SCHULTZE, Benjamin. Sonnenburg (now Słonsk in Poland) 7.1.1689 — 25.11.1760. German Missionary and Precursor of Indology. In India 1719-43. From Sonnenburg in Neumark. After studies of Theology at Halle (from 1711) he joined the Lutheran Trankebar Mission in 1719, learned quickly Tamil and participated in the conclusion of Ziegenbalg’s Tamil…
STEPHANUS A SANCTO PETRO ET PAULO (lay Antonio Buffi). Brescia 18.3.1692 — 8.5.1767. Father. Italian Carmelite Missionary in India. Joined the order in 1712, was sent to Malabar Mission 1720 and arrived at Verapoly 1721. Sent to Rome on a mission in 1723 he was caught by pirates and held…
SCHURHAMMER, Georg Otto. Unterglottertal, Südschwarzwald 25.9.1882 — Rome 2.11.1971. S.J. Father. German Historian of Catholic Missions in Asia, especially of Francisco Xavier. Son of Urban Schurhammer, an innkeeper, and Rosina Katharina Hoch. Educated in Durlach and Karlsruhe. From 1900 theological studies at Freiburg i. Br., joined the S.J. in 1903…
STEVENSON, John. Alton Campsie, Stirlingshire 3.11.1798 — Ladykirk11.8.1858. Rev. British (Scottish) Missionary and Indologist in India. Son of William Stevenson (1772–1810) and Elizabeth Holland (1771–1810), educated at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities. M.A. 1816 Glasgow. Ordained 1823 and sent by Scottish Missionary Society to their new Bombay Mission. “Missionary at Hurnee…
SPENCER, Harold. 18?? — 19??. Rev. Wesleyan Missionary in India. B.A. In 1909 and still in the 1930s in Mysore. Publications: A Kanarese Grammar with Graduated Exercises. Mysore 8+330 p. Mysore 1914, 2nd ed. rev. by W. Perston. Mysore 1950. Sources: Often mentioned in connection of his book, but nothing…
SOOTHILL, William Edward. Halifax, Yorkshire 23.1.1861 — Oxford 13.5.1935. Rev. British Missionary in China, then Sinologist and Buddhist Scholar. Son of William Soothill, a textile worker. Studies at London University. Ordained priest 1882. In 1882–1911 Wesleyan Missionary in China, first in Wenzhou and in the end (1907-11) as Director of…
SÖDERBLOM, Lars Olof Jonathan (Nathan). Trönö, Hälsingland 15.1.1866 — Uppsala 12.7.1931. Swedish Theologian and Scholar of Comparative Religion. Professor in Berlin, then Archbishop of Sweden (Uppsala). Son of vicar Jonas S. and Nikolina Sophie Blume (of Denmark), matriculated from Hudiksvall. From 1883 studies at Uppsala (fil.kand. 1886, teol.kand. 1892). Ordained…
SMET, Richard V. de. Montignies-sur-Sambre near Charleroi 16.4.1916 — Brussels 2.3.1997. Father. S.J. Belgian Missionary and Indologist. Came to India in 1946 as a Jesuit student, studied Theology and then also Sanskrit in Calcutta (i.al. under R. Antoine). Ph.D. 1954 Gregorian Pontifical University, Rome, in Philosophy. Back in India, from…
SKREFSRUD, Lars (Laurentius Olsen). Fåberg in Oppland 4.2.1840 — Benagaria (now in Jharkand) 11.12.1910. Norwegian Missionary in India. Born in a modest family, son of Ole Nielsen Skrefsrud and Eli Døsen (1808–1856). His father had alcoholic problem and the boy got almost no education. In his troubled youth he was imprisoned for…
SHERRING, Matthew Atmore. Halstead, Essex 26.9.1826 — Benares 10.8.1880. Rev. British Missionary and Ethnologist in India. Son of John Sherring and Maryann Mather. Educated at Coward College and University College, London (LL.B.). He joined the London Missionary Society and after ordination in 1852 went immediately to Benares. He was in…