Biography - Rev. P. Theophile G. Eisele, PH. D., D.D.

Rev. P. Theophile G. Eisele, pastor of St. Mary's church at Hague, Emmons county, was born on French soil, and he received his higher education in Germany, Spain and Italy. At the age of twenty he absolved the Abiturium or tenth class of the German gymnasium and was sent to the Germanicum at Rome by his bishop, the well known Dr. Haefele, and there, under the guidance of the Jesuits, he took a seven years' course in philosophy, theology and associate grades, and the degrees of Ph. D., D. D., at the Pontifical "Universitas Gregoriana." Before leaving the Eternal city, he received his ordination to priesthood from the hands of Cardinal Parrochi, then vicar general at the Holy See. He took a post graduate course at the universities of Paris and Madrid, upon which he was appointed to a professorship, teaching philosophy, higher mathematics and philology. As a student he traveled through the European countries and in his later life through all Central and South America, and speaks fluently Spanish, French, English, Romansch, German and Italian.

With the permission of his bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Haefele of Rottenburg, he went with bishop Schumacher to Ecuador, where he received the appointment as vicar general of the diocese of Porto-Viejo, comprising the two provinces Manabi and Esmeraldas. After several years of arduous labor in that part of the Lord's vineyard, he was banished from the country together with his learned bishop and all religious as well as secular priests and sisters, the cause being the Masonic Revolution of 1894-18S5. With sixty-five sisters of the diocese he fled first to Panama and thence to Cartagena. Colombia, where Rt. Rev. Biffi gave him the city parish, Sanctissima Trinitatis. Part of the sisters took charge of the big hospital of that parish, whilst the rest were appointed to the different public schools of the diocese. Recalled to his native country, he was sent to Switzerland to take charge of a mountain parish whilst restoring his health. Because of his many years of absence from the German empire, he had again to pass the state examination in order to be allowed to again take a government appointment. Continuing for several years to teach literature, languages, trigonometry and philosophy, he received a call to the United States to teach in the Pittsburgh (Pa.) College, now Duquesne University, remaining a member of the faculty there for two years. As instructor and educator he applied himself so strenuously to the task that his health became impaired. In the hope that a change of climate would prove beneficial, he came to the Dakotas. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Wehrle, O. S. B., gave him temporary charge of Odense, Morton county, from where he received the appointment as pastor of St. Mary's parish at Hague, Emmons county, assuming his duties there April 18, 1911. The community had just completed the building of a church costing thirty-eight thousand dollars and a parsonage amounting to over five thousand, thus incurring an indebtedness of about twenty-five thousand, of which in 1911 were remaining yet twenty thousand with two years' interest unpaid. Since Dr. Eisele took charge of the place over seventeen thousand dollars of the indebtedness, capital and interest, has been paid besides the running expenses, during the time amounting to about eight thousand dollars.

The parish now prides itself on a stately church; one of the most beautiful in the diocese. Its members consist of a healthy stock of extremely successful, enterprising farmers and most valiant and stanch Catholics. The yearly frequency of the sacraments among them rose from one thousand one hundred and nineteen in 1911 to not less than fifteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-three in 1915. There were eighty-five families in the parish on his arrival; at this writing there are one hundred and twenty. The corner stone of the present substantial and imposing church structure was laid under Rev. Father Schardt. Since the advent of a railroad and the building up of this congregation, Hague has become one of the most important grain and live stock centers and business towns in Emmons county. Its steady growth promises a yet far higher activity and importance in the very near future. Pastor and people are concentrating their efforts and attention solely along the line of upbuilding the cause to which they have consecrated their existence.

However:

"We must not hope to be mowers,
And gather the ripe gold ears
Until we have first been sowers
And watered the furrows with tears."

Yet:

"Strength for today is all that we need.
As there never will be a tomorrow;
Tomorrow is but another today
With its measure of joy and of sorrow."

Therefore:

"Courage, brother, do not stumble
Though thy path be dark as night,
There's a star to guide the humble.
Trust in God and do the right."

Extracted 12 Nov 2019 by Norma Hass from North Dakota History and People, published in 1917, volume 2, pages 823-824.