Minnie Mackay (Part 2)

Outside of Tamsui, the life of Mrs George Leslie Mackay (Minnie Mackay, 1860-1925) remains relatively obscure. Here is a brief biography based on information gleaned from Tamsui Presbyterian Church publications and University of Aletheia archives:

Minnie Mackay
Source: http://catalog.digitalarchives.tw/item/00/08/36/a6.html

The Chinese name of Minnie Mackay was 張聰明, pronounced Tiu Chhang-min in Taiwanese. She was the first born of 張忠 (wife: 愛氏) of 五股坑 and was "adopted" by 陳烏 (wife: 張氏) to be the future wife of the latter's son. It was the 送做堆 custom at that time. This son unfortunately passed away from an illness when Minnie was 12 years old. The adoptive mother blamed Minne for bringing in bad luck that had caused her son's demise and proceeded to mistreat Minnie. Luckily, Minnie's adoptive grandmother 陳塔 was a kind-hearted woman who had shielded Minnie, whenever she could, from the verbal and physical abuses.

In 1873, Macky established a church in 五股坑 (now 五股, a town upstream from Tamsui), 陳塔 became the first Christian convert and brought in many more new converts including Minnie. The latter practically grew up in the church and was baptized on Feb 3, 1878. Mackay gave her a new name 聰明 replacing the original peasant name 蔥仔 [scallion] (聰 and 蔥 pronounced the same in Taiwanese). She had attracted Mackay's attention because of her demonstrated proficiency in learning Roman alphabets to read the Bible, even earning the first place and an award in her Bible class. Grandma 陳塔, realizing Mackay's life was as incomplete as Adam without Eve, had decided to arrange for Minne to marry Mackay. In the Taiwanese tradition, the match-making was done first, this through Mackay's student 陳雲騰. Mackay had accepted the proposition. To prepare for the wedding, the Chen family finally treated Minne well, like a daughter, for 6 months she remained indoors out from the sun, no more field duties. Apparently Mackay himself was pleased to be betrothed to a healthy and presentable Minnie. Plus, Minnie was also without bound feet, as she had refused to submit to this barbaric practice since childhood thus fulfilling Makay's absolute prerequisite. And both birth- and adoptive parents gave permission for her to marry Mackay, in writing and witnessed by a third party. These "contracts" are shown below:

Consent from the adoptive mother (adoptive father by then had already deceased)
Source: http://catalog.digitalarchives.tw/item/00/08/36/7b.html

Consent from birth parents
Source: http://catalog.digitalarchives.tw/item/00/08/36/7a.html

Most important, Minne herself willingly entered this marriage and declared in writing: "I, 張聰明, in the presence of all, solemnly announce that I am willing to marry Rev George Leslie Mackay to be united as a married couple. This is from my own free will, unhindered in any way. I wish you all now bear witness that I, 張聰明, marry George Leslie Mackay under the law for him to be my husband forever.":

http://catalog.digitalarchives.tw/item/00/08/36/7c.html

This was a blessed marriage. Minne Mackay went on to becoming a mother and a preacher in her own right who was able to reach the female population previously inaccessible to George Leslie Mackay. And because she was local, the messages of the Bible could be conveyed in full. Minnie continued to learn English and became the only female among the 6 teachers when Oxford College in Tamsui opened it doors to a new generation of students.