FALK, Adalbert. — Prussian minister of Worship, b. at Matschkau (Silesia) on 10 Apr. 1827, d. at Hamm on 7 July 1900. Having entered the judiciary in 1855, he served as minister of Worship from January 1872 to July 1879. Three years later he became president of the Court of Hamm, a position he held until his death. During the *Kulturkampf* he played a leading role and worked out in detail the famous "May Laws." F. was thus the faithful executor of orders given by Bismarck and was set aside when Prussia sought to restore relations with the Holy See.
BIBL.: H. Brück, *Geschichte der katholischen Kirche in Deutschland*, IV, 1-2, Münster 1908, passim; J. F. Schulte, *Erscheinungen und Erlebnisse mit A. F.*, in *Deutsche Revue*, 32 (1907), pp. 53-63.