Adolf Pfister

Pfister, ADOLF, educationist, b. at Hechingen in Hohenzollern, September 26, 1810; d. at Ober-Dischingen in Wurtemberg, April 29, 1878. He was educated at the Latin school at Hechingen, at the Lyceum of Rastatt, and later at Sasbach. He then studied theology at the Grand Seminary of Strasburg, and was ordained to the priesthood, May 25, 1833, at Freiburg. After serving for five months as curate at Sasbach, and for a year as assistant at the cathedral of Freiburg, he returned to Hohenzollern, and, from 1835 to 1838, was curate at Steinhofen near Hechingen. In 1838 he obtained civic rights in Wurtemberg, and as a priest of the Diocese of Rottenburg, he was pastor first in Dotternhausen; January 31, 1839, at Rosswangen; May 11, 1841, at Risstissen; from 1851 also school inspector in Ehingen. On August 12, 1867, the Catholic theological faculty of Tubingen granted him the degree of Doctor of Theology. In May, 1877, he withdrew to Ober Dischingen. In 1857 he founded the “Rottenburger Kirchenblatt”, which he published for three years. From 1860 he. edited the “Katholisches Schulwochenblatt” Spaichingen), which, together with Hermann Rolf us, he continued as “Suddeutsches katholisches Schulwochenblatt” (1861-67), and with J. Haug and Fr. J. Knecht as “Magazin fur Padagogik” (1868-72). But his most valuable work was the editing with Rolfus of the “Real-Encyclopadie des Erziehungs and Unterrichtswesens nach katholischen Principien” (4 vols. Mainz, 1863-66; 2nd ed., 1872-1874; a 5th vol., “Erganzungsband”, was published by Rolfus alone in 1884 after Pfister’s death). Among Pfister’s other writings may be mentioned: “Unterricht fiber das Werk der Glaubensverbreitung” (Freiburg, 1850); a German translation of Thomas a Kempis, “Vier Bucher von der Nachfolge Christi” (Freiburg, 1860; 4th ed., 1873); and “Kinderlegende” (Freiburg, 1863); he also compiled several prayer books.

FRIEDERICH LAUCHERT