Datuk Brother

Lawrence Spitzig fsc

1918 – 2009

1. Story Page 3

2. Epilogue Page 55

3. Tributes Page 58

by
Br Vincent Corkery fsc
La Salle Centre
St Michael's Institution
30000 Ipoh, Malaysia
December 2009
 Cover Design: Br Matthew Bay fsc

Acknowledgements
Brothers Thomas Lavin, Matthew Liew, Harold Reynolds, John D'Cruz, Karl Wolff, Felix
Donohue, Charles O'Leary, Peter Phelan, Paul Ho, Patrick Tierney, Anthony Cheung, Ms Koh
Soo Ling, Shenton Rozario, & Ambrose Alexander
 Datuk Brother Lawrence Spitzig fsc
1918 — 2009
Early Years
Brother Lawrence was the last surviving member of a group of four. Canadian Brothers who arrived in
Singapore in late 1938. He was just 20 then, having been born in Toronto 4 February 1918. He was of German
descent, third generation of a colony of Catholic Germans who settled in this part of Canada in the 191 century,
possibly a consequence of Bismark's iniquitous Kulturkamp policy. They brought their culture with them and
their towns got names such as Hamburg and Berlin. Leading up to World War 1 a tsunami of patriotic feeling
swept the country and Berlin was quickly renamed Kitchener, another was named London. Services in Church
were in German and the pastor as Br Lawrence remembered was a strong patriarchal figure who commanded
universal respect. At the Spitzig homestead the date of their first arrival was written large on a main supporting
beam of the barn, a matter of family pride.

Br Lawrence often spoke of the pioneering spirit which dominated his youthful world. In the absence of radio
and TV, news circulated through occasional newspapers but often through word of mouth, and sensational
stories lingered such as the tragedy at Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1917, the largest manmade explosion ever
recorded till the atom bomb. A Belgian relief vessel collided mid harbour with a French munitions ship loaded
with 2500 tons of explosives. In one horrifying split second explosion the north end of Halifax was demolished,
more than 1600 buildings destroyed, and more than 2000 killed, including several children on their way to
school. It was heard 60 miles away.

The fact that his mother, Mary Stock, was partly Irish, suggested that the German colony was beginning to
integrate with the larger population. Despite their roots in the countryside the Spitzig family lived in Toronto
where his father having trained as an accountant worked on the railways. Young James as he was then known
was 3rd in a family of eight, two of whom died young. He attended parish grade school 1924-1930. In later
years he recalled a critical moment for the family. One evening in 1929 at the time of the great depression his
Father arrived home and sat in silence. Mother asked What is the matter? Nothing! Something is wrong! I have
had a 30% cut in salary. This was bad news for a young family where everything was tightly budgeted. Father
spoke of the need to cut back, piano lessons for James and sister must stop. Mother's reaction: piano lessons
must go on at whatever cost -I can bake and sell cakes, cut back here and there but not those piano lessons! And
she kept her word.

He graduated to De La Salle High School where as he completed form two the Recruiter, Br Simon Stock came
visiting. James was already attracted to the Brothers' life through the example of the Brothers who were
teaching him. Yes he was interested. He was particularly impressed by Br Simon's style on successive visits,
and during personal interviews, always friendly and affirming, and his ongoing contact through little notes and
holy pictures was much treasured. He regarded Br Simon as a very holy man whom he often saw in the chapel
for long periods in prayer.

At 14 he made the journey north some 22 miles to Aurora to De La Salle College where over the next six years
he was to pass through juniorate, novitiate and scholasticate levels of religious formation. His director of juniors
Brother Victor Lynett was long remembered as a man of excellent balance, and practical spirituality. He had in
his charge between 50 to 60 junior aspirants. Emphasis was placed on prayer, studies and games and James
made excellent progress in all three. It was here in the Juniorate at Aurora that a lifelong association began with
Brother Anthony Knoll who had joined the previous year. Brother Anthony was appointed his "guardian angel',
a practice by which the more senior had the task of inducting the newcomer into the mysterious ways of
juniorate life and give basic guidelines for personal spirituality. It was a friendship that lasted a full 50 years
through shared experiences and regular correspondence in good times and in bad, in sickness, in prison and in
health.

Later after a short postulancy he joined the Novitiate, which began with the taking of the Brother's robe and
acquiring a new name He was to be known as Br Tiburtius Lawrence. In practice he was Br Lawrence, but he
would insist on having both names on his passport in addition to James Spitzig, but in personal correspondence
it was just Larry. His director of novices was the saintly Brother Mandolf Cassidy, remembered as a man of
rugged Irish faith and of utter personal sincerity. He liked to join the Holy Family community of retired
Brothers for morning tea break where he was exposed to barbed comment about his novices. But he had skills to
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parry. A novice with an ice-hockey knee injury was unable to kneel in chapel for some weeks. An old Brother
commented. 'One of your novices doesn't kneel anymore. He could get a house-maid's knee on his backside.'
[House maid's knee was a common result of kneeling too long] Br Mandoff, unruffled as usual, responded, 'A
house maid's knee on his backside is perhaps preferable to a house maid's backside on his knee!'

Larry adapted readily to the demands of novitiate life, the extended periods of prayer and meditation and like all
good novices he looked forward to the daily period of manual labour. However in later years his memory of
summer time was overcast by the long hours spent in the hot sun dealing with the ladybird pest in the potato
field. Each novice took a bucket and moved along shaking the bugs into the bucket stalk by stalk, row by row.
Buckets filled in no time and progress was slow. He and his fellow novices retained a enduring hostility for
ladybirds.
On completing his novitiate he made his first vows and moved into the scholasticate. His director here was
Brother Austin Dee, a scholar of distinction. Under his guidance and inspiration Larry began a programme of
studies.
En Route to the Missions
In August 1937 Brother Visitor General Romuald Hose spoke to the Brothers at the annual retreat about the
critical shortage of Brothers on the Missions. He was just back from a visit to the District of Penang and his
enthusiasm for the work of the Brothers in the Far East knew no bounds. Of those generous souls who
responded to his appeal only Brothers Anthony and Lawrence were selected and in a matter of a few weeks they
were on a boat for Southampton. His mother was aghast at his choice and was only reconciled when members of
the parish choral group reminded her that she always wanted a missionary in the family.

They set sail on the Empress of Australia, Cunard Line, early September 1937; the boat was apparently at one
time the personal yacht of the German Kaiser, part of the booty from World War One. Some three days out at
sea a storm to beat all storms broke across the North Atlantic and the boat pitched and tossed and rolled from
side to side rather alarmingly. They were relieved to arrive safely at Southampton at the end of a moderate
seven days. They travelled to London by train and arrived at the Brothers' house in Blackheath, several days
ahead of any formal notification that they would be coming.
Finally instructions were received that they were to proceed to Inglewood and prepare for the Oxford School
Certificate Examination, rather a strange decision in the circumstances seeing that Brother Anthony had already
completed one year at university. A month later they were joined by Brother Gaston and Brother Michael Blais,
both from the French-speaking District of Ottawa.

Inglewood Scholasticate known as St John's College was located in rural Berkshire, a secluded world of stately
trees and rolling meadows; approached by shaded avenues from left and right, beech to the left and lime trees to
the right, the house itself a lordly mansion complete with classically designed gardens to front and rear. Neatly
compartmented sections housed the juniorate, the scholasticate and the Holy Family Community. Conditions
were Spartan, the food in particular, but Larry made no complaint. After some weeks settled in their new
routine, Brother Romuald came by to see how they were getting on. He spoke to the four young Canadians and
defined their missionary vocation with a solemn shaking of his heavy jowls: "No going back to Canada. No
holiday home, ever!" It was a harsh prospect at that moment and the words kept ringing in their ears for a very
long time, in particular during the years of detention in Changi prison later on.

The seasons took their course and with the arrival of summer there was the Oxford examination, which they
passed without difficulty and then to Castletown in Ireland for the annual retreat. There they met the Visitor,
the genial and gracious Brother Brendan Herlihy who took all four under his ample wing and laid on a grand
tour of the country. Brother Michael Blais recalls: "The four musketeers were treated like four kings".

In August 1938 they packed their bags for the long journey to the Far East. As they crossed to France the whole
population was caught up in the excitement and confusion of national mobilisation. Streets and railway stations
were jammed with soldiers and military equipment with long French baguettes [loaves] in evidence everywhere.
Their journey continued into Italy and on to the recently completed Mother House in Rome. Italy too was
caught up in the general excitement. Nearly every day Mussolini addressed the nation and this signalled a
general arrest of national life while workers rushed from offices and factories to the nearest public loudspeaker
to listen with rapt attention. Only foreigners were seen moving about. There were visits to places of interest and
then an audience with aging Pope Pius XI. They were shocked at the booing and shouting of the impatient
Italians when the Pope failed to arrive on schedule. Signs on all sides were that Europe was rapidly collapsing
into open conflict: one lasting memory was Cardinal Pacelli, the future Pius XII, rushing back and forth from
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the Vatican on urgent diplomatic business.

They went to Naples to catch their boat. There the streets were full of anxious people devoutly awaiting the
liquefaction of the blood of St Januarius, their renowned patron. It failed to liquefy, it was a bad omen. They
boarded the Italian liner Conte Biancamano 22 September; in the near distance Vesuvius was smouldering
ominously. On board were several priests and religious, many were Salesians on their way to India; also a large
number of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany en route to Shanghai with hopes of a safer future.

St Joseph's Institution, Singapore

A 12-day voyage through the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean with brief excursions ashore at Bombay and
Colombo brought them at last to Singapore and to journey's end. As the boat came alongside the sense of
distance from all that was familiar and homely was intense. Just then on the crowded wharf they identified the
traditional black robe unmistakably Lasallian, it was Brother Henry, Director at St Patrick's, sitting patiently on
some merchandize awaiting developments. With minimum delay he was on board and had their situation under
control; he had a car to take them directly to St Patrick's School in Katong, some six miles away, with a taxi to
convey the luggage. They were overjoyed with the warmth of welcome and the feeling of being in the familiar
surroundings of community life once more. Later at lunch they were able to see the Conte Biancamano as it left
the Singapore harbour to continue its journey to Hong Kong and Canton. [St Patrick's was then beside the sea].
Brother Michael recalls: "At the sight of it a funny feeling got hold of us. This is the last link we have with the
world we knew. It is getting broken. It is cut. A feeling of loneliness crept over us."

Brothers Anthony and Lawrence were posted to St Joseph's Institution in the heart of urban Singapore while
Brothers Gaston and Michael were retained at St Patrick's. Brother Lawrence found himself in a community of
some twenty Brothers of diverse race and nationality living and working with a surprising level of harmony
and happiness. Very soon he got into the routine of things, the early rising at four thirty, a good hour and a half
before sunrise, the strict formality of the spiritual exercises and morning mass, the rush to class, more spiritual
exercises in the afternoon followed on certain days by community games mostly basketball, evening meal and
formal recreation, night prayer and lights out at 9.15pm. All free time was spent in the rather crowded
community room where each Brother had his desk and where the rule of silence was strictly observed. Contact
with the world outside the rather congested school compound was limited to weekly walks in the early morning
long before most people were up, the Brothers in fixed ranks of two with a fixed choice of routes: Orchard
Road - Bukit Timah or the Harbour-side. There were monthly excursions to Katong or Punggol for a day by
the sea. For the rest they were confined strictly to the walled-in compound where they endured the triple
complaint traditional to St Joseph's: excessive heat, dust and noise, all stemming from its location at the heart
of a busy metropolis with crowded thoroughfares on three sides, the equator less than one degree to the south.

Scarcely two months after his arrival in December 1938 he attended a 30-Day retreat on Penang Hill. It was his
first venture into the world beyond the Johor Causeway, what was then called British Malaya, as he undertook
the 24-hour train journey northwards some 500 miles to Butterworth and crossed by ferry to the delightful
island of Penang. Here was the headquarters of the District of Penang and the official residence of Brother
Visitor James, now a legendary autumnal figure in his seventieth year. After the humidity and heat of
Singapore, it was refreshing to climb Penang Hill to the Brothers' rambling bungalow 2000ft above sea level
overlooking Georgetown, the harbour and a vast spread of rice fields on the mainland beyond. He was one of a
group of sixty. The retreat director was Fr Turmes, a Belgian Jesuit from India and his theme rather ironically
was the need for more humanity and flexibility in community life and less the rigid adherence to rules. Never
was the message more needful, Larry felt, given the then excessive rigidity of community life.

Checking through the long list of participants at that retreat one cannot but reflect on the fate which lay ahead
and so soon: it included most if not all the group of young German Brothers who were later massacred in
Manila 1945 and others like Larry himself who were to spend the war years in Japanese prison camps, and the
sad few who succumbed to the very great pressures of difficult times and left the Institute.

But just then this remained hidden in the future and as the retreat came to a close attention was more engaged
with the frustration of those who had allowed themselves to be misled by Brother James' bland assurances that
there would be no transfers and so to bring along only the minimum of luggage, but now found themselves
assigned to a new community without the option of returning to collect personal effects. Larry returned to
Singapore. He was delighted as always with his class of 40 11-year olds and they were very attached to him.
One day as they were engaged in a task, a boy approached quietly and whispered into his ear: Brother, how did
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you get blue eyes? He felt somewhat hurt in late 1940 after just two years in Singapore when he found himself
suddenly transferred to Kuala Lumpur, with no opportunity even to bid farewell to his pupils to whom he was
much attached or fellow teachers among whom he had made many friends.

St John's Institution was destined to remain the focus of personal loyalty and dedication for close on 70 years,
apart from passing assignments as Principal of SXI, La Salle PJ and as Brother Visitor. He was now 22.

The Japanese Invasion

Meanwhile in the world abroad major developments were taking place. War had broken out in
Europe.September 1939: the effect on community life had been the instant departure of a group of young
German Brothers, on the instruction of the British authorities - those who had left Germany after Hitler had
come to power. They were posted to De La Salle College in Manila. This was to avoid being interned.
Tragically these young German Brothers were destined later to be massacred by the Japanese in the chapel of
De La Salle College in Manila, just a few days before the Japanese surrendered to the Americans.

Events on the world stage were followed in community with some difficulty as there was no radio and as a
general rule there was no access to the daily newspapers. A concession was made and the newspaper headlines
were read in community or sometimes a carefully censored copy was made available.

By 1941 the big question was whether or when Japan might attack. All through that year active preparations
went forward against such an eventuality. The authorities were taking no chances apparently: thousands of
troops poured in from Australia and India. People got a sense of security and the papers gave repeated
assurances of British military strength. Classes functioned as usual, the final examinations were in progress and
pupils were being registered for the new school year commencing January 1942.

Japanese landings took place 8 December 1941 shortly after midnight at Kota Baru hundred miles up the east
coast of Malaya, an hour and a half later Pearl Harbour was attacked, two hours later Singapore was bombed,
half an hour later came the first bombings in the Philippines and then in broad daylight two and a half hours
later Hong Kong had its first air-raid. Japan truly had made a dramatic entry into the war. In a matter of days the
Japanese pushed their way down the Malay Peninsula often in torrential rain and through thick jungle, lavishly
supplied with artillery, mortars and machine-guns.

Brother Lawrence's War Memoirs

The morning of 8 December 1941 found Br Austin Whitworth and myself busily engaged in the. school, quite
oblivious to the fact that a goodly section of the US Navy that very moment lay smoking in ruins in Pearl
Harbour, half a world away. We had received a large sum of money from a Chinese benefactor for the purpose
of educating free of charge 'in perpetuity' one boy in each class. His name was Liew Kwong Hon, a name which
we were arranging to set down in letters of gold on a teak wood panel in the school hall beside similar panels
commemorating other benefactors. We were considering a suitable border decoration when the telephone rang.
It was ARP headquarters calling Post 13 – St John's Institution – for standby duty as war had been declared.

I rushed to my bedroom to put on my uniform. Our plans to travel that day to Port Dickson were instantly
forgotten in the excitement of having to cope with a possible 'blitz' hovering over our peaceful Kuala Lumpur.
Warding duties meant patrolling certain streets, enforcing blackout regulations, keeping an eye on fire-fighting
equipment, being familiar with all the buildings in our sector, such as entrances and exits, locations of sand,
water, ladders, pumps etc.

The first actual raid scare came 12 December. Br Austin and I had done a turn patrolling and had just turned in
for the night. At 11.00pm the `wailing winnie' started up. We were out of bed like a shot and into our uniforms
and on the street at the double. Already crowds were pouring out from Chinatown and heading for the air raid
shelters. It was our duty to direct them, keeping an eye out for lights, stop unnecessary traffic and be ready for
anything that might happen. It was pitiful to see these poor people with their children and a bundle or two
groping their way into the shelter with nothing to guide them but our dark-blue flashlights.
An hour of suspense and the all clear was sounded. What a relief, with our minds on a possible blitz, we could
breathe normal again.

Br Justinian and myself took a stroll one evening through Chinatown chiefly to familiarise ourselves with
entrances to shop houses. It was an eye opener to us making our way through some quarters to find men,
women and children living all huddled together in a common space without partitioning of any kind. How
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mothers turned out their children for school under these conditions, all spick and span, was a mystery to me.
But they did. It was a sobering insight in the home conditions of some of our poorer pupils.

On our way home a squadron of 15 Brewster Buffalo fighter planes skimmed gracefully over Kuala Lumpur
making quite a bit of noise. A group of people all excited dashed out to see them. Br Justinian who could speak
the language stopped here and there to explain that the planes were British and therefore invincible, and would
help defeat the Japanese. They felt happy that those Japanese who had ravaged helpless China for years were
now going to be up against the powerful British, and get what was coming to them!

Rumours reached us of a landing of Japanese forces at Kota Baru. Details were few, the papers spoke of
confused fighting. Our sense of security however was greatly improved with the news of the arrival of two great
British warships, Prince of Wales and The Repulse. The press got all excited at their arrival and public morale
was given a massive boost. In addition the Governor Sir Shenton Thomas gave a fighting speech and this made
us hope for the best.

One dark night as we were patrolling near the school, Chong Kim Fatt, the Convent driver, came hurrying
towards us with the news that both The Prince of Wales and The Repulse had been sunk off the East Coast of
Malaya. He seemed quite upset, but we assured him that such a thing was simply ridiculous, most unlikely, in
fact it was plain impossible. But to our surprise the morning papers brought the news in banner headlines. Now
truly we had some reason to feel shaky.

About this time we had our first air raid. Some of us were in the dining room when we heard the planes.
Confident that they were ours we paid no heed as some 20 bombers headed in from the north-west. A few burst
from air guns and we were brought to our senses with a jerk. We sped to our posts in a flash. Mine was at the
head of a fire-fighting squad stationed near the neighbouring convent. Ropes, axes, sandbags, stirrup pumps,
flash lights, goggles and ladders were all part of the gear as we dashed along the road to the convent. By this
time the sirens had stopped wailing and then that deathly calm which always followed.

A few stragglers were still on the roads making their way to the forest reserve in which we shared a dugout with
Kim Taff, his wife and family of six children. We were all very nervous, making quiet acts of contrition! Our
own planes were up there now and by God would show the Japanese a thing or two. The attack was going off
like hell and flak was falling all around. We could hear the planes directly above with sickening bursts of
machine gun fire. And the crump, cramp, crump of guns firing again and again as a plane dove down it seemed
on top of us. Its shadow flushed across the entrance of the dugout and then there was a terrific explosion
followed by the noise of falling debris. I poked my head out to see a cloud of dust had replaced what had been
the convent, but thank God the convent was in tact. Then came the all clear.

The score after this two-hour drama was anything but encouraging: five of our Baffalions were down, the
aerodrome was badly bashed, a bomb landed just behind the convent in front of the first hall killing several
people among whom one a man known to us, the public sports park, the Selangor Club, a Malay Mosque, the
Chartered Bank and Government buildings had all been badly hit and damaged cars seemed to be blown out
like mushrooms.

On 23 December the Director Br Cornelius Nulty agreed to house some 150 RAF men in the school. We
worked like slaves all day 24 December shifting the heavy desks from the classrooms. Christmas eve about
4.00pm the expected RAF party arrived headed by Sergeant McCormack of Glasgow. At first we thought of
these men in terms of reserves from Singapore. What was our surprise to fmd a bunch of mud-caked, tired men
on retreat towards Singapore. They had lost everything up north, had been plagued by Japanese airplanes all the
way down, slept odd hours in muddy fox holes by day and travelled by night in commandeered trucks of any
description.

I was on duty at the phone that night. We had had a private midnight mass which one or two of the airmen
attended. About 2.00= a young lad came by to ask the time. I told him and wished him a merry Christmas. He
was more than surprised and not a little shocked that he had forgotten all about it!

These poor lads spent most of Christmas day and the next and the next just sleeping, eating and washing. It was
during this time that we learned more of the 'confused fighting' reports, the newspapers were reporting. What
was happening was that the Japanese cunningly camouflaged or disguised as Malaysians, on foot or cycle were
travelling the jungle pathways in numbers making effective encircling movements. Our troops untrained in

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jungle warfare, unable to tell a Japanese from a Chinese -travelling in heavy trucks, keeping near the highways
was a decided disadvantage from the start. Many unfortunate accidents happened, Chinese and others thought to
be Japanese were shot by mistake, front line troops bewildered by encircling parties, aided by firecrackers, fired
blindly into the jungle and harmed their own reserve lines.

The first bombings in Penang had shaken the British badly and the rapid advance of the Japanese made the
island a trap for the British soldiers who were evacuated quietly at night by the navy. Trucks, stores etc were
left as they were and I doubt if the population at large were aware at first that the British had left. At any rate
the Japanese kept up the bombing until the editor of the Tamil newspaper had the presence of mind to fly the
white flag and broadcast a message of surrender over the radio which was picked up by the Japanese.

We began to sit and take notice in real earnest when it was announced that rail communication from Taiping to
Penang was suspended. One Sister died as they took shelter in the station itself, possibly the excitement was too
much for her. After the raid she was taken directly to cemetery where the Priest read the last prayers and she
was laid to rest. Another group arrived during the night. It was pitiful to see them each with a few belonging
under her arm, getting off the bus at the Convent. Group after group arrived that night and each group with a
new set of tales, weeping children and bewildered elders.

Things began to settle down and we had lots of occasion to chat with these men. Like us they were puzzled by the debacle they had
experienced. They were confident of a haven in Singapore's impregnable fortress and an imminent recovery of their base in
Butterworth. One conjecture, in fact the only one which made sense, was that this withdrawal of British and
Commonwealth forces was just a ploy to entice the Japanese to stretch their forces too far thus preventing them
from gaining a defence position against our counter attack. This was random thinking to say the least and mere
pie in the sky. No one had even an inkling of the detailed planning of the enemy and the scope of their mighty
war force and ambition to destroy the Asian British Empire. The RAF forces stayed for about a week and their
relations with us were cordial and a pleasure. The cloistered life that had been ours was to a great extent only a
dream by now, apart from morning prayer, meditation and Holy Mass and evening prayer we were more or less
on our own.

One day there was a call from Whiteway and Laidlaw for help to destroy its liquor stock. Somehow Br Bernard
got the use of a small pick-up truck and driver and five of us went on this truly extraordinary mission. It is no
exaggeration to claim that we made cocktail history. We assembled in the lane behind the store; a sliding panel
was opened and out came a long ladder with rollers instead of rungs. Armed with a hatchet each, the cocktail
party began. From inside the store case after case of the finest whiskies, brandies, gin, rum and more came
rolling out. Our job was to break open each case, take one gleaming bottle after another, deliver a death blow
and drop the shattered bottle to the ground. A group of labourers, rickshaw pullers and others soon got wind of
the party and stared lovingly and longingly at what must have seemed more than a mockery. Armed British
guards stood grimfaced and ready for action should our thirsty observers attempt a sally. It must have been a
sacrifice in the eyes of the guards too, but duty came first. Soon there was a steady cocktail flow from our
hatchet work and some of our spectators dared to scoop up peg after peg. I wonder if we had on our hands an
item for the Guinness Book of Records.

An hour or two later our job well done we were invited into the ground floor to help ourselves to anything. We
could not see what was available because there were no lights and day light was cut off by sand bags piled high
outside the store. So we began to emerge with arms full of anything and everything – ladies and gents felt hats,
dresses, bloomers, shoes, soap and so much more. It seemed ridiculous at the time but these proved a boon for
some 44 refugees who were about to come to the relative security of St John's Institution from the Rawang area.
They were terrified at the thought of being ravaged by front line Japanese troops in a state of exaltation as they
swept the Commonwealth forces ahead of them en route to the impregnable island further south. On returning
to the community we were questioned closely by the Director Br Cornelius Nulty who himself must have been
shattered and devastated considering that the lock-step life he and we took for granted was now virtually no
more. But he took it all stoically and with courage. The remark I can recall from this day was: 'Did you bring
anything back?' `No', said Bernard. 'Why not?' he said. 'Because you told us not to!' said our humble leader Br
Bernard.

Unbelievably the next day or so a call came for the manager of Robinsons, a well-known apartment store. He
and his family were leaving for Singapore and requested help to destroy the liquor store. Down we went again
on this extraordinary mission and once again took on the bizarre task with hardly a thought for our cloistered
life. I often think now of how bewildered Br Cornelius must have been. For many years he had captained the
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ship and his slightest wish was a command. Now he could wish and wish, but there was no one to command, a
captain without a ship. I must not forget to mention here that Br Justinian D' Souza a member of the community
was uniquely helpful because he was quite fluent in Malay, so essential outside the community.

By noon our mission was over at Robinson's and we returned to 'the bosom of our community' – to use a
well-worn phrase of the Visitor Br James Byrne. I must add that Br Bernard was the right man in the right place
at the right time. He had an unfailing sense of humour which showed itself again and again, just what we
needed now that our cloistered life lay shattered. We had lost our sense of direction and a new adventure had
been sprung on us.

I guess we could be called professional looters by now. Our style of looting was all the more appropriate as time
ticked on, because Father Ashness suddenly came on the scene with a request to Br Cornelius to provide for a
few hundred parishioners whose wives and daughters were terrified at the thought of Japanese front-line troops
rapidly approaching. Br Cornelius must have been guided from on high because he gave an immediate assent
and not only that he called us together and informed us about this turn of events. He even told us to mix with
them and comfort them as much as possible.

And where were our RAF refugees you may ask. A few days earlier they had orders to retreat south. We were
close enough to them not only to be informed of their approaching departure but also to be invited to come
along with them. It was widely believed that all white men falling into the hands of the Japanese would be given
short shrift to eternity. Needless to say we were positively elated at the idea of joining them and were just
awaiting a nod from Br Cornelius. The nod came in due course but in a way quite unexpected. We were
assembled one morning after breakfast and we were told of the new prospect facing us. He said:

`Those wishing to go may go. Just come to my office now to settle details. I won't be with you. I'm staying.'

A paradigm shift took place among us and from a group who were wholeheartedly aspiring to an immediate
withdrawal, not even one of us could dream of leaving the old man behind on his own. A unanimous `No!' was
our response.

Next came a call from the commanding RAF officer to stand by, ready for departure. The officer-in-charge told
us that his men were ready to leave and that space was available for us. Br Bernard thanked him profusely
buttold him that we had changed our minds and were staying put. He stared at us in disbelief, and then tried to
coax us by saying that we might be massacred. The reply was that we would take that risk. We all accompanied
him to the departure area and gave the contingent a warm wave and a hearty God's blessing. They returned the
salute.

There was mare looting in store for us. This time it was more down to earth. A call 'came from an official in
charge of a Government rice store in the Bangsar area. Over we went and soon we faced the task of hauling
large gunny bags, about two hundred pounds in weight, a little more than we sedentary gentlemen were ready
for. One unforgettable aside that still haunts me was that of a screaming Indian mother holding up her baby
begging for food. There was no need for an interpreter, I got the message all right, but high atop several bags of
rice, some 20 feet above her, the only thing I could do was to ignore her. What a predicament.

I think we made a few trips back and forth for this staff of life, realising perhaps vaguely that our refugees, plus
the Convent refugees, elderly and not so elderly sisters and orphans and those in their crèche unit would be
among the beneficiaries.

Next we-got a call from Singapore Cold Storage — butter, cooking oil and more were ours for the taking. We
loaded what we could and headed for home to face another call, this time from Lever Brothers in Bangsar. We
were on site very quickly and took aboard a supply of toilet soap and drums of powered soap until we dared not
take any more.

Relaxing over a cup of tea in the afternoon we were suddenly alarmed by two or three earth-shaking explosions
near and far. Could this be the advance guard or the kamikaze airmen in action? No not yet. Shortly after we
noticed that the ceiling fans had stopped. We tried the lights and they were gone too. British rear guard troops
were desperately trying everything to make things difficult for the approaching Japanese. At least that was the
rumour. A little later someone noticed oil dripping from inside the refrigerator. It turned out to be melting
butter, the loot from Singapore Cold Storage which occupied every nook and cranny. This was a new problem.

7
We phoned the Convent for advice and were told to get every available container to rescue this very important
item. We also had to fmd containers for the large amount of butter still stacked around the dining room.

I forgot to mention that the Convent had welcomed more than half of our Cold Storage loot and they often
referred to it later on. But the worst was yet to come. A tremendous roar from very near startled us. 'What could
it be' we wondered. We soon had the answer. The Campbell Road bridge over the Kiang River had been blown
up and thousands of gallons of fresh water were pouring into the river from large pipes feeding supplies from
the Bukit Nanas reservoir. Our supply was soon turned off and our colony of refugees were at their wits ends.
The only answer was a bucket brigade involving every available male from the community. From our colony at
St John's and from the Convent colony for two or three days, we lugged water from early morning until noon
and very soon stretched muscles became the order of the day.

By this time vanguard Japanese troops were arriving and I suppose they and the local engineers tackled the
water problem. Soon we were exulting at the restored flow from our taps – though now strictly rationed.

Somehow or other schools were ordered to reopen. This had a magic effect and seemed to restore calm. But
ugly rumours of atrocities began to filter in, giving rise to a general feeling of uneasiness.

Although things could never be the same again, there was a pleasant touch of reality in hearing the school
assembly bell ringing. I can't remember just how we got reorganized but luckily we had a fair number of
brothers and old-timers on the staff. Our office clerk, the late Mr. Soosai, was invaluable in the office and
among the lay teachers we had dedicated and excellent old timers like Mr. Lee Thin Chong, Mr. Chong Loong,
Mr Claire Monteiro , Mr. & Mrs A. L. Howe, Mr. A. R. Petrus, Mr. Cheong Mun Yoke, Mr. Ho Ying Chai, Mr.
Neoh Boon Hean, Mr. Yeoh Teik Soo, Mr. Nadaraja, etc. Among the Brothers were Br Austin Whitworth, Br
Edmund of Salisbury, and Br Daniel, a Canadian (on loan from Japan). He had just brought the first Japanese
postulant to the novitiate in Saigon and was living with us to brush up his English while waiting for the
postulant. His presence turned out to be a God-send for he spoke Japanese fluently and was a wonderful public
relations person in dealing with the Japanese.

A good example of this was when one day early in the occupation a Japanese high ranking officer came to
inspect St. John's and the Convent Bukit Nanas. Fortunately Brother Daniel was on hand and when he spoke to
him in Japanese he was very friendly. He introduced them to Brother Cornelius the director and showed him
and his companions around the school. Then he asked the officer to sign a document placing the school out of
bounds to other ranks. He also asked him to sign a similar one for the convent. He asked the group to come and
meet the Sister in charge Mother Adele. • He then phoned the convent to inform the Sisters that they were
coming. I joined the group. On the way we met Mother Adele and a few of her community. Mother Adele was
prepared for the worst. She stood squarely on the road, brought her walking stick down firmly and told Br
Daniel to tell the Japanese that they were on French property and were not welcome. In those days there were
many sisters on the staff, many orphan girls and handicapped etc. Luckily she spoke in French. Br Daniel
rushed to her and told her the purpose of the visit. This calmed her down and restored her equanimity. From
then there was always a Sister at the entrance of the convent with the document framed and ready to be shown
to any "visitors".

Back now to school. For a start the name was changed to Bukit Nanas Gakko. The medium of instruction was to
be in Nippon-go. Special classes were started for teachers. In this way the teachers kept one page ahead of their
pupils. Looking back, it was remarkable how well this worked. In a short time progress was made aided by
concerts, singing etc. The first tune we had to learn was the Japanese National Anthem Kimi gayo. There was
never any doubt but that we were living in a world of make belief, and nasty rumours were spreading about
atrocities being carried out. Many of these rumours turned out to be true, beyond the imagination sometimes,
e.g. heads hanging on stop-look-go signs, the jungle settlement in Bahau, the Burma Road Railway etc.

As the new order of things got under way, registration of various groups started. Those in the teaching
profession were among the first groups. This meant we had to present passports or any other form of identity.
The five enemy brothers were put on a restricted visa, which did not permit them to move outside of Kuala
Lumpur without a special permission each time. That did not bother us as we were quite happy to be back in
class.

In the meantime as months passed by we soaked up Nippon-go under the tuition of Brother Daniel and also a
Japanese soldier who was a very amiable type and always smiling. One morning quite unexpectedly, the bubble
8
burst. It happened like this. We were at Mass as usual in the old St. John's Church. Suddenly a squad of
Japanese soldiers lined up outside the church door. The officer in charge called out one of the boarders, Donald
Paglar

If my memory serves me correctly, he whispered to him that he and his men had come to see the enemy
Brothers. Donald passed the word on to Brother Cornelius and we got it a little later. We left the Church and
were told by the officer in charge that they wanted to see our bedrooms. The officer was an elderly man in
uniform, but unlikely in active military service. We took him to our rooms and he told us to pack a bag as he
was taking us away. He told us to stand at the entrance to our respective doors when ready. I packed a few
things in a small bag as I had heard stories of those taken into custody, being forced to walk long distances and
in the process dropping some of their possessions by the wayside.

Once I was ready, the officer came to check things out. He looked disapprovingly at my small bag. Bring more,
he said. I hardly knew where to begin. Sensing my dilemma he pointed to my mosquito net and said "bring".
What a providential order. I was saved from malaria during the prison days to come while many of the prisoners
got malaria. Once I had the net down he pointed unbelievably to my mattress "bring". I rolled it up somehow.
This revealed a fine pair of boots under the bed. Another "bring". I had a large trunk up against the bed and
when he saw this he said "bring". Certainly it was the last thing in the room that I would have thought of
bringing because of its size and weight. This trunk by the way was given to me by a high-ranking police officer
Mr. Harrison who had lived next door to us and was always on very friendly terms. He evacuated with the
British forces, and before leaving he invited us to his house to take anything we liked. I caught up later with this
police officer in Changi. Incidentally the trunk served a very useful purpose not only for my boots, my net and a
few other odds and ends, but also for my neighbour Brother Edmund of Salisbury who had no suit case and had
rolled all his things up in a red blanket. We just packed all his possessions in the trunk.

The next thing on the programme was breakfast. Down we went to the dining room. Breakfast was in full swing
and a Brother was reading to the community as was the custom. Brother Cornelius turned pale when he saw us
being led into the dining room and our escort lining up around the table. He motioned to the leader to sit down.
I have often thought since that Brother Cornelius must have gone through hell in these circumstances. His word
was law and that was all about it. Now a form of liberation was taking place before his very eyes and he could
not do a thing about it.

After breakfast we went to say good bye to him. He was dumfounded and more so when we told him that we
did not know where we were going. Anyway he called us to his office and gave each a fifty dollar bill. It was a
Japanese bill and was referred to as 'banana' money for it was constantly being devalued. This apparently was
because more and more money was being printed to pay labourers to do jobs required by the military. By the
end of the war an egg for example on the black market was worth $35.

We took our leave of the director and some of the other Brothers who were wondering what was going on. We
were led down stairs to a military truck parked outside the school. The school bell had already rung and the
students were assembling. One small lad from my class, more alert perhaps than his mates, ran from the ranks
right in front of the whole school. As he approached I recognized him as from my class. He wanted to know
where we were going. I told him that I did not know. He pleaded with me not to go - "we need you" he said. Of
course like ourselves he was fighting a using battle.

As we rolled out the main gate of the school I could not but wonder if and when I would ever see the old school again.
It was also rather remarkable that none of us were overcome in any way. It just seemed like part of the big
adventure of being a missionary Brother.

I was wondering where we could possibly be going as we passed familiar places like the church, the telecoms
building, Klyne Street and many other familiar places. We turned off the main street just in front of the
forbidding walls of Pudu prison. I had passed it many times, but never in my fondest fancy did I expect to be an
inmate. We were expected apparently because, as we approached, the main gates swung open to welcome us.
Our names were taken and our belongings were stored in the guardroom, and we were taken to our respective
cells. As far as I can remember, I was in cell No I on the top floor overlooking Pudu road. The cell had not been
used for a while I gathered, for it was very dirty. Four grey walls surrounded me and the door in one of them
had a spy hole for the guard on duty and also a depression under the door to slide in food. There was also a
toilet facility.

9
I sat on the cement platform in the centre of the cell which was to be my bed for the duration. My next door
neighbour was Brother Aloysius. Every now and then I would shout out to him "Al, what are you doing?" and
he would ask in return "Larry what are you doing?" the replies were of course nothing. But somehow having the
feeling that someone was near made a difference and was a relief to a perfectly blank future. I could not but
help thinking of what was going on in my class, the school bell ringing, the community wondering where on
earth we were and Brother Cornelius trying to grapple with this "liberation". I could hear the street sounds too:
rickshaw bells, car horns, shouts from here and there, music from the restaurants. About every hour I could hear
the little spy hole cover being raised and the eye of the Sikh guard looking in rather searchingly. About noon I
heard a noise outside the cell and a metal tray came in to me through the depression under the door. There was a
very unappetizing looking fish on it with some rice and a piece of melon. Even if there had been a spoon or a
fork I could not have faced it. And my hands were filthy. Somehow I don't remember anything in the form of a
drink on the menu, not even water, but there must have been something. I slid my dinner back untouched.

Morning came none too soon. We were led down to the office'area to collect our baggage. Our new escort was
very unlike the previous one. He was much younger and certainly very hostile. He lined us up military style and
at once showed his displeasure at the formidable pile of luggage. He wanted to know why we had brought so
much and told us that we could only bring what we could carry in one trip from the prison door to the truck that,
was waiting for us. There was no way that we could do this. The trunk was a must for it contained all of Brother
Edmund's belongings plus my net. We decided to risk it and dragged the trunk together. So I got my suitcase
and the trunk aboard the truck without incident, my mattress had to remain behind.

Changi Prison
The journey by train to Singapore took about twelve hours. A truck picked us up at the station and we were
soon at our new home - Changi prison, an extravagant pile of concrete considered at that time one of the most
modem and well equipped detention centres in Asia. Along with four confreres, two Londoners [Brothers
Austin Whitworth and Edmund McCullagh], one Welshman [Br Bernard Jones] and an American [Br Aloysius
Parrot], I arrived at Changi Gaol about 10.30pm Tuesday 1 June 1943.

We had travelled some 250 miles by train. Our armed escort handed us over to the Japanese Commandant and
guards, who made a thorough search of our baggage. Books, tools and everything that the guards took a fancy
to were confiscated at the main gates and we were passed on to the European representative of the 4000 civilian
prisoners with the final order that we were to spend the night in a cramped storeroom. There was a large room
with living space according to British sanitary regulations for about 50 people; this housed some 300 Jews, all
British subjects.

Some kindly Jews produced a couple of mattresses for us and we found ourselves huddled in a corner for the
night. The first thing we sought and obtained was a badly needed bath for we had spent the previous night in a
filthy jail and travelled the whole day in a dusty train. Tea and rice cakes were passed round and believe it or
not there was milk and sugar in the tea. The representative and a small number of prisoners who gathered round
warned us that the milk and sugar had been taken from the previous stock of hospital supplies and was not a
part of the daily diet. They plied us with questions of conditions outside.

Next morning we were greeted by our confrere prisoners, including Brothers Anthony Knoll and Anthony
McNamara, who had been in gaol since the fall of Singapore. Together with them were four Redemptorist
priests, four Dutch priests, one Redemptorist Brother and two Gabrielite Brothers. These came from their
various parts of the gaol to welcome us. While we were talking the Japanese Commandant suddenly appeared.
Someone roared Stand To! and we jumped to attention and bowed respectfully as he continued on his tour of
inspection. Suddenly his eye lit on a book that caught his fancy. He indicated it to his aide and passed on. As he
marched by we stiffened and gave the required salaam. Unfortunately one of the Redemptorist priests failed to
have his hands in the required position for which he got a stiff blow across the side of the head. And thus we
were initiated into prison life.

Brothers Bernard Jones and Edmund McCullagh squeezed themselves into the 'priority', a set of rooms used for
special purposes in normal times. This area was 'home' for the Redemptorist priests, Anglican clergy, Brother
Bernard Jones and more besides.

It took some time to learn the geography of the prison. There were four floors and four blocks, each of which
could be sealed off by itself. There were 44 cells located on the upper floors, while the ground floor provided
for workshops, store rooms etc. The entire complex was surrounded by two massive walls of reinforced
10
concrete. The prisoners had names for all the passages and corridors such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly
Circus, Bond Street etc; In one of the drill yards there was a corner with a few ferns and other plants which for
us was a patch of heaven. It came to be known as Aston Villa and one had to come early to get a place near this
patch of green to have a quiet read.

The Catholic community was about 300 to 400 and the members were very faithful. Some arrangement was
made with the French clergy outside in Singapore to keep us supplied with altar wine and breads, the supply
never failed. There were seven daily masses in the men's camp. A Catholic action club, a sodality of the Blessed
Virgin and religious instruction for Catholic children, as well as for those under instruction, were all part of the
scene. Several lapsed Catholics returned to serious devotion to their religion and the Catholic Church sailed on
in peaceful bliss above the bickering among the several other denominations.

As I recall fitting into this new milieu was an exciting adventure. There were over 4,000 of us and it took a
great deal of time and trouble, errors and adjustments were inevitable. My fellow Canadian Br Anthony Knoll
took me in right away. We had left Canada together in 1937 and so we were almost like blood brothers. His
mother and mine were very close friends back in Toronto and were constantly wondering how things were with
us.

Over the following days I learned how Br Anthony Knoll was among some 4000 rounded up shortly after the
fall of Singapore. Having assembled at Katong Convent they were ordered to march under the tropical sun to
Changi Gaol fifteen miles away. Those who could carried their bags, those who couldn't just abandoned them.
In the crowd were young and old, male and female, rich and poor, highly educated and uneducated, strong and
weak, even one who was ordered by his doctor to have 'complete rest' under peril of instant death! The latter not
only survived the march but also the years of cruel incarceration which followed, during which he enjoyed an
alcohol free life style.

It was for me a dramatic change from the cloister to sleeping on the floor with a single squat pan toilet serving
some 400 people. They were queuing all night awaiting their turn. The Jewish community were kind and it was
from them that we each received a tin mug, a tin plate and a spoon which were to prove priceless in the years
ahead. Rice kangi and tea were served about 7.00am and this remained, our standard breakfast, the amount of
rice alone varied according to price and availability. Now and then a dash of sugar appeared and even more
important a spoonful of red palm oil, a real Godsend when it made its rare appearance, it was our main source
of fat and protein in the fight against beri-beri, malaria, blindness and skin infections.

Br Anthony Knoll came along around 8.00am together with Fr. Moran, a Redemptorist priest and Brother
Anthony McNamara. Anthony Knoll was as gracious and buoyant as ever. By 10.00am we were all within the
prison proper and getting settled down for what turned out to be a 3-year visit. Br Anthony Knoll lived in a
small room with some priests, three members of the civil service and a police inspector, a Mr Pat Shannon. This
room became the hub centre of Catholic activity, so to speak. There was night prayer every night and the room
was referred to as the rectory.

The elderly, 100 of them, occupied a large room in another part of the gaol and were in various stages of
decrepitude. There was a great deal to be done for the aged – feeding them, looking after whatever bits of
laundry they had, attending to their beds, and not least settling lots of disputes many of which were incidental to
the crowded conditions.

[Note: The leading doctor requested Br Lawrence and other Brothers to replace the regular orderlies who were
not doing their job, they were even exploiting the patients. Br Lawrence opted for the extreme cases which
became his work and his passion for the full duration]

De-bugging was a major operation as bed-bugs appeared in swarms and penetrated into every imaginable
crevice. The standard treatment took place every Saturday morning. Boxes used for stools, planks, camp beds or
whatever the inmate slept on were all carried out and dipped into a barrel of boiling water laced with Jeyes
Fluid. This kept the bug population under control to some extent at least. But Changi's concrete flooring and
walls were pervious to bugs, so it was never possible to control the bugs satisfactorily. If our strict action had
not been taken one just wonders what might have happened.

Our daily routine started with Mass at 5.30am in a private corridor before most of the prisoners awoke. Even so
a steady stream of prisoners would keep passing by often wearing only a towel or some sort of winding cloth

11
and carrying a tin can. They were on their way to the nearest washing area. So our dear Lord shared our close to
nature life-style.

Br Lawrence often shared his experiences when dealing with special cases. One such was Walter Type. A
student of St Joseph's Institution, he joined the navy, but his boat was sunk in the Straits of Malacca. 'One day in
prison a Japanese officer brought his rifle down on his foot and destroyed his big toe. He was diabetic and it did
not heal, it led to progressive gangrene and amputations. The priest paid several visits, and he was ecstatic at the
point of death. A neighbouring patient told Larry: I have been observing and I feel humbled by what spiritual
help can do.

Larry was just past 25 when he entered Changi prison and was due to make his final profession as a La Salle
Brother at the annual retreat that year. Given the exceptional circumstances, he now pronounced his fmal vows
in prison on 20 September 1943 at the 6.00am mass before other prisoners got moving around. It was witnessed
by Brothers Edmund McCullough, Anthony McNamara, and Austin Whitworth. A formal document was drawn
up and duly signed, a copy of which remained his dearest possession all through life.

He got in quite a lot of teaching. There were some 90 boys, sons of prisoners, and so they had a prison school
run by the Gabrielite Brothers, and it was here that he taught. For this he received the following message of
commendation:
Brother Lawrence
Hospital
4 January 1945
I have heard with interest of the tuition which you have so kindly given during the past year to students in the
camp and I would like to express my thanks to you. Your help in this important sphere is greatly appreciated. I
extend my personal good wishes for 1945 Men's Representative

Mr Payne, Director of Education Malaya

Some months before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese decided that intern prisoners posed
less of a security threat than British Service prisoners. As the Allies were tightening the noose the Japanese took
certain measures, among them was to transfer of 4500 civilian prisoners from Changi Gaol to an open camp in
the countryside, known as Sime Road Camp. Here they were housed in attap sheds distributed over an area of
50 acres.

Larry was last to leave Changi prison and witnessed the arrival of the British Service prisoners. His narrative
continues:

No parade down. Whitehall was more inspiring as these men in tattered uniforms but still disciplined and high
spirited swung in through the huge electrically controlled steel gate to continue their captivity in unbelievably
cramped conditions, all starving and many suffering skin diseases, malaria, dysentery, beriberi, tuberculosis,
pelagrap semi-blindness etc Many left their bones there, many more came out incurable cripples, but it seemed
that none ever lost faith.

One of the most difficult things we had to deal with was no communication between prisoners and home. We
couldn't send a letter or postcard. If anything came from home, they would not give it to us. They were
supposed to do it according to the Geneva Convention, but they didn't. One day, early in the morning, there
were seven tremendous explosions in the harbour area. We thought that the British had come back! Later on,
news leaked into the prison that a British marine in a one-man service submarine put a limpet mine on each of
the seven Japanese warships bound for Ceylon. Those ships went right to the bottom of the Singapore harbour.

The Japanese were enraged. They came to the conclusion there must be a secret society operating from the
prison. The Japanese presume guilty until proven innocent, so we were considered responsible for this. One of
my best friends was a man named Walter Curtis. Walter was an Englishman born in Japan; he went to school
there and was fluent in Japanese and English. As soon as he came to prison, he became the prison interpreter.
Every day he went to the main office and translated Japanese messages into English for publication.

The Japanese soldiers told him "You speak Japanese! You come to this office everyday! You know there was a
secret society operating in the prison and you did not tell us!" They locked him up in Outram Road Prison in
solitary confinement without any clothes on for more than a year. I knew him very well because when the war
12
broke out, he was posted to Singapore and one of his sons was in my class at St John's. A year later, a Japanese
van came to the prison and released a few prisoners. These men were at the point of death from starvation,
ulcers, scabies and all kinds of diseases. Walter was among them. He was blind from lack of nutrition. As there
was no bed for him, I gave him mine.

I looked after him. I fed him and washed him and he began to improve. Near the end of the war, an unexpected
announcement was made that some prisoners would be repatriated. A big British Red Cross van came and took
away the worst cases. Walter was one. We said goodbye - and I thought I'd never see him again. He had a wife -
a Spanish girl - and nine children. Just before the release, the Japanese had issued some letters from home.
Some had been in the prison office for two years, or more. There was one for him but he couldn't see, so I read
it for him. There was a picture of all of them. He was in tears, that his wife was so wonderful to get nine
children safely home. I described the picture and he said "Oh,that would be John! And that would be Mary! "
He wept and wept and wept.

Sime Road Camp

In Sime Road the first thrill was the openness and breadth of the horizons on all sides, by contrast with Changi
prison where the visual was a matter of a few yards. Larry took a lively interest in the cultural life of the camp
of which there was a variety thanks to the presence of musicians, actors, artists, lecturers and magicians. In fact
the prisoners had their own orchestra thanks to the Salvation Army who brought their instruments along.

A new interest on coming to Sime Road was vegetable gardening in a little 10ft by 10ft plot. Food was a first
priority. Hunger was a way of life, and people strained to obtain anything which might serve as food. Raids on
vegetable patches took place usually during torrential rain at night when the guards were less vigilant. Many
contracted the Japanese Yellow River Fever at Sime Road. This was caused by the bite of a tick carried by the
many rats in the camp. The ticks often dropped off in the long grass where the rats roamed freely and those
walking in the early morning were frequent victims as the ticks transferred easily to one's leg, climbed to the
groin and bit in that area. A large angry sore soon appeared and then a raging fever which went on for several
days. Brother Bernard Jones fell victim (and some 50 others) and greatly edified everybody in his delirium by
quoting scripture passages in extenso all day long. Meanwhile a rat brigade got to work on the rat population
and found that a minimum target of 100 a day was necessary to avoid going under, their rhythm of proliferation
was incredible.

Liberation
US B29 planes began to pass overhead, then in increasing numbers as the days went by and at long last they
lent substance to the daily rumours.

In August 1945 a bright day dawned quietly with persistent rumours that the biggest bomb ever had fallen on
Japan and that the end was near. It was the kind of rumour one could easily link to fantasy when desperation has
exceeded all limits and many were slow to believe. Brother Anthony McNamara had his head shaved as a
gesture to plain good sense and patient endurance. However an official announcement came through shortly
afterwards that the war would soon be over, that all Japanese would be returning to their own country, that the
prisoners would be going home. And as a sign of better things to come each prisoner was given a pound of rich
Australian butter which must have been hoarded all through the war by some enterprising Japanese officer
awaiting the right moment to make a personal fortune. Two days later each got four pounds. It was too much at
once and many suffered severely from the excess.

A large radio made its appearance and prisoners gathered in the open each evening to listen to the official
despatches passing between Mountbatten's headquarters in Ceylon and the Japanese authorities in Singapore.
Specific instructions were coming through directing the Japanese where to station their men, to remove the
roofs of all hangars at the various airports, to remove propellers from all aircraft, to display craft and propellers
clearly, to treat prisoners well, to provide lists of names etc The Allied naval forces undertook to sweep the
mines from the Straits of Malacca. It was ten days before the first troops began to arrive. Canadian Brother
Michael Blais, one of the last to arrive in Changi, was flown out by an American Air Force unit for urgent
medical treatment in India: his condition was critical.

Lists of surviving prisoners were compiled and these were circulated to all countries concerned. In this fashion
Br Lawrence's family got the first confirmation that he was still alive. One can only imagine the level of relief
after a very long and dark night of despair. When the family were informed a year or more earlier that he was
dead, everyone believed it, but not his mother. He stoutly maintained 'James is alive!!'
13
The following is the text of his first letter to his family from Sime Road Camp: Sept 11 1945
Singapore
Dearest Parents and Family,

Tenderest love and greetings to all. At long last this much cherished wish to write to you has been
realised. I am safe and well, thankful, and hope you too are the same. Out Lady has been with me and
has as usual been my mainstay.

At the moment of writing we are dashing around like scalded cats. Pandemonium let loose just sums it
up but with about 35,000 of our prisoners to be dealt with, 74,000 Japanese prisoners to be dealt
with, the landing powers to be dealt with – a city gone mad with joy to be dealt with etc etc etc no one
can wonder.

A wonderful job of work has been done already. The [Japanese] guards have already flown away - they
would steal a march on us! Three hospital ships have steamed into the harbour and troopers are waiting
to take those of us who are fit to India. Gates are out of the question, orders are being issued every five
minutes and cancellations of orders too. Anyway we are all very happy and don't care what happens as
long as something that floats or flies gets us away soon.

I wish you were here with me to feel as I feel and see what is going on. Doctors, nurses, orderlies etc
are homing in on us in stages and taking over the hospital ward here which has clearly been
overpowering us as you can well imagine. Our camp was a haunted house to the local Chinese while
the Japanese terror was on, but now it is literally swarming with old friends, employees etc, armed with
baskets of eggs, fruits etc and in search of their old friends.

The town has gone mad of course and a spontaneous burst of mass joy and relief is on. Our troops are
pouring into every corner of this famous island and I must say they do look wonderfully fit, tough and
equipped. We were so used to seeing our own people in rags, starved and oppressed by well fed
arrogant Japanese. But now the tables are really turned.

I could go on and on but time won't permit. In my case I want to have something to say when we are
together again. I'm just longing to give that rusty old bell* on No 3 Fielding Ave a twist and with
God's grace I'll be doing it soon.

Give my kind regards to the Brothers, Grandma Adeline, Eva, Thelma Spitzig etc etc and may God
bless you all.
Love
Jemmie.
*One assumes the reference is to the family door bell.

The first ship to sail for UK was a hospital ship carrying all the sick from Sime Road and similar prisoner
camps. The next was a 7000 ton New Zealand troop ship, the Monowai. Brothers Anthony Knoll and Lawrence
Spitzig were among the 500 civilians taken aboard to join about 4000 troops. It was joy unlimited to be
homeward bound. They did not mind the absence of comfort on board, just a blanket and a life jacket - to be
worn at all times, and sleep where you could find a space. Most slept on deck till the chilly breezes after
Gibraltar drove them below.

As they made their way up the Straits of Malacca they could see the Allied Naval Forces off the west coast of
Malaya poised for their disastrous landings at Morib: hundreds jumped into the sea at high tide loaded with gear
and were instantly drowned, someone had blundered on the timing of the tides. But the Monowai was well on
its way to Ceylon by this time. As they approached Colombo they glimpsed something of the gigantic
proportions of the full armada that was prepared for Malaya. All was joy and celebration as they steamed into
the harbour in Colombo. Huge aircraft carriers and battle ships stood in line and thousands of sailors and troops
from all the Allied nations cheered the little Monowai as it steamed bravely forward: it was a proud moment.
Bands played, flags waved, foghorns boomed and sirens wailed in what must have been one of the most heart
warming moments in the whole war, truly a glorious reversal of feelings for the two Brothers fresh from the
degradation of prison life.

14
Three weeks later they glided slowly down the Mersey into Liverpool and again the thousands were there
waving from doors and windows, "aye and from chimney-tops', welcoming home the prisoners whose years of
suffering had caught the public imagination in a big way. Reunions were soon flashing on all sides',
unbelievable and exciting.

Next day to London: and the two Canadians came under the warm protective wing of the Red Cross. At last
they were able to send and receive letters through courtesy of the Red Cross and so family communication was
at last fully restored. One can only imagine the joy and relief.
Larry writes:
There were no ships to Canada for a few weeks, so I went sightseeing in London. One day, I was
walking downtown and came to a bus stand. Who should I see standing there but Walter Curtis, my
friend from Changi! He was nearly out of his mind, because he still couldn't see much. He was in
London trying to get to his mother's place in Leeds to see his wife and nine children. Nobody had met
him when he arrived at the airport. I took him by taxi to the Leeds bus stand and put him on a bus. We
said good bye... and I thought I'd never see him again. I went back to my hotel and a few days later,
found a ship going to Canada, the Queen Elizabeth, the biggest ship in the world at that time. Thirty
five thousand soldiers on board returning to Canada and the US. It took us three days and 21 hours to
cross the Atlantic.

His home coming was a moment of deep emotion for the family. They had been stressed for long, ever since the
curtain of total silence fell some four years earlier in December 1941. With surrender lists of surviving prisoners
were compiled and these were circulated to all countries concerned. In this fashion his family got the first
confirmation that he was still alive. One can only imagine the level of relief after a very long and dark night of
despair. But his mother had stoutly maintained `James is alive!!' She was now fully vindicated.

Larry made a rapid recovery once released from prison and after a few months at home he was beginning to
look remarkably well restored judging by a family photo taken at the time. By February 1946, now 28, he was
happy to be back in class at St John's Institution once more. He writes:
I spent three months with my family and then 1 came back to Kuala Lumpur and to St John's, where
my work was waiting for me.
I was working in my office downstairs one day and out of the blue, who should come in but Walter
Curtis, looking fine and fit, sight restored! I welcomed him in and he said, 'I am on my way back to
Japan, Brother, but I had to stop to see and thank you for what you did and tell you what happened.
`When my wife got back to England with the nine children, she did go to Leeds. But she didn't hear
from me for two and a half years, so she thought I was dead. She met and fell in love with an
American air force pilot. They got married, left the children with my mother, and went off to
America.'
Post War Years
Despite the sad legacy of war damage and family tragedies, St John's was poised for a major take-off with Br
Mathias Linehan as director. The rush for education was on. Buildings and facilities had to be expanded, feeder
schools were built, and all this entailed the perennial problem of obtaining funds. Larry was fully involved in
this many-faceted effort, while at the same time teaching his students and preparing them for their
examinations.

Four years of Japanese Occupation had been a major interruption, such that students wishing to resume where
they had left off were over age for their classes. In addition much of what they had learned was now forgotten,
some even could no longer confidently write their name. Larry was in his element back in the classroom, in
familiar surroundings at long last.
He is remembered as an excellent teacher, his lessons were well prepared and so interesting that students liked
to pay attention. He revived the school orchestra and this proved a great success, as well as the school choir, and
the cultural life of the school was gradually restored to former standards. This greatly improved school morale.
Variety concerts were staged, which helped identify and develop lots of youthful talent otherwise not activated
in the classroom. Games and outings also became routine as in former days.

He looked forward to the occasional weekends at Port Dickson by the sea where the Brothers could unwind and
find a little quiet to catch up on corrections and preparation of lessons.

15
In 1952 he was on home leave in Canada and he decided to continue his personal studies, obtaining his B.A.
from Toronto University in 1954. His father passed away in August 1954, He was two days out of port on his
way back to Malaysia across the Pacific when he was informed by a wireless message and retired quietly to his
room. The Captain came by and said, I heard you had sad news, not good to brood, join me on Bridge, where he
shared stories of the war years pacing back and forth for an hour.

On his return to Kuala Lumpur he was appointed principal of St John's Institution. For the next 30 years he was
to be mainly involved in school administration, first at St John's, then St Xavier's in Penang, followed by La
Salle School in Petaling Jaya and eventually he would return to his first love St John's Institution where he
retired from school administration at 65. His style of administration was strictly hands-on, giving his personal
attention to all aspects of school life and being present for all important occasions. There was no sparing of
personal time or energy. He related closely with his teachers and was keenly concerned with the progress of the
students. He encouraged widest participation in school life. He actively promoted public speaking and elocution
and spent long hours training the students and organising competitions.
Br Matthew Liew gives a valuable insight into Larry's world and style at this time:
Bro. Lawrence was a strict disciplinarian who belonged to the pre-Vatican era, and the Brothers' rule
was strictly observed in community. We got up each morning at 4.30 a.m., said our prayers in the
chapel, made meditation and attended Holy Mass at the cathedral which was then next door to the
school. After breakfast we went to our classes. Lunch was followed by a short siesta, a visit to the
chapel, and we had spiritual reading. After tea we did our school work correcting stacks of exercise
books. After bath we gathered in our common room for the study of theology. Dinner followed. After
dinner we had recreation which consisted of walking forward and backwards on the wide veranda
discussing the reading in the refectory. Then we gathered in the chapel for night prayers and the
reading of some text for the next morning's meditation. We then went to our study room to continue
preparation of lessons for the next day. At 9.30 p.m. the bell ringer tinkled the bell to signal bed time.

Vatican 2 ushered in many changes, community life became less structured. Bro. Lawrence was lost
for a while at this stage. However he struggled and persevered in living the new mode of community
living.

We had a weekly personal interview with the Director. Brother Lawrence was very kind and
understanding, praising our contribution to the school as well as to the community. He asked us if we
needed anything. He would get for us whatever we requested. When Sunday came he prepared a half
hour spiritual conference for the community.

After tea he went down personally to take attendance of our school orchestra members. He remained
faithfully with us from 4.30 p.m. till 6.30 p.m. We had quite a number of Brothers in the orchestra. Bro.
Benedict played the flute, Bro Henry played the viola, Bro. Damian blew the French horn, I managed
the Alto Saxaphone. Mr Gomez was our orchestra conductor. Bro Lawrence loved music and was a
musician himself. He was an accomplished accordion player and he started a class to teach teachers and
pupils how to play the accordion. The group was invited to play on special occasions like prize-giving.
After the orchestra practice we went to the basket court for a short game. After our exercise we had our
bath and adjourned to the community room for the study of theology and for preparation of class work.

One day at lunch time we sensed a foul stench. Bro. Lawrence called our table boy, Mr. Niagam and
asked him to trace the source of the stench. He brought a dish of prawns and told Bro. Lawrence that he
had told him to soak the prawns overnight before cooking. Bro. Lawrence said that he asked him to soak
the prunes, and not the prawns!

A person had to be super human to be the Director of St. John's because he was not only the Director of
St. John's Primary but also the Principal of the Secondary plus the feeder schools in the Klang Valley like
La Salle Sentul 1 & 2, La Salle Jinjang, La Salle Schools Brickfields 1 & 2, La Salle Peel Road 1 & 2. He
found time to visit these schools especially at prize-giving, and school sports. He organised a Lasallian
interschool elocution competition. He always found time to be personally present for the day-long finals
held at the Secondary School Hall.

During the renovation of St.John's Secondary, he would be taken by Mr. Lee Thiam Onn, the
Comprador of Standard Bank to meet prospective donors. He would venture out after dinner every
16
 night on his mission. He was successful in renovating all the classrooms and constructed a new
science lab. He provided proper drainage for the school field, and put up a new library. The school
was well equipped. He came back late at night and had to wake up early in the morning at 4.30 a.m.
and had to be in school nearly the whole day.
[Note: It was at this time that the outer veranda was incorporated to make for more spacious classrooms. It was
a welcome change.]
One day during the annual Canonical visit, Brother Visitor Fintan Blake told me that Brother
Lawrence wanted me to become Headmaster of St. John's Primary 1. I protested and gave the
excuse that I was too young for the job, only after three years of teaching to become the
Headmaster of a prestigious school, no way for me. There were teachers who were more senior
and could be my father or even grandfather. Brother Visitor asked me what vows I took. I
answered poverty, chastity and obedience. He then told me to obey as I had taken the vow of
obedience. It was Hobson's choice!

The post-war years saw a major expansion of Lasallian Schools in the Kiang valley, a development which Larry
actively promoted. He was very much the live-wire, even before he became director and later while director of
St John's he continued an active interest in building up these schools. Brother Felix Donohue writes:
Larry in fact is 'regarded as the father and founder of the La Salle Schools Petaling Jaya. As Director of
SJI he took the first step in 1956 when on behalf of Brother Visitor he wrote to the then PJ Authority -
the body set up to oversee the development of PJ - requesting a grant of 10 acres of land for a primary
and secondary school with reasons as to why this was desirable and necessary. After exchanges of
correspondence with the Authority, the Selangor Education Department a document entitled Approval
of Application for the grant of land was eventually issued with the proviso that a school be erected and
ready to function by January 1959.
There was no money available so Larry approached Archbishop Vendargon who generously made
$30,000/- dollars available and with this a block of six classrooms was built and was ready to receive
the first primary classes in January 1959. A secondary section with three form one classes was also
started and these were accommodated in the neighbouring Catholic High School pending the erection of
a secondary school building. At the end of 1959 it was clear that the building for secondary classes was
still quite some distance away so the first three form one classes went back to St. John's. It was not until
1962 that the secondary school finally took off by which time Larry had been transferred to SXI in
January of 1962.

St Xavier's Institution Penang

Leaving St John's and the Klang valley was not easy, Larry had put down deep roots not only in the school but
in the world outside as well, notably the various groups involved in education. He was a founder member of the
Guild of Assisted Catholic School Heads and the Conference of Secondary Heads, and played a key role as
exco member in each. He now found himself in the very different world of Penang Island, the Pearl of the
Orient, and the legendary St Xavier's Institution, the first Malaysian school taken over by the La Salle Brothers
in April 1852.

St Xavier's Institution's post-war development was remarkable thanks to a succession of great directors, a
dedicated staff which included several young Brothers, many fresh from training, and a splendid tradition of
alumni loyalty and support. The venerable building of former times was now a memory having been destroyed
by bombing first by the Japanese and later the Americans. For six post war years the school not only survived
but achieved eminence in all spheres while classes functioned in leaky atap structures ringing the playing field.
Eventually a new SXI rose from the ashes of war when fellow Canadian Br Anthony Knoll was director.

Larry adjusted readily to his new task. He was impressed by the smart turnout of the SXI school prefects, the
various uniformed groups, the band, and the full school orchestra under the baton of fellow Canadian Br
Michael Blais. He was soon into the rhythm of school life, giving a strong boost to extra-mural activities such
as elocution contests, debating, mock trials, mock legislative assemblies, as well the elaborate science and arts
exhibitions for which SXI became justly famous.

Apart from being the Principal of SXI and the Director of the SXI community, he also had charge of the SXI
Boarding Department, the SXI Private School and was a member of a number of school boards stretching from
Penang to Kedah and Kangar. It is amazing how any one person could manage such a huge portfolio, but Larry
17
seemed to have been in his element, he always enjoyed long-distance driving. As time went by he saw an urgent
need to expand existing facilities at SXI and set his mind on adding a further storey to the science block to
provide for a spacious modern library and a lecture theatre. Easily said, but in the context of the times money
was hard to come by and it called for much effort and ingenuity to raise the required amount. A poignant photo
in the school magazine shows a Form one boy at the school assembly donating the contents of his savings box,
with the caption `He gave his all!'

Br Karl, who was his right hand man through these years, notes that the changes which came with Vatican II
were still in the future, and so Larry maintained a strict traditional style community life with Sunday
conferences, redditions, public reading during meals and the so-called recreation of rule. On Fridays the
Brothers Usually went up the hill, rain or shine. One Friday one Brother had to stay back to finish some work
but for Larry this was no excuse for not going up the hill. As it turned out he reached the upper station in the
dark and got lost in the jungle paths. Search parties were sent out, and it was only late that night that he finally
made his appearance.

Larry worked hard, but one wonders if at times he could have adopted less laborious methods. Schools fees had
to be collected, and most schools banked each day's collection without delay. Larry's approach was to take the
money upstairs and lock it securely in the safe. At the end of the month he would get the chief clerk to assist
him in the task of counting the accumulated money and banking it. This was time consuming, and there was a
recurring frustration that he could never quite balance the total.

In 1966 he went on home leave and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to follow a renewal
programme then conducted by the celebrated Br Cornelius Luke on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, the most
remote inhabited island in the Great Lakes. He often referred to this experience in later years as a great morale
boost and personal update.

La Salle School Petaling Jaya

Larry was appointed principal of La Salle Petaling Jaya in 1967. He had already played a key role in its
foundation, now it was his task to direct its further development into a premier school. Br Felix Donohue who
was destined later to succeed him, writes:
The school had presented its first form five classes for the MCE in 1966. The school was very short of
facilities and Larry embarked on an ambitious programme of development adding on some 12 new
classrooms the following years as well as a lecture hall, improved science laboratories, toilets etc. This
required extensive fund raising at a time when money was tight and with little Government help. Again
the school was in its infancy and did not have an established Old Boys Association to back up fund
raising. He had a very committed development committee but in the end it was his own personal
approach to old boys of St John's Institution and his vast number of friends that made the difference.

Academically the school was doing well and this led to the setting up of a sixth form science stream in
1970 a mere 8 years after the school started. This gave prestige to the school which went on to become
a leading school in the Kiang valley holding its own against long established premier schools. He was
equally supportive of extra mural activities such as an inter class public speaking competition as well as
a debating competition. He involved the whole school in the election of the head prefect thereby
introducing the students to the rudiments of democracy. He encouraged sports and games and the
school went on to win its first state title at senior level in football a few years later.

Extension work and renovation were ongoing. We get a picture of Larry just back from his annual retreat with
the Brothers on Cameron Highland, fully refreshed and ready for action. He is seen in his office and then
speeding around the school, extension work is in progress and he is frustrated that the architect and the furniture
man have not yet arrived. 'Never around when needed!' But things were as usual taking shape, the school office
was now twice its original size and included the Principal's sanctum, clerk's general office, inner office, also the
guidance counsellor's office, prefects' room and renovated toilets etc. It was about this time that the auditorium
was completed with daylight screen and film projectors

On another front the 1973 U-18 soccer team achieved a flourish of glory for the school. In the 8 games played
not a single goal was scored against them, while they netted 35 goals against their opponents, a record for
Selangor. There were several other high profile successes including trophies for chess. School enrolment was
now 1100. La Salle School was creating waves.

18
His style was hands on, he was present for games and other competitions, assisted with the annual programme
for the prefects, all this in addition to a heavy teaching load, and finding ways and means to source money to
pay some pressing bills. Like all Principals he had to make frequent time-consuming trips to the. Selangor
Education Office. He had to attend meetings as Chairman of Malayan Christian Schools' Council,
Vice-Chairman of the Guild of Assisted Catholic Schools and exco member of the Heads of Secondary Schools
Conference.

Then came the unexpected when the Visitor Br U Paul was rushed to Mount Alvernia Hospital in Singapore
August 1974, and Lany was appointed acting Visitor for three months. This happened just as he was busy
organising a flag day when he was sending out some 1000 pupils to solicit funds for the school. They
managed to collect a much needed RM21,000.00, but there was another RM60,000.00 still to be found for
work already completed.

He always found things that needed doing. Once during the 5-day break for Hari Raya and Deepavali, he spent
5 hours daily cleaning the garden along the fence. He always insisted on a high level of cleanliness and general
maintenance. Over against this picture of Larry perpetually at full stretch, it is important to note that he was a
wonderful confrere in community, and knew how to relax. He enjoyed community celebrations, a drink and a
smoke, and an opportunity to share stories and memories. He liked to recall the day he stopped smoking. He
was sitting in his office having just lit a cigarette when a teacher stormed in with a shamefaced student. Br
Director, you won't believe this, I caught this boy actually smoking and I told him I would bring him directly to
you for punishment! Larry felt acutely awkward with his freshly lit cigarette smouldering peacefully on the ash
tray. He calmed the teacher and told him that certainly he would deal with the case. He never smoked again.
Writing in late August 1974, Br Anthony Cheung gives us a familiar Larry:
We continue to pray for the speedy recovery of Br U Paul. Meanwhile Br Lawrence is holding the fort
as acting Visitor. Truly he could have done with a 36 hour day. What with the administration of a large
secondary school with its peculiar Petaling Jaya shortage of teachers, the numerous meetings to attend
[as Chairman, Secretary or Adviser], the literature, English and catechism lessons he gives, one
wonders how he can find time to rest or have a good sleep at night. So it is good to see him off to Port
Dickson for the long National holiday weekend, to join several Brothers from St John's, Kuala Lumpur.
This will be the last break until school closes in mid November.

But Br Paul's condition did not improve and the doctors advised total rest from all responsibilities and this led
to his resignation in 1974 more than a year before he completed his 3-year term as Br Visitor. After a District
consultation, Brother Lawrence found himself nominated to replace him.

Visitor of the Penang District

The letter of appointment dated 31 December 1974 was received from Rome 11 January 1975. A week later
Larry was officially installed as Brother Visitor for a term of three years at a simple function at La Salle Hall
18 January 1975 in the presence of 35 Brothers representative of the communities in West Malaysia and one
from Singapore. Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Vendargon who gave an inspiring homily, paying warm
tribute to Br Lawrence with whom he has had worked very closely for several years.

A new school year 1975 was already in full swing at La Salle School and Larry was still principal. As Visitor he
was now empowered to choose his successor, and he selected Br Felix Donohue, then director of St Paul's
Seremban. It took some weeks for them both to complete the formalities of disengagement from their respective
posts. The installation of Br Felix as new principal 14 February was combined with an emotional farewell for
Larry, complete with a march past by the uniformed units, demonstrations of the art of self-defence, singing,
speeches etc.

His months as acting Br Visitor were a helpful induction into his new post and its wide-ranging responsibilities.
As Visitor of the District of Penang, he had to oversee the life and work of the La Salle Brothers in Malaysia,
Singapore and Hong Kong. As a first priority he set out to visit all the communities to obtain a sense of their
realities. By early May he was back in Petaling Jaya having completed this task. In a message to the Brothers he
wrote:

I have just completed a visit to each community and many of our schools in the various sectors of the
District. If I were asked for my impression of this visitation, I would unhesitatingly say that among
other things, I was more than impressed by the scope of our work and mightily encouraged by the

19
 whole-hearted dedication manifested in abundance.

Over the next few years he focused on two priorities, the overriding importance of the school in the context of
the overall Lasallian mission, and the urgent need to recruit more young Brothers. These priorities had much to
do with counter trends all over the world at this time. The school was still regarded as the preferred option
in.promoting Lasallian education, but it was no longer regarded as exclusive of other options. Very specially in
Asia, new Lasallian ventures were springing up which in some cases took education out of the classroom to
meet the needs of marginalised groups such as slum children, rural and urban, and students with learning
difficulties. Larry did not deny the relevance of these trends, but his heart was always in the school. Hence his
commitment to the Christian Schools Council, the Catholic Teachers Movement and others.

All through his career he took particular care of the Catholic students, in providing regular instruction and
arranging regular prayer and a monthly mass. But for all students he promoted the primacy of the spiritual. In a
keynote address to the Malayan Christian Schools Council Seminar January 1977 he said:

Segments of society that once held high hopes in schools to play a major role in the progress and
well being of society now speak of disappointment over the waste-products of school – youths in
frustration, i.e. the unemployable, the dropouts and pushed-outs. Every child who enters school
wishes to be prepared as a successful person in life. He does not enter to prepare for failure. But
yet society is over-burdened with misfits and failures. This is the problem of waste-products of
the school system. Schools so often fail to prepare children for what they CAN do. They take
rather too long to fmd out what they cannot do.

We live in an age of social change. Perhaps few changes have baffled the social scientist so much
as the present surge of interest among young people in religion. We are therefore facing new
situations, in which the true meaning of education can be more readily understood, appreciated and
accepted. The time when the spiritual basis of education was denied, is now passing. For one thing
even the secular world as such has come to accept the limited success of an educational policy
directed to merely materialistic goals and senses a missing dimension. It is our mission to supply
this missing dimension.

In the 1970's the number of Brothers and Sisters was in gradual decline in several countries. This was
attributed in part to Vatican Council II and to its new emphasis on the important place of the laity and the
universal call to holiness, not just for religious and priests. Some Brothers began to question their special
vocation and decided to leave. Larry found this particularly disheartening. Meanwhile he gave every support to
Br John D'Cruz who was appointed to coordinate the work of recruiting new members.

Almost immediately on his appointment he went personally to the Ministry of Education to sort out
arrangements for young Brothers in training to be enrolled in the official government teacher training
colleges. Thanks to his longstanding contacts with the ministry this was made possible. He wrote of these and
other developments to the Brothers:

1975 has been a very encouraging year in many ways. Our scholastics have been accepted for
teacher training in the Pantai Valley Teachers' Training College PJ. This happy arrangement [albeit
a temporary one] solves in one bold move our concern about providing adequate training through
the medium of the national language. It provides a realistic and competitive scholastic atmosphere
and it releases qualified Brothers for our hard pressed schools.

Our four retreats went off very well, Brothers are now ready to close their ranks to promote the
apostolate of the school, the activity preferred at General Chapter and District Chapter levels. We
are privileged to have this field for our labours and at this particular time in history.

Another matter engaging his attention was the gradual linking up with the Brothers in other parts of the Asian
region, which had been promoted by Br Michael Jacques as Assistant Superior General. He made it a point to
attend the regional conference of Asian Visitors held annually at different venues and gave full support to joint
programmes such as seminars for formators and recruiters.

To this period we can also trace his later interest in Sabah, when he decided to have the Brothers take over St
Martin's School in Tambunan by the Brothers. Br Peter Phelan writes:

20
 St. Martin's Secondary School, Tambunan was opened with one Form One Class by the Mill Hill
Fathers in 1967. Fr. Michael Henselmans was the first Principal.

Because of an Islamisation policy by the Chief Minister of Sabah in the early 1970's many
missionary Priests and Sisters were expelled. As a consequence Fr. Henselmans had to run a Parish
as well as be Principal of a Secondary School. He decided, in consultation with Datuk Bishop Simon
Fung, to invite the La Salle Brothers to take over the management of the school.. Since the pupils in
the school were mostly Roman Catholic, it was desirable that a religious congregation be involved.

Brother Lawrence Spitzig was Visitor of the Penang District at the time (1974 — 1978). After some
negotiations and two visits by Bro. Lawrence to St. Martin's School, the request by the Bishop and
Fr. Henselmans was acceded to. In early 1976 Brother Justin Mobilik was posted to St. Martin's to
be an understudy to Fr. Henselmans. In June of that year Brother Michael Jee was sent to teach in St.
Martin's.

When Fr. Henselmans left the Education System and went to work in St. Michael's Parish,
Penampang in September, 1976, Bro. Michael Jee became Director of the Community and Bro
Justin Mobilik became Principal of St. Martin's School.

Bro Lawrence Spitzig, Visitor, was very involved in all these developments. It is probably true to
say that it was his experiences with the disadvantaged students in this remote, rural district of the
interior that inspired him with his commitment to help the less privileged children of Sabah. He was
also aware of the potential for vocations that existed in St. Martin's School. To date, during its 42
years of existence this school can claim to have provided from among its former students at least 9
Priests, 15 Sisters, and 1 Brother.

In presenting the proposal to the District Council for their approval, he spoke with conviction of its significance
in terms of reaching the rural poor, as well as its delightful location some 2,500 ft above sea level. Despite the
diminishing number of Brothers, the Council gave its full support.

Undoubtedly the most important event in the Penang District in 1976 was the District Renewal (1-20 Dec
1976).

It all began when Larry, together with Brothers Joseph Yeoh and John D'Cruz was attending a seminar in
October 1975. He was impressed by the expertise, erudition and deep spirituality of presenters Bishop Labayen
O.C.D. and Fr. J. Dijkstra S.J. It was then that Larry thought of having a renewal programme for the Brothers of
the whole District. He spoke to the Bishop who said he would be available for at least part of the Renewal
Programme. A final decision was made at the District Council in late December and Brothers were appointed to
form a preparatory team chaired by Br Joseph Yeoh. District funds were low but he was successful in obtaining
the necessary funding from MISSIO.

The bishops and clergy of West Malaysia had already announced a similar programme for the priests for the
month of August 1976, parishes were to be left without priests for the duration.

The 40th General Chapter lasting two and a half months was fixed for May-June 1976 in Rome. This was
preceded by elaborate preparation, including a wide-ranging questionnaire issued from Rome to gain the views
of the Brothers on matters connected with their life and work, and the future direction of the Institute. In the
voting for Chapter delegates Larry and Br Joseph Yeoh were elected. Before leaving for Rome Larry was
already seen to be very run down and there was a hope that the Chapter would not be too much of a strain.

The General Chapter programme was heavy going and resulted in the production of a range of texts regulating
the life and work of the Brothers worldwide. The traditional Rule of the Brothers, originally finalised in 1705 in
France, was replaced by a new Rule which was more in line with the mind of the Church after Vatican Council
II, as well as with modem realities. The life of the Brothers was radically changed. The central administration in
Rome was overhauled, one notable result of which was the lapse of the post of Assistant Superior General, a
post which Br Michael Jacques had held with distinction for the Asian region for a period of ten years.

The Penang District Assembly got under way 1 December 1976 with a special mass during which Larry
delivered an inspiring homily, which must be quoted in toto as it gives a valuable insight into the significance of
this moment in the history of the District:
21
 This is a very historic moment in the evolution of our District. About one hundred and twenty-five
years ago, the Lasallian thrust into Asia began right here in Penang – a very dubious start perhaps,
but what a success story it turned out to be, more profound in a way and certainly more lasting than
colonial empires that have crumbled to dust in the mean time.

How awesome it is to realise that we, successors to the first Brothers, are right back in the cradle of
the District, Penang, about to start on a personal spiritual renewal and a spiritual scrutiny of our
apostolate on a scale never before attempted. In a sense we could trustfully say that we are
beginning again, but this time with the accrued assets of one hundred and twenty-five years and a
fresh mandate from recently held 40th General Chapter.

This spiritual renewal is the work of God. We Lasallian Brothers, helpless and inadequate as we are, and as
our pioneer Brothers of 1852 were, are onto something really big. With profound faith in God and
unbounded confidence in ourselves, because of God's limitless generosity, we will prevail, and, God willing,
generate a new wave of Lasallian apostolic endeavour in the spread of God's Kingdom.

Pope Paul, in his personal message to the 40th General Chapter, called on all the `Capitulants' and through them,
all the Brothers, "to be extremely faithful to the charism of the Founder and to the specific apostolate of the
Congregation." And the Chapter, by way of reply and in its role as supreme legislator for the entire Institute,
speaking on behalf of all its members, said this "In prayer, study and discussion, all attention to the teaching of
your Holiness, wishing the present Chapter to be for all Brothers an important step in spiritual and apostolic
renewal".

In order to comply with these wishes of the 40th Chapter, we are about to embark on a spiritual renewal in the
course of which there will be for us a renewed awareness on our part, of the gifts or charism of the Holy Spirit,
especially the charism of our Holy Founder that makes us not only La Salle Brothers, but a La Salle Family or
Community. Without this charism we cannot hope to fulfil our apostolate, let alone renew it....

The renewed awareness of the charism I spoke of, is not to be achieved by some kind of renewed fidelity to the
past. It is rather the fidelity of a community of living men seeking to hear the call of the Holy Spirit in the needs
of the Church, in using these gifts to give witness in turn to the good news of the Kingdom of God in today's
world.

At this stage I would like to underline the fact that none of us are going to come out of this exercise the same as
we have come into it. We are going to be better or worse. The exercise itself is not going to renew us, nor is any
person going to renew us. No, spiritual renewal is something that comes from within, depending on our
personal cooperation with God's grace. Brother Charles, our former Superior General, puts it nicely in his report
– "we must pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. "And we aren't going to be that different come 21 December –
Spiritual Renewal is an ongoing process that will by the grace of God and our cooperation with His grace, be
started here in Penang and will become part of our way of life as time goes on.

Late in the morning of Wednesday 16th June, Pope Paul uttered these words to the Capitulants of the 40th
General Chapter assembled before him, "Dear Brothers, your special religious vocation of serving youth is
more necessary than ever today. Have no doubts as to the apostolic importance of teaching within the
framework of the Catholic Schools, which can provide an overall Christian education of the young. And
remember that it was the specific wish of your Founder that you be sent more especially to the poor".

This brings me to a very important area in the spiritual scrutiny of our apostolate, an area that is sometimes a
sensitive one for some and an area that is not always understood in discussion. The 40th General Chapter,
never forgetting our Holy Founder and the purpose for which we were founded and also the Holy Founder's
injunctions, examined wisely the dangers that confront us. These dangers were examined in the light of the
experience our confreres had in Burma and more recently, in Vietnam, where they suddenly found themselves
with no schools and more or less unprepared to take up any other apostolate. Time does not permit me to go
into all the things that the Chapter had to say, but here are some of the main ones.

It is important to form the Brothers humanly, professionally and religiously so that they can adapt
themselves more easily to possible changes.

Prudently to set up in the Districts a certain diversity in their apostolic works, always in favour of the

22
 Christian education of the young and more particularly of the poor.

These two points, and others, deserve and demand the deepest possible thought and discussion by all here
present in a prayerful, dispassionate atmosphere, immersed as it were in a renewed awareness of the gifts of the
Holy Spirit that make us what we are. Responsibility for the future of the District and the spread of God's
Kingdom by its members is the responsibility of the corporate body and that means each and every one of us
individually and all of us collectively.

The Chapter was almost ruthless in the matter of orientations concerning the poor and justice. It was not
satisfied with pious platitudes about concern for the poor and about injustice; it said things like:-

The Brothers will consider this commitment an essential element in the spiritual renewal of each
Brother.

The Districts are invited to see to it that the orientation towards direct service of the poor becomes the
RULE rather than the exception in District priorities.

The District will place no obstacles - even under plea of maintaining existing works - to Brothers who
volunteer for this educational service to the poor.

Each District will submit, before December 1980, a report to the General Council, in which it will
show how it has put into practice the principles of the Declaration and the orientation of the present
Chapter concerning the educational serving of the poor and action on behalf of justice. Annual review
and updating by the District itself is also called for.

And now a few words about our prayer life. Brother John Johnston's "Challenge of St. John Baptist De La
Salle to the Brothers Today", is a paper that is highly recommended and even essential for your deep and
prayerful study during spiritual renewal. Thanks to Brother Anthony Cheung, copies are available for all. I can
only touch on it superficially here. The section on prayer is particularly relevant for our spiritual renewal. We
are reminded for example that the Founder says "the brothers should have a great love for Mental Prayer and
should look upon it as the first and principal of their exercises, the one which is most capable of drawing down
the blessing of God on all the others. It is obvious therefore that the next three weeks are indeed precious
weeks and there is much for us to do. I leave this topic with a thought from the writings of Dom Cullinan found
in that fine little book entitled "If The Eye be Sound": 'of course we need to have some criteria to assess
whether our prayer really is prayer at all. And I think one of these criteria must be: Do I find that my prayer is
changing my life? If it is not, then it probably isn't prayer at all: if it is, then perhaps it is prayer. It is quite
possible that our prayer conforms us to our world and does not lay us open to the word of God. The Pharisees
were great pray-ers!'

My last point this morning has to do with the task of rebuilding the District from the point of view of
manpower. In the past ten years, our numbers have been reduced by one-third. We stand today at the crossroads
– revitalisation or extinction. Neither Christ nor the Church has ever guaranteed the perpetuity of any religious
order. In fact, 76% of all men's orders founded before the year 1500 have disappeared, we are told: some
because they became irrelevant and others, because they lost their religious spirit: We Brothers are desperately
needed by youth as Pope Paul tells us and as our own experience shows, but we must qualify as deeply religious
men. It is within our power, with God's grace of course, to revitalise the District. God calls us now to this
spiritual renewal, to start the work. May it bring us to our knees before Him. Like the Apostles mentioned in the
reading at mass, crying "Lord save us, we are dying." Let us learn to pray for the District like we saw our
parents praying when we were small, full of deep concern and utter faith, or like we saw poor terrified people
praying during the war when the bombs were falling around them....

And that, dear Brothers, is simply why we are here today. No meetings ever before in the history of the District
was so important, no meeting ever before put so much responsibility on the shoulders of every `Brother'. No
meeting ever demanded more justifiably an atmosphere of silence, recollection and prayer – indispensable for a
spiritual renewal.

All the Brothers will know how to preserve this atmosphere for the mutual benefit of all, even
during periods of rest and recreation. And finally, all the Brothers will know enough to grasp
eagerly these God given moments to catch up on spiritual reading with special attention to the

23
 Declaration. Bro. John Johnston's Challenges, and propositions from the 40th General Chapter.
May God bless us all.

The Assembly measured up to expectations and important decisions and orientations emerged. Of special
significance was the Asian Vision, from which we may quote a key paragraph:

We see our Apostolate as one of greater identification with the poor and a "greater involvement in
education for justice. We believe that being is more important than doing, being people-oriented is
more important than achievement-oriented, and we are resolved to strive towards the building of
Christ-centered communities characterized by deep unity, openness and love.

Morale ran high among the Brothers as the new year 1977 dawned, and the push now was to implement the new
lines of thinking following the Assembly as well as the 40th General Chapter, the report of which was now
available. At the end of 1977 there would be a District Chapter, which would be concerned more particularly
with understanding and carrying out the new policies. At a meeting of Directors in June Larry underlined the
part to be played by each Brother and said, If we are what we are supposed to be we will do what we are
supposed to do!

The 4th District Chapter took place at St Patrick's House in Singapore early December 1977. Among those
attending was Br Michael Jacques, freshly arrived from Rome where he had been detained as a member of a
group commissioned to finalise the new Rule and other documents issued by the 40th General Chapter. He was
very well placed to provide detailed clarification on several live issues arising from these documents. Larry was
unwell and in much pain throughout the Chapter and sat quietly to one side, sadly more spectator than
participant in the lively discussions. At the close the voting for the new Visitor took place and Br Michael was
given a strong majority support as the best informed person to lead into a new age. Larry accepted the outcome
gracefully but in private admitted to being a little disappointed that he was unable to have a second term to
complete his plans for the District.

It took him some months to wrap up some unfinished business and by April he was on his way home to Canada
for a long break. He was back again by October. The same month Brother Joseph Yeoh was appointed
Auxiliary-Visitor for West Malaysia and decided to take up residence in La Salle, Klang early 1979. Shortly
afterwards Larry was reinstated as Director of St John's. He was now 60.

St John's Institution 1979-1982

It was -a kind of homecoming after an absence of eighteen years. It was a new generation of Johannians,
but several members of staff and the alumni were old friends, they were happy to have him back and
ready to give their full support.

Almost immediately he was busy directing preparations for St John's 75th Anniversary 1904-1979, determined
to make the occasion memorable and worthy of a great school. All aspects of school life were involved and
distinguished old boys were brought into the picture as well. Br John Svrcek, community scribe for the
Brothers' newsletter, gave a review of the main events:

St. John's Institution KL celebrates the 75th anniversary of its foundation this year. A memorable
event was the Jubilee Mass on 20 May concelebrated by His Grace Archbishop D. Vandargon, Frs
N. Clement, Victor, Dubois, Paul Tan, S.J. and Old Boys (St. John's KL) Mgr Aloysius (Vicar
General, Penang Diocese) and Frs Thomas Sta Maria and Daniel Lim. Br Michael, Visitor, gave the
homily: it was a stirring talk on catholic education. The choir (of boys from St. John's Primary
Schools, KL) conducted by Denis Doss, sang the Mass of St. Francis, with Fr. F. Doyle S.J. singing
the solo parts. After Mass some seventy-five sat down to lunch at St. John's community refectory,
with Priests, Brothers and Sisters and lay headmasters of our Lasallian Schools in KL and Petaling
Jaya.

The 75th Jubilee Prize Day function was impressive with a large gathering of parents, Old boys and
friends. H.R.H. Raja Muda of Selangor, a former student of St. John's KL, gave a stirring speech,
and his royal consort distributed the prizes.

The 75th Jubilee Sports presided over by former pupil Datuk Najib bin Abdul Razak, Assistant
Minister and his spouse were completed smoothly, even the weather was favourable, perhaps out of
24
 respect for the Jubilee year.

Celebrations reached their climax with the annual alumni reunion 21 November, which brought together an
unusually large presence of old boys as well as celebrities such as Br John Johnston, then vicar Superior
General, the Raja Muda and Datuk Najib Abdul Razak who was then OJA President. Larry's personal efforts
bore fruit in the delightful singing by the school choir and the splendid performance by the school band.

Larry had multiple commitments within the school, where he continued his style of hands on attendance at
debates, band and choir practices, sessions for Catholic students in the chapel and much more. Equally he was
committed in diverse ways outside the school, with his active interest in various organisations such the
Christian Schools' Council, Heads of Secondary Schools conference, Guild of Catholic Heads, and more, as
well as workshops and seminars connected with these. For a whole year while community director Br Alban
Tang was absent at Sangre and elsewhere, Larry was acting director of the community, and on occasion
acting Visitor when Br Michael Jacques was on medical leave.

Various school reports speak of 'a very successful Swimming Meet, as usual a gala affair', 'the school band had
several occasions to display their skill - they are all excited about the forthcoming National Bands'
Competition', 'the St. John Ambulance Brigade won the much coveted Championship'prize, SJI has 'a popular
musical festival with a semi classical flavour' and much more that can be seen as the pattern of school life
during these years. Then there was a 'Library Year' which stimulated unusual activity in the library. Accurate
records were kept of time spent in the library and marks awarded accordingly. A record was kept of all books
read. Every pupil was expected to submit ten reports on books read in Malay as well as in English. In all there
was a range of 65 extra-curricular activities and the school distinguished itself as the leading school for
academic performance in public examinations.

The Annual Public Speaking Programme was an annual highlight with some 2,300 speeches in Malay and the
same number in English. The quarter finals identified the best speakers in each class, and the semi finals
selected the best two speakers in each form. Finally there was the Grand Finals of the Annual Public Speaking
Festival with beautiful challenge trophies for the winners and gold medals for the participants.

Larry promoted an exalted sense of St John's and its special pre-eminence on the local scene. In the following
jottings he goes into specifics:

St. John's is more than just a school - it is an Institution in the broadest sense of the word. It
lives and it gives life. Thousands have thronged its busy corridors and classrooms down the
years, imbibed the spirit of the school - Fide et Labore - and their lives attest to this fact.

I have had the great good fortune of being closely associated with St. John's - my second home. I
watched it grow - the hall (Bro. Cornelius) just before my arrival, the three storey block now
housing the library, the staff-room, etc (Bro Cornelius), the science labs above the hall (Bro. D.
Joseph), the playing field development (Bro. D. Joseph), the Arts Block (Bro. Joseph McNally),
the new primary school (Bro. Lawrence) and concrete floors and stairs tower to replace the
original wooden one in the main block (Bro. Lawrence).

I saw St. John's give birth to associate schools to ease the ever growing demand for admission to
the harassed mother-school. La Salle Sentul came first (Bro. D. Joseph). This was followed by La
Salle Brickfields (Bro. D. Joseph), La Salle Peel Road (Bro. Lawrence). The names in brackets
refer to the respective Directors of St. John's at the time the Brothers assumed responsibility for the
schools, but a long list of efficient Brothers, Lay teachers, supervisors and collaborators too
numerous to mention, played an indispensible part and without whom none of this great Lasallian
family could possibly have come into being. Mention must be made of the great benefactors who
gave generously from the late Mr. Liew Kwong Hon who donated the Science Block to perpetuate
the name of his dear mother the late Madam Lai Choy down to the humblest donors whose mites
collectively were like the tiny drops of water that together made up an ocean of "potential",
resulting in the splendid St. John's we now know.

So much for development and the physical side. What really makes St. John's great in my opinion is
the excellent staff response - Fide et Labore. Teachers by and large in the Johannian family of
schools have ever been willing to go, "the extra mile" and not count the cost. This has contributed
25
 immeasurably to academic excellence and extra-curricular prominence that have long been
recognised. Twenty-two successive years of Inter La Salle Schools Sports Meets (Selangor and
Wilayah) speak volumes in this context.

Another aspect of St. John's worthy of note is the strong leadership qualities that have surfaced in
the student body. This is a reflection mainly of the stimulation provided by the members of the staff.
Prefects, Monitors, Chairmen, Quartermasters, Cadet Corps, Cadet Band, St. John Ambulance,
Scouts, Interact, Librarians, Sportsmen and other organizations have produced, year after year,
outstanding leaders, whose great school spirit and ascendancy have been a source of inspiration to
their peers and the mouthpiece through whom the Mater has been "proclaiming her watch-word to
all" loudly and clearly.

In addition to the excellent staff spirit and outstanding student leadership, psychological factors
have played a significant role in contributing to a good school spirit. On arrival in the attractive
foyer (Bro. Joseph McNally) permanently mounted symbols meet the eye: the Crown, symbol of
respect for authority (fide); the Bee, symbol of diligence; (labore) the French Lily, symbol of
appreciation to our French Founder St. John Baptist de la Salle; the Irish Lily, symbol of gratitude
to Irish Brother Gilbert who built St. John's 1906; the Star, symbol of hope for those in search of
knowledge; and the Eagle, the symbol of strength.

"What though the odds be great or small, Dear old St. John's will win over all" becomes very
meaningful when one considers the numerous values and significant influences available to those
capable and willing to avail themselves of them. And in the end Johannians can march proudly
"Onward to Victory".

Larry retired officially as principal 5 February 1983. He was 65.. There was no way he could make a quiet exit.
The New Sunday Times 30 January 1983 reported on a gathering two evenings earlier of Old Boys of St John's
Institution at the Old Johannians Club House at Jalan Raja Chulan. They came to bid farewell to 'one of their
best remembered teachers'. They signalled their special regard for his `outstanding 45-year reign' in Lasallian
education, more particularly for his 25 years as the 'Good Shepherd of St John's Institution'. They paid tribute to
his unique contribution to St John's expansion 'from the three classroom school of January 18, 1904 to the
present 58 class school with 2,500 students and some 92 teachers'. Larry assured them that he was saying
goodbye only to direct involvement, but that he would continue his close interest, and was confident that "the
good name of St John's Institution will long continue in the best of educational traditions, producing many more
outstanding sons and daughters for Malaysia."

This was preceded on the same evening by a thanksgiving mass at the Cathedral at which his dear friend
Archbishop Dominic Vendaragon presided and spoke. Br Michael Jacques, visitor, delivered an inspiring
homily, from which we may quote:-

Brother Lawrence's long and fruitful career during which he served so well, so faithfully and so
successfully, all over Malaysia for forty-five years, twenty-five of which he was so involved and
so devotedly active at St. John's Institution will be well known to most of you. They are what you
and I have lived, have touched, have experienced, and we can but stand back and marvel at the
intense faith, the tremendous zeal, the courageous determination, the incredible patience, the
continued perseverance and irrepressible vision of the man. If you want to know what Brother
Lawrence has accomplished, what he has contributed to the church, to the country of his adoption,
to Malaysian Education, to the Christian community ..... you have but to look around you here in
Kuala Lumpur and its environs, the schools he built, the extensions and improvements he devised,
the hundreds of. Brothers and Teachers he has inspired, the generations of pupils he trained and
formed and who now are to found in every walk of life. All these are of course, matched by those
unseen achievements which cannot be measured by foot and rule. It is the measure of the greatness
and nobility of the man that he has worked on and on, in patient silence, often unrecognized and
sometimes misunderstood, unnoticed and unsung. We have had him for so long that we have come
to take him so much for granted.

St John's gave him an elaborate musical farewell which touched him very much. In his farewell address to staff
and students he said inter alia:

26
 1 am very grateful to those who planned this farewell function -particularly because it is a musical
farewell. 1 have always had a soft spot where music is concerned and would have liked to have
done much more in this field than 1 did. 1 hope this activity will be promoted not only in St. John's
but also throughout the country for there is a rich reservoir of musical talent available and it is
scarcely tapped. ....

1 leave St. John's with mixed feelings - feeling of sadness at leaving my "second" home and
feelings of joy at having been privileged to serve so many for so long and with wonderful support
and encouragement all the way. As far as I'm concerned there will not be another situation like
this.

Some day sooner or later, we all have "to lay down our tools" and retire from the work that has
been our life long occupation. I only hope that you will all arrive at that day with a feeling of
gratitude that you have enjoyed your work and that you have done your best. I am very glad to say
that I enjoyed my life as a schoolman, even though there were difficulties at times. Sometimes,
when I look back, I feel that I should have done better than I did, but one thing is sure, I have no
regrets whatever, in having spent my life among young Malaysians teaching them to the best of my
ability for the most part.

In parting 1 say with all my heart - God be with you.

The Way Forward

There was to be no retirement for Larry. He was never short of things to do and he had a gift for identifying
matters for urgent attention from day to day. Br Michael Jacques, Visitor, was only too happy to call on his
services to approach the Education apartment and to the Ministry of Education to sort out appointments of
Head Masters and Senior Assistants for the many Lasallian schools.

Perhaps he was overdoing things. He was admitted to Mt Alvemia Hospital in Singapore 29 December 1983
and was discharged on 28 January 1984; only to be readmitted 5 February for several weeks again. He
complained of acute pain in the spine, dizziness and numbness in one of his legs. He had a serious fall while
attending an education conference at the Methodist Centre in Petaling Jaya, the result of a blackout, had several
stitches on his forehead and was hospitalised for a week. Although the doctors in Petaling Jaya (as previously
those in Singapore) found "nothing wrong" after the brain scanning, he did not feel well, got tired easily and
found sleep difficult. Consequently, as Br Anthony Chong tells us, he was never really fully rested. Brother
Visitor wisely asked him to go to Canada on extended medical leave and to have a thorough check-up. He left
for Toronto 25 July 1984 via Hong Kong. His mother had passed away a few months earlier at 98. Br Michael
Jacques, visitor, wrote in farewell:

We salute you, Br Lawrence, we thank you and we shall miss you, but thank God only for a time as
you depart for a well-earned rest in your native Canada. You will be physically far away from
Malaysia and from the District, but we know you heart is here in this your adopted country which
you have served for so long and so very well. Goodbye and Godspeed but come back soon because
we need men like you, solid and dependable at all times, and ever ready to give of your all where
you will be required. We shall pray for you that you may be blessed with continued good health and
benefit to the full by this period of rest, that you will enjoy peace of mind and freedom from all
solicitudes and cares which have been so plentiful but which you have borne with such courage and
patience. God be with you. Ad multos annos!

When he returned he was soon into his busy routine, especially spreading the message of the Brothers' life and
sowing the seeds of vocation which was always dear to him. He turned energies to visiting schools, getting to
know the Catholic students and opening up career possibilities. Those who showed interest in becoming
teachers indicated for him possible candidates. He took names and addresses and kept in touch with a growing
number of such young people. The Colloquium programme for teachers was introduced at this time and he
became fully involved with it as a means of developing team spirit and deeper levels of staff motivation among
Lasallian and Convent schools. At the approach of All Souls' Day he found time to visit the Cheras cemetery to
clean the graves of deceased Brothers, a duty of love he imposed on himself early in life and maintained over
several years, sometimes taking groups of students from St John's to help him.

He was always very close to his family back home in Canada, his sisters and his only brother Walter, several
27
years younger who was Principal of St Paul's School in Windsor, with whose close knit family he liked to spend
time when on leave. They shared many interests, especially music. It was Saturday 2 March 1985 that tragedy
struck for his brother's family. Br Anthony Cheung writes:

A phone call from Canada came through at 6.30pm Sunday 3 March 1985 with the verysad news
of a car accident which killed Bro. Lawrence Spitzig's sister-in-law and 10 year old niece, Suzie.
His younger brother Walter was seriously injured and the .12-year old daughter was also badly
injured. I had the sad duty to contact Bro. Lawrence on the Cameron Highlands where he was
following a Colloquim course/meeting. He came back to Petaling Jaya as soon as he could and
next day he picked up bits and pieces of his work (Ed Dept and Ministry etc) and booked tickets
for Canada. He left 5 March.

Some days later Bro. Lawrence wrote to Bro. Alban Rozario 11 March 1985:-

"Just a few lines to keep you abreast of what's going on. I arrived safe and sound and tired. The
District here had a Brother waiting at the airport in Toronto to whisk me direct by car to the
University Hospital, London, Ontario some 150 miles away, to my brother's side. My sisters were
waiting there for me. Walter was in a pitiful state – both legs shattered, left arm shattered, head
injuries and multiple cuts and bruises everywhere. He recognised me however. He was distracted,
disturbed and anxious. I stayed with him Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Then on to
Windsor (100 miles away) to wake his dear wife and the 10 year old daughter. The wife was
unrecognisable. Suzie looked like an angel. They had both shot straight through the windshield on
impact and died instantly. The other daughter 12 years old, is in hospital, broken thigh, multiple
cuts, etc. Funeral was Saturday, 9 March. The accident occurred a week ago, Saturday. A car
overtaking another car hit my brother who was driving in the opposite direction. The driver
apparently misjudged the nearness of my brother or just took a chance. Before hitting my brother,
he had a heart attack, side-swiped the car he was passing, lost control and hit my brother head on.
The impact spun my brother's car which turned around 180 degrees and seconds later my brother's
car was hit again head on, by a fast on-coming car, coming from behind him at high speed. In a
matter of seconds it was a five-car pile-up, with two dead and three seriously injured.

The double funeral was really touching. There was an enormous crowd in attendance with eleven
priests and my brother's splendid choir which he founded about 30 years ago.

Meantime I am now resting and battling the 'flu'. The temperature was minus130 degrees
centigrade on arrival with snow everywhere. It's getting milder now. Hope to be well enough to
return soon. Regards to Brother Michael, Anthony, Matthew and all .... Many thanks for your
compassion and concern."

He remained in Canada some four months to monitor his brother's recovery which was very slow. Besides
visiting the hospital, he spent time with the Brothers of the District of Toronto helping with programmes for
teachers and youth groups. At the end of this time he returned briefly to collect some personal items, as Br
Visitor Matthew Liew had given him permission to work in Canada for a year. He stayed for four weeks during
which time the question of celebrating his golden jubilee as a La Salle Brother came up. He was in no mood
for celebration and finally consented to a homely celebration involving the Brothers only. Mass was celebrated
by Archbishop Vendargon in the chapel at La Salle Hall followed by a buffet lunch. There were several warm
tributes, notably from Brs Matthew Liew, Visitor, Michael Jacques, Anthony McNamara, Harold Reynolds and
Vincent Corkery.

In his response he gave details of his brother's ongoing recovery, now released from hospital but still hampered
by a shattered left arm and right leg. He was deeply appreciative of the many expressions of sympathy and
promises of prayers. He indicated that he would be residing at the former international novitiate in Toronto,
close to where his brother lived and would be a member of a 3-Brother team. This team were planning sessions
for teachers using the colloquium and the FSC Faith Formation Process ['Vision & Values']. Retreats for youth
groups were also being considered. But he was looking forward eventually to rejoining the Penang District. In
fact he stayed on in Canada for four years and returned in 1989.

Autumnal Years
When he returned, now 21, he was happy to take up residence at St John's Institution and this would be the
28
base for his wide-ranging operations for the next 20 years. He took a close interest in school matters at St
John's and the preservation of heritage. When the famous 5-foot diameter clock decided to stop he left no stone
unturned till he found an expert who in no time had it back in ticking order once more. Another time it was the
metal chairs in the hall, the rubber tips on the legs had worn away. Again he tracked down the relevant
company and had them all replaced, and was fascinated to learn that these rubber tips are known as slippers!
At other times he would discover a treasure trove of trophies hidden away in an old cupboard and for the next
few weeks he spent evenings cleaning and arranging for their proper display. He always founded things that
needed doing.

Occasionally he organised gatherings of Catholic teachers working in Selangor for a one day programme,
these soon became regular events. His association with the Catholic Teachers' Movement remained special.
Retreats for Catholic students from St John's and other Lasallian schoosl became annual fixtures.

He promoted Lasallian spirituality with several groups and was constantly stocking up on copies of the little
booklet on La Salle ?journeyed with the Dream'. It was not unusual for him to return from Canada loaded
with assorted parcels of pamphlets, which he would spend days dispatching to dozens of young contacts. His
gift for a droll comment remained to the end, even on his hospital bed when he had trouble communicating.

In 1992 we find him attending a demanding 3-week programme for formators at Pattaya in Thailand, together
with Brothers Peter Foo and Nicholas Seet conducted by Brother Bill Mann, then Institute Secretary for
Formation. He adopted the latest programme for career discernment which he took to several schools
throughout West Malaysia as well as Sarawak and Sabah. Brother Charles O'Leary writes:

I think he must have visited most of the secondary mission schools here in Sabah to give his
career-guidance programme. He became the best known La Salle Brother in Sabah. His style was
to give a talk to the students of the senior classes and get them to write a letter to him about their
future, their ambitions and calling in life. He laboriously read each letter and answered each one
in his own handwriting, giving them advice about their career and vocation.

The ones associated with La Salle students he sent back to me for distribution and it was amusing
to watch the reaction of the boys and girls on reading these letters. For some, I guess, it was the
only letter they had ever received. One is left to imagine the effort, the patience and dedication and
the passion he had for the welfare of these young people. Considering his age and his health
condition, it was little short of heroic.

Brother Peter Phelan was then pioneering a project in the Sabah interior to provide asrama care and access to
school for pupils too far to reach any school. He recalls Larry's welcome assistance:

During the developing years of Asrama Butitin, Nabawan, Sabah, Brother Lawrence
Spitzig channelled generous funding from his ex-students and well-wishers to the
establishment of this hostel for disadvantaged students. This funding came to over
RM35,000/-.

But it was obvious that this financial help was inspired by his deep commitment to promoting
the education of children who were most in need. He was always very interested in the welfare
and progress of the boarders in Nabawan and visited the hostel many times. He delighted in
meeting them and during his visits always joined them for Night Prayer.

Back at St John's he was ever alert to development affecting the Lasallian schools. Early 1994 he reports with
sadness:

La Salle School Peel Road is no longer regarded as a Lasallian School. It was absorbed by the
Ministry of Education on the expiry of the lease. There has been no news forthcoming as to why
this had to happen and no known expression of appreciation for the splendid effort that went into
raising funds to build the ill-fated school, nor of the good work carried out by the original
administration, among a student population composed of a significant number of children of former
refugees kept behind barbed wire enclosure beside the school. These were set up by Sir Gerald
Templer during the communist troubles to protect these refugees from communist dominated jungle
influences.

29
Brother Charles O'Leary writes of an important later development:-

In his later years he shifted gears and focused more in helping the poor boys and girls mostly in
the care of the local Franciscan Sisters in Kota Marudu and Kg.Dalamas, Paitan. He sought help
and resources from the rich among his old pupils and friends especially in Kuala Lumpur and
Canada to help the poor in these deprived areas providing them with hostels and transport.

At times I was worried as he was so feeble that I feared he would fall. He suffered from amnesia
and it was not uncommon when he travelled alone in the early days in Sabah he hopped on the
wrong bus or gave confused information to the taxi man and so arrived at a wrong destination.

I looked forward to Larry's visit as he was good company and used to regale me with stories
of pre-war days and life as a prisoner of war.

He shared with a friend in January 1999 on how he was back from Sabah. He had been to the interior which
meant some eight hours over rough roads; they had been turned back previously when two main bridges were
down. He was able to provide classrooms and open up communications. He was endlessly impressed by the
children in the interior, their limitless repertoire of songs and hymns, even among the many who could not
read. Now 81, he admitted that he was beginning to have bouts of fatigue and had to push himself at times,
otherwise he felt quite well, and commented: If only I had come to know about interior 30 years ago.

He explained how it all began when he read about remote village conditions in an article in New Straits Times
by a former student now a journalist, he phoned him in Kota Kinabalu asking if there was any chance of seeing
this place. The reply, Be ready by morning, a convoy is leaving under the auspices of Guinness which had just
erected a new school. Riding with local MP in Sabah on a 4-wheel drive, they sped ahead of the others, came
out on the main road, waited a long time and decided to turn back to investigate. The main body had been held
up and had just begun to move again. The MP did a dramatic swing off the path and keeled over on Larry's side.
With his side winder they were righted again and on their way. It was his introduction to life in the interior. One
photo shows him crossing a swollen river gingerly picking his steps on a narrow bridge formed by a tree felled
across the river! He was already in his mid-eighties.

He was 86 in October 2003, when he received a most unusual surprise, he was to be awarded the Order of
Canada medal, Canada's highest civilian award. This is an honour rarely ever awarded to a person living
abroad. He was invested with the Order of Canada by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson on 20 February
2004 at Ridieu Hall, Ottawa, Canada. The citation reads as follows:

Reverend Brother Lawrence Spitzig, C.M. Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia and Toronto, Ontario

For over 60 years, Lawrence Spitzig has devoted himself to the people of South East Asia. As a
teacher and administrator with De La Salle schools in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong,
he promoted the development of new curricula and championed the construction of new
classrooms and schools. A model of respect and tolerance, he embraced the diversity of his
students, treating individuals equally regardless of nationality, ethnicity or religion. Now 20 years
into retirement, he continues to support young people in impoverished regions of Malaysia, raising
funds for residences and schools.

This new honour further enhanced his image during St John's year long centenary celebrations: 1904-2005. The
celebrations went on for a whole year and closed with a grand 'Home Coming' for Old Johannians 5 March
2005 at which Raja Dr Nazrin Shah was chief guest. In his message for the grand occasion Larry wrote: St
John's is no filling station, it is a formation centre, a place where young minds and lives are shaped as we
impart knowledge and spiritual values. The celebrations ended dramatically with a volley of 100 rifle shots and
fireworks.

Already into his 90th year he wrote to a close confrere March 2007:

Sabah keeps me very preoccupied. I cannot go into the jungle any more, but a situation has been
set up whereby 'jungle children' can look • forward to an opportunity for education. In 2005 we
managed to get a La Salle Boys' Hostel built on church property in a place called Kota Maruda.
This little town is about 3 hours from Kota Kinalabu. The church has a large property there. There
30
 is the parish church, a convent, a girls' hostel and now our [boys'] hostel. I am convinced that
education takes priority for these so called 'jungle children'. Hidden talents are abundant.

It is sad to see these children taken from their jungle schools and transferred to a whole new
world. We can only hope and pray.that. education will not cause them to forget or even
despise their parents.

`Wheels' are badly needed for the Sisters in Kota Maruda. They have to get the kids to and fro
school, to take them for extra-curricular activities, outings, to the dentist, the doctor etc.

Thanks be to God RM100,000.00 overtook us and a school van is about to be a reality. I am

amazed at the generosity of old boys, friends and organisations.

In 2007 Br Cassian Pappu was able to report that Br Lawrence 'still continues to serve the youth in his own
way. Having financed the building of two hostels in Kampong Samsagon Sabah with the help of his past
pupils and friends, he is now raising funds for the purchase of a minibus to transport for students from Kota
Marudu hostel to school. The minibus cost RM101,000/- and instantly proved its daily value by making
several trips morning, noon and evening taking children to the local school from the hostel.'

Br Charles O'Leary tells us his last visit to Sabah was in April 2008 and at that time he was scarcely able to
walk. Yet he insisted against all advice on going to visit the Kampong Dalamas in Paitan and that entailed the
usual boat transport as well as jungle paths over very rough terrain.

Honours were still coming his way. This time it was for his service to education in Malaysia: the ANUGERAH
JASAMU DI KENANG which carries the very coveted title of Datuk. It was bestowed by the King on
Thursday 21 May 2009 and he was able to attend on a wheel-chair.

Early October 2008 at his own request he was admitted to the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Cheras as he
was beginning to need regular assistance. For many years he had made it clear this was to be his retirement
home, where he would rub shoulders with poor and ordinary people, whom he had sought to serve through
life.

Perhaps the last function he attended was the 93rd birthday celebration of Br Michael Jacques 6 June 2009, his
close friend and associate over many decades. He was in his wheelchair and clearly happy to be with a large
gathering of Brothers. However he found conversation difficult and was content to sit and observe.

By July Br Thomas, Visitor, wrote to the Brothers: Br Larry is giving us some cause for concern. His mental
abilities have slowed considerably and he has a poor appetite. The good Sisters are giving him very special
attention.

And he reported 12 August:

I write to let you know that Bro. Larry has taken a turn for the worst. Early yesterday morning we
were called to Assunta Hospital as he was having convulsions and his breathing had become
laboured. Sadly, he is no longer able to communicate with visitors. The hospital informed us that
they have done all they can and are now concentrating on making him as comfortable as possible.
We are in touch with his family in Canada.

Beside his bed was a book for visitors to leave messages. Many messages were -particularly moving, all
revealed the deep affection and admiration in which he was held by so very many people. During this final
week Brothers from St John's and Petaling Jaya took turns to sit by his bed at night.

On 18 August Br Thomas sent the message that had been hourly expected:

It is with great sadness that I infonh you that Bro. Lawrence Spitzig passed away peacefully at
4.44pm this evening, Tuesday 18 August, in Assunta Hospital. He was 91 years of age.

Brother Thomas later circulated .a very touching account of the funeral to all the Brothers who knew him,
both home and overseas and to family members:

31
 Our final farewell to Br Lawrence, yesterday, was very moving and memorable. His body was
taken to St. John's on Wednesday morning at 9.30am and laid out in a specially prepared space in
the covered playground. Groups of students were taken in turn to pay their respects and there was
a steady stream of visitors all day and late into the night. We Brothers together with the Little
Sisters of the Poor held a prayer service at 8.00pm. His good friend, Datin Sr. Enda Ryan FMM
read two beautiful poems on the theme of transition.

On Thursday morning (20/8) the funeral service began with a full school assembly. Various
speakers representing the students, Old Boys, Parents, former teachers, expressed their
condolences and recalled memories of Larry. The School Pipers gave a very solemn rendition of
the Last Post. The coffin was then carried by students to the hearse and led by the School Cadet
Band along Bukit Nanas Road to St. John's Cathedral. All along the way the School Uniform
Groups formed a colourful guard of honour. Larry had left the school he loved so much for the
last time and they had done him proud.

The funeral Mass was celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Pakiam Murphy and concelebrated by
nine Priests. The Cathedral was virtually full. The MC was Fr Eugene Benedict, an Old Boy of St.
John's and the Homily was preached by Fr John Gnanapragasam, Parish Priest in Kiang and Old
Boy of SPI, Seremban. We were very pleasantly surprised and happy to see old Johannian Fr OC
Lim SJ attending as he is just recovering from major heart surgery. It was not possible for any of
Larry's family to attend but his native Canada was represented by the High Commissioner, Mr
David Collins. As we know Larry was a member of the Order. of Canada, the highest honour
bestowed on a civilian. The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Wee Ka Siong, was also present for
the Mass.

At the end of the Mass, on behalf of the Brothers, I expressed our condolences to Larry's sister,
Dorothy Gillis, to his devoted niece, Loretta Lazo and all the family. I thanked the Sisters of the
Poor for taking such good care of him since October last year and the doctors and staff of Assunta
Hospital for their kindness and concern during his final illness.

We were able to show a short video of Larry's life prepared by the Catholic Teachers
Association of Malaysia when they honoured him during Teachers Day back in May.

After the Mass, the cortege was led through the city by a convoy of police outriders. Traffic was
stopped at all the major intersections on the way to the Cheras Cemetery. Fr. Eugene conducted the
final service and led us in the Rosary as the grave was being filled in. It lies alongside Bro. Paddy
Chan and is the last space available in our plot. We concluded, as always, with the Salve Regina as
lighted candles were placed in the fresh earth on top of the grave. May his soul rest in the peace of
the Lord.

I would like to express our very sincere thanks to Bro. Felix Donohue and Bro Andrew Loke for
taking care of arrangements so efficiently and to the Communities of St John's KL, St Fancis
Malacca, Petaling Jaya and Bro Vincent from Ipoh for their presence. As anyone familiar with St.
John's will know, the person responsible for all arrangements there will be Mr David Fernandez
and we are very grateful for his well-nigh perfect organisation.

In my 'few words' at the end I mentioned the profound love and

respect Larry had for his vocation as a Brother. He deeply treasured this gift and we thank God
for the gift of Larry to us. May his prayers and presence in Heaven be a source of new vocations
for our District. This was a priority for Larry all his life.

Envoi
In good times and in bad, even in prison, Brother Lawrence gave a full and faithful witness to what it means to
be a La Salle Brother.

His memory will live not just in the schools he helped to build and shape for high all round achievement but
even more in the hearts of thousands, not least the children of remote Sabah, whose lives he enriched. May he
rest in peace and rise in Glory.
32
 EPILOGUE
Brother John D'Cruz
(Though I did not live with Brother Lawrence in community at any time, I had the chance to be closer to him
and to know him better during the years when I was Vocation Director –1975 to 1977 – and especially during
the nine months of preparatory work for our Renewal programme in 1976. I would like to pay tribute to him in
the context of this 1976 Renewal programme at St. Joseph's Training College) Dec 7-14.)

A crowded Vaugirard of depleted forces

Spent with the sweated toil of a hundred years and more A sore distressed
army with many a tale of woe, Of numbers lost and changes galore,
Of hopes betrayed and Government 'foes',
Of machine-like bureaucracy and busy secularity, Of watered-down
catechesis and Christ-less classes.
Brother Lawrence came across to me as a very dynamic organizer,
As one who got things done as La Salle schools criss-crossed the country. In his own words he
talked about being "on the ball"
And well" on top of things "and to "have all bases covered".
And yet, little by little, as I attended meeting after meeting,
I realized he sensed very deeply "a very historic moment in the
evolution of our District". He was very conscious about the need for "personal spiritual renewal and a
spiritual scrutiny of our apostolate on a scale never before attempted.....
This spiritual renewal is the work of God.. "
With great vigour and urgency he decided on the Renewal programme
And with deep clarity he saw that the "renewed awareness of our charism is Not to be achieved by
some kind of renewed fidelity to the past.
It is rather the fidelity of a community of living men
seeking to hear the call of the Holy Spirit
and to give witness to the Good News of the Kingdom of God....... It will be for us a
renewed awareness on our part,
Of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that makes us not only La Salle Brothers, but a La Salle Family or
Community. "Indeed, a long-range vision.
Pregnant with feelings of failure and futility,
Pulsating itself into an agonizing "Lord save us, for we are dying". Faint glimmer of hope
from chosen emissaries,
Of flag-waving and polite diplomatic pats on the back
For noble, national needs done in academic bastions.
And then, with gentle Filipino zeal,
Aided by earthy, Indo-Dutch humanity,
The polished clarity of the United States
And the analyzing clarity of the Belgian think-tank
To go on knees, supported by Roman father and brother,
And say, "Lord, we are dead".
Brother Lawrence was a man of prayer. "Prayer is particularly relevant for our spiritual renewal .. ...of
course, we need to have some criteria to assess whether our prayer really is prayer at all. And I think one of
33
the criteria must be: do Ifind that my prayer is changing my life? If it is not, then probably it isn't prayer at
all. If it is, then perhaps it is prayerIt is quite possible that our prayer conforms to our World and does not lay
us open to the Word of God." Indeed, Brother Lawrence was one of the first of the pre-Vatican Brothers to
move into spontaneous prayer at meetings.
Onrush of powerful feelings of a people come of age
Crossed with threatened loyalties to unbroken school traditions, An East-West turmoil
of three dark, death-filled days, Of disturbed doubts and despairs
And reluctant release of hidden unease,
A veritable descent into Hell!
Brother Lawrence was a man of faith: "We Lasallian Brothers, helpless
And inadequate as we are, and as our pioneer Brothers of 1852 were, are onto something really big.
With profound faith in God and unbounded confidence in ourselves, because of God's boundless
generosity, we will prevail and God willing, generate a new wave of Lasallian apostolic endeavour in the
spread of God's Kingdom. "And the way Brother Lawrence continued with his dogged approach to
holding the Renewal in spite of many difficulties faced.
And on the third day they rose again from the dead
Faint whispers of a new spring
Merging into a common chorus of 'humanity first at all costs' - to be and not only to
do -
A building up of brothers, of peoples, of Asians into the people of God, A glow, a goal, a
glorious vision.
Brother Lawrence was very open to change in spite of his dedication
and loyalty to the school apostolate. "At this stage I would like to underline
The fact that none of us are going to come out of this exercise the same as we have come into it We are going
to be better or worse. The exercise itself is not going to renew us nor is any person going to renew us. No,
spiritual renewal is something that comes from within, depending on our personal cooperation with God's
grace.
.... 'we must pull ourselves up by the bootstraps".
In particular, I noted in him:
A great zeal for the fostering of vocations: I admired the way he would write personal letters to those who
indicated interest after he had given a talk or conducted an interview for Catholics in a school, and then
answer their questions personally by follow-up. letters.
He also pointed out how the Chapter "was almost ruthless in the matter of orientations concerning the
Poor and Justice ..... it was not satisfied with pious platitudes about concern for the poor....
and how necessary it was that direct to the poor becomes the rule rather than the exception in District
priorities." And later in his life, we saw how he himself dedicated much of time and resources to help the
poor in rural Sabah

34
 Eulogy by Br Thomas Lavin, Visitor
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord

For most of his Religious life Bro Lawrence came here to this Cathedral dedicated to the Beloved Disciple St
John to celebrate the daily Eucharist. The Eucharist is our Christian Meal of thanksgiving. We have gathered
this morning for our fmal Meal with Bro Lawrence to give thanks to God for the gift of this selfless and
dedicated man to the La Salle Brothers and to the young people of Malaysia.

Your presence here today in such large numbers is a testimony to the many lives that were touched By Br
Lawrence. We mourn the passing of a very dear friend and confrere but we rejoice that God blessed him with a
long and fruitful life. We celebrate his fidelity to his religious profession as a Brother which he made during his
internment in Changi Prison in 1944. His love for his vocation as a Brother was profound and touching. One of
his constant preoccupations was the importance of recruiting young men to join the Brothers life. This was his
pearl of great price, his treasure, because he regarded the mission of education as defined by St John Baptist De
La Salle to be the of the utmost importance. He is now in Heaven and I am sure that already he will have fixed
an appointment with the Heavenly Powers to see what they intend to do about replacing him and getting young
men interested in the Brothers Vocation.

Bro Larry left Canada in 1938 to come to East. He is the last of four outstanding Canadian Brothers who served
in our District, the others being Anthony Knoll, Michael Blaise and Gaston Tremblay. They never really
expected to return home. This was the heroic sacrifice expected of missionaries in pre war days. However, post
Vatican Two missionary theology made a welcome U-turn and, instead, we Brothers were now encouraged to
visit our families and keep in close contact. with them. Larry did this more than most, writing letters and
phoning them regularly and visiting them during his scheduled holidays. In his late 80's, at an age when most
Brothers dread the prospect of long air journeys, Larry was undaunted and went on his fmal visit home.

We have kept in close contact with his family back in Canada during his illness and today like us they are
mourning his passing. On behalf of the Brothers I wish to express our deepest condolence to Br Larry's sister,
Mrs Dorothy Gillis and her family, to his special niece Loretta Lazo and family and brother in law Alex
McGregor. One of his final acts in Assunta was looking through an album of family photos sent by Loretta and
showing the Confirmation of her triplets, now 14 years of age. These were very dear to Larry. They will miss
him terribly as we all will and deeply regret not being able to be here today for this final farewell.

We are honoured and grateful that Canada is represented here this morning by the presence of his Excellency
the High Commissioner, Mr David Collins. We welcome you, Sir. Br Larry was a proud Canadian and his
country was also very proud of him which was shown by bestowing on him the highest civilian honour, namely,
"The Order of Canada".

In the middle of last year Bro Larry began to mention the possibility that he might ask for admission to the
Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Cheras. He was becoming less mobile and he feared becoming
incapacitated as happened to his confrere, Br Cassian. He also wanted to ensure that he could continue to have
daily Mass and prayers while not being a burden on the Brothers. I accompanied him for his first interview
with Mother Cecilia before being admitted. At one point Mother asked him jokingly: "Do You know, Brother
that you will be coming to a prison?" He paused, then looked her in the eye and said "That's no problem: I have
been in prison before! But, of course, far from entering prison he was welcomed into a loving and caring
family at St Francis Home for the Elderly. He greatly appreciated the privilege of being in the Home and had
the highest admiration for the Sisters. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Mother Cecilia and to all the
Sisters together with the staff of the Home for your great kindness and understanding. I am very happy to see
that quite a number of the elderly are here with us this morning and may God bless you all. May the
forthcoming canonisation of your Foundress, Jeanne Jugan, bring you the blessings of more vocations.

The final six weeks of his life we spent in the Assunta Hospital where he received first class attention at all
times from Dr Suresh and the Nursing staff of Fatimah Ward. His spiritual needs were diligently met by the
pastoral team led by the FMM sisters who visited him regularly and brought him Holy Communion and we are
very grateful. We also appreciate the care of many old boys and friends who called to see him regularly and
wrote encouraging notes which I will refer to later.

One afternoon I was visiting Larry in the Little Sisters of the Poor. Somehow we got onto talking about his

35
stopovers in Hong Kong which he would make on his way home to Canada. Knowing that he had had a number
of mishaps I teased him a little with "Larry, there are some very good stories to tell about those trips.' He paused
and looked at me steadily and said: "Brother the correct word to use is "adventures" We could really say that for
Larry his whole life was a long joyful adventure in the service of his Lord. He was truly a Man for All Seasons,
if I may borrow the name given by the dramatist Robert Bolt to that heroic English statesman and martyr St.
Thomas More. It is fitting before we say our final farewell that we take a quick trip back in time to look at the
many seasons in the life of our dear Brother.

Earlier this year he was honoured by the Catholic Teachers Association of Malaysia during a Mass at the
Assumption church for his contribution, service and selfless dedication towards the betterment of education in
Malaysian mission schools. In conjunction with this ceremony the Association sponsored the production of a
short DVD on the life of Br. Lawrence. We would now like to invite you to watch this

DVD and the interview he gave which was done during his time with the Sisters of the Poor.

(Showing of video follows....)

So we have just heard Bro Lawrence delivering a clarion call to students "Do not listen to people who spread
false values and false stories about education. Education remains as important today as it was in the time of
John Baptist De La Salle. I only hope and pray that young people will keep high aspirations as far as
education is concerned" This is Larry at his most inspirational. He believed strongly in the paramount
importance of preparing the youth of today to be useful and responsible citizens.

We will also remember with affection his very warm and human side. Brothers will recall that touching photo.
of him holding hands with Bro Patrick Chan and we could not tell who was really taking care of whom. He had
a great sense of humour and a wonderful gift for repartee. His terse remarks were often not just witty but always
apt and very wise. Some weeks ago I took Br Harold Reynolds to see Larry in the hospital. Larry asked him
what he was doing now. Harry replies that he is on the Novitiate staff in Lipa Philippines. And then adds "Br.
Lawrence: do you know that this is my third Novitiate." Larry comes back quick as a shot "And still there is no
improvement"

Soon after Br. Larry was admitted to Assunta some kind person placed a notepad on the window sill near his
bed and asked visitors to leave messages. While keeping watch beside his bed during the small hours this last
week I read through these messages. These express beautifully the sentiments of so many people whose lives he
has touched and I would like to share some of these with you now:

However let me first preface these quotes by a beautiful and touching description of Larry by an SJI student,
Daniel Zuraldi, written for the 2004 Centenary Magazine of St John's:

"An old man is seen often around the school. His hair is as white as his robe. His steps are slow but steady.
Despite his old age he is still active. He still cleans the chapel every morning, still reacts to the school band,
still writes postcards whenever he can. He has this charm of making everyone around him, young and old, feel
special when he talks to them. He enjoys telling stories about the school to Johannians. This man is Bro
Lawrence Spitzig, one of the most famous and most successful Br Directors who has ever led St. John's.

And now to the messages at the hospital. Many of the early visitors of course expressed hope for his
recovery as he was in no immediate danger of death.

One such from Andrew Lim was "

Being the fighter that you have always been I'm certain that you will leap past this hurdle. Hope to see you well
soon as there is a bottle of scotch waiting for you. God bless and may you recover soon.

I know that the Irish blood on his mother's side also gave him a soft spot for Guinness Stout. Mother
Cecilia kindly ensured that he got his daily can of Guinness which always brought a lift to his step.

36
The true meaning of dedication I found in you. Dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ, dedicated to teaching and
education, dedicated to St. John's. We love you so much

Mrs Cheng

I cannot think of anybody who has done so much for education in this country. God bless you.

SA Fernandez

Bro Lawrence, Thank you for giving a poor man's son a decent education in SXI, Penang

Allan Loo

Once in awhile someone comes into our lives and makes a huge difference. You have made that difference
in my life. I love you so much.

SC Shekar

Br Lawrence You have been and will always be the beacon for the youth of Malaysia.

Vincent Fernandez.

You made a man of the scamps and the downtrodden, you gave them dignity. Lots of love.

Frederick Pereira

I have never known a Christian Brother with so much dedication and commitment. I always remember your
ethics class. "Look into my eyes. Your eyes are the windows of your soul. " Thank you, Brother.

Elizabeth Xavier.

God bless you and your perseverance in turning your dream and vision into reality for our La Salle, PJ. We
treasure your leadership, words of wisdom and most of all your passion in touching lives.

Principal Vassu, staff and students of La Salle, PJ

My name is Maria Cruz. I am the one who cleaned the wounds on your hands last time you had an accident.
You gave me an angpow with a handwritten Christmas card. I keep it and treasure it. Remember me Br
Lawrence, I will never forget you. You have touched many lives. You have run a good race.

Alice Woon

Beautiful tributes indeed which remind us of the famous lines from the English Poet Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow:
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
And departing leave behind us
Footsteps on the sands of time
Bro. Larry you have left behind imperishable footprints on the sands of time. But much more than that:

You have heard our Founders call "To touch the hearts of your students and to inspire them with God's spirit is
the greatest miracle you can perform and one God expects ofyou."

As a true companion of John Baptist De La Salle you have performed miracles, you have left indelible "Heart
Prints" on those who have been entrusted to your care. The glowing tributes just quoted are a testimony to this
and more.

We recall the final word of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, "I will spend my Heaven doing good on Earth". We
can be sure that Br Larry will now be doing the same and so we have a very special patron in Heaven who will
37
take good care of us. We thank God for the privilege of knowing him. We say with our Founder in a spirit of
humility and gratitude: "Lord, the Work is Yours."

I wish to thank his Grace Archbishop Pakiam Murphy and the many priests for celebrating this Eucharist
with us this morning. Our very sincere thanks to Br. Felix, Bro Andrew and the Community of St John', to
Mr Peter Yii, Principal and Mr David Fernandez, to staff and students of St. John's and so many good friends
for making all the funeral arrangements.

We pray, as Brothers and Lasallians that we honour the memory of Br Lawrence by deepening in our lives the
Lasallian spirit of FIDE ET LABORE which is the Johannian motto and so procure God's glory as far as we
are able and as he will require of us.

Brother Harold Reynolds

A shining light in the darkness of our times.....

Given his characteristic laid-back style, the late Bro. Lawrence Spitzig would be more than surprised to hear
that he stood in a long line of distinguished men and women the Church produces in every age to call us back
to the fundamentals of our Christian and Religious Life. Despite the many honours bestowed upon him in the
course of a deeply apostolic life, Larry was firmly grounded in reality. Essentially an optimist, he was also
blessed with a healthy dose of cynicism. Right to the end, Larry was able to laugh at himself.

Bro. Lawrence came to the District of Penang in 1938, just out of his teens with three Canadian confreres:
Anthony Knoll. Michael Blais and Gaston Tremblay. These two English-speaking and two French-speaking
Brothers were a very unusual mix for the times but their deep sense of unity in their long years of service to the
District was most impressive, the exact opposite of that portrayed by the media.

War clouds had been gathering for years before Larry reported for duty first in St. Joseph's Institution,
Singapore and then to St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur where he wore an extra hat outside school as an Air
Raid Warden. He often told the story of old British firms such as Bousteads and Cold Storage calling upon the
Brothers to help destroy godowns filled with alcohol in the face of the advancing Japanese. While the Brothers
smashed crates by the dozens and sent untold gallons of booze cascading down the gutters, just a short distance
away Chinese and Indian labourers by the dozens were literally flat out on their stomachs gulping it up, while
others were busy damming it and scooping it up for future consumption!

I was not to meet Larry till 1952 when Brothers from Seremban, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur gathered in Port
Dickson for the First Term break. On our second morning, this lanky Canadian invited me to go for a walk with
him that afternoon. While ambling for miles through a nearby rubber plantation, we shared our experiences and
laid the foundations for a friendship that was to last a lifetime. It was on one of those walks that we passed "Pat
Shea's" and Larry filled in the background. On specified official walk days, some Directors gave Community
members $1 for refreshments on the way. A small bottle of Anchor beer at this watering hole set you backs just
70 cents. As Bro. Patricius could never remember the Chinese owner's name, he settled for a good old Irish one,
'Pat Shea'. It was customary to take fresh young Irish Brothers not in the know to enjoy a beer at Pat Shea's. The
gulf between their cozy expectations of Pat Shea's and the grim reality was a rich source of endless holiday
laughter.

On one of those rubber estate walks on the outskirts of Klang, we were shocked to see a cobra rise up
menacingly on an earthy bank barely ten feet away. When we stopped running and looked back, there was no
sign of it. Realizing we posed no threat, it was probably sunning itself back in the very same spot where it had
been disturbed. On another occasion, on a walk up to Mount Sacred Heart in Penang, Larry pointed out a huge
Burmese python spiraling majestically around a large dead tree trunk till it disappeared effortlessly into its
rotting interior – an amazing sight on the very edge of a large public park! At the end of an extra long walk in
Klang once, millions of fireflies lit up an avenue of rubber trees, turning them into an arcade of Christmas
lights, a scene of incredible beauty.

These long hours with him, spread over some forty years with Vatican 11, the war in Vietnam and its
worldwide repercussions as backdrop, gave a wonderful insight into what made a remarkable Brother
tick.Some part of the answer, surely, is to be found on a refectory wall in the PARC Novitiate here in Lipa
City:

38
"The spirit of this institute is first, a spirit of faith which should induce those who compose it not to look upon
anything but with the eyes of faith, not to do anything but in view of God, and to attribute all to God,
alwaysentering into these sentiments of Job, 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; as it has pleased the
Lord, so is it done.'"

In many ways, Larry epitomized all of the above. That his whole life centred on God and his vocation was
obvious. A very private person, Larry blew no trumpets. His deep faith shone in apostolic action wherever he
was posted. Years before St. John's had a government-appointed headmaster, Larry shepherded the Catholic
students, formed them into an official school society, taught them the faith daily, arranged retreats and
recollections and strove to make their First. Friday Masses meaningful and special. On weekends, he was there
to serve the Burmese Catholic migrants whose Masses in St. John's he found profoundly moving.

Larry's greatest happiness lay in simple pleasures with his confreres. He was never happier than when the
Brothers gathered for the annual retreat in Katong, Penang Hill or Cameron Highlands, or for the holidays
there or in Port Dickson. Cards, long walks, tennis, golf, volleyball on Penang Hill,– whatever. Laughing with
confreres, he was in his element.

Larry came to prominence in the District around the time of Vatican 11 and the turmoil worldwide associated
with the war in Vietnam. If it wasn't the best time to head three of our most prestigious schools – SJI, SXI and
La Salle PJ - much less so, then, to take over as Visitor. There was pain and anguish on both sides in his
Provincialate years as respected and greatly admired Brothers left us. These were times and clays that tested
the mettle of many but Larry's faith in God, the Institute and the District of Penang stood rock solid. He had
committed himself to the District back in 1938 as a Brother just out of his teens, and when he died in Assunta
Hospital a long 71 years later, that commitment remained as fresh as ever.

The subject of elderly, frail Brothers being sent to Homes run by the Little Sisters of the Poor was deeply
divisive when first raised some thirty years ago. Larry's contribution to the debate was positive. He said then
and many times down the years that he personally would be very happy to go to such a Home: he would have
Mass daily, good food, lots of company and excellent medical attention. Finishing his days among the Anawim
of God in Kuala Lumpur was also quietly part of the equation. When the time came to walk the talk, Larry
moved happily to the loving care of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Cheras.

His prophesy of lots of company bore fruit in ways unexpected as former students and old friends trooped in to
visit him carrying gifts of all kinds, so much so that the nun in charge told Bro. Felix Donohue with a smile that
in conscience she thought she ought to apply for a liquor licence! Larry's mortal remains rest with those of
many confreres in consecrated Malaysian soil in Cheras Cemetery, just as he had always intended. A loyal and
quietly proud Canadian, Larry had planned nonetheless to die in the land where he had served God so selflessly
and so beautifully for so long.

In his mid-seventies, Larry heard of a small remote poverty-stricken Catholic village deep in the interior of
Borneo that time had been forgotten. After a perilous journey to see for himself and, some valuable publicity
that rallied Old Boys and well-wishers as well as catching the eye of the Canadian embassy in Kuala Lumpur,
things began to stir in that long-neglected backwater. Today among many improvements they have electricity
and piped water, while two newly built hostels in a nearby town ensure that the children have access at last to
an education. The accolades that came his way were turned deftly to those who helped him. Among the
mourners in St. John's Cathedral for the Mass of Resurrection were former students, teacher colleagues and
friends accumulated down the years, men and women of all shades of belief and unbelief, drawn to pay their
respects to one whose kindness, integrity and no-nonsense holiness touched and enriched their lives. Larry did
his Country and the Brothers proud!

Brother Paul Ho
Memories of Bro. Lawrence Spitzig
If there is one word that comes to mind about Bro. Lawrence is his consistency and in the vocabulary of the
Institute, it is stability. He is one who puts his hand on the plough and never looks back.

He was the one who followed up with Bro. Alban Rozario on me joining the Juniorate in Ipoh. He made sure
that I had an interview with Bro. Cornelius Luke and meeting my parents to get me prepared to join the
Juniorate. During my time as a Junior, he made sure that he kept in touch with me through visits and letters. As
principal of La Salle P.J. he made sure he gave report cards personally and rewarded us with simple treats from
39
the canteen if we showed improvement in our academic results.

When I was in La Salle Hall pursuing my teaching certificate and as Bro. Visitor, he made sure that he gave us
conferences when he was free. As Bro. Visitor, he was serious about his duties.

Once he got his heart and soul into a project, he never let go. When he was in St. John's, he looked after the
school and the community. He made sure that everything was ship shaped. He occupied his time with tight
schedules and I always wondered when he would let go. I presume the answer is a simple NO.

I thanked Bro. Lawrence's advice to me before I left for St. Xavier's. His advice was to try to give out report
books to the students personally. This advice I have taken to heart and for 15 years I have managed to connect
with the kids in the school. Tiring but enriching.

Bro. Matthew Liew did the sowing and Bro. Lawrence did the transplanting of my vocation. If it were not for
these Brothers, I would not be a Brother. Thank you Brothers.

Shenton de Rozario
`Colony Days'
It was February 1942 – The Japanese Army had over-run Malaya.

Many families lost their homes to the Japanese. The Japanese Officers had to be billeted in the homes of the
civilians of Kuala Lumpur, who in turn had to look for accommodation elsewhere.

Providence came to the rescue of these many families who found refuge in the classrooms of St. John's
Institutions, Kuala Lumpur. The school was then under the Directorship of Bro. Cornelius. These Brothers
living in Community at that time, were Bro. Bernard, Sub-Director, Bro. Amerty, Bro. Augustus D'Cruz, to
name a few, and a young Bro. Tiburtius Lawrence who at 18 years, had just came out as a Missionary from
Canada. It was Bro. Lawrence, much loved and respected, who played a huge part in the lives of the 30 to 40
families who stayed in the classrooms, the school hall, and the Boarders' Dormitory at the St. John's Institution.

Thanks to the charity and generosity of Bro. Cornelius and the Brothers, the families, made up of Eurasians,
Chinese and Indians survived the early part of the war years. We stayed there close to six months – and six
memorable months laced with very happy memories.

Of the number who stayed at St. John's Institution during what was to be referred to as "Colony Days", only
about eight or nine are still surviving. Among them is Father Adelrick D'Cruz, (then a Boarder) now lives in
Adelaide. There was the ‘Goonting' family, the:Marbeck' family and `Churme and Skelchy' families. Then there
was the 'de Rozario' family, the 'Maurice' family and the `Kraal', 'Pereira' and `Sequerah' families.The 'Lee' and
'Carlos' and 'de Cruz' families all made up this happy "colony". There were others whose surnames cannot be
remembered by the writer.

Brother Lawrence was instrumental in keeping up the morale of the "colonists' by organizing singing and choir
concerts. The writer of this article, then about 8 years old, who acted as a 'page boy' announcing the items on
the programme for the night, vividly recalls Bro. Lawrence lifting him over the water piping as we had to move
outside the hall to get back-stage – 67 years on and that incident is still attached in my memory.

Years after those 'colony days' until recently, anytime Bro. Lawrence met any of the survivors of the Japanese
regime, he would stop to recall those happy days and enquire of those still around. He was a true "Brother" to
the many families living at St. John's Institution. One surviving member recalls that those days were the
happiest, as families and friends shared and supported one another.

Food in the for form of rice, was given by the Brothers and cooked in the Brothers kitchen and brought to the
store room on the ground floor, below the 'Brothers' quarters. The male folk grew vegetables, sweet potatoes
and tapioca. The 'Brothers' joined in, growing their own vegetables.

Soccer and tennis were the sports played in the evenings and the Brothers joined the formidable Colony team
that would take on teams from Brickfields and `Pasar' Road. Brother Lawrence excelled in Tennis, organizing
'mini' tournaments and could take on anyone and held his place on the court.

40
Those early months of 1942 would be an era that cannot be forgotten, when so much must be attributed to the
'La Salle Brothers' of St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur. They took care of so many families, who otherwise,
would have had nowhere to stay and perhaps face starvation.

From the few surviving members of those 'Colony Days' we say "Thank You" to Bro. Cornelius, Bro. Lawrence
and the Brothers of the St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur.

Brother Patrick Tierney

Larry would frequently stay with us in Hong Kong on his way to Canada to visit his folks. We enjoyed his
company, especially when he recalled his time "in the clink". There were, too, some interesting episodes. I
remember on one occasion the question of having a beer cropped up. I said I hardly ever took a beer during the
day. Larry's response : 'I take it any time, I can get it Brother'.

But perhaps the occasion that stands out for me is the delivery of Larry to the Airport to catch the plane for
Canada. Since his notorious reputation for forgetfulness had preceded him, every time before going to the.
Airport I would ask Larry if he had his ticket, his wallet and his passport. On this particular occasion he tapped
his back pocket and said 'Right here Brother'.

The phone was ringing before I even got back from the Airport. Larry on the line claiming his ticket, wallet and
passport had been stolen and the Airport police alerted. I reclaimed Larry and we fixed up a new departure date.
Meanwhile the Airport authorities phoned to say they are working hard on the case. That evening Larry comes
along to say he had found the valuables...at the bottom of his large suitcase! From then on I made sure I had
visible proof of his ticket, wallet and passport.

There was one area of life that never seemed to confuse Larry and that was the time and place of the community
spiritual exercises. He would always be there.

James Gonzales
A Great Educator, Humanitarian
AN icon in the Malaysian teaching profession was lost with the passing away of Brother Lawrence Spitzig. A
legendary missionary, Lawrence was a doyen in the teaching profession, well-known to many including Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, prominent doctors, lawyers, engineers and civil servants.

It was therefore befitting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his Teacher's Day message described
teachers in the country like Lawrence as the unsung heroes. I am glad that the Prime Minister had paid tribute to
the distinguished members of the teaching profession for their contributions.

I was proud to have served under Lawrence for many tears during his tenure, as the Brother Director of St.
John's Institution. Here was a man and a dedicated educationist who had toiled selflessly for the benefit of
hundreds, or perhaps, thousands of Malaysians who today are holding prominent positions in the country.

Lawrence was the hallmark of a great educator who did so much for so many. I'm sure they count themselves as
being among the fortunate ones, whose life and careers have been moulded by this great educator. This
well-known Canadian, whose life was entwined with the teaching profession, began his teaching career at the
age of 19 at St. Joseph's Institution in Singapore in 1938, and served at other distinguished mission schools in
then Malaya such as St. Xavier's Institution in Penang and La Salle Petaling Jaya, before retiring from St. John's
Institution.

Even when the Japanese landed in Malaya, Lawrence was still teaching in the . country. He was subsequently
sent to Pudu Prison and later as a prisoner of war to Changi Prison in Singapore.

Even at the ripe old age of the 80s, Lawrence was still teaching in the remote areas of Sabah. Teaching was in
every drop of his blood, and you could never separate the man from his profession. Such was the epitome of the
teaching profession. Gratitude goes to the little Sisters of the Poor for taking care of this great humanitarian in
his old age. May his soul, rest in peace.

41
 Ms Koh Soo Ling
Lawrence Spitzig — The Brother with a heart
On 30 October 2003, Brother Lawrence Spitzig, 86 had the most pleasant surprise of his life. He was informed
that he was to be decorated with a coveted award by the former Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien. For his
six decades of dedication towards the people of South East Asia as a teacher and school administrator, Brother
Lawrence Spitzig, an unassuming gentleman became a member of the Order of Canada. He was authorized to
hold and enjoy the dignity of such an appointment with membership in the said order and all its privileges.
Brother Lawrence Spitzig of Toronto was invested with the Order of Canada by Governor General Adrienne
Clarkson on 20 February 2004.at Ridieu Hall, Ottawa, Canada.

The Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian honour, awarded to those who adhere to the Order's motto
Desiderantes meliorem patriam meaning "they desire a better country." It was created on 1 July 1967, on the
country's 100th anniversary, to recognize Canadians who have made a difference to Canada. It is Canada's
highest honour for lifetime achievement. The Queen of Canada is Sovereign of the Order and the
Governor-General is its chancellor and principal Companion.

Fondly known as Brother Lawrence, Spitzig shares his heartbeat, "No matter how humble a person is, he or
she can use his or her talents and gifts to serve others."

Absolutely true. Originating from Toronto, Canada, Spitzig became a brother in 1935. He says, "I had a calling,
an attraction to join the brotherhood. I wanted to be a teacher just like them. Normally a brother is not
transferred to another country. However, I heard a talk given in 1937 about schools in Malaya, Hong Kong and
Singapore which need volunteers. So I put in my name with three other brothers, Anthony Knoll, Michael Blais,
Gaston Trmblay. That's how I ended up in Malaya and in St John's Institution some years later."

An indomitable spirit and a willingness to serve are two excellent qualities. Spitzig is the epitome of both.
Thrust into the 2nd World War in Malaya, Spitzig was embroiled in the atrocities of war when he became a
prisoner of war (POW) in Changi, Singapore during the Japanese occupation, for the simple fact that he held a
British passport. It was during this time that his endeavour to survive and to serve reigned supreme in his
mind.

Spitzig recalls, "As a POW I suffered from starvation. I could not communicate with home. Letters were kept
by the Japanese till the end of the war. I stayed at D-3-1 Block D third floor cell 1. Letters bearing news of the
war were sensored. At that time, Payne, the Director of Education in Malaya, mentioned about the
uncontrollable young people in prison. A Gabriellite brother started a school in prison for young boys. It was
there that I had my first taste of teaching boys with disciplinary problems. I underwent no real preparation for
a teaching profession. But I made a professional commitment in Changi Prison to become a teacher."

Spitzig's passion for humankind went beyond education. He got involved in medicine as well. During the
war, there was a great shortage of medicine and British doctors and trainers were imprisoned. So there was
a need for a lot of ordinary people to join medical training centres to train people for nursing duties like bed
bathing and feeding.

Spitzig, a good story teller, continues, "There was a multimillionaire from England who was a POW in Changi
Prison. He developed a skin disease and needed intensive care. Thirty other POWs took turns to nurse him. He
was really bad tempered and raged all the time. The chief medical officer asked for 3 volunteers to help nurse
him. Without hesitation Arthur West, Jimmy Erskine and myself took it upon ourselves to feed him and wash
his big blisters. Every Monday, bandages were removed from the upper part of his body. The new blisters had
to be pricked, soiled bandages put into empty tin can and then boiled to disinfect them. On Tuesdays, we carried
out the same routine for the lower part of his body. On Wednesdays, it was the upper part of the body again. We
all learnt what it meant to care for others. "

Six months before the end of the war, the Japanese decided to move 5000 civilian prisoners to a prison camp
called Sime Road in Singapore. Spitzig continues, "There were 52 attap shacks and we were arranged in
these shacks. Teaching the boys became more difficult then. We had to go look for the boys in the shacks if
they did not come for classes."

Later, Spitzig was repatriated from Sime Road to Liverpool and from Liverpool to Canada on the Queen Mary
42
1. It was the biggest ship at that time and it was formerly a passenger ship which had become a military ship. It
crossed the Atlantic in 3 days and 21 hours.

Sharing a special bond with young people, Spitzig had his first formal class in 1938, teaching a group of 10 year
old boys in St Joseph's Institution, the first brothers' school in Singapore. Spitzig says, 1 used to wear a fully
black gown but because it was hot and difficult to keep clean, it was later changed to white. He taught English,
literature, history and religion. One significant case was J. Blaikie, an Eurasion school boy whose son later
became a La Sallian brother. After that Spitzig went all out to champion education matters.

In 1954, he was made the principal of St John's institution for 6 years. In 1960, he was transferred to St
Xavier's Institution, Penang as Principal. In 1967, he became principal in La Salle Secondary school in
Petaling Jaya. From 1974 -78, he carried out administrative work for the brothers [as Brother Visitor]. In
1978, he was transferred back to St John as director and principal. Finally in 1983, he retired.

But Spitzig's tireless contribution to teaching did not stop. After 1983 he became interested in schools in rural
areas in Sabah. Sonsogon, a small village caught his attention. It had no pipe water, no hospitals, no doctors,
no schools and no clinics.

"We started bringing in medicine and provisions for the villagers in Sonsogon. After a few years with support
from benefactors, we started a one room school and used it as a chapel. This doubled up as a classroom for the
children. The nearest hostel was at Kota Marudu which housed 45 children and was run by Franciscan Sisters.
These sisters supervised them and sent them to national schools. Nobody wanted to come into the interior to
teach the children. If it rained, trails become muddy. We raised enough money to build a hostel in the interior.
The aim was in the next 5 years, to help as many children as we could to go to schools. We made use of
landrovers with winches to get through the muddy trails."

What is Spitzig's motto? Fide Labore. This is the zeal and faith for spiritual things. It is the passion,
understanding and concern for others. There was a case where a student's father died and that prompted the
student to leave school. But St John's Institution provided him with a scholarship to complete his studies and he
later went to Europe to start an art gallery. That to Spitzig is an example of Fide Lahore.

An early riser at 6 am who ends his day at about midnight, Spitzig lives life one day at a time. To him the
perils in life are but challenges. To overcome such challenges is to make a mark on the lives of others. Perhaps
Spitzig's achievements can be encapsulated in the following lines:
Lives of great men all remind us We can make our
lives sublime, And departing leave behind us
Footsteps on the sands of time; Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
Garudamas 1983
Garudamas '83 highlights St. John's not only as an institution of learning but also as a family of people, each a
special individual playing a specific role in the intricate clockwork of the school.

In so doing we remember a great Johannian who has devoted twenty five years of his life to the cause of this,
great family of St, John's – Bro. Lawrence Spitzig. Significantly, Bro. Lawrence enjoys the unique distinction
of being the only Brother to have served twice as Director and the only Director to have retired in office.

Those who know him are familiar with the blonde, gentle and amiable 'giant' in the white cassock who has
taken infinite pains in ensuring the welfare of the school and her pupils. Always striving for improvement and
advocating perfection Bro. Lawrence encouraged more than just scholastic pursuits and academic
achievements. He has always striven to blend sports and culture, religion and scholastic values into the world
of education. We have all seen the avid musician in him, the talented accordionist and violist who appreciates
the songs and dances of all cultures.

Surely the memory of the values of honesty, humility, perseverance and compassion which he tried so hard to
instil in every Johannian is still warm in the recesses of our hearts. His sincerity and emphasis on spiritual and
religious values were no less intense. His concern for the school which so characterises the person he is not only
extended to the administrative staff, teachers and pupils past and present but encompassed the gardeners,
carpenters, sweepers, bus drivers and every member of our family at St. John's. Our ever willing mentor has
43
journeyed with us through thick and thin through much of our impressionable school life. All of us owe so
much to him in one way or another.

It would be impossible for us to portray Bro. Lawrence on paper and yet do him justice; justice to a life of
sacrifice, devotion and steadfastness to duty. A legend in his own right, we cannot index the myriad of things
he is, stands for and has done for us. But this much we know of the man who has made the hallowed hallways
of our school a second home to us —
He loves St. John's, He dedicated his life to St. John's, TRULY, The man behind St. John's.
EDITORIAL BOARD - GARUDAMAS '83/84

Curriculum Vitae
1. Name: Brother Tiburtius Lawrence

2. Baptism Name: James Henry

3. Date & place of birth: 4 Feb 1918 Toronto, Canada

4. Father: Lawrence

5. Mother: Mary Anne Stock

6. Early schooling & dates: Primary - Holy Name Parish school 1924-1930

Lower secondary – De La Salle, Bond Street years 1 & 2

7. Early training and formation as a Brother with dates & location.

De La Salle College, Aurora, Ont. Secondary 3 & 4
Novitiate & Scholasticate De La Salle College Aurora Ont.
Training & formation Kintbury, Berks UK ?1936-1937
8, Vows taken with dates: 1s` Vows 1937, 1' Renewal 1938 Singapore
Triennial 1941 St John's KL
Final profession 1944 Changi Prison
9. Academic and Professional training with dates and location:
Aurora 1937 University of Toronto
Professional training – St Michael's College, Toronto University
10. Assignments as a Brothers with dates and location:
St Joseph's Singapore 1938-1941 teaching
St John's Institution KL 1941
Changi Prison 1943-1945 Hospital Orderly
St John's KL Director 1954-1960
St Xavier's Penang Director 1960-1967 La Salle PJ Director
1967-73 Visitor 1974-1978
St John's KL Director 1978-1983 Recruiter: 1983-2003
Evangelistic Activities St John's
Advisor Catholic Teachers' Association Malaysia
11. Awards and Honours
Medal of Canada Award 2003 for services to rural education in Sabah
PANGLIMA MAI-IKOTA WILAYAH 2009 which carries the title "DATUK" for his Service to
education in Malaysia.
ANUGERAH JASAMU DIKENANG 2009 for contribution to education
in Malaysia.
12. Died 18 August 2009 at Assunta Hospital, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

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