1927年英愛國際扶輪之地域自治權獲得國際扶輪承認。

In 1972, Rotary in England and Ireland areas were given autonomy, recognized by Rotary International.

1928年7月，國際扶輪將日本、台灣、朝鮮、滿州等日本勢力範圍所及之區域編為國際扶輪第70地區，並指派1926~28年國際扶輪理事米山梅吉為首任地區總監，連任三年。

In July 1928, Rotary International made Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Manchuria a district with number 70 and appointed 1926-28 RI Director Yoneyama Umekichi the District Governor for three consecutive years.

一, 沿革

1. Past History

1929年夏天，台灣日日新報（台灣新生報前身）社長河村徹於赴日時，巧遇東京扶輪俱樂部之會員相馬半治，相馬氏與台灣具有深厚的淵源，也是一位熱切主張在台灣設立扶輪組織的支持者，河村氏與其熱烈地討論設立台北扶輪俱樂部之必要性。        

In the summer of 1929, the president of the Taiwan Daily News Kawamura went to Japan and met Hanji Soma, member of Tokyo Rotary Club.  Soma was familiar with Taiwan and he discussed with passion about establishing Rotary club in Taiwan. 

因此於7月17日（星期三），受邀出席東京扶輪俱樂部的例會，河村氏於例會中就台灣設置扶輪組織及大阪社訪台宣導未成之話題，做了簡短的演說，再度引起東京扶輪俱樂部諸會員的關切。

On July 17, Kawamura was invited to the meeting of Tokyo Club where Soma presented a short speech on sponsoring a club in Taiwan.  It again generated attention of the club members on this issue.

1930年（昭和五年），當時任職台灣總督府文書課外事主任翻譯官的森新一氏,於是年秋天返日上京，會見當時RI第70地區總監米山梅吉時，米山即表達了在台北設立扶輪社的強烈意願，並表示台灣電力副社長山中義信於二、三年前即有此意，森氏回台後，即與山中義信及河村徹共同商討，希望努力達成米山氏的期望。

In 1930, Shinichi Mori who was then translator at the Taiwan Governor’s Office went to Japan and met with Yoneyama who was then Governor of RI District 70. Upon his return to Taiwan, he discussed with Yamanaka and Kawamura regarding Yoneyama’s wish of a Rotary club in Taiwan. However, they felt that the Rotary regulations were too strict and were hesitant to take action.

  然而，從扶輪規章施行細則的種種嚴格之規定以及繁複的條件來評估，即使對扶輪的理念有所共鳴，總覺得有窒礙難行的消極看法。

李春生-台灣史上第一位思想家

李春生先生於大稻埕之寓邸

二, 籌備

2. Organizing Process

    當時有一位與台灣素有淵源, 曾於1896年以戰地記者身份來台，並受台北士紳李春生之託，厄介日軍和平進駐台北城，復擔任美國駐台領事官，長居台灣達八年之久，回國後移籍加拿大，並投身於扶輪運動，曾任國際扶輪第三副社長，且有扶輪之馬哥勃羅之譽的禮密臣氏（James. W. Davidson），正以RI擴展委員身份做為期三年半之環球扶輪拓荒之旅，恰好於1930年抵達最後行程之香港，出席12月8日舉行之香港扶輪社成立大會，米山梅吉獲悉，即電其順道赴台, 協助台北方面之宣導工作。禮密臣乃於1931年1月21日偕妻女自香港抵達台北，訪問闊別28年，令其懷念的台灣。渠等認為此乃最佳時機，即由河村徹、山中義信、谷河梅人（日日新報主筆）及森新一等為召集人，邀集58位頗具聲望之台北官紳，於1月22日假台北鐵道飯店（現台北車站對面，新光三越，大亞百貨原址）召開有關扶輪之說明會，並邀禮密臣氏主持，雖然出席者僅28位，但都專心傾聽，並提出甚多相關之質詢，聚會在熱切而愉快的氣氛中結束，俟後成立之創社社員大部份為此次之出席者，足可證明，此次聚會之意義甚為重大。

At that time, James W. Davidson who was on a three and a half year global tour as Rotary International’s Extension Committee member just arrived in Hong Kong as the last stop of his trip to attend the charter ceremony of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong.  Davidson had been to Taipei in 1896 as war reporter.   At the request of Taiwan community leader Lee Chun-shen, he also convinced the Japanese army to occupy the capital city by peace. Then he served as the General Consular of USA in Taiwan for 8 years.  When he returned home, he moved to Canada and got himself involved in Rotary. He had served as the 3^rd Vice President of Rotary International, and was known as “Marco Polo of Rotary”.  When Yoneyama learned about his visit, he immediately contacted Davidson and asked him to visit Taiwan to assist in communicating about Rotary.  Davidson then arrived in Taipei on 21 January, 1931 with his wife and daughter, after leaving Taiwan for 28 years. A meeting was called by Toru Kawamura, Yoshinobu Yamanaka and Tanikawa Umehito, the chief editor of Taiwan Daily News, and Shinichi Mori.  Fifty eight celebrities were invited but only 28 attended the function on 22 January at the Taipei Railway Hotel. ( Located across the Taipei Railway Station where the Shin Kwong Building sits now).  Davidson was invited to give a speech and the audience showed high level of interest by raising many questions.  This was proved to be a very important occasion that led to the future development of Rotary in Taiwan.

依照禮密臣氏的說法，扶輪社創立的條件，並未如渠等之認知般的繁複和嚴格，因此更激勵了發起人之信心，於是推舉了幣原坦（台北帝大總長）、河村徹、山中義信、荒木正次郎（臺灣銀行理事）、小寺新一（三井物產台北支店長）等五人組織籌備會，正式進入了創立籌備的階段。

According to the explanation of Davidson, the forming of a club was not as complicated as perceived.  That encouraged the founders.  They appointed Taira Shidehara, President of Taipei Imperial University, Toru Kawamura, Yoshinobu Yamanaka, Shojiro Araki, Board Director of Bank of Taiwan, and Shinichi Kodera, ( Taipei Branch Manager of Mitsui) to form an organizing committee for the mission.

籌備會成立後，米山總監與台北的森氏，數度電信往返，研商細節，並針對了解扶輪理念，且有贊同之可能性者, 以及務必促其參加者等諸人選，均發出邀請函，促其加入，米山氏表示創立會員若達15名，則將親自來台主持成立發表會，後來顯示加入者不但突破15名，而且多達28人，籌備委員對於扶輪旨趣能如此受台北仕紳所接納，均表欣慰。米山總監於獲悉社員已超過15名時，即不顧大病初癒，搭 踏上長達四日之旅程，搭船前來蓬萊仙島。

After the organizing committee was formed, Governor Yoneyama and Mori communicated frequently on details like the potential members etc, and issued invitation letters to them.  Yoneyama expressed that he would personally come to Taiwan if the club can charter with 15 members.  As a result, there were 28 charter members.  The organizing committee was thrilled with the fact that the club was so well received in the Taiwan community. When Yoneyama learned that the members had exceeded 15, he started his 4-day journey to Taiwan immediately even though he had just recovered from sickness.

三.成立

3. Establishment

1931年3月27日下午6時「台北扶輪俱樂部」假台北鐵道飯店舉行成立發表會，由米山梅吉總監主持，米山總監於致詞時表示台北社為其繼東京、大阪、名古屋、神戶、京都、橫濱、京城、大連、奉天、哈爾濱之後，所推動成立之第11 社，並宣佈「台北扶輪俱樂部」正式成立,旋即依米山總監的建議，選出七名社員為理事會理事，並指派如下四名職員：

On 27 March, 1931, at 6 pm, the first introduction meeting of Rotary Club of Taipei was held at the Taipei Railway Hotel.  Governor Yoneyama chaired the meeting.  In his speech, he said that it was the 11^th Rotary Club he had helped to form following clubs in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto, Yokohama, Beijing, Dalian, Feng Tian, and Harbin.  He announced the establishment of the Rotary Club of Taipei and helped elect 7 board directors for the club.  He also appointed 4 officers as following:

理事：荒木正次郎、河村徹、小寺新、林熊光（大成火災海上保險常務取締役）、幣原坦、高須時太郎（三井合名會社台北出張所所長）、山中義信。

Directors: Shojiro Araki, Toru Kawamura, Shinichi Kodera, Lin Hsiung-guang ( Managing Director of Dacheng Fire & Marine Insurance), Taira Shidehara, Tokitaro Takasu ( Mitsui Kaisha Taipei Branch Manager), and Yoshinobu Yamanaka.

會長：幣原坦

President: Taira Shidehara

副會長：山中義信

Vice President: Yoshinobu Yamanaka

幹事：森新一

Secretary: Shinichi Mori

財務主任：林熊光

Treasurer: Lin Hsiung-guang

米山總監並依照扶輪規章的規定，表示若聘任非理事會成員者為幹事（祕書）時，該幹事於職權上，亦應成為理事會之一員。其次表示應再選出一位會場監督（SAA：即糾察），除解釋其執掌外，並表示該人選，必須具有特殊的才能，以其千里眼的觀察力，認為三卷俊夫氏（台灣倉庫會社專務取締役）最為適任，於是在滿堂鼓掌之下，三卷雖以各種理由推辭，但終於在眾人所期之下，接受了此項重要的職務。

In accordance with Rotary International’s Manual of Procedures, Governor Yoneyama instructed that if the Secretary was not a Board Member, he should be made one.  He also advised that the Club should elect a Sargeant-at-Arms with special talents.  He proposed to appoint Toshio Mimaki who was then Executive Managing Director of Taiwan Warehouse Company.  Even though Mimaki expressed he would not be the suitable candidate, he finally accepted the position amidst the applause of all present.

                林熊光                               林柏壽（林本源產業社長)                     許丙（日星商事副社長）

當時本島人士應邀入社者計有林熊光、林柏壽（林本源產業社長）及許丙（日星商事副社長）等三人。

There were three local members who were Lin Hsiung-guang, Lin Po-shou (President of Lin Ben-yuan Properties) and Hsu Bing ( Vice President of Japan Singapore Trading).

成立大會時，一切準備大致就緒，惟獨欠缺臨場之經驗，因此即邀請米山總監擔任掌控全場的司儀之職，會長則以見習的態度進行第一次例會的主持。由於米山總監攜同擔任祕書職的中野三郎氏及東京社的老社員英文日本時報[ JAPAN TIMES ] 的芝染大郎（SHIBA SOMETARO）同伴來台，因此亦邀請二位蒞會列席。由於芝氏的謙讓，遲遲不願入席，三卷糾察立即將芝氏強行請至其席位就座，三卷的手腕在眾社員的期待中博得第一次喝采。芝氏在其致辭時談到JAPAN TIMES的經營法，即係實踐扶輪的精神，以服務為第一，因此業務昌隆。至此的講詞尚稱良好，但到最後，故意以『…….因此之故，若於JAPAN TIMES刊登商業廣告，則所獲利益勢必更大。』做為結語，渠即自動表示此種非扶輪模式之商業宣傳方式的致辭是錯誤的，此舉是為了讓大家了解扶輪精神之所在而自我犧牲，並立即接受了三卷糾察所課的50錢罰金，贏得了滿堂哄笑，拍案叫絕。成立式在一團靄靄和氣的氛圍中圓滿的完成。

During the charter ceremony, all preparations were ready except that the new members did not have any experience conducting a meeting.  Governor Yoneyama therefore acted as emcee and the first meeting was held.  Present at the meeting were also Secretary Saburo Nakano and Sometaro Shiba from Japan Times.  Shiba, in his remarks, talked about how he managed Japan Times.  He had brought in business ethics advocated by Rotary and put service first.  He purposely, at the end of his speech, said “ If you advertise on Japan Times, it will bring you more business.” Then he explained that this is not the way that Rotarians should do in the club by promoting individual interests.  He therefore suggested a fining of 50 cents and expressed that this sacrifice was to allow the new members to understand the Rotary spirit.  This earned a big round of applause from the audience and the first meeting concluded in a very pleasant atmosphere.

米山總監於創社會議之前，即發電芝加哥總部及日本國內各扶輪社通知有關台北社訂於3月27日舉行創社發表會之訊息，因此接到甚多賀電，米山總監於成立大會上，一一宣讀各方來電，令人有親如故舊之感動，而從心底發出內心的喝采，該日所接獲的各方賀電包括了芝加哥RI總部、東京社、大阪社、名古屋社、神戶社、京都社、橫濱社、京城（漢城）社、大連社、奉天（瀋陽）社及哈爾濱社等，台北社亦立即對RI總部及各社回電表示全體社員的深謝之忱。

Prior to the charter ceremony, Governor Yoneyama wired Rotary International’s headquarter in Chicago as well as all clubs in Japan.  The club, therefore, received many congratulatory cables including the Headquarter, clubs of Japan, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto, Yokohama, Seoul, Dalian, Feng Tian, and Harbin.  The Taipei also replied to all these messages with thanks.

由當時扶輪社的運作方式來看，與目前絲毫未變，從例會的時間場所以至職員執事的手法等，都會令人嘆服扶輪精神之傳承是多麼令人感動與懷念。成立之初，計有創始會員幣原坦等28名，準會員谷河梅人及中˙喜次郎二位，均為來自各界之官紳碩彥，一時之選。

In view that the way a Rotary club meeting held in those days has not changed much, we do admire the fine tradition observed by Rotary members.  The Club was chartered with 28 members who were elites from all fields including members-to-be Umehito Tanikawa and Kijiro Nakatsuji.

台北扶輪俱樂部正式成立。4月7日幣原坦主持首次例會，是日為星期二，此後即以每週二為固定例會日，例會地點則為台北最豪華之法國文藝復興式建築之台北鐵道大飯店。

The Rotary Club of Taipei was hence officially chartered.  On April 7, Taira Shidehara chaired the first meeting which was a Tuesday.  Weekly meetings were held on every Tuesday from the onwards.  The venue of the club meeting was the Taipei Railway Hotel, which was a Frency Renaissance style architecture.

5月8日發行扶輪會報第一號，此後平均每月發行一期。

On May 8, the first bulletin was issued and became a monthly publication.

同年9月26日台北扶輪俱樂部舉行授證慶祝晚會，新任70地區總監井阪孝、總督府總務長官木下信及日本內地各扶輪社之代表均蒞臨致賀。從此台北扶輪俱樂部即展開將近十年的扶輪運動，並於1934年及1937年先後輔導成立高雄社及基隆社。茲誌當時之重要紀錄如下：

In the same year on September 26, The Club held their charter anniversary and attended by the new District Governor Takashi Izaka and General Affairs Director of the Governor’s Office Shin Kinoshita

 The Rotary Club of Taipei( Taihoku)  then began their 10 year long services, and also sponsored the establishment of the Kaohsiung Club and Keelung Club.

台北扶輪俱樂部（Taihoku R.C.）

Rotary Club of Taihoku (Taipei)

成立：1931年3月27日

Formed: March 27, 1931

    隸屬國際扶輪第70地區

Rotary International District 70

認可 : 1931 年 4月28日（證書3450號）

Chartered: April 28, 1931 (Charter Certificate 3450)

授證慶典：1931年9月26日

Charter Ceremony: September 26, 1931

          於台北鐵道大飯店

Venue: Taipei Railway Hotel ( Taihoku Tetsuro Hotel)

創社社長：幣原坦（台北帝大總長）

Charter President: Taira Shidehara

創社社員：二十八名

            ( President of Taipei Imperial University)

輔導社：東京R.C.

No. of members: 28

總監：米山梅吉（東京R.C.）

Sponsor club: Rotary Club of Tokyo

District Governor: Umekichi Yoneyama

四, 社員發展

4. Membership Development

台北扶輪俱樂部自1931年成立迄1941年停止活動之十年期間的社務活動及發展情況，大致根據擔任台灣日日新報社長之第六屆會長河村徹所著之台北扶輪俱樂部要覽以及第一屆至第六屆（1931~1936）之台北扶輪會報所記載之文獻資料，因此本文所記述之範圍僅限於1931至1936年12月以前之資料，至於1937年以後之史實，則因尚未發現具體之史料，故不列於本誌之發表範圍。惟據悉1937年以後，尚有三田定則（台北帝大第二任總長）、田中義岡（日本勸業銀行支店長）及本島籍的顏國年（基隆礦業鉅子）、林熊徵（華南商業銀行創辦人）及陳煌（係大東產業社長，美國哥倫比亞大學經濟學博士陳炘之胞弟）等人入會。

The activities of the Club were only recorded for ten years till 1941 when all club affairs stopped due to war.  The only information about the club after 1937 which is still available is regarding new members that included Sadanori Mita, the second President of Taipei Imperial University, Yoshioka Tanaka, Branch Manager of Nippon Kangyo Bank, local Taiwanese Yen Kuo-nian from mining business of Keelung, Lin Hsiung-cheng, founder of Hua Nan Bank, Chen Huang, President of Ta Tong Enterprise.

三井物產在當時是權傾一時之大商社，掌控全國重要物資之營運，其集團與日本軍政商之關係密切，係影響力超強之大財閥，因此三井物產駐台的歷任支店長小寺新一、池田卓一、阿部吟次郎、廣岡信三郎均曾為台北扶輪俱樂部之會員。甚至於光復後，三井物產台北分公司再度復業，其分公司總經理亦均以MITSUI（三井）之暱稱加入台北扶輪社。

Mitsui Properties was a big business enterprise at that time that controlled the trading of important merchandises.  That was why all Branch Managers in Taiwan were all members of Rotary Club.  Even after the war, Mitsui in Taiwan reopened for business and their branch manager also used the nickname of Mitsui to join the Rotary Club of Taipei.

1.    台北扶輪俱樂部1931~37年間之職員更迭及社員增滅狀況如下：

1.The officers of the Rotary Club of Taipei between 1931 to 1937 are as attached:

   A. 歷屆主要職員（1931~1937）[ 詳如附表 ]

   B. 社員增滅狀況（1931~1937）[ 詳如附表 ] 

A. Officers (1931-1937) is as attached.

B. Membership ( 1931-1937) is as attached.

2. 台北扶輪俱樂部會員之職業背景

2. Classification of members of the Club

在1931年至1937年間，由於當時之時代背景及社會環境與20世紀之後半顯有不同，因此當時之扶輪社員之職業及各不同行業所佔之比例，也與現在有明顯的差異，政府中級官員、金融界高階主管、大型商社之地方主管以及實業界之經營者均被網羅在內，而學術界、新聞及法. 醫界等自由職業人士則顯然人數較少，但仍佔有一席之地, 請參閱如後之分析表：

-- Due to the situation during those years which differed from the second half of the century, members of the Club were all from government, finance sector, big companies, and high-level managers.  Academic, medical, legal, or other professionals were not largely Represented.

會員職業背景分析表

A. 創社社員[如附表]

B. 後入社員（1931年9月至1936年9月止）[如附表]

註：職務相同者，係調動後之接任者

An analysis of the classifications for the years 1931 to 1936 is as attached.