Chou Family 周家族
FU-CHUAN'S TESTIMONY
Translated by Amy Shih (81)
Written in 1974 at age 92
MY TESTIMONY
by retired Reverend Zhou Fuchuan, Methodist Church, at age 92
From the age of 12, I attended the American Methodist Primary School in Beijing. I graduated from the Methodist Hui Wen University at 25 and stayed on as a member of the teaching staff and taught English Language. At 31, I accepted the post of Assistant Minister and became Senior Pastor at 33. That same year I also obtained my Master of Arts Degree. I taught for a total of 12 years, during which time I was deeply moved by Reverend Ding Limei丁立美牧师and his Revival Church. Together with German language professor Chen Zaixin 陈在新教授，we set up the Ji Hua Hui济 华 会 (Aiding China Association) intended to admit students from three different faculties of pastors, teaches and doctors who would also like to spread the gospel, aiming to provide relief to the people in China. Every year during Summer vacations, representatives were selected from among the enthusiastic students to help preaching the gospel.
Based on the old Chinese maxim, [有文事必有武备] to be endowed with both civil and military virtues, I started the military drill by inviting the army officer, through the American Embassy, to run the exercise. Students were divided into four groups equipped with drums and bugles to exercise the foot works. Military attire, wooden rifles and swords and red and yellow flags and banners, splendid sight to observe. I was promoted to Major General rank as a result of my initiative.
At 36 (1918) at my own expense, I went to America and attended the Syracuse University in New York to enrol in PhD in Education. Upon reading the reference letter from
刘海澜 Hailan Liu, the former head of my university back home, the Vice Chancellor decided straight away to exempt me from paying all tuition fees. He also offered me a tutorship in teaching Chinese History.
Being a Pastor, in the beginning of 1919, I was already offered to give talks on the preaching circumstances in China at 3 different summer camps during summer holidays :
1. Silver Lake, N.Y. 2. Collegeville, Pa. & 3. Poultry, Vt.
In 1920, again months ahead, I was engaged to talk at summer camps in another 3 locations : 1. Athens, Tenn. 2. Lake Wawasee, Ind. & 3. Lake Geneva, Wis.
In 1921 at 39 years of age, I completed my degree and returned home to China. On the way back, I had the opportunity of visiting the Yellow Stone National Park. It was wonderful. I bought the ticket and got onboard the tour coach. Sitting a few rows behind me was an elderly couple. The husband pointed out to his wife that he was certain that the gentleman in front was a Pastor (I was not wearing the proper Pastor uniform). His wife commented that he would never have met me or knew me how could he tell that I was a Pastor. Just then we stopped at a scenic location to look at the snow-capped mountain. Naturally the couple approached me to find out if they were correct. I told them I was indeed a Pastor. The elder gentleman was most pleased with himself. "You see, I was right!". This was being recognised as a Pastor by watching me from behind. My first Testimony.
After returning home, I was put in charge of Education within the parish. I had to travel to 曲阜县 Qufu County in Shandong to inspect schools. When Principle 王受彤Wang Shoutong knew that I would be making the trip, he asked one of his parishioner, who worked as a inspector of the railroads, to look after me on the train. We have never met, yet to my surprise, he walked straight towards me on the train and asked if I was Reverend Zhou (I was in normal everyday attire). I replied "Yes!" He happily told me that although he had never met me but always thought he would pick me out on the train. This became my second testimony. I was recognised from the front as a Pastor. Quoting John 13.34-35 Give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
In 1949 while I was director in charge of the English Faculty at the Chinese University of which 王正廷Wong Zhengting was the Vice Chancellor, the Communist Party occupied Beijing. We received notice from the new political power which ordered all English Faculty members from all universities within the City to assemble at 贝满 女子 中学 Bei Man Girls College for discussion on items of importance. It was the announcement of their decision of opening a special English school in * 哈尔滨（黑龙江省）Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, inviting all of us to take up teaching positions, offering the same pays. Whole families would be relocated by train. But, as we reached 沈阳（辽宁省）Shenyang in Liaoning Province, there were some members who changed their minds and decided to return. As the eldest of the teaching staff, I stood up and said we should not return. Changes are unpredictable and one should never go back on ones words. I then sat down. There was a Party Member surname 刘 Liu stood up and told us that we were heading to 长春（吉林省）Changchun, Capital of Jilin Province to do a bit of study before further decision. (This was so called "initial brain wash"). He continued to tell us that the plans of the Communist Party would constantly change, no one should ever object or go off track and threatened that severe punishment such as having our heads chopped off was not unlikely. On hearing this I thought to myself that was typical Communist style. After completion of five months' study at Changchun, we were told to each write a confession, listing out ones central thought in life. I quoted four passages from the Holy Bible to illustrate mine.
1. Mark 10.45 Jesus said,"...... For the Son of Men came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
2. Matthew 7.12 " In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."
3. 1 Timothy 4.12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers and example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
4. 2 Thessalonians 3.10 For even when we were with you,we give you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
* Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning are collectively known as 东三省Dong San Sheng, the 3 provinces northeastern corner of China.
This was my third testimony towards my belief in our Lord, before the Communist Party.
My conclusion of Communism, no God, no Religion and no Confucius (they remarked "down with Confucius"). They also remarked they hate war, no mention of humanity and forgiveness, claimed humans evolved from apes.
After returning home to 北平 (Beiping) Beijing, my two students 顾忠尧博士Dr Gu Zhongyao and 常玉璋硕士 ChangYuchang MA persuaded me to teach English at
张家口工业学校Zhang Jia Kou Industrial College. It was then that my son-in-law
张有兴 Zhang Youxing and my number sixth daughter 宝灵 Baoling arrived and urged me to retire to reside in HongKong. I decided to discontinue my second year teaching contract and left Beijing in 1950. Leaving behind my home on three acres of house and land and relocated to Hongkong. At that time, the Communist Party forced me to sell all for RMB 5,000 Yuan which was to be deposited into their nominated bank for me to personally withdraw at some later date.
When I was 45, (1927) the Parish was under hardship. It was felt that my salary as a returned scholar was high. I was willing to reduce my pay by half to 100 yuan. I had a small property which could supplement my income to look after eight children and two adults. My offer was accepted gladly. But when it came to allocating jobs for the coming year, I was put on the waiting list. I had no choice but to accept the contract to teach at 河北省立大学 Hebei Provincial University to teach English. Problem solved. Monthly income 260 yuan. In the following year, 张仲苏校长 Head Master Zhang Zhongsu insisted that I become the head of the English Department and increase my pay to 300 yuan. Since I was teaching outside the Church Parish, I thought I should resign my position as Pastor. The Director of the Parish rejected my resignation the first time. I tried again, they sent 白福德牧师 Reverend Bai Fude who persuaded me not to resign. I have remained as a Pastor for over 60 years. Praise The Lord. As a Pastor, I was often invited back to preach at the parish. Honouring the grace of the Lord never to resign again. This was my fourth testimony.
Last year (1973) I went on a world tour with my wife 何明仁 He Mingren and my daughter 周景真 Zhou Jingzhen. We arrived in Berkeley in California. The Chinese Christian Association there invited me to preach in their Church on 8 August, 1971. Afterwards, a parishioner 随述贞 Sui Shuzheng approached me at the front of the altar, very moved with my sermon, thanking me with tears in his eyes. He also told me that he is the owner of a grocery shop. This was my fifth testimony in praise of The Lord.
In Rome, we visited St Peters Cathedral and saw the famous grave/pit where the earlier Christians took shelter and suffered. The ceiling and walls of basements were decorated with bones of the dead. The arena, where humans and animals used to fight for show.
At the Holy Land, in the City of Bethlehem, we saw the Manger where Jesus was born. We also visited the home and workshop where Joseph, Mary and Jesus lived in Nazareth. In Jerusalem, the cool spring water flowed out from one of the caves into the Dead Sea. We washed our hands in the River Jordan. We also washed some apples which we brought back to eat on the tour coach. We also saw the Golgoths, the Place of a Scull, where Jesus was nailed on the cross. The Skull was still visible on the slope of the mountain. All these increased my belief and made me recall an antithetical couplet* written in gold over black background displayed at 北京亚斯利会堂Yasili Church Hall in Beijing.
* (couplets are usually displayed on either side of the doorway or entrance)
【上下五千年独何门自天创立】
【纵横九万里惟此道普地通行】
Over the years and across the whole wide world, this being the only universal truth。
Overhead across the doorway was 【救世真光】The Saviour and the Truth.
Finally I must mention the founder of the Methodist Church, Reverend John Wesley. When we were in London we visited his Church, his home, his grave as well as his bronze statue in front of the Church Hall. His left hand holding the Holy Bible and his raised right hand blessing all the passerby. On the plaque was carved [The World Is My Parish]. We also visited the Overseas Chinese Christian Parish. The director Miss Maria told us that they have their Church workers all over England, France, Holland and Australia. The self-funded and self-sufficient Methodist Church was most successful. We could too if we follow The Lord. Quote from Luke 2.52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years (or in stature) and in Devine and human favour.
Amen
Biographical note from a little booklet given out at Fu-chuan's funeral service. This was held on 25 March 1979 at the An Su Parish Church, 54 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
FU-CHUAN'S MEMORIAL
Translated by Amy Shih (81)
Pastor Chou Fu-chuan was born in 1882 in Beiping, Hebei Province. His poor family situation drove him to strive for the best. He was extremely diligent in his studies and, as a result, gained his Master Degree in Arts at Beijing Hui-win University. Shortly afterwards, he travelled far across the vast oceans to America in order to further his studies. He did his postgraduate research at Syracuse University, New York. In 1921, he was conferred with a Doctor's degree in education.
After returning home to China, Dr. Chou took up the teaching at the Hebei Provincial University as Director and professor of the English Language Faculty. All those years during his time, Dr. Chou taught with honesty and guided his students with sincerity. It was his untiring dedication that gained him the love and esteem from both his teaching colleagues and fellow students. It remained like this until the year he retired.
Early in his youth, Pastor Chou became an ardent believer of Christ, the true way. He loved the Lord and his fellow human beings. He served the church with unceasing energy, and won the praise of all the church elders. In 1913, he was appointed the
Assistant Pastor position by the Northern District of Wesley Church. In 1915, he became the Principal Pastor and continued with his various duties around his parish. Often on Sundays, he was invited by various other church communities to preach. Many parishioners were deeply touched by his sermons.
Upon retirement, Pastor Chou brought his whole family to Hong Kong. As he was still enjoying good health and was full of energy, he began to serve at the An Su Parish. On Sundays, he assisted Pastor Yang Zhen to preside over the Holy Service and other duties. He also accepted requests to lecture at the University of Hong Kong. He worked through his retirement years.
Pastor Chou's first wife, madam Liu Rui-hong passed away on 11th April 1955 in their Hong Kong residence. She left behind her surviving offspring of one son and seven daughters. They were all well educated and accomplished individuals.
In 1960, Pastor Chou remarried in Taiwan. Madam He Ming-ren became his second wife for the next twenty years.
Pastor Chou had a stroke five years ago (1974), which had caused problems to his health. His movements were restricted since and he was mostly confined at home. Nevertheless, he continued to attend church to worship the Lord and was therefore highly respected by his fellow Christians.
On the morning of the 17th of this month (March 1979), Pastor Chou's illness suddenly worsened. He was rushed to St. Margaret's Hospital, but passed away peacefully at 1:20 in the afternoon.
Pastor Chou had walked through a life path of 97 years. He abided by the teachings of Christ, and enjoyed longevity and prosperity. Now he is resting eternally with our Lord while his excellent role model continues to inspire.