簡記李璧夏醫師

周蒙愛

敬虔父母

母親李璧夏（1909-2005）生於甘肅蘭州，祖籍福建惠安。清末她父親李文祥外派，先後出任蘭州郵政局長、鹽務局長；她母親張愛蓮為家中長女，持家未上學且晚婚，婚後三月，她便開始以閩南拼音學讀聖經，一直到老。我從初一起到上大學前，都陪她同住，知道她的這一習慣——每日讀聖經，也讀報。

外公少年時在教堂掃地，傳教士樂意讓他讀書。他從福州英華書院畢業，考入北京協和醫學堂學醫，由於家貧，僅一年輟學去當郵差。大清國貪腐，收不上稅，國庫空虛，委托英人代理郵政、鹽務、海關等，外公因誠實和英文好，屢次受到提拔，升為局長。後外派雲南、甘肅等省，得雙倍津貼供子女子姪上學。外公平日生活儉樸，五十年代初入殮時才將手縫布襪換為洋襪。

被主救活

璧夏於12月25日聖誕節出生，四十天時因種牛痘後患肺炎及嬰兒硬化症没了呼吸，外婆誤以為已死，放炕邊地上。外公下班大驚，策馬飛馳內地會求醫，適逢戴德生（James Hudson Taylor, 1832-1905）次子兒科醫師戴存義（Frederick Howard Taylor, 1862-1946）在。這位45歲的英籍傳道人，當即騎馬趕來，將嬰兒浸入一盆溫水，示範外婆不時以一勺温水出、一勺熱水進，以維持水溫，並用一絲棉花查看嬰兒鼻孔是否出氣兒，最终將她救活。

外婆從小對母親講這事，她六歲便立志學醫，説：“長大後，我也要做兒科醫生，也要到內地到遠方行醫傳福音救人”。日後，主一一成全了她的心願。

主賜全優

外公携家眷返京述職，將两個女兒，九歲璧夏及十歲雪夏，交托北平慕貞女校校長及女傳教士，與她女兒同學。一年之後，二女功課都趕上來，後從天津中西女中畢業，主賜全優。

1928年9月母考上燕京大學醫學預科，1931年入讀北平協和醫學院，1936年6月畢業，獲美國紐約州立大學SUNY醫學博士，有資格在美國紐約州開業行醫。因學業成績連續八年得第一，她榮穫文海獎金（Wenham Prize）並金鑰匙奬，旋即留校任教兼兒科主治醫師。其時，洛克菲勒的外甥施耐德罹患小兒麻痹症，入院協和，經她啓用最新人工鐵肺救治痊愈。出院時施耐德為表感謝，邀她赴美進修三年，並全款代付學費及生活費用，她婉拒了，僅收所贈派克金筆留念。

大罪重罰

1936年初夏，協和小禮堂禮拜完，廿餘人上二樓討論，耶穌是否是神的兒子？若是神子，可自己從十架下來。最後輪到她發言，問：“祂下來了嗎？”答：“沒有。”又問：“耶穌是神兒子嗎？”答：“不是。”不久，畢業同學出遊廬山，她回來後即高燒昏迷，被告知得傷寒不治，在隔離間等死。

悔改得救

一日護士問：“李大夫，你得救了嗎？”她說：“我沒掉水裏，為何要得救？”因她狂傲，護士轉身就走。璧夏看她將走到門口，便招手示意她回來，護士問：“你要甚麼？”答：“一本聖經。”

她用七天讀完新約，覺得羅馬書很扎心——“沒有義人，連一個也沒有”，“罪的工價乃是死，死後且有審判”，她開始認罪。主說：你若認自己的罪，神是信實的、公義的，必要赦免你的罪，洗淨你一切的不義（約一1:9）。她跪求：“主赦免我，聖靈住進我心，管理我，願蒙光照洗淨，願悔改得救。”她從昏迷高燒，一下退燒痊癒，醫生稀奇，一問之下，她承認重生得救。

與父同工

家父周康耀（1905-1982） 生於南美洲英屬圭亞那，1930年為英國浸信會差派赴華傳道。1936年父亲植堂北平寬街教會，並報備市政府。其時家母在協和進查經班，聽他講道，二人認識相愛。後來協和總務長兼女生學監的三姑光耀，勸她與康耀結婚、助他傳道。

1937年6月30日他們在英國領事館註冊結婚，當時父親要入中國籍，英領事却將璧夏註冊為英籍，或許這是神的美意，因不久即發生 “七七事變”，抗日戰爭爆發。兩月後母親隨父親赴內地傳道，毅然辭去協和醫學院教職，全校轟動。婚後一月他們變賣鋼琴傢具，欲轉道越南河內赴昆明，此時因有英國護照得以通行無阻。英領事館在其護照上注明：“浸信會宣教士，旅行範圍雲南貴州”。入滇後，她在昆明最大的惠滇醫院任兒科醫師，又到曲靖分院任院長，醫病傳道方便。

長子夭折

其時雲南霍亂流行，其三歲長子亦不幸罹患。母親整日在醫院忙著搶救病人，待進家門時，兒已昏迷。只見他兩手上抓，問他：“你要甚麼？”答：“夠不着！天使來接我了！” 父母跪下祈禱：“主啊，你若要接他，我們順服。”

痛失長子後，二舅李溫平開吉普，帶父親遊他主持修建的滇緬公路散心，不料車閘失靈，急劇下滑，父高唱：“再唱信心的歌，無論夜如何黑，你若讃美，神要工作，使你所信能得，使你所信能得！”吉普驟停，此時已有一車輪懸空峭壁。溫平說：“康耀，我們得救了！” 遂出車用石塊墊好三輪，緩緩倒回。我哥曾問：“爸，你是怎麼叫車停下的？” 父答：“就是要信啊！”

贛粵閩滬

抗戰後父母輾轉江西、廣東、福建及上海。1944年8月到梅州廣益女中，設私人診所，兼兒科醫師，父教音樂，在東門禮拜堂聚會，又去汕頭與四姑美玉會合，四姑記得父親為國軍講道。1948年，全家遷至福州鼓嶺倪柝聲主辦的執事之家，母親把在梅縣的私人診所搬到福建福州鼓嶺，開設鼓嶺診所，免費為農村鄉人治病。診所有診室、藥房，化驗室有驗血用的德國蔡斯顯微鏡。我還記得幼時愛看母親在藥房配藥和牙膏。

1950年解放後，土改工作隊來了，1951年母親把她自己的私人診所全部無償獻給國家。但由於診所與基督教有關，診所的醫生、護士、及工作人員都被管制。半年後，母親因病需要去上海手術，管制才被解除。

2018年我重回鼓嶺，與當年同輩見面，老鄉還記得李璧夏醫生醫病傳道，方圓四五十個村莊，只呼她出診救急，仍然憶及她親赴各村，自下福州購藥，並兼任小學校長等往事。那裏八成村民現在仍信主耶穌。

1952年7月，母親带着四個孩子到上海，與1952年由香港回國的父親相聚。我們始居銅仁路福音書房，後搬陳子萬弟兄自住的華山路132弄時興村1號。平日父親走路去福音書房創作並编辑出版1052首聖樂，經由香港傳往世界各地，母親在宋慶齡基金會所屬上海婦幼保健醫院任兒科主治醫師，平時有車接送上下班。母親常陪宋慶齡及沈粹縝視察醫院。在上海她與協和同班紅十字醫院院長黃淑瓊、兒科專家宋傑等重逢，因父親他們用英文交談甚歡。

聖靈帶父母走過贛粵閩滬，在滇生二子一女，贛生我，粵生小妹，順序為：蒙悅、蒙召、蒙恩、蒙愛、蒙選，名字均取意於聖經經文(西3:12-16)。自我記事起，就聽見母親每早晨五點準時讀聖經給我們聽。

由滬遷京

1956年上海銅仁路的福音書房被迫關閉前夕，中央音樂學院的二位教師接父親去任教。外公李文祥病故，外婆邀我赴京陪住。神賜母良機，赴京參與創建北京婦產醫院。編寫規章制度，頗受重用。我在滬、京十五年，見她日夜無休，買藥看病傳福音堅固信徒，疑難雜症重病她都能看，頗受人歡迎。然而母親堅持信主不入黨，逼害隨至，文革挨打抄家，站桌上批鬥，她閉眼禱告，甚麽也沒聽見，直到人喊，鬥完還不下來！某日操場挖坑，就差推她入坑，有護士喊，饒了她吧，她死了，醫院規章制度還要嗎？都是她寫的。文革十年，被鬥掃廁所，住廁所三個月，鹹菜度日，一月只發15元生活费。因有主同在，兼傳福音，掃廁所特認真，不以為恥；為義受逼迫，不怕屈辱，為主值得，只為榮耀神。

在美勸勉

1985年我在美國麻省工作，邀母來美。1986年2月10日至20日，母親被里根總統請去白宫參加早餐禱告會。在早餐會上，里根總統說，請Dr Li發言，母親便起立祈禱，提到美國一些大學不許公開讀聖經、離婚率過高、給女中學生發避孕葯作法消極、應積極加强教育，以及早餐會吃得太好但禱告太少等等。她數算美國虧欠神13項，求神引領美國覺醒復興。某宗教領袖拉她坐下，曰不可不敬總統，母親答：“聖靈賜話語，不可不説。”里根總統聽了，説： “很久没有聽到這樣的禱告了！” 便囑咐她也到每個分會場去講。參加早餐禱告會有美國50個州的州長和美國各大學的校長，以及宗教界領袖，里根總統夫人南希、副總統布什及其夫人巴巴拉也在座，母親和他們同桌進早餐。在禱告會上，母親也勸時任白宫主要顧問牧師葛培理（Billy Graham）去中國講道。

1988年葛培理到上海沐恩堂講道，派人到上海泰安路120弄8號，請我姐姐和姐夫去聽道，又在希爾頓大飯店與他們再次見面。第二天，葛培理被當時上海市長朱鎔基接見，他們二人合影的新聞照片，登在《文匯報》頭版。

1991年1月31日，美國總統布什和他夫人出公證的邀請信，再次請母親赴華盛頓參加總統早餐禱告會，這是她第三次來美國。禱告會後，母親在華府二萬青年奮興會勉勵，又到十四州幾個退修會證道，也傳福音給個人，並再次見到葛培理及夫人Ruth 。她說，Ruth是她的好朋友。

10月31日母親回國前，請她給我勸勉。她講了有關蒙愛的經文。又説，要愛，還要溫柔(Meek)。我慚愧至今，存記在心。

熱愛福音不住傳道

母親一生藉看病傳福音所及，我難計數，神都知道，我問最小的表弟：希禹，你和侯梅怎麽信耶穌的？他笑着說，因為二姑呀。1995年，我帶她和妹妹去北戴河開臨床腫瘤和癌症標記會議，住在鄧小平套房，她還是見人就傳福音，説：得時不得時都要傳福音。

母親來波士頓時，見到我的同事朋友，照樣傳福音。有位同事聽見就連聲說道，你母親在講道嗎？母親每天跪在兒子床邊為他禱告，那時我兒還在六年級，倒是呼應她作見證。她説一天三次為他禱告，要他學醫好傳福音，我看他身體性格沒信心，但是母親堅持祈禱蒙神垂聽。相隔六年未見，見面上車就叫我們跟著她背詩篇第一篇中英文。最后1991秋天離別時，她還説，她一周讀了一遍新約。

四伯Joe去世，請來四伯母，母親與每天換一個地方傳福音的四伯母Aunt Margaret正好談得來；與其他周家親友也是, 四姑次子Alec和太太Eudora（家族記事作者大律師周雅各的次子明和與海倫），個個都熱心愛主並傳福音，這是周家數代傳統，充滿頌讚詩歌和禱告分享。

母親是第一個向我婆婆傳福音，向我妹妹的公婆傳福音的人，都有回應；那是文革中，我婆婆腦子清楚，她手放在胸口，點頭贊同我母親，我既高興又大為吃驚。

榮歸天家

母親85歲時一度失憶不認老友，後恢復帶領禱告及背誦聖經，逐漸改善。90歲背詩篇第19篇中英文給闊別十多年的外甥，我對照聖經聽她，竟一字不差。過年時央視聞訊，大雪天開兩輛大車，來家連續錄像，錄下九旬老母親背唱聖詩卅多首。其實她天天如此。

2005年1月30日主日唱詩歌，忽聽不見她的大聲，因她呼完最後一口氣，安息主懷。

父母合葬於北京錫安園，墓碑石棺上刻有以馬忤斯路上主為門徒講解聖經的话：“摩西的律法、先知的書，和詩篇上所記的，凡指著我的話，都必須應驗。”（路24:44）

作者屬愛主團契

責任編輯：陳一萍

周蒙愛

【編者按】這是一個有故事的家族，乃是歷史 (History) 的主藉著這一家族顯明祂的作為，祂的故事 (His Story)。而歷史長河中的涓涓溪流，正是一代又一代經歷祂作為、述說祂作為、記錄祂作為的故事所串成；感謝蒙愛姐妹忠實記錄了她父親一生的故事。不但如此，她也曾寫下她祖輩數代的故事，詳見《心版》第28期（2018/12）《數代奇恩：宣教往事》、第29期（2019/12）《神怎樣帶領我祖父大衛》；願這些故事不斷激勵著我們，更緊緊地跟隨主的腳踪前行。所附家譜供參考，以明數代人物之關係。

簡歷身世。 家父周康耀（Charles Henry Ewing Chow）1904.3.18出生於南美洲英屬圭亞那，1982.8.21卒於北京，是鋼琴演奏家、作曲家、獨唱及多聲部歌唱家。在英國浸信會受訓講道後赴華宣教。1930年任上海海關高級職員，1932年北上清華教授音樂，开始從家庭查經到1936年組建北平寬街教堂。1937年與協和畢業留校的李璧夏醫師（Esther Pi-Hsia  Li，Bixia，1909-2005）結婚，婚後即赴內地宣教。1948年在汕頭講道、到福州鼓嶺執事之家奉獻，其時祖父子女五家齊聚香港，他本要接家眷出國，卻為福音缘故再回國。後任上海福音書房音樂編輯，出詩歌本三冊1052首。1956年初教會及福音書房被迫關閉。中央音樂學院鋼琴、管弦两系主任易開基、許勇三派二人接他到中央音樂學院任教，1964年他退休返京。1978年到離世前，任教中國醫科院協和研究生院英文口語。謹此簡記家父身世為人。

幾代信主。曾祖周洛伍牧師 (Luk Wu Chau)，探访移民苦力蒙召，富戶高祖將兒獻與主。洛伍赴南美種植園做苦力傳道，在英屬圭亞那喬治敦植堂兩座，勞累早逝。祖父大衛9歲喪父，輟學進姐夫店學商。優銀牧師贈他姓氏（Ewing），班主任Hewlings每晨5時教他，半年讀完8年級，至囑：“無論遇何事，神必領你走過。”12歲因受浸被姐夫逐出，然大衛勤工事主，16歲即被立為教會長老。祖父因信譽卓著亦成企業家，並任英法荷屬圭亞那三國基督教聯合會長，曾奔波三座教堂以雙語講道，深孚眾望。後於中年過勞離世。祖母安梅利（Emily  Leung， 1870-1927）賢德聞名，育八子四女，在子女越洋宣教前後過世，送殯者眾。

幼年顯露音樂天賦 樂遵祖訓赴華植堂

音樂天賦。祖父大衛家業漸豐時我父出生，11子女均上牛津良校，家教重德才音樂體育，每主日崇拜後孩童禱讀頌讃。家父初學琴即顯天賦，他在四面開窗風滿樓堂的客廳獨自練琴，琴聲風聲震撼交融，老師催祖父另擇良師。後師從英國皇家音樂學院女教師半年，入選皇家音樂學院主辦鋼琴大賽，9歲的他彈奏拉赫馬尼諾夫#C小調前奏曲和巴赫G小調前奏曲一鳴驚人獲金奬。曾兩年蟬聯倫敦音樂學院鋼琴賽金牌。英王喬治五世1910即位後，巡視英聯邦各地，親臨英屬圭亞那他家，孩童的他遵命演奏，博得英王親吻讃譽。

過洋宣教。祖父遺訓 “往普天下去傳福音”。我三伯雅各律師（James，1894-1980）出售家居巨宅及全數糖廠店鋪，資助宣教。1927年四姑美玉先赴華，1930年三姑光耀與家父同船抵滬。協和李宗恩院長聘三姑任後勤總管兼女生學監22年。六叔（宏寶Robert ，1907-1992）離港大醫學院，到燕京大學學國文，隨美國牧師華北內蒙佈道。家父持英國特許會計師執照，任教於會計學院，并受聘上海海關高級職員二年。其間為以純正國語講道，曾交費專門學習華語。後赴清華大學教授音樂，曾與馬思聰等名家同台演出，倍受歡迎。在京時與三姑一起，從家庭查經拓展到植堂，現著名的寬街教會即由家父周康耀、平新我、陶猛於1936年報備北平市始設立。2008年奥運小布什總統訪華，曾到寬街教堂禮拜。

婚後內地傳道   臨危高歌獲救

內地宣教。三姑曾對璧夏説：你與康耀結婚，好助他傳道。1937年父母結婚，父親想入華籍，英領事注冊結婚時却將母親入了英籍。新婚夫婦變賣一切去宣教，憑英國護照他們經河內抵昆明。璧夏是協和唯一連續八年第一名、獲金鑰匙及文海獎金留校任教的主治醫師，她辭職傳道被協和及娘家看作“瘋癲”。在昆明家母任惠滇醫院副院長，主管婦兒科，為西南聯大、航校師生看病傳道，並哀痛航校弟兄空戰抗日幾全犧牲。父母初抵滇時僅餘錢九角，恰逢英宣教士返國，贈父鋼琴，度過難關。60年後該牧師赴京觀光恭王府，竟巧入附近家門與家母驚喜相逢，憶及此事。當年家父與六叔翻山傳道，隨俗學方言，以防土匪綁票。多年後我妹蒙選赴滇扶貧，還遇到老鄉說起“大周小周”當年佈道一事。倪柝聲母親林和平、教會文獻、唐守臨等均有回憶我父母宣教蹤跡，不贅。

所信能得。時值雲南霍亂流行，我母忙於救治。一日，我長兄蒙悅（David，1938-1941）看護弟弟蒙召而染病；母親進家見兒昏迷，父母祈禱唱詩，蒙悅兩手上抓，説：夠不著，夠不著！問：夠甚麽？答：天使來接，夠不著。父母説：主啊！你若接他，我們順服。蒙悅睡了。父哀働欲絕，父子情深相像，長子一歲半讀經識字150，三歲善勸父母。其時二舅溫平擔綱修建中印、滇緬戰略公路，慰我父喪子之痛，帶他觀景，不料車閘失靈下滑，人皆大驚失色，我父高歌：“再唱信心的歌！無論夜如何黑；你若讚美，神要工作，使你所信能得！”遂吉普驟停，一輪正懸峭壁外。二舅用石墊妥三個車輪，説：“康耀，我們得救了！”我哥哥曾問：“爸，你怎麼叫車停下的？”他說：“就是要信啊！”二舅95歲時，說，“有那次經歷，一輩子都不會不信！”

喜樂順服編輯詩歌   北上中央音樂學院

順服事主。1948年我們住汕頭四姑家，我父曾在街頭講道，後經福州海關巷倪柝聲家上到鼓嶺執事之家，開辦診所奉獻一切。1948-1952年祖父在華宣教的子女五家到港聚齊，我父本欲接家眷出國，卻為福音緣故回滬，辭別兄姐道，我們靠主，不要寄錢。他兄姐等人離港，赴加拿大、新加坡、南美、美國繼續宣教，獨留我父一家在華。1952年家父住上海同仁路福音書房編輯詩歌、負責音樂崇拜，為千首詩歌寫易彈悅耳和弦，工程浩大。記得在亭子間他大汗淋漓，沒空教我們，由我帶妺去岳陽路倪柝聲家學琴，到基督教青年會演奏。主日一早父子到南陽路聚會處掃廁所，哥問：為何掃廁所？答：需要。1957年外婆邀請我們赴京陪她住，1958年6月我和妺在寬街教堂受浸。7月全市60間教會併為四堂：缸瓦市、崇文門、珠市口、寬街，不久又都關門。

音樂治療喚醒心靈  幾經危難蒙主保守

蒙主保守。我父童年教師大提琴琴聲悠揚、芭蕾舞舞姿翩翩，南美民間濃郁風情舞曲，全融入他早期教育中。他記性極佳，老年偶聞南美曲調，記憶閘門頓開，即興彈奏，節奏獨特，舞意盎然，一展西班牙舞姿令人稱奇。我父倡導音樂治療。深知頌讃、仰望、安慰、激勵，舒緩、寧靜，能救治心靈、有利康復。他彈琴為奄奄一息垂危者恢復脈動，使孩童破涕為笑，令老者油生鄉愁。1978年改革開放，失聯28年海外來鴻，他欣喜寫下：“回家吧，歸來吧”的感人英文詩句。我父情感豐沛，隨興彈唱廣受欣賞，為感悟讃美之人配詞寫曲。作曲家黃安倫説：“我查出你父親為倪柝聲譜寫數曲。”1956年朱工一得知福音書房關閉，立即邀請他北上任教。（朱工一後來接任易開基為鋼琴系主任。）鋼琴系主任易開基和管弦系主任許勇三派教師二人到滬，接他去中央音樂學院（時在天津）任教，直至1964年退休後回京。

喜樂滿懷。我父頌讀聖經開心，隨處默禱歡暢。囑我：不看外表，不聽聲調；安靜主前，服事底層。十歲的我聽此言，頓生敬畏。1956年上海教會關門，他北上任教，紅房子醫院黃淑瓊母女知其所愛，擺滿鮮花送行。父係博物學家幾筆速繪花草，隨處指認花草“科目種屬”。他翻曬大英百科全書，我看非洲民情精美圖片，聽他談童年黑人摯友。父親晨跑後海，午游什剎海到70多歲，泳壇冠軍穆祥雄之父穆成寬是他泳伴。他多年免費教英語，帶我看訪中風的學生母親。我亦隨他探望過波蘭猶裔音樂家夫婦普都氏卡及瑪麗，到樓頂鐵皮棚屋看肝病重患謝叔叔。我考入協和医大及畢業赴青海藏區行醫時，他都為我按手禱告。雖他老友多名人(註1)，卻與稚童老弱為伍，與卅年代澡堂工友往來；我父接來缺臂無腿殘疾人坐他床上，墊妥枕頭棉被，家人不快，唯姐夫澤才願背進背出。父親熱情風趣，初二時我表姐同班與他笑談甚歡，未料後竟成我小姑。鄰里都愛他純真爽朗。

摯愛基督以神為樂，熱心福音直到安息

持守愛主。我父鍾愛聖經原則。為宣教他三度放棄薪職名望家財：赴華、赴滇、回滬，他只可惜攝影的四鐵箱照片留港失散。1930年任海關高職，卄年後回滬低薪是原薪零頭，他照舊快樂。在職場、教會及家庭遭遇不平順時，他常謙和笑唱：馬馬虎虎嘻嘻哈哈，讓它過去。海外親友為他是音樂家自豪，他是家人寵兒，卻樸素勤勉，自理頭髮及縫補，為我兒親綉中文名贈他毛巾。日常穿著整潔大方，喜烹調做甜點與人共享，惯於訂閱澳洲英文報刊。1966年文革恐怖，從未上學的外婆出租一室打成“房產主”被毆。外婆曾不悦我母新婚辭職隨我父傳道，但外婆被毆臥床四個月，因我母被被關押在醫院挨鬥，只我父一人在家悉心伺候料理，常瞒过红衛兵將雞蛋埋粥碗底餵她。他還技巧地“警示”紅衛兵“不要侮辱”領袖像，讓他們驚悚，說：“快讓這外國老頭走，別碰他！”在那個年代能讓红衛兵收手亦是奇事。當我母因信主在醫院受慘烈逼迫时，他站廚房浴室間對我低聲說：“我去醫院稱她‘李璧夏大夫’，我不改變！”  我就全明白了。

為榮耀神。我父編輯配寫和弦《詩歌增訂暫編本》三冊，於1956年出版，由張弟兄攜往香港流傳於世，各地教會采納編集傳唱。2000年在香港柏寧酒店，鋼琴家崔世光領我見張弟兄，聽他講親手送詩歌本到港之事。并憶當年在半山，我父指揮青年詩班高唱“榮耀，榮耀”，歌聲衝霄、霞光輝映、壯麗美景彰顯神榮美。2004年我父百年誕辰，我兄蒙召應“紀念聖詩傳華百年”音樂會之邀赴港。

我父深信所做一切，都為榮耀神，不留己名。他一生喜樂順服主，好憐憫富同情心，樂交友扶助殘弱，放膽傳道。其音樂經歷由中國音樂研究所名指揮家李德倫存檔，亦見於《中國音樂家詞典》第1000頁。1982年喜歸天家之日，仍在傳道，説：我見父母來接，叫兒孫都來道別。在病榻他賦詩作曲明志，他的靈床鮮花綻放。（註2）

註1.名人指：中央及中國音樂學院、舞蹈學院、藥科大學等創建人：馬思聰、老至誠、戴愛蓮、朱工一等，南京藥科大學校長劉國傑帶子西拉、媳陳陳來彈奏；戰友文工團長宋文喜、文征平夫婦來訪，歌聲震動屋宇。

註2. May  I Rest My Weary Soul in Thee, in Thee Alone!《唯在主裡我疲乏靈魂得享安息》，寫於1978年4月首次中風時；Formal Acceptance of God’s Love and Grace as Revealed in His Beloved Son《真確領受神愛子所啓示神的大愛和恩典》，1982年7月寫於病床；Hymn of Joy, Praise, Love and Adoration 《喜樂頌揚摯愛敬拜之歌》，周康耀賦詞作曲於六月，1982年8月21日被主接去。

作者簡介：屬愛主團契 責任編輯：陳一萍

How God Led My Grandfather David

By Anna Beth

Great Grandfather called as a Missionary Coolie，Two Churches Built before His Death

In January 1860, my great grandfather Rev. Luk-Wu Chau (周路伍牧師) accompanied an American missionary to visit the immigrant coolies onboard at Canton Seaport. He had pity on coolies as there were no believers to minister to them. The missionary asked, “Why don’t you go with them?” After asking God on his knees to confirm that it was God’s calling, he told his parents. They had no objection and put him in God’s keeping. The next morning, he took his wife with her medicine chest and luggage to register as immigrant coolies on board. Once all set, the ship launched for the South Pacific, passed the Strait of Malacca, via the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and arrived at the destination, Georgetown, the capital of British Guiana. During the nearly three-month voyage, his wife cared for many who were seasick. Once they landed, they were sent to the plantation of Peter’s Hall. Rev. Chau was mistreated as ‘Lazy’, but they later found out that he was a pastor, an intellectual, being able to write letters for coolies. He proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Savior and converted many coolies to believers. He built two similar churches, one in the West Bank of the River and one in the East. He endured hard toil on the farm and ministered to coolies day and night for 16 years. He fell ill in bed and passed away a year later.

Grandfather Left School at Twelve for Hire God Granted Hewlings and Ewing to Edify

Great grandmother Mack Shee (謝瑪克, 1820-1914) escaped from the piles of dead bodies that the Qing army slaughtered nearly 100 millions, wiping out the rebels in Southern China. She was received by my great great grandparents who were wealthy believers. Mack Shee, a strong and capable medical doctor, married my great grandfather Pastor Luk-Wu Chau and together immigrated to British Guiana to minister to coolies. She laboured in the field and dealt with urgent cases of illness. At that time, the male, female, and child-labor daily wages were three pennies, two pennies, and one penny respectively. They were provided a shed, a yard, and seeds to grow vegetables, and raise chicken as they wished. In 1876, great grandfather died and left his wife with two children far from their homeland. She picked a rich shop owner Kam to marry her daughter through her match-maker friend. She let her son Loy Chau quit school to be hired by Kam to learn the business. Great grandmother and Kam were then not Christians but self-reliant, so they resented Loy’s dependence on God for everything.

Anglican Pastor D. Ewing had favor on Loy for he loved Sunday school, swimming, soccer, weightlifting and boxing, so he granted Loy his Scottish family name Ewing. Loy Chau registered his chosen name formally as David Johnston Ewing Chow （大衛 約翰斯通 優銀 周， 1867-1923）in the Anglican Church. David obeyed his mother and to quit school. David’s headmistress, Miss Hewlings, saw that his scores had always won first place from the first grade to the fifth grade, and said to him, “What a pity, you have not yet finished your sixth grade courses. The shop opens at 6:15 am. Come to me at 5:00 am, and I will teach you Math and English literature. I am sure you can finish them all within six months. You love to read. I will lend you the books you need. They are useful for your future. In anything you do, never forget: It is God who will help you through everything.” David came to her daily at 5:00 am till he completed all of his eighth grade courses. His reading speed and good memory allowed him to complete everything in five and a half months. David thanked Miss Hewlings for her love and kindness. David loved reading the Bible, singing hymns, and kept learning diligently all his life.

Lost Job and Left Home Due to Baptism ，God Led Him to Various Business Skills

At the age of twelve, David decided to be baptized. His mother and Kam said, “if you do, you must leave the family shop.” In public, he would wear a Chinese long gown, which would be washed and ironed in advance. At 11 pm, he closed and organized the shop, and went to sleep at 12 am, and got up as usual at 4 am. Baptism Sunday had arrived and this was his happy day to glorify God. However, the long gown was missing. He immediately realized that his family wanted to stop him. After a quick breakfast, he walked 8 miles to catch the first ferry at 6:30 am, and arrived at the opposite side at 7 am. Then he walked 4 miles to the Chinese Baptist Church at Peter’s Hall. Everyone was busy preparing for the banquet after baptism. They were surprised to see David dressed in shorts, not in his long gown! He explained that his long gown was well-prepared but missing as his family wished to stop him from being baptized. Regardless, he came to be baptized. They teased him and provided him with all the necessities. The pastor said: “God looks at a man’s heart, not at what he wears.” When he returned home, his mother and Kam asked him to leave. He knew God allowed him to be tested, and said, “God will carry me through all the tests.” He saved the wage that Kam paid him at the departure and deposited the money in the post office near the train station. He sighed in saying goodbye and prayed for his mother to be in God’s keeping.

God led David to two shops. He prayed and chose Wolee for having opportunities to talk about Jesus and personal development, and to be near Rev. Lau Fook of Peter’s Hall Church. The shopkeeper knew little English. He saw that David was bilingual and skilled at bookkeeping and said: “You are honest and straight-forward and you are the one I need.” He paid him much better than Kam did. David had meals with his assistant and the shopkeeper’s family. The two banks in the city opened at 9 am for cash deposit of weekly sales, then for purchasing goods. He took the slack period to go to the department stores to meet the managers, staff, and studied all sorts of goods and businesses. He would pop in to see how the tailor measured customers, and cut out paper patterns and stitch them together; how the jeweler melted gold or silver coins and poured the molten mass into metal molds with holes of various sizes. As the metals went through the holes, they would harden into thin threads and be dropped into the basins of water to form different shapes and be turned into jewelry. He observed how carpenters laid the foundation to take the extremely bitter greenheart woodblocks, the boards were laid on the pillars and on the pitch-pine boards above the pillar, the position of the windows and hinges to them and the rafters. He remembered details and took notes afterwards.

Serving Church and Praying Hard，Mother Repented but Kam Died

Similarly, he learned how to cook rice, vegetables, meats, and fish with salt, pepper, sugar, vinegar, soybean sauce at the right heat so that the vegetables would be green and crispy, and the beef with soy sauce, sugar in wet starch, tenderly flavored. All of the notes played a part in his ministry and in the kitchen in church and for his future. Over a year in Wolee, he provided the herbs and ointments his mother used successfully. He also sold groceries like flour and rice in wholesale and barrels of smoked fish and salted meat with full knowledge of the business, as he knew the prices fluctuated now and then, based on the scarcity of the stock until new stock came. David fully enjoyed his work and prayed for his mother.

God led David back to Kam since Kam’s helper was dishonest and incapable and Kam was addicted to opium. So they asked David to return and apologized for letting him go. David resigned from Wolee, took the train to Leonora, and rushed home. His mother in tears hugged her only son and repented. Waking up from lethargy Kam asked David, “Will you pray for me to God and Jesus Christ that I may give up opium and be healed, if I promise not to touch the opium pipe anymore?” David said, “Are you serious about your promise to God and me to stop smoking?” He said, “Yes.” David knelt beside him, prayed earnestly to God to break the addiction in Jesus’ name and to heal him, and thanked God for hearing his prayer. Kam slept well through the night, then had three meals, repented, and put away the pipes. Business improved for five months. Then the opium smoke re-appeared. Kam had resumed smoking opium, became very ill, and implored David to pray for him. Though discouraged, David knelt by Kam to request earnestly, but in the midst of the prayer, someone came in shouting, “Hog’s Head.” Immediately Kam replied, showing that he was not in prayer. David felt God would not answer this prayer. The next night, Kam died. His sister married a brother in the church six months later.

Laid Hand as an Elder and Being Taught Granted Godly Emily and Children

Peter’s Hall had morning and evening services. But Leonora was far away, and so had to be content with only one morning service, except if on special occasions, the Pastor stayed for the night, then two services were held – morning and afternoon. Rev. Lau Fook led by the Lord appointed David at almost 16 as the Elder of the Leonora, agreed with his request to be taught in Peter’s Hall biweekly. The deacons and brothers in the East Bank came to serve in rotation.

God led David to set up his own shop. David saw an empty plot of land of about two acres in the middle of the village, abandoned by the owner. He at once went to ask the landowner if he would like to sell the unused field. The owner promptly said, “Yes” and offered the land for $500. David immediately purchased the land. David built similar houses for two shops, a grocery store stocked up in barrels, and a department store for clothing. His mother, sister, and two nephews all came to help. In two weeks, the store opened on a Saturday, which was payday in the plantations. Everyone wished to see what David would sell in his new store: new toys, kid’s clothing, hardware, smoked meat, and fish in cans, etc. The sales ran quite well from 10 am to 10:30 pm, with the last 30 minutes for guests from distant farms. David’s classmates and nephews watched over the goods. They ate cold meals with hot tea, organized the goods, washed and went to bed.

The next day was Sunday. David led his nephews to Leonora church, calling people on the way to the service at 11 am to worship God. The new store was a great success. God led him to get a wife as his helper. He asked Rev Lau about the shy girl Emily（艾米利梁, 1870-1927） across Sunday lunch table with her parents. Everyone said, the two were an excellent match and the marriage would be a great help to the Leonora church. Her mother was blind and her father a good shopkeeper. David fell in love with her, so did she with him. Pastor Lau blessed the two in their engagement and held their wedding in two months in the Leonora. People of the three churches gathered in the Leonora to celebrate. Then Emily became pregnant but at 4 months suffered a miscarriage due to overwork in the shop and in the garden. The couple trusted in God for His good will to let them have some experience for the future. They thanked God for His kindness and protection. God granted them 8 boys and 4 girls: All except two were given Biblical names. The eldest girl was named Rebecca, the second a son, Solomon, then Jeremiah (Jerry), James, Rachel, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, Charles, Robert, Emmanuel (died young), and Nathaniel. Eleven grew up and all loved the Lord.

Summary

The rich merchant Hoashoo who supported churches was aging. So he called David and their wives to pray, and then hired a teacher for home schooling after school hours. Two families held home worship after Sunday service in the church. The eldest son-in-law James Low came. The three families: Hoashoo, Ewing Chow and Low worked together in ministry and in business. During World War I, there was a shortage of sugar. David, led by God, with his reputation purchased eight sugar cane plantations and updated sugar factories. He was a known entrepreneur and elected as president of the Christian Association of the British, Dutch, and French Guiana. To win over the younger generation for Christ, he built and managed the YMCA in Georgetown. Rev. Fook Lau’s passing made him the only bilingual preacher in the three churches at Peter’s Hall, the East Bank, and the Leonora. David, overworked, collapsed and died with a word to his children: “Leave home to spread the gospel afar with funding set ahead for their missions.”

Amazing Grace through Generations

Anna Beth

Initial Cause Tom, my son’s father-in-law, said earnestly, we ought to pass on our family heritage to my grand-daughter Amelia in writing. Her first birthday has drawn near. What is the proper gift for her? Her pure joy has stirred up my heart: In the coming ages God might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.(Eph 2:7) Oh！Yes. I am to write for her “Amazing Grace through Generations: Stories of the Missionaries.” It should be in English and Chinese for the little girl to learn both as her mother wishes.

Outline The series is led by a synopsis, initially depicted by my 3rd uncle James, “David and His Children” about the family stories of my grandpa, David Johnstone Ewing Chow (周大衛, 1867-1923). Uncle James L. Chow (周雅各, 1894-1980) studied at the Christ College of Cambridge University and Gray’s Inn of Court. He was distinguished among the few who were qualified to stand and to plea, as the British Barrister at Law (Cantab. England, 1916). He joined Chinese Christian Student Federation, where he served in teaching at the east-end London. His writing on the Ewing-Chows was passed on to me by Dr. Alexander Kee Sui Pan (潘其瑞, 1932-2017), his grandson Alec, who stated, “This is the sole copy.” Alec’s father, my 4th Uncle –in-law Dr. Tsoh Chen Peter Pan (潘作琴, 1899-1959), served Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as her personal physician. He also served the Lord. Alec’s mother was my 4th Aunt Moy (Mary Honora 周美玉, 1900-1987). The personalities of the family tree in the outline are shown below.

July of 1981 my family was invited to Canada by my cousin. When Alec passed on Uncle James’s typed manuscript, and said, “ This is the sole photo copy I made…… Under the influence of your father (Charles Ewing Chow 周康耀, 1904-1982) in my childhood, I obtained dual degrees of Medicine and Music for gospel to serve the Lord. This article describes the first missionary trip of the Chows from China to South America. For the awareness and benefit of those of us living in America, and the generations to come, it is being written in English and Chinese, extending hence from great grandpa to grandpa, from grandpa to my father with aunts and uncles, and from father to us and our children. The torch of the gospel has been and will be passed on from one generation to the next. God works wonders in every individual’s heart returning to Him and acknowledging Him, our Lord Jesus Christ as the personal savior and the Lord of our life; and, we follow His footsteps, according to His calling to each of us.

World Turbulence and Family Migration

In the middle of 19th century the world was in turbulence. The United Kingdom experienced social upheaval due to abolition of slavery. It caused a shortage of labourers in the plantations in British Guiana, where slaves were no longer sold. Therefore, the British government imported poor or destitute farmers by contract to come to South America as coolies or labourers in the plantation. At the same time, in China, an army of the Qing Dynasty Empire maneuvered to conquer the rebels sweeping through Southern China, fiercely suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, which was waged from 1850 to 1864, against Qing dynasty with estimated war deaths up to 70-100 million. Rebels in numerous towns and villages were wiped out. People were slaughtered, leaving piles of dead fighters and families. Some survivors hid beneath heaps of bodies, and after the army left, these survivors fled. Luckily those who survived this calamity heard of the potential immigrants signing contracts, heading to a new world across the ocean with the help of British people. They all rushed to Canton, thinking of how to escape from the slaughterhouse, and to cross the sea to the plantation working as coolies as the cost of paying for the voyage. With great uncertainty for their future, but needing to flee at any cost, they rushed to get on board to avoid the massacre. They could not wait to be there, where they would have food and lodging, and safety.

Visiting Immigrants Onboard, a Young Pastor Receiving A Calling

Now this is where my grandpa David’s father Chau Luk-wu (周路伍, died in1876) and the founder of the Chinese Baptist Church comes in. My great grandparents were missionaries by calling to ministry, but David’s mother Mack Shee (謝瑪克, 1820-1914) was also a doctor and acupuncturist.. She treated patients using herbal medicines, including dried specimens and seeds. It is extraordinary how my great grandparents became immigrants to British Guiana. The day before the ship was to sail, an American Baptist Pastor and Missionary, accompanied by a young keen Chinese Pastor Chau Luk-wu, my grandpa David’s father, went to see some of the immigrants congregating on the wharf. The young Pastor’s heart was stirred with pity and sighed, saying: “How sad it is to see this boat full of my countrymen going to a distant country with no one to minister to them.” The missionary turned to him, smiled, and said, “Why not go with them and take the gospel to them and others there?”

Pastor Chao Luk-wu Obeyed Calling to Oversea Mission

As soon as the young pastor Chao Luk-wu周路伍went home, he got on his knees and prayed, “Is it a call from you, Lord that I shall go?” He definitely felt that it was. He at once told his parents that he believed the Lord had asked him to go on the ship the next day to declare the “good news” and God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son. Whosoever believes in Him and confesses their sins before God, their sins little and big, they would be forgiven, for Jesus shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary, for the remission of the sins of the whole world-you and me. His parents, apparently Christians, made no attempt to stop him, but commended him into God’s keeping. He and his wife Mack Shee 謝瑪克said goodbye to his parents and family and went to the pier, just in time to get on board before the ship sailed away from the pier and headed for the sea.

The Voyage was Hard

The ship was named the Red Riding Hood (Red Riding Hood, see page 28 ) and set off January 22, 1860, sailing through Singapore, past the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived at Georgetown, British Guiana South America on April 8. The voyage was a long and tedious one, occupying 75 days, passing through the Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean (See bellow). The trip was very trying and painful for the Pastor. He was unlike the farmers and workers of the fields, was not accustomed to a “hard” life. However, with medicinal herbs from David’s mother, who was an herbalist and Chinese doctor, Chau Luk-wu was able to help many on the ship combat sea-sickness and other ailments. As a result, fewer died en route, compared with previous voyages to British Guiana.

Born in Chung-San, Guangdong province, Chau Luk-wu 周路伍, my grandpa David’s father was reported in the 1915 book by British governor, Sir Cecil Clementi (1875-1947). He had traveled with his wife Mack Shee 謝瑪克 on the Dora which landed in Georgetown on April 4th, 1860. Family memoirs show that Chau Luk-wu started working in Demerara and it is more likely that Chau and his wife were passengers aboard the Red Riding Hood which landed 5 days after the Dora.（My great grandma Mack Shee 謝瑪克 and her grandson, my 3rd Uncle James 周雅各, a photo of 1914, see bellow）

For Gospel A Young Pastor Was Made a Coolie

Georgetown, the capital of British Guiana, is near an island called, “The Devil’s Island,” where the French government sent political prisoners and hardened criminals to the end of their days. Very few were able to escape due to the sea being infested by sharks. Those who made it passed the sharks soon had to give themselves up to the authorities, as most were nearly dying from starvation. The Devil’s Island no longer exists as a prison, as it brought notoriety to the French government and people.

On arrival in Georgetown, on the Demerara River, the immigrant indentured laborers went to the various sugar and other plantations. Grandpa David’s parents Chau Luk-wu 周路伍, wife Mack Shee 謝瑪克were sent to the Sugar Plantation of Vries-Lust, about 7 miles from the City of Georgetown. On arrival, the Pastor Chau Luk-wu was sent to Peter’s Hall, near the sugar estate there. But he could not physically tolerate the labour of the cane field, and became ill.

Ministering Coolies Wholeheartedly

The overseers thought he was a malingerer who was pretending to be sick, but soon discovered that he was a refined and educated man as he used to write letters for the other Chinese labourers to be sent to their families in Canton. “See how God works!!”
Chau worked in the fields while his wife was later able to earn a bit extra as a herbalist and acupuncturist by providing medical services to the Chinese workers, although payment usually came in the form of garden vegetables, eggs and chickens.

He was then made a sort of teacher and advisor to the workers. That suited him because he was able to teach and preach to them about this Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the course of time, he was able to convert quite a number. Through the help of his former pastor and the Baptist Church, he erected a church that seated about 120 people, as well as a house behind the church with about 4-5 rooms, a kitchen, and a large verandah, a half-sized safe parapet wall, and, the original enclosing wall of the old church.

Breaking New Territory for the Good News

The house was built on high greenheart-wood pillars and the wood of the house was of crab-wood which termites would not eat, because both greenheart and crabwood were very bitter. The church went on expanding in members and the workers on the estate saved enough money, to build another church and house across the Demerara River, almost opposite Peter’s Hall, as there were many Chinese workers at three of the largest estates there, so the converts there could work among them to accept the Lord. They therefore were able to build another church near the Canal Bridge, so that members from Peter’s Hall could take their boats to attend service and leave them at the Canal Bridge, and walk to the church about 200 yards distant.

They also put up a large building for the Elder or for whomever was sent there to conduct services to be able to stay there in the four large bedrooms. Adjoining the building was an enormous shed where meals were provided and where baptism services were held for converts. Converts were baptized in a deep pond at the back of the church. The rear of the church and baptismal pond was a long stretch of land with coconut and fruit trees, which was used for graves of deceased members of the church. This church was on the east bank of the Demerara River, whereas Peter’s Hall was on the west bank of the Demerara River.
Planting and Building Two Churches

At Peter’s Hall, the church ran a long way right up to the river. At low tide, the river would recede about 50 yards, so they built a bridge right up to the water at low tide so that baptisms could be held at either low tide or high tide.

Still later, another church was built on the west coast on land given by the Leonora Estate Company. The church was built by the side of the main road, which branched off to the left, on all the land from the bridge running several hundred yards up to the seashore. On that land, the members followed the same pattern of construction as at Peter’s Hall on the east bank. The church was named the Canal West Bank Church. The baptismal pond and main church, which could hold 150 people, were located at the front. Behind the church building was a house with 4 rooms to accommodate those to be baptized. Beyond these buildings was a large kitchen shed for cooking meals. Beside this shed, was Pastor’s building with 2 large bedrooms for the Pastor’s use, and another large room divided into two sections for the caretaker, and for those who wished to spend the night there.

Rested Untimely Leaving His Son to Carry On

Great grandpa worked in the field. So did his wife in the field, rescued the immigrants in emergency, with herbs and acupuncture for free, though she accepted chicken and eggs. She gave birth to a son at age 47 in the field. The boy Chow Loy 周洛宜 was my grandpa and his name was changed at baptism at age 12 by Pastor Ewing to：David Johnstone Ewing Chow. That was what David’s mother told him: After she gave birth to David, Mr. Ewing found her working in the field with her infant in a bag beside her. From then on, he got her work indoors.

Mr. Hoashoo, a rich merchant, acted as David did, and helped considerably to erect the church. Years later, when he died, he was buried at the church. “The two families of Hoashoo, and David Ewing Chow were closely related. Later, the Lows came. Not only had the Hoashoos, Chows, and Lows served the Lord and built the church together, but there were also multiple marriages among their children.

So far as can be ascertained, the previous English Pastor was never married as he thought only of the Lord’s work. Pastor Chau Luk-wu inhabited the English Pastor’s quarters, planted and shepherded two churches. Both he and his wife worked, died, and were buried there. Pastor Chau Luk-wu was an intellectual and scholar. He served the Lord and labored as a coolie in the plantation for years. The plantation work impacted his health and he passed away at an untimely age, when his son was only nine years of age. In approximately 1876, Chau fell ill and died a year later, leaving a daughter aged 12 and a son, Chow Loy, aged 9. His son, my grandpa David, grew up, being chosen and used by the Lord.