WOLFF, GEORGE DERING

Editor; b. Martinsburg, WV, Aug. 25, 1822; d. Norristown, PA, Jan. 29, 1894. His father was Rev. Bernard C. Wolff, professor at the German Reformed Theological Seminary, Mercersburg, PA. After reading law in Easton, PA, and being admitted to practice, Wolff studied theology at Mercersburg and was ordained in the Reformed Church. Both he and his father were strongly influenced by John Williamson nevin, leader of the Mercersburg movement, a development in the German Reformed Church paralleling the Tractarian movement in England (see mercersburg theology). After holding pastorates at Tiffin, OH, and at Norristown, Wolff left the active ministry to become principal of the Norristown high school. In 1871, together with three other Reformed clergymen, he was received into the Catholic Church at the old mission at Goshenhoppen, PA. That same year he became editor of the Baltimore, MD Catholic Mirror. In 1872 he transferred to the Philadelphia Catholic Standard as general editor, holding this position until his death. In 1876, with Rev. (later Bp.) James O'Connor and Msgr. James corcoran, he founded the American Catholic Quarterly Review. His writings reflect an interest in apologetics and in social philosophy.

Bibliography: g. d. wolff, "The Mercersburg Movement," American Catholic Quarterly Review 3 (1898) 151–176. Ibid. 19 (1894) 433. Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia 20 (1909) 244–247.

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