St. Paul's Institution, Seremban
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St. Paul's Institution was founded in 1899 by Father Catesson of the Paris Foreign Missions Society in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Its aim was to provide an English education to "The boys of Seremban and its outstations".
"St. Paul's School", as it was then called, was the first English school in Negeri Sembilan. It was declared open on 18 June 1899 by Sir Charles Mitchell, assisted by the British Resident for Negeri Sembilan, Mr. E.W. Birch. There was an initial enrolment of 25 students, accommodated in a provisional building under headmaster Mr. P.V. Coelho. Progress was satisfactory and the number of students steadily grew.
[edit] History
[edit] Earliest beginnings
Father Catesson set about designing St. Paul's first permanent premises - a project brought to fruition by his successor, Father Nain. On 19 August 1907, the roofed building was officially opened by the High Commissioner, Sir John Anderson. All 179 students moved into St. Paul's new $25,000 home.
[edit] School design
Father Nain designed a beautiful palazzo which would not have been out of place beside the Grand Canal in Venice. Its Gothic arcades and pierced balustrade, at once airy and whimsical, composed a delightful vision to set down in the midst of the tropical vegetation of Negeri Sembilan.
[edit] The Christian Brothers take over the school
The Christian Brothers' initial foothold in the region had been in Singapore and then Penang. Their good work there did not go unnoticed among the education authorities.
As early as 1904, Rev Bro Gabriel, Visitor of the Christian Brothers' Schools, had been asked if the Order would take over St. Paul's. But demand for the Brothers was heavy - 1904 saw the establishment of St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur (SJI) - and there was no immediate response.
In Seremban, all was not well. Mr. Coelho was an excellent Headmaster, but he was encountering great difficulty finding good teachers. Both the Mission and Mr. R.J. Wilkinson, the Federal Inspector of schools, saw the Brothers as the solution to St. Paul's woes.
Still, it was not till 1 April 1909 that urgent requests by the Bishop of Malacca and Director of Education finally fruit. Rev Bro Gilbert, Director of SJI, arrived in Seremban to take over St. Paul's on behalf of his Order.
The school's rapid growth soon proved impractical the initial idea of long - distance supervision from Kuala Lumpur. Permanent on-the-spot management would be necessary, so Rev Bro Isidore-Albert was appointed Director. His tenure was short, for after about four-and-half months he was called to his reward.
[edit] Expansion
The school, now called St. Paul's Institution, had 190 students when Rev. Bro. Basilian assumed the Directorship in January 1910. Contemporary accounts speak of "The Great Improvement In Educational Facilities" that followed the coming of the Brothers. In 1912, the first Senior Cambridge (Standard Nine) class achieved 100% pass rate.
A problem that now loomed large was the overcrowded state of the school. Student numbers were on the rise as demands for admission multiplied. Fr. Catesson's building no longer sufficed. Fortunately, the new Resident, Mr. R.J. Wilkinson, had taken great interest in St. Paul's when head of the Educational Department. A well known expert and author on Malayan subjects, he was well aware of the school's standard of instruments (which was graded in the first class by the Educational Department).
Thus, in 1911, the Resident submitted to the Federal Council an application for a Building Grant to enlarge the school premises. Sir Arthur Young, then High Commissioner, sanctioned a gift of $10,000 and a plot of land where Punca Emas Complex stands today. A further $10,000 was raised through the soliciting of donations, and construction duly proceeded. On 26 September 1912, the Resident, Mr. A.H. Lemon opened a new eight-classroom block. Mr. Wilkinson's assistance received a special mention in the Brother Director's speech.
[edit] From the First World War to the outbreak of the Second
In the years following 1914, when Rev. Bro. Adrian Edmund replaced Rev. Bro. Basilian, St. Paul's grew in several respects under a succession of the Directors. The acquisition of neighbouring buildings relieved the congestion in the original blocks, which were now reserved for residential purposes, offices and a library.
Rev. Bro. Lewis Edward raised a temporary hall, made out of wood for concerts, assemblies and badminton. Bro Edward was a great sportsman-and in his day the St. Paul's Athletic Association (SPAA) won the premier state football trophy, the Hose Cup, for three straight years. A permanent school hall, along with modern toilets, was built during the Directorship of Bro. Joseph Brophy. He also purchased a large bungalow from Towkay Siow Kon Chia and a large shophouse in Jalan Tuan Sheikh for conversion into additional classrooms.
Bro. Joseph's improvements, coming on earlier architectural initiatives by Rev. Bro. Barnitus Kennedy (1930–31) and Rev. Bro. John Lynam (1931–33), shaped the school quadrangle into a fine set of modern buildings as the 1930s wore on. A small playing field was devised by removing some old buildings, although the need for a proper-sized field was still felt.
The improving facilities were matched by a rising enrolment, which reached 550 in the 1920s. Many pupils were boarders-boys from outside Seremban who stayed in the school itself. To cater for the waxing student population, the number of teaching staff - especially Lay Masters - rose proportionally. By 1933 there were more than 550 students - at which plateau student numbers stabilised till after the War.
[edit] The Japanese Occupation
By 1941, war was raging in Europe and drawing closer to Malaya by the day. St. Paul's was under military occupation, and Rev. Bro. Henry (1941–46) had to improvise classrooms in borrowed buildings. Rev. Mother St. Pauline also placed the I J Convent Hall and some classrooms at his disposal.
Then came the invasion. On 13 January 1942, Japanese troops took Seremban - but the Brothers did not flee. Some endured the ignominy of detention; young Bro. Christian Lane died of Cerebral Malaria at the Bahau jungle community. Others were pillars of strength for their fellow inmates - Changi Prison internees so valued Bro. Sylvester's selflessness they presented him with a signed testimonial.
For a brief spell (May - September 1942), St. Paul's reopened as a private school with 165 students. It served out the rest of the War as a Japanese Technical School, with a staff drawn from several schools in the area. Bro. Henry remained as Headmaster until January 1944, when a Japanese national relieved him of the post.
[edit] Post-war expansion and the splitting of St. Paul's
War's end saw a great pent-up thirst for learning come to the fore. St. Paul's rehabilitation was rapid and enrolment began to skyrocket, straining resources to the utmost. Rev. Bro. Lawrence Henry (1947–53) did what he could to stem the tide, but by 1950 St. Paul's had 1,000 students and was bursting at the seams. A separate Secondary School was urgently needed and the Brothers began to plan for one.
It was Rev. Bro. Casimir L'Angellier (1954–59) who was in charge during these years. A site in the Lobak area, renamed Mont La Salle, was gifted by the Government and plans were drawn up for a school that would accommodate 700 students.
With the third school term of 1958, the old buildings beside the N.S. Padang were officially those of "St. Paul's Primary", with Mr. Walter de Silva as Headmaster. The new secondary school was officially opened by Almarhum DYMM Tuanku Munawir ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman on 27 June 1959. A combined Board of Governors was set up on 3 October 1958 under Dato' T. Mahima Singh (but was split again in 1962).
[edit] Events through the 60s and 70s, and further expansion
As the years passed, St. Paul's reputation as an elite school solidified and spread. Its prowess was acknowledged in the sporting arena as in the academic and no Paulian team was ever more feared than the all conquering hockey squad, which bred the country's first four national goalkeepers, namely Benny Manuel, Peter Van Huizen, Ho Koh Chye and Tan Fong Luen.
In the time of Rev. Bro. J. Felix Donahue (1970–75), two major developments took place and the seeds of a third were sown. First came the establishment of Sixth Form Science Classes in 1970; then the arrival of the first female Paulians in 1971. The Old Boys Association had to change its name, as the long tradition of an exclusively-male student body ended.
The admission of female students did nothing to weaken St. Paul's examination performances, which remained as impressive as ever. Indeed, the school's 1973 High School Certificate results placed it first in the state and in 1975 St. Paul's HSC high-flyers outscored every other school in Malaysia.
But an old problem that had plagued Rev. Bro. Basilian more than 60 years ago was now rearing again its head. By 1975 the secondary school's enrolment stood at 1,300 and once more space was scarce. A new block with three science laboratories, 12 classrooms and a canteen was envisioned, with a price tag of $400,000.
The Ministry of Education got the ball rolling with a $50,000 grant - with the rest to come from St. Paul's own efforts. Fundraising began in earnest under Rev. Bro. James Macken (1975–91), and the run of Walkathons, Public Shows and even a SPILAB Lottery brought in the required $350,000.
On 23 September 1977, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar DYMM Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman declared open the new extension. By this time, the burgeoning student numbers were coinciding with another more worrying trend - decline in the ranks of the Brothers. Only Rev. Bro. James and Rev. Bro. Patrick Arokiasamy remained on the secondary school teaching staff.
There were no Brothers left at all in the primary school, which in October 1979 moved house to a new site in the Labu area. This had been developed by a private company, then signed over to the Brothers in exchange for the original Paul Street premises. The old brood of buildings, lovingly added to and improved by so many Brother Directors and their lay successors, were bulldozed down.
In such a fashion did the 80s dawn - with the beginning of new chapters, but the closing of many beloved old ones.
[edit] The Jamesian Decade and the end of an era
No La Salle Brother served longer as Director of St. Paul's than Rev. Bro. James, and few emphasised tradition more than him. Nor did the Paulians of the 80s let him or their predecessors down. In 1986, St. Paul's STPM results again put it in the national Top Three. The hockey boys harvested yet more State titles and contributed additional players to the National team.
Ten years whirled by; suddenly the 90s were upon the school. And though the passage of time had only strengthened pillars like the teaching staff and the Old Paulian's Association - a sad goodbye loomed.
In 1991 Rev. Bro. James Macken, for 16 years Director of St. Paul's, retired. With the transfer of Rev. Bro. Michael Kum to St. Francis' Institution in Malacca, no Christian Brother now teaches in St. Paul's.
A line stretching back 82 years to Rev. Bro. Isidore had now come to an end.
[edit] School crest
The School Coat of Arms stands for everything that is grand and noble in the school’s tradition. It serves to inspire Paulians a spirit of pride and loyalty and teach a love and respect for the past. An examination of the present design will reveal that it contains many features familiar to La Sallians around the world.
The first quarter - the place of honour in any shield with armorial bearings - is occupied by a star, well known emblem to every Brother's boy throughout the world, for it is the symbol of Faith featured on the Arms and Official Seal of the De La Salle Order and incorporated in the crest and badges of La Sallian Schools. It recalls the Spirit of Faith, the Spirit of the Order, a faith that should burn brightly in every student. It should stimulate in him the renewal of faith in the eternal truth and inspire him to trust anew in himself and his future. This is what the Star should mean to every Paulian.
In the second quarter is the sword of St. Paul, patron of the school. Strength and fortitude and determined purpose may be read into this quarter, virtues so sadly lacking in these troubled times. In these days of clenched fists let us have a little more of the firmly held Sword, more discipline and restraint in our fight for worthwhile and well tried principles.
The open book in the third quarter symbolises learning and knowledge which the school is to provide, and students should acquire and excel in. Present Paulians can look back to proud tradition of devotion to learning and perseverance in study, which Paulians down the years have so firmly established.
The State Emblem of nine sheaves of paddy grains, occupying the fourth quarter, reminds us that St. Paul’s traditions reach far back into history of Negeri Sembilan, with a proud and unbroken record of close to a century of unsurpassed achievements. Paulians look with pride to the standard of their State and pledge unswerving loyalty to the state and ruler.
Faith and fortitude, Learning and Loyalty symbolised in the four quartering in the Paulian Coat of Arms may only be acquired by a virtuous life through earnest painstaking work which truths are aptly expressed in the School Motto ”VIRTUTE ET LABORE” (Virtues and Labour) appearing under the shield.
[edit] Sports houses
There are six sports houses in the school, all named after Brothers that have served at St. Paul's:
Adrian (yellow); Barnitus (red); Director (white); Edward (green); John (blue); Paul (purple)
[edit] The School Songs
[edit] School rally
- All through our college a voice is resounding,
- Promptly respond to your duty sweet call,
- Hearken you all for the trumpet is sounding,
- Your Mater's proclaiming her watchwords to all.
(chorus)
- Forward her children dear,
- Ever with hearts sincere.
- Render with joy to your Mater her due.
- All that is vile reject,
- Heaven will e'er protect.
- Sons of St Paul's valiant and true
(verse 2)
- "Virtue and Labour" your motto still bearing,
- Forward with courage in ways that are just,
- True to your standard be doing and daring,
- As faithful Paulians in Heaven your trust.
(verse 3)
- Forward and upward in life's earnest battle,
- Joyously bearing the brunt of the fight,
- Nobly forgiving for aught that may pain you,
- And bravely defending the cause of the right.
(verse 4)
- Seek not the baubles displayed by this vain world,
- Heaven's the centre to which you must tend,
- Serve Him alone who at death can reward you,
- And vow to be faithful and true to the end.
[edit] Victory March
- Cheer, cheer, for Old St. Paul's,
- Wake up the echoes cheering her name.
- Send a volley of cheers on high,
- Shake down the thunder from the sky.
- What tho' the odds be great or small,
- Old St. Paul's will win over all.
- While her loyal sons are marching,
- Onward to victory.
- St. Paul's.
- Rise boys and fondly proclaim,
- That ye will never sully her name.
- Let the hills and woodlands ring,
- Live up your hearts and loudly sing.
- What though the way be rough or steep,
- We unto virtue summons will keep.
- And if e'er our country needs us,
- Loyal and true we'll be.
- St. Paul's.
[edit] Hail! Hail! Alma Mater
- Hail! Hail! Alma Mater
- Hail to De La Salle
- We'll hold your banner high and bright
- A shield of green and white
- We'll fight to keep your glory bright
- and never shall we fail
- Hail to thee our Alma Mater
- Hail! Hail! Hail!
[edit] Paulian Spirit
The Paulian "Spirit", which includes so many diverse elements, defies full analysis or definition. A scholar might identify one component as La Sallian ethos, another as the will to persevere; but this is murdering to dissect. The Paulian Spirit is simply that indefinable intangible something in the air one senses the moment one steps into the school compound. It is as old as SPI but yet lives on, having evolved and adapted to ensure its relevance to the needs and demands of the present day.
Paulians are not perhaps the most modest of people. The famous rhetorical question of "Who's the Best?" followed by the rousing full-throated roar of "SPI" is symptomatic of their unabashed self-confidence. This sentiment, one might hasten to add, is not born of arrogance or superiority, but results from a justifiable pride in belonging to a school that has a tradition, a sense of values and a glittering record of achievements. New schools may have excellent facilities, competent staffs, intelligent pupils, but more often than not, things simply do not "click" - for missing is TRADITION - that sense of being part of a great institution and an epic history. Other things being equal, the Paulian Spirit is what carries the Paulian over the final threshold and on to success.
The Paulian Spirit then stems from our being the great custodians of a great tradition of which it is our duty to cherish, nurture and enhance as we pass it on to future generations. It is our most valuable asset, our most prized possession. It will sustain us, and give us strength as we confront the obstacles Life places in our way.
The Paulian Spirit today is a torch that has been handed down from each succeeding generation of Paulians to the next. It burns ever bright and illuminates our future, driving away the shadows of despair and disillusionment that may at times encroach upon our souls. It is our common identity, the symbol of our oneness, the bond that unites all Paulian as we advance through life true to our Alma Mater.
May the Paulian Spirit shine through us.
With thanks to Rev. Bro. Felix Donahue.
[edit] Brother Directors
- Bro. Isidore Albert (15 May to 5 September 1909)
He was born in France. In 1909, he was appointed as the first Bro. Director of our school. He died on 5 September 1909 in Seremban.
- Bro. Basilian (26 January 1910 to 28 March 1914)
A French Bro. Director who had improved the academic standards and teaching skills of the teachers. He also extended the old school. He died in Vietnam on 9 July 1945.
He was born in England. Despite the turbulence during World War 1, he kept St. Paul's Institution growing. In 1921, he was transferred to Taiping. He died on 5 August 1925 at the age of 54.
An Irish Bro. Director who later founded the St. Paul's Athletic Association which subsequently Became St. Paul's Old Boys Association. Today, it is known as the Old Paulians' Association. He made St. Paul's Institution a force to be reckoned with in the field of soccer and athletics. He also improved the academic results.
- Bro. Dominic John (June 1928 to January 1939)
An Irish Bro. Director who will always be remembered for establishing the St. Paul's Debating Society. He died on 30 November 1966.
- Bro. Barnitus Kennedy (17 January 1930 to 12 August 1931)
He was born in Ireland. He was a pioneer responsible for the successful implementation of the annual Medical Inspection of the pupils. In 1945, he was appointed as the Bro. Visitor. In 1965, he died in Penang.
An Irish Bro. Director who faced great hardship during the World Recession. He was transferred to Manila as a Bro. Director and later transferred again to Hong Kong as the Bro. Director of St. Joseph's Hong Kong. He died at the age of 78.
An Irish Bro. Director who installed the sanitation system of the school. His greatest contributions were the building of the school hall and the upgrading of the school field. Later, he left for Singapore as a Bro. Director.
- Bro. Anselm Conde (4 September 1939 to 11 January 1941)
He was born in France. A renowned Geography teacher who later became the sub-Director of the school from 1943 to 1965. He died in Penang on 5 May 1969.
- Bro. Henry (11 January 1941 to December 1946)
Born in France in 1886. Bro. Henry devoted 45 years as a member of the La Salle Brothers. He is most well- known for refusing to take down the name "St. Paul's Institution" personally during World War II. He died in Pulau Tikus, Penang on 17 July 1959 at the age of 75.
- Bro. Lawrance Henry (3 February 1947 to 9 January 1953)
He was the first Malaysian Bro. Director. He helped to rebuild the school after World War II. He died 21 years later.
- Bro. Chronan Austin (January to October 1953)
A Burmese Bro. Director who had served in St. Paul's Institution from January 1939 to January 1940 and from October 1942 to October 1945.
- Bro. Casimir L'Angellier (January 1954 to December 1959)
Born in Singapore, he became the school's Sub-Director from January 1941 to December 1944. He was the man behind the construction of the new school in Mont La Salle. Under him, the school celebrated her Golden Jubilee and on the same year we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the arrival of the Brothers to Seremban. He received his PJK in 1957. He died in Hong Kong in 1977.
- Bro. Celestine Jennings (January 1960 to December 1963)
He was born in the land of kangaroos. His efforts to extend the New St. Paul's Institution to the AVA room bore fruit. He died on 1 August 1991 in Southport, Queensland.
- Bro. Thomas Dunne (January 1963 to December 1969)
An Irish Bro. Director who was a teacher of the school in 1940. His greatest contributions were renovating the school hall and starting the afternoon session. Under his tenure of office, collections for the poor was healed and our school was the first to have a TV set in Negeri Sembilan. He was later transferred to St. Xavier's Institution, Penang.
- Bro. Felix Donahue (1 January 1970 to 12 February 1975)
He was born in Ireland. For the first time in history, girls were enrolled in Form IV and in Form VI. The renovation of the school office and the school Reference Library was carried out. He was honoured with the PJK award in 1973. In 1975, he was transferred to La Salle P.J. as Bro. Director.
- Bro. James Macken (13 February 1975 to 28 February 1991)
An Irish Brother who was transferred to St. Paul's Institution from St. Xavier's Institution as The school's Sub-Director. In 1975, he succeeded Bro. Felix Donahue. He is the longest serving Bro. Director. He was a Director of the National College in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
[edit] Notable Paulians
- Hj Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad, a Malay scholar familiarly known as 'Pendita Za'Ba'.
- S Rajaratnam, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore (1965 - 1980), Minister for Culture of the Republic of Singapore (1968 - 1971), Deputy Prime Minister (Foreign Affairs) of the Republic of Singapore (1980 - 1984).
