Right Rev. THEOPHILE MEERSCHAERT
(1847-1924)

Born in Russignies, near Renaix, Flanders (Belgium), on August 24, 1847, he entered the College of Renaix, remaining there from 1859 to 1864. From 1864 to 1868 he attended College in Audenarde. He then entered the American College of Louvain, remaining there until 1872, receiving Minor Orders on June 10, 1870. He was ordained Sub-deacon on December 17, 1870, Deacon June 3, 1871, and Priest December 23, 1871.

Father Meerschaert left Russignies for the United States on September 26, 1872, arriving in New York City on October 13, 1872, and at Natchez, Mississippi, October 27th. He was appointed to Missions of Jordan River, of Wolf River and Pearl River, in Hancock and Harrison Counties, Mississippi, on November 16, 1872, and changed to Ocean Springs, August 29, 1874. In October, 1875, Father Meerschaert, that section being swept by a yellow fever epidemic, at his post of duty was stricken with yellow fever. Recovering he nursed those so afflicted for eight weeks, when he had a relapse. After recovering and a vacation for rest he resumed his duties. In 1878 with a recurrence of yellow fever on the Gulf Coast he assisted the sufferers at Ocean Springs and Biloxi, Mississippi. In 1879 he was sent to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to replace Rev. Father Leduc for one year.

On August 30, 1880, Father Meerschaert assigned to Natchez, became Vicar General on April 18, 1887. Bishop Janssens having been appointed to the Archiepiscopal See of New Orleans, 1888, Vicar-General Meerschaert was appointed administrator.

On May 7, 1891, Father Meerschaert was preconized Vicar Apostolic of the Indian Territory and titular Bishop of Sidyma. The Bull appointing him Bishop was issued June 11th, 1891. By Special Indult he was consecrated on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin September 8th, 1891 in the Cathedral of Natchez, by Most Rev. Francis Janssens, D. D., Archbishop of New Orleans, assisted by Right Rev. Edward Fitzgerald, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Right Rev. Thomas Heslin, of Natchez, Mississippi. His Lordship, Bishop Meerschaert, arriving in Oklahoma and Indian Territories on Friday, September 18, 1891, stopping enroute at Purcell, saying Mass in the Chapel of the Sisters, and on the 19th entraining for Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, where the first Pontifical High Mass in said jurisdiction was celebrated at Guthrie on Sunday, September 20, 1891. In 1893 Bishop Meerschaert, had in his Vicariate sixteen priests, thirteen regular of the Benedictine Order and three secular priests. In July 5, 1905, in an audience with Pope Pius X the question of erection of the Vicariate Apostolic into a Diocese was discussed.¹ On August 17, 1905 the Diocese of Oklahoma was erected by Pope Pius X. Bishop Meerschaert was appointed as first incumbent of the new Episcopal See of Oklahoma on August 23, 1905. After the completion of the Bishop's house at 1905 W. 18 St., Oklahoma City, he occupied it as his residence beginning with October, 1907 He died at St.

Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1924. Funeral services were in charge of Archbishop Shaw with burial in Fairlawn Cemetery. Bishop Meerschaert at the time of his death had in the Diocese of Oklahoma 38 regular priests of the Benedictine and Carmellite Orders, and 68 secular priests, 71 churches with pastors and 82 missions without regular pastors, attended by priests from other churches as conditions permitted, membership of Roman Catholic population in said diocese being.

When Father Meerschaert arrived in Mississippi the people of that state were not only suffering from conditions arising from the devastation of property and loss of its young men occasioned by the Civil War, but also from the waste, corruption and disorder following from reconstruction rule in the South. At such a period he had come to them from across the sea. Soon followed the yellow fever scourge in the seaports, and river and nearby inland towns, aggravating the conditions under which the people struggled. For two decades he steadfastly labored in these needy fields giving aid, ministering and rendering assistance and comfort, remaining until the country had recovered in a measure from the prostrate and demoralizing condition that existed when as a young man and priest he came into that mission district. The yellow fever plague had also yielded to scientific medical and sanitary control.

Whilst father Ryan sang with beauty and pathos to revive the spirit of the overwhelmed sons and daughters of the South, Father Meerschaert with kindly method and industrious application administered in spiritual and benevolent matters.

Another field of labor then awaited him. The Indian Territory where the Five Civilized Tribes coming over half a century before from Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida, and many other tribes from the north and west, had found homes, was being opened partly for settlement. What is now Cleveland, Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan, Payne and Oklahoma Counties had been opened to settlers, Guthrie being designated as the Capital. The Sac and Fox and Pottawatomie reservations on the east and Cheyenne and Arapaho on the west being opened also to settlers, and plans were in the forming for the opening of the Cherokee Outlet. On the Indian Territory side a fringe of white settlers were drifting in from all directions. To such a field he was assigned and remained and labored for over thirty years planting churches, opening schools and academies, founding colleges and universities and constructing hospitals and an orphanage. His duties occasioned long and arduous journeys by rail, hack, wagon, and other available means of travel, accommodations being in accord with pioneer conditions.

After the field of his church and its agencies and activities had extended to the remotest parts of the state, and he had reached the allotted time of three score and ten years, the United States on the side of the Allies entered into the World War. With the vigor of a young man he threw himself into the leadership of the great moral forces of the state in the effectual support of his adopted country in this colossal conflict. In the closing years of his life and labors one was impressed with his saintly character, wisdom and unselfish leadership.

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