An association of Catholic scientists and lawyers founded at Coblenz, 1876, by the poet, Alexander Kaufmann, to encourage the progress of science in Catholic Germany. It was named for Johann Joseph Gorres and has its headquarters at Bonn, although annual sessions are held in other cities. It conducts discussions and lectures on philosophy, history, natural sciences, law, etc., and founded the Gorres Society Historical Institute at Rome, 1889. This purely private association has, among other important works, successfully undertaken the task of editing the Acts and records of the Council of Trent.