Neal Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Neal Henry Lawrence OSB
(22 January 1908 - 3 November 2004) was a naval officer, a diplomat
, a monk
, and academic/scholar and a poet
. The chronology of his life comprises aspects of several disparate life stories.
, to William Henry and Sallie (Neblett) Lawrence. His preparatory education in Louisville, Kentucky was completed in 1922. His undergraduate years at Harvard College
in Cambridge, Massachusetts led to an A.B. in English in 1929. After college Neal worked for 15 years as an executive at Lever Brothers, which was then located in Cambridge.
from 1946 to 1947. Further study led to a masters degree in Public Law and Government which was awarded by Columbia University
in 1947.
In 1949, he was assigned as director of the United States Information Service in Singapore and Malaya. In 1951, he was transferred temporarily to Taiwan; and he retired from government service in 1952.
. After ordination in 1960, he was sent him to Saint Anselm's Priory and Parish in Tokyo. Father Neal served as associate pastor and pastor of St. Anselm's Parish for 33 years from 1966 to 1999. When the religious community relocated to Trinity Monastery at Fujimi
, Father Neal went with them.
, Seikei University
, Sophia University
and Shirayuri Women's University
until he was 75. In this period, he served as president of the Association of Foreign Teachers (1964–1971); and he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Harvard Club in Japan, a member of the Council of the America-Japan Society of Tokyo and as one of the vice presidents of the Asiatic Society of Japan
.
In 1975 Father Neal began to write tanka poetry in English; and he published four books of tanka.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(22 January 1908 - 3 November 2004) was a naval officer, a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, and academic/scholar and a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. The chronology of his life comprises aspects of several disparate life stories.
Early years
William Henry Lawrence, Jr., was born in Clarksville, TennesseeClarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
, to William Henry and Sallie (Neblett) Lawrence. His preparatory education in Louisville, Kentucky was completed in 1922. His undergraduate years at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts led to an A.B. in English in 1929. After college Neal worked for 15 years as an executive at Lever Brothers, which was then located in Cambridge.
War years and aftermath
In 1943, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. As Officer-in-Charge of the Supply Depot at Norfork, Virginia in 1943-1944, he oversaw all contracts for supplies at advance bases and ships. He moved to the front in 1945. Lawrence participated in the siege of Okinawa, landing with the US Marines in April 1945.Military government
When the war ended, he became Director of the Department of Economic Affairs for the Military Governmental Headquarters of the Ryukyu IslandsRyukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
from 1946 to 1947. Further study led to a masters degree in Public Law and Government which was awarded by Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1947.
Diplomacy
Lawrence was assigned to the diplomatic section of occupation headquarters in Tokyo. As it happened, he was the first American diplomat to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki officially.In 1949, he was assigned as director of the United States Information Service in Singapore and Malaya. In 1951, he was transferred temporarily to Taiwan; and he retired from government service in 1952.
Monastic Vocation
In 1954, Brother Neal was accepted into the Benedictine novitiate at Saint John's Abbey. He took vows as a Benedictine monk in 1955. During this period, Brother Neal taught in the Political Science Department of Saint John's UniversityCollege of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
The College of Saint Benedict , for women, and Saint John's University , for men, are partnered liberal arts colleges respectively located in St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Students attend classes and activities together, and have access to the resources of both campuses...
. After ordination in 1960, he was sent him to Saint Anselm's Priory and Parish in Tokyo. Father Neal served as associate pastor and pastor of St. Anselm's Parish for 33 years from 1966 to 1999. When the religious community relocated to Trinity Monastery at Fujimi
Fujimi
In Japan, is a common place name which means Mt. Fuji is viewable. It may refer to:* Places in Japan:** Fujimi, Tokyo, a district in Chiyoda, Tokyo** Fujimi, Saitama, a city** Fujimi, Nagano, a town** Fujimi, Gunma, a village...
, Father Neal went with them.
Academic service
Father Neal taught a variety of courses at Tokyo University until mandatory retirement at 60. He continued to teach at Keio UniversityKeio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
, Seikei University
Seikei University
is a private university in the Kichijōji neighborhood of the city of Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. Its name derives from a passage in the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian. Its campus is noted for its beautiful rows of zelkova trees.- Overview :...
, Sophia University
Sophia University
There are several rankings below related to Sophia University.-General Rankings:The university was ranked 61st in 2010 in the ranking Truly Strong Universities by Toyo Keizai...
and Shirayuri Women's University
Shirayuri Women's University
is a Catholic Japanese women's university located in Chōfu, Tokyo. The university comprises four Departments of Literature and a graduate school. This all-female institution is well-known as Shirayuri Women's University, although its official name is Shirayuri College. It is a research and liberal...
until he was 75. In this period, he served as president of the Association of Foreign Teachers (1964–1971); and he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Harvard Club in Japan, a member of the Council of the America-Japan Society of Tokyo and as one of the vice presidents of the Asiatic Society of Japan
Asiatic Society of Japan
The is a society of Japanese studies . Founded in 1872, the ASJ is Japan's oldest learned society.-Overview:The Asiatic Society of Japan was founded in 1872, five years after the Meiji restoration, at Yokohama by British and American residents - in particular missionaries, diplomats, businessmen...
.
In 1975 Father Neal began to write tanka poetry in English; and he published four books of tanka.
Honors
- 1993 -- Order of the Rising SunOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, Golden rays with rosette. - 2002 -- Asiatic Society of JapanAsiatic Society of JapanThe is a society of Japanese studies . Founded in 1872, the ASJ is Japan's oldest learned society.-Overview:The Asiatic Society of Japan was founded in 1872, five years after the Meiji restoration, at Yokohama by British and American residents - in particular missionaries, diplomats, businessmen...
, Patron's Award for Distinguished Scholarship and Service.
Select works
- 1993 -- Shining moments: Tanka poems in English. Gualala, California: AHA Books. 10-ISBN 0-944-67639-1; 13-ISBN 978-0-944-67639-4; OCLC 29360276
- 1997 -- Okinawa: Battle and Regeneration. Tokyo: Asiatic Society of Japan. OCLC 61770857
External links
- Asiatic Society of Japan: "Alice Kurusu, Wife of a Diplomat", lecture by Lawrence