in Taiwan Theological College to become ministers. In 1942 Sek-chong was accepted by Taiwan Theological College to begin his theological studies. When he went to take the entrance examination he was surprised to be told that he was the only candidate, because young people were afraid to come in. If Sek-chong did not go to that historic college, its remarkable history would have to record “no student" for that year. At that time every young man was expected to take a physical examination and be prepared to be drafted to serve the country. So he too went for physical examination and was placed in an A category. In spite of this, however, somehow he was never drafted. Therefore he was able to continue his studies for five years. God did not want the Seminary to be without a new student in 1942, so he inspired Sek-chong to enter. God also had a plan to use him in a special way, so He inspired the people in the draft board not to draft him. All these were completely unknown to Sek-chong, but obviously God was at work.

Having stayed with his father to serve Siang-lian Church for one year, in 1948 Sek-chong went to Toronto, Canada, to do further studies. In 1953 he graduated from Knox College, the alma mater of Dr. George Leslie Mackay, the first Presbyterian missionary to Northern Taiwan. Knox College required that those who wished to obtain the B.D. degree had to do graduate studies. Sek-chong did so and obtained the B.D. degree in 1954. He was the first student from Taiwan to both graduate and earn the B.D. degree from Knox. He then went to Princeton Seminary to major his studies on John Calvin. There, he married Margaret Lin (Lim Siok-kheng), a very capable music student. In 1955 Sek-chong successfully completed his studies to obtain his Th. M. degree. For the next two years Sek-chong and Siok-kheng were in Doniphan, Mo. to serve the First Presbyterian Church there. In 1957 they went back to Taiwan to teach in Taiwan Theological College. Sek-chong taught theology and Siok-kheng taught music in the seminary, and both rendered their unique services to help many to become good Christian workers. Sek-chong continued his studies at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California and obtained his Th. D. degree in 1968, and Siok-kheng pursued her study of music at the School of Sacred Music in Union Seminary, New York and received her Master of Sacred Music degree in 1967. Both went back to teach at Taiwan Theological College. Sek-chong served as the president of the College from 1968-1971.

From 1971 to 1991, for twenty years, Sek-chong served the First Reformed Church in Ridgewood, N.J. The people of his church were mostly from the Netherlands but he brought in several Taiwanese couples with their children. Siok-kheng was busy helping the music ministry and the Sunday School. Through their positive ministry, they were able to demonstrate how people of different cultures could be united in Jesus Christ to effectively call upon people of all backgrounds to submit themselves to the sovereign rule of God to live a life of true brotherhood with love, justice, and hope as it is commanded by God. It was through their ministry in Ridgewood that Enchin´s husband Donald came to make his personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ to receive baptism along with their four children to become a committed Christian believer.

Sek-chong and Siok-kheng have two children: Shirley is a botanist and loves to play piano and sing. Her husband Peter is an able businessman. Shirley´s daughter is Victoria who plays flute and performs karate. John is a chemical engineer who now prefers doing computer consultation work. He has been playing violin ever since he was a child. John has a son named Jeffrey. He too plays violin. So father and son often play violin to have a good time together.

Tan, Sek-pi (His-Pi Chen)

He is the oldest son of Bi-chu. Having completed his studies in Japan, he came back and took a highly competitive examination to become a government official to work for the city of Taipei in the department of social services. He worked very hard in the spirit of Christ´s love to help many needy people in the city. Thus, he received a nick name “Khit-chiah-thau," “a head beggar." Since he was fair and skillful in his management and was also a well-respected elder at Siang-lian Presbyterian Church, he was asked to manage the business of building the high-rise building of the present church. The eleven story high building with elevators going up and down was built properly floor after floor under his supervision until its completion. His contributions were tremendous! He and his wife, Wu-bin, an able school teacher, reared four children. The oldest daughter, Siok-bi, married a minister. The second daughter Nga-bi married a medical professor. The older son, Hong-ki, is a prominent businessman, and the younger son, Hsin-ki (Henry), is a reputable dentist in Westlake Village, California. His wife Siok-theng is an outstanding pianist, and their three children are excellent violinists and cellist.

Tan, Sek-giau (Dr. Hsi-Yau Chen)

He is the second son of Bi-chu. He studied medicine in Japan during the Second World War. After the war he returned to Taiwan and became a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at National Taiwan University. As he taught, he continued his research and frequently published the results of his research in the American Journal of Medicine. His diagnosis was accurate and his surgery was precise, so many sought to obtain his help. Sek-giau married Ng So-chu of Tainan and they had two sons, Cheng-ki and Beng-ki. His wife and the second son are no longer living. His older son is doing his business in Taipei. He has two grandsons.

Tan, Sin-ai (Hsin-Ai Chen)

She is the fourth child and only daughter of Bi-chu. She majored in foreign languages at National Taiwan University. She married Go Se-bian, a well-known businessman. Both came to live in Los Angeles with their three children, and were very much involved in the building of the Tai-hok Kau-hoe, the Taiwan Evangelical Church in Los Angeles. They raised three children, Phek-hong, Phek-jin, and Bo-chin. Phek-hong is doing business in Taipei, Phek-jin is doing business in Los Angeles, and Bo-chin is married to Erick and both are working in Taipei and helping their twin son and daughter to grow steadily.

Tan, Sek-lin (Dr. Stuart Chen)

He is the fifth child of Bi-chu. He has Ph.D. in clinical psychology and rendered his able services to many mental patients in psychiatric hospitals and also examined the psychological state of many prisoners in New Jersey. He continued his full-time work until the summer of 2003. His wife is Chhoa Chi-hong, a competent chemist, daughter of famous doctor in Tai-chung, Dr. Chhoa Hui-liong. Sek-lin and Chi-hong have three daughters: Janice, M.S. is serving the US army with flying colors. Her rank is Lt. Colonel working in the Pentagon. Aimee, R.N., M.S.N., N.P., is a well-educated nurse, practicing in Florida. Her husband Glenn Wiener is a chemist. Their son is Ryan. Karen, M.S. is a chemist working for Croda Co. as its marketing manager. Her husband, Christopher Murphy, is also a chemist who is the technical director of a chemical company.

 

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修訂日期: 2015 年 08 月 16 日