PAX, Elpidius (born Wolfgang Pax). Breslau 22.4.1912 — Lippstadt, Kr. Soest 14.4.1993. German Linguist and Catholic Theologian. Son of Ferdinand Albert Pax (1885–1964), a marine biologist, and Marie Serbin (Wikipedia names her as Elisabeth Nohr). Studied classics, comparative linguistics, archaeology and philosophy at Breslau, especially under Havers and Strauss. Ph.D.…
NICHOLSON, Alexander Beaumont. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island 1845 — 1929 or earlier. Rev. Canadian Scholar. Son of Alexander Nicholson. Educated at Prince of Wales College, from 1864 at Princeton Theological Seminary (B.A.). He was Presbyterian clergyman who renounced his ordination to take the post as Principal of Cedar Hill High…
MORRIS, Richard. Bermondsey, London 8.9.1833 — Harold Wood, Essex 12.5.1894. British Philologist, Scholar of Early English and Pāli. Born in a family of Welsh origin, attended Battersea Training College. He never studied in a university and was mainly self-taught. In 1871 ordained and obtained a curacy in Southwark. From 1875-88…
MONCHANIN, Jules (Swami Paramarubyananda). Fleurie-en-Beaujolais 10.4.1895 — Paris 10.10.1957. Father. French Catholic Priest, Monk and Hermit, an ardent proponent of Hindu-Christian interfaith dialogue. Son of wine merchant Antoine M. and Marie-Ursule Janin. From 1912 studies at seminary in Lyon, during WW I also taught there (he was himself freed from…
MAURICE, Thomas. Hertford 25.9.1754 — London 30.3.1824. Rev. British Priest and Oriental Scholar. Son of Thomas Maurice (d. 1763), a schoolmaster of Welsh ancestry, lost early his father. “Educated at Christ’s Hospital, Ealing and Bath, and at St. John’s and University Colleges, Oxford, 1774-78 [B.A. 1778], ordained. Held several curacies…
MATICS, Marion Leonidas, Jr. Suffolk, Virginia 13.7.1917 — N.Y. 21.11.1998. Rev. U.S. Buddhist Scholar. Son the elder of M.L. Matics (1884–1961) and Elizabeth Parker (1892–1922). Ph.D. 1960 Columbia University. Episcopalian priest, served in several parishes, then Rector of Christ Church in Bayridge, Brooklyn, retired 1983. Also taught Oriental philosophy at…
LINWOOD, William. Birmingham 1817 — Staffordshire 7.9.1878. Rev. British Classical Scholar. Son of William L., a merchant, and Mary Iliffe Swinton. After Birmingham grammar school studied Classics and Sanskrit at Oxford (Christ Church) from 1836 (won 1839 Boden Sanskrit Scholarship). B.A. 1839, M.A. 1842. He took orders and taught at…
LAUENSTEIN, Diether. Herford 8.4.1914 — Windhoek, Namibia 28.12.1990. German Student of Indology, Anthroposophist. Of modest background. In 1934-38 studied Theology at Tübingen, also Sanskrit under Nobel at Marburg. After one year at seminary of Christengemeinschaft (Christian sect, close to anthroposophy) served in army, but was wounded and lost one leg.…
LAMOTTE, Étienne. Dinant 21.2.1903 — Brussels 5.5.1983. Monseigneur. Belgian Indologist and Catholic Priest. Professor in Louvain. Born in a big family as the son of the court officer and historian Georges L. (1861–1952). After classical education in Dinant took ecclesiastic career like his brother. Now studied classical languages and scholastic…
STEPHENS (Stevens), Thomas (Thomaz/Tomás Estevão/Estevam/Esteves, also known as Padre Busten/Buston). Bushton, Wiltshire 1549 (?) — Salcete 1619. Father. S.J. British Missionary in India, early Marathi scholar and author. Son of merchant Thomas and Jane Stephens, educated at Wiltshire College, then probably studied at Oxford. Adopting Catholic faith he went to Rome…