Taiwan Church News

3203 Edition

July 15-21, 2013

Headline News

Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

128 years after the first issue of Taiwan Church News, which was initially called "Tâi-oân-hú-siâⁿ Kàu-hoē-pò" and published on July 12 1885, a ceremony service celebrating the re-printing of that printing press was held at Taiwan Church Press on July 12 2013. This service commemorated what those English missionaries had contributed to Taiwan through their evangelical footsteps and communication ministry.

Taiwan Church News, a weekly newspaper published by Taiwan Church Press, is the first ever Taiwanese newspaper. The printingpress machine, arrived Taiwan in 1881, was offered by Scotland missionary Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell. As no one knew how to use this printing machine then, Rev. Barclay went to learn its operation when he was in a vacation leave back to Scotland. After Rev. Barclay returned to Taiwan, he set up "Chū-tin-tông" which was changed name later to Taiwan Church Press and started to issue "Tâi-oân-hú-siâⁿ Kàu-hoē-pò". This is the first ever newspaper published in Taiwan. Chū-tin-tông, after many times' merge and acquisition, changed name finally as "Taiwan Church News" up to now.

Rev. Joseph Chen, President of Taiwan Church Press, indicated that Taiwan Church Press was initially printed in Taiwanese vernacular, which is also known as POJ(Poh-Oe-Ji), but brutally forced to print into the Chinese in 1969 due to the authoritarian language control from Chinese Nationalist Party(KMT) government. Now Taiwan Church News is a weekly newspaper for free, with a printing volume about 22,000 copies. Chen expressed his appreciation to those missionaries from England, who did not despise Taiwan. In addition, they would rather sacrifice their comforts and talents, even their lives for Taiwan this island. And all these efforts are for the sake of preaching good news, "nowadays, their contributions have flourished everywhere around this island, and their risks to suffer turns no waste in the Kingdom of God."

Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong, Secretary of PCT General Assembly Office, affirmed what TCP have done to preserve the faith and wisdomfor Taiwan church. He wished people, who can live a decent living today, paying more attention to our own culture and treasure the precious legacy that our ancestors has left to us. Especially, when Rev. Lyim recited the first issue of "Tâi-oân-hú-siâⁿ Kàu-hoē-pò" on the service, the audience were deeply touched as those events happened 128 years ago happened just around us. "God's good news should be preached by our mother tongues", Lyim said. He wished brothers and sisters can bring their children to have a tournament at TCP, in order to appreciate the beauty of mother tongue within God's good news.

At the ceremony, city hall officials and council member of Tainan City were invited as special guests. They are Chief ofCivil Affairs Bureau - Mr. Chen Zon-yen, Chief of Department of Information and International Relations - Ms. Chao Hui-chin and City Council Member - Ms. Lin Yi-jing. They all tried to experience the printing of the front page of "Tâi-oân-hú-siâⁿ Kàu-hoē-pò", the Chinese character of "FU"(happiness) once used in the issues within 1905 and the character of "Hui-Hek"(Abolish the Nuclear Power) which is a major social issue of PCT concern.

After the ceremony, the public are invited to experience this printing machine replica. A fifth grade student at primaryschool, brought by his mother, said that he was so glad to have this opportunity to come and use this printing press. Because he just learned this printing press machine and Rev. Barclay in his history textbook, but never imagined that he could come to see and experience printing things by hand.

Rev. Fan Lan-ting, General Editor of Taiwan Church News, expressed that it took almost one year time to accomplish theproject of this printing press replica. The historical printing press is preserved in Chang Jung High School, but the replica is now exhibited at 1st floor of Taiwan Church Press. Group reservation for tour sight is welcome to dial Ms. Lee at ext. 131 of 06-2356277.

Translated by Peter Wolfe