Donald Macleod Matheson
Encyclopedia
Donald Macleod Matheson CBE
(1896-1979) was Secretary to the National Trust
from 1934 to 1945. Active within the Traditionalist School
as a translator and author, he founded The Matheson Trust
for the study of comparative religion
.
during World War I
, he held the post of Secretary to the National Trust
, which with the years earned him an appointment as CBE in 1945. Matheson was a close friend of G E H Palmer (a Christian traditionalist, translator of the Philokalia
). He worked as a Director for John Smedley
until his retirement in 1967. Matheson maintained associations with Perennialist authors for many years, and his translations of French works by Schuon
and Burckhardt
were published in the UK, India and Pakistan. Some of his translations where made in collaboration with Buddhist scholar Marco Pallis
.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(1896-1979) was Secretary to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
from 1934 to 1945. Active within the Traditionalist School
Traditionalist School
The term Traditionalist School is used by Mark Sedgwick and other authors to denote a school of thought, also known as Integral Traditionalism or Perennialism to denote an esoteric movement developed by authors such as French metaphysician René Guénon, German-Swiss...
as a translator and author, he founded The Matheson Trust
The Matheson Trust
The Matheson Trust is an educational charity based in London dedicated to further and disseminate the study of comparative religion, especially from the point of view of the underlying harmony of the major religious and philosophical traditions of the world....
for the study of comparative religion
Comparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
.
Life
Born into an aristocratic Scottish family, Matheson was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. After serving in the artilleryRoyal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he held the post of Secretary to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, which with the years earned him an appointment as CBE in 1945. Matheson was a close friend of G E H Palmer (a Christian traditionalist, translator of the Philokalia
Philokalia
The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the 4th and 15th centuries by spiritual masters of the Eastern Orthodox hesychast tradition. They were originally written for the guidance and instruction of monks in "the practise of the contemplative life". The collection was compiled in...
). He worked as a Director for John Smedley
John Smedley (industrialist)
John Smedley is the name of four generations of owners of Lea Mills, near Matlock, Derbyshire. The most famous of these was John Smedley , born Wirksworth, Derbyshire.-Lea Mills:...
until his retirement in 1967. Matheson maintained associations with Perennialist authors for many years, and his translations of French works by Schuon
Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon, was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality....
and Burckhardt
Titus Burckhardt
Titus Burckhardt , a German Swiss, was born in Florence, Italy in 1908 and died in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1984. He devoted all his life to the study and exposition of the different aspects of Wisdom and Tradition.He was an eminent member of the "traditionalist school" of twentieth-century authors...
were published in the UK, India and Pakistan. Some of his translations where made in collaboration with Buddhist scholar Marco Pallis
Marco Pallis
Marco Alexander Pallis was a Greek -British-born author and mountaineer with close affiliations to the Traditionalist School. He wrote works on the religion and culture of Tibet....
.
Books
- The National Trust: A Record of Fifty Years' Achievement (contributor). London: B.T. Batsford, Ltd., 1946.
- Places of Natural Beauty (National Trust Guide). London: B.T. Batsford, Ltd., 1950.
- Science and the Myth of Progress (one chapter contributed), Bloomington, IN: World WisdomWorld WisdomWorld Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
, 2003 (ISBN 978-0 941532-47-1).
Articles
- "The Control of National Parks", The Observer, June 23, 1946, p. 4.
- Some articles contributed to Studies in Comparative ReligionStudies in Comparative ReligionStudies in Comparative Religion was a quarterly academic journal published from 1963–1987 that contained essays on the spiritual practices and religious symbolism of the world's religions. The journal was notable for the number of prominent Perennialists who contributed to it...
(refs. needed).
Translations
- Schuon, Frithjof, Spiritual Perspectives and Human Facts. London: Faber and Faber, 1954 (reprinted by Sophia Perennis under ISBN 978-0-900588-01-3).
- ———, Castes and Races, trans. Marco Pallis and Macleod Matheson. Pates Manor, Bedfont, Middlesex: Perennial Books, 1959.
- ———, Language of the Self, trans. Marco Pallis and Macleod Matheson. Madras: Ganesh, 1959.
- ———, Understanding Islam. London: Allen & Unwin, 1963, 1976, 1979; Baltimore, Maryland: Penguin Books, 1972.
- Burckhardt, Titus, An Introduction to Sufi Doctrine. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Thorsons Publishers Ltd, 1976 (new edition by World WisdomWorld WisdomWorld Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
, 2008, ISBN 978-1-933316-50-5).
See also
- SufismSufismSufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
- Perennial PhilosophyPerennial philosophyPerennial philosophy is the notion of the universal recurrence of philosophical insight independent of epoch or culture, including universal truths on the nature of reality, humanity or consciousness .-History:The idea of a perennial philosophy has great...
- Frithjof SchuonFrithjof SchuonFrithjof Schuon, was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality....
- Titus BurckhardtTitus BurckhardtTitus Burckhardt , a German Swiss, was born in Florence, Italy in 1908 and died in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1984. He devoted all his life to the study and exposition of the different aspects of Wisdom and Tradition.He was an eminent member of the "traditionalist school" of twentieth-century authors...
- Martin LingsMartin LingsMartin Lings was an English Muslim writer and scholar, a student and follower of Frithjof Schuon, and Shakespearean scholar...
- The Matheson TrustThe Matheson TrustThe Matheson Trust is an educational charity based in London dedicated to further and disseminate the study of comparative religion, especially from the point of view of the underlying harmony of the major religious and philosophical traditions of the world....
- World WisdomWorld WisdomWorld Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...