台灣近百年權力運作的核心地帶，曾有兩群穿著西裝的菁英，透過一場場週三的午餐會，無意間決定了這座島嶼的命運。他們是台北扶輪社的第一代成員。這裡，是台灣扶輪運動的起點，曾存在過兩個截然不同、卻又精神相通的頂級俱樂部：一個是日本時代 1931 年成立的 R.C. Taihoku，一個是戰後 1948 年重生的 R.C. Taipei。這群活躍於政權更迭夾縫中的第一代扶輪人，用流利的英語與精緻的西餐，編織了一張支撐起台灣現代化的權力之網。
In Taiwan's core power area today, there were once two groups of elites in suits who, through Wednesday luncheons, unintentionally determined the fate of this island. They were the first generation of Taipei Rotarians. This is the birthplace of the Rotary movement in Taiwan, where two distinct yet spiritually connected top-tier clubs once existed: the R.C. Taihoku founded in 1931 during the Japanese era, and the R.C. Taipei reborn in 1948 after the war. These first-generation Rotarians, active in the crevices of regime change, wove a web of power using fluent English and exquisite Western cuisine, supporting Taiwan's modernization.
1931 年的舊台北社：帝大校長、政商與台籍名紳的國際沙龍1931 R.C. Taihoku: An International Salon of University President, Commerce, and Taiwanese Gentry
- 許多人誤以為日本時代的扶輪社只講日語，但這忽略了當時台北高度國際化的事實。成立於 1931 年的舊台北社（R.C. Taihoku），其創社成員名單就是一張權力地圖。首任社長為當時的台北帝國大學校長幣原坦。成員還包括了總督府高官（在今日總統府原址辦公）、大型銀行總裁，以及英國與美國領事。
【他們做出的貢獻：建立跨越殖民地的國際信任圈】
這群紳士的作為，在於創造了一個「非官方的超高階級交流平台」。他們每週在鐵道飯店（Railway Hotel）的聚會，不僅是聯誼，更是總督府高層與西方世界直接接軌的唯一窗口。台灣本土士紳如板橋林家的林熊光、林柏壽，以及政治要角許丙，能在這個場域中，直接與殖民地權力核心和西方領事進行溝通，影響力遠超一般的本地組織。他們透過英語與國際扶輪接軌，這本身就是一種強大的「文化與社會資本」，展現了台灣菁英試圖跳脫殖民體制，與世界平起平坐的努力。
Many mistakenly assume that the Rotary Club during the Japanese era spoke only Japanese, overlooking the highly international nature of Taipei at the time. Established in 1931, the charter member list of the old R.C. Taihoku was essentially a map of power. The first president was Shidehara Tan (幣原坦), the President of Taihoku Imperial University. Members also included high officials of the Governor-General's Office (working at the site of the present-day Presidential Office), presidents of major banks, and British and American Consuls.
【Their Contributions: Establishing an International Circle of Trust Across Colonial Lines】
The major action of these gentlemen was creating an "unofficial, super-high-level platform for exchange." Their weekly gatherings at the Railway Hotel were not just social events; they served as the only direct channel for the Governor-General's top brass to connect with the Western world. Prominent Taiwanese gentry such as Lin Hsiung-kuang (林熊光), Lin Po-shou (林柏壽), and political figure Hsu Ping (許丙) were able to communicate directly with the colonial power core and Western consuls in this setting, wielding influence far surpassing that of ordinary local organizations. Their connection with Rotary International through English represented a powerful form of "cultural and social capital," demonstrating the efforts of the Taiwanese elite to break free from the colonial structure and engage with the world on an equal footing.
1948 年的新台北社：嚴家淦與他的英語俱樂部1948 R.C. Taipei: C.K. Yen and His English Club
- 戰後，舊的扶輪社因戰爭而解散。1948 年，在斷壁殘垣之上，一群新的面孔出現了。領頭的是後來成為中華民國總統的嚴家淦（C.K. Yen）先生。他創立了戰後第一個台北扶輪社（R.C. Taipei）。這群人的組成非常有趣：有喝過洋墨水的外省接收官員（嚴家淦先生當時就是財經高官，在財政中樞辦公）、有駐台的美軍顧問團高官，還有極少數能講流利英語的台灣本土菁英。
多位台灣籍重量級人士延續了這股連結世界的影響力，包括後來的海基會董事長辜振甫、台北市長吳三連等都曾活躍於此，共同為爭取美援、推動貿易和現代化奠定了非官方的基礎。為了與國際接軌，嚴家淦堅持例會必須全程使用英語。這在物資匱乏的 50 年代是一個極高的門檻，但也因此形成了一種特殊的權力氛圍。這不只是一個社團，它更像是一個非官方的影子內閣。
After the war, the old Rotary Club dissolved. In 1948, amidst the ruins, a new group emerged. Leading them was Mr. C.K. Yen (嚴家淦), who later became the President of the Republic of China. He founded the first post-war Rotary Club of Taipei (R.C. Taipei). The composition of this group was fascinating: Western-educated officials from the Mainland (Mr. Yen was then a high-ranking financial official, working in the Financial Center), high-ranking officers from the US Military Assistance Advisory Group, and a very small number of local Taiwanese elites fluent in English.
Many prominent Taiwanese figures continued this influence of connecting with the world, including the later Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫) and Taipei Mayor Wu San-lien (吳三連), who were active in laying the unofficial groundwork for securing US aid, promoting trade, and modernization. To align with the international community, C.K. Yen insisted that meetings must be conducted entirely in English. This was an incredibly high threshold at the time, but it created a unique atmosphere of power. This was not just a club; it was more like an unofficial "Shadow Cabinet."
揭開面紗：從互利到互助，這是一個頂級商會Unveiling the Truth: From Reciprocity to Assistance, A Top-Tier Chamber of Commerce
- 如果你以為這群第一代扶輪人聚在一起，是為了商討如何投身基層的社區服務，或是進行單純的慈善救濟，那你就誤讀了歷史。這是一個需要被修正的認知：扶輪社在誕生之初，並不是一個純粹的公益團體，而是一個緊密的商業互助網絡。當時的成員包含了銀行總裁、航運大亨與煤礦鉅子。他們聚會不是為了行善，而是為了建立一個信任圈（Circle of Trust）。在那個資訊不透明的年代，每週一次的午餐會，就是最高效的情報交換中心。你可以在這裡聽到總督府最新的政策風向，或是哪條美援航線即將開通。這本質上，就是一個最高級的商會。
If you imagine that these first-generation Rotarians gathered to discuss grassroots community service or simple charitable relief, you have misread history. This is a perception that needs correction: at its inception, Rotary was not a pure charity organization but a tight-knit business reciprocity network. Members included bank presidents, shipping tycoons, and coal magnates. They gathered not to do good, but to establish a "Circle of Trust." In an era of opaque information, the weekly luncheon was the most efficient intelligence exchange center. You could hear the latest policy directions from the Governor-General's office or which US aid shipping routes were about to open. In essence, it was a supreme chamber of commerce.
公益的演進：從商業互利到貴族義務The Evolution of Philanthropy: From Commercial Reciprocity to Noblesse Oblige
- 當這群人的財富與地位鞏固後，他們開始履行貴族義務（Noblesse Oblige）。他們的公益項目並非簡單的施捨，而是帶有強烈的「文明教化」與「國家現代化」色彩。台北社利用其強大的國際關係，推動了大規模的交換學生計畫，將台灣優秀的年輕人送往美國深造。在那個貧困的年代，他們捐贈的不是麵包，而是現代化（Modernization）的機會。這種由上而下帶領社會進步的使命感，深深植入了台灣扶輪的基因裡。
When this group's wealth and status were consolidated, they began to fulfill "Noblesse Oblige." Their charity projects were not simple handouts but carried strong themes of "Civilizing Mission" and "National Modernization." R.C. Taipei leveraged its powerful international connections to launch massive Student Exchange programs, sending Taiwan's brightest youth to the US for education. In those impoverished times, they didn't donate bread; they donated opportunities for "Modernization." This sense of mission—leading social progress from the top down—is deeply embedded in the DNA of Taiwan Rotary.
CORE 給朋友的深層視角A Deeper Perspective for Friends
了解這段歷史，並不是要否定扶輪社的貢獻，而是要讓你看到更深層的影響力。台灣的現代化並不是由一群不食人間煙火的聖人推動的，而是由這群精明、務實的生意人與官員。無論是 1931 年的幣原坦校長，或是 1948 年後的創社社長嚴家淦先生，他們都是從各自的權力中樞出發，在週三的午餐會上，用英語連結資源、達成共識。雖然他們當年聚在一起的初衷或許不是為了慈善，但這種菁英的效率與強大的連結能力（Connectivity），無意間成為了推動台灣前進最關鍵的加速器。這才是歷史最迷人的地方：有時候，比起單純的善意，這種菁英的效率更能改變一個國家的命運。
Understanding this history is not to negate Rotary's contributions, but to let you see a deeper influence. Taiwan's modernization was not driven by a group of detached saints, but by these shrewd, pragmatic businessmen and officials. Whether it was President Shidehara Tan in 1931, or Charter President Mr. C.K. Yen after 1948, they all started from their respective centers of power, using English at their Wednesday luncheons to connect resources and reach consensus. While their initial motive for gathering might not have been charity, this elite efficiency and powerful "Connectivity" unintentionally became the critical accelerator for Taiwan's progress. This is the most fascinating part of history: sometimes, more than simple good intentions, it is this Elite Efficiency that truly changes the destiny of a nation.