1872-1956
Adoniram Judson Weeks
Missionary Michigan/Burma
Adoniram Judson Weeks was a native of Leslie, Michigan, born January 18, 1872 to Stephen Weeks and Laura Edwina Reynolds. He received a B.A. in 1902 from Kalamazoo College and then attended Newton Theological Institute 1902-1905. Weeks later studied at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University).
Four milestones were completed in 1905: graduated from seminary; ordination to the Baptist ministry; married Louise Scrimger (1876-1950); and accepted missionary appointment with the American Baptists to Burma. A. J. Weeks worked faithfully with the Karens in Tavoy and Moulmein for 34 years, 1905-1939.[1]
He and Louise had 3 children including a son they named George Dana Weeks in appreciation of the pioneer missionary to the Karens. After his wife, Louise, died in 1950, Weeks married Gertrude Kooney in 1953.
We discovered several newspaper accounts about Adoniram Judson Weeks and his wife, Louise, while they were on home assignment. This might provide some instruction on what a missionary does in that rare time away from their overseas assignment:
The coming state meeting of the Baptists of Wyoming will bring with it an opportunity for Casper’s people to hear some splendid addresses, says the Casper Tribune. The following men are expected from a distance:… and Foreign Missionary A. J. Weeks of Burma. These men are real live wires and it will pay any one to go and hear them. [2]
First Baptist Church. There will be an all-day missionary meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m., 2:30 and 8 p.m. The Rev. A. J. Weeks of Burma, Miss Carrie O. Millspaugh of Portland, Ore., and the Rev. Dr. C. A. Cook of Spokane will be the speakers of the day. Special music at both services…. All made welcome.[3]
Immanuel Baptist, corner Pine and Woody streets…Rev. A. J. Weeks, Tavoy, Burma, will preach. Mr. Weeks is one of our earnest and wide awake missionaries….curios from heathen lands; Burmese song and band music on the gramophone; maps, books and literature will be among the features of each session….The public is cordially invited to attend anyone or all of these services.[4]
Mother’s Day will be observed at the Baptist Church next Sunday with inspiring music and hymns that mother loved. Mrs. A. J. Weeks will give an address on “Mothers on India and the Orient.” This will be the last opportunity to hear Mrs. Weeks before she leaves for the East, preparatory to sailing for Burma.[5]
Rev. A. J. Weeks, Baptist missionary to Burma, lectured Wednesday evening at the Baptist Church on the Philippine Islands. Rev. Netherly, Ferndale Baptist pastor, illustrated the talk with stereopticon views. The lecture was well attended.[6]
Rev. and Mrs. A. J. Weeks, missionaries from Burma under the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society will be among the speakers at the 1925 Seabeck Missionary Conference rally to be held Tuesday evening, January, 20, at the First Baptist church at Harvard and Seneca.[7]
A series of Sunday evening services to be dedicated to the rural schools of this vicinity will be held in the Baptist church starting this Sunday…. Pictures of the teacher, Miss Celia Ridley, the school house and pupils will be thrown on the screen. The work of A. J. Weeks, a former pupil of the district, but who is now a resident of Burma, will be featured. Special music will be rendered by the Aurelius quartette.[8]
Adoniram Judson Weeks died November 3, 1956, at Everett, Washington, age 84. He is buried in the Lynden Cemetery, Whatcom County, WA.
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[1] Maung Shwe Wa, Burma Baptist Chronicle, edited by Genevieve and Erville Sowards (Rangoon: Board of Publication, Burma Baptist Convention, 1963), p. 433.
[2] “Prominent Men at Baptist Convention,” Laramie Republican (Laramie, WY), September 15, 1911, Volume 22, Issue 30, p. 8.
[3] “In Butte Churches,” Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT), October 21, 1911, Volume XXIII, Issue 48, p. 12.
[4] “Immanuel Baptist,” Daily Missoulian (Missoula, MT), October 29, 1911, Volume 38, p. 5.
[5] “Baptist Church to Observe Mother’s Day on Sunday,” Lynden Tribune (Lynden, WA), Mary 8, 1919, Volume 11, p. 2.
[6] “Gives Fine Illustrated Talk About Philippine Islands,” Lynden Tribune (Lynden, WA), September 4, 1919, Volume 12, p. 2.
[7] “Burma Missionaries Will Address Rally,” Seattle Star (Seattle, WA), Volume 26, Issue 279, January 17, 1925, p. 2.
[8] “Leslie Will Honor Nearby Rural Schools.” Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, MI), October 9, 1930, p. 13.