On Sept. 7, 1910, 29-year-old Reverend Merrick Lyon Streeter married 24-year-old teacher Mary Wealthy Hall. Seventeen days later, the couple set out on a 30-year adventure as missionaries in Burma.
Merrick, who was born in Sturbridge, Mass., had graduated from Brown University and Rochester Theological Seminary in 1907. On June 25 of that year, he was ordained into the Baptist Ministry with a goal of becoming a foreign missionary. Luckily, he found a ready and willing partner in Mary, a native of Maine. Together, they became members of the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society and Northern Baptist Convention.
A country in Southeast Asia bordered by India, China and Thailand, Burma contained people from a variety of religions including Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Most Burmese, however, followed the Buddhist faith. The Streeters would be there to spread Baptist ideals and assist people in whatever way they could.
Three children were born to the couple there in Burma; Harriet, Dorothy and Mary. The family returned to the United States only three times in three decades. On Jan. 23, 1917 they temporarily settled in Maine as missionaries on furlough. The following year, they nearly had their plans of going back to Burma cancelled by the United States government. Merrick’s passport – which stated that he stood almost 5 feet 8 inches tall, had blue eyes and brown hair and the tips of his left index and middle fingers cut off – was denied and it was explained to him that he had to remain in the United States in case he was called up to serve in the military. When the War Department was contacted, they gave Merrick the green light to take his family back to Burma, explaining that it was unlikely he would be called to military serve. Many years later, when the Japanese invaded Burma, the Streeter home in Tavoy was destroyed. Merrick took part in Burmese broadcasts and served as an interpreter for the Burmese government.
Upon returning to America for good, the Streeters settled in Rhode Island and Merrick pastored at churches in East Providence, Rumford, Jamestown, Fiskeville, Cranston and West Warwick. Mary, who served as the Bible teacher for the women’s group “The Dorcas Circle” at Spring Green Memorial Church in Warwick, spent a good deal of time lecturing about Burma in every corner of the state. Dressed in full Burmese customs and bearing genuine Burmese artifacts, she would address crowds about her experiences in a foreign culture. Often, Mary would invite people to come and enjoy authentic home-cooked Burmese meals at her house. In 1954, a Burmese supper was served at the Streeter’s home in Conimicut for the parishioners of the First Baptist Church in Pawtucket. Burmese meals contain extensive amounts of fish utilized in sauces, soups and pastes. Salads are also partaken of quite often, made of cooked and raw ingredients such as rice wheat noodles, potatoes, ginger, tomatoes and pickled tea leaves.
Merrick died on Sept. 12, 1967 and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence. Mary wrote a book about her husband’s life and work entitled “Guided By A Voice: A Biography of Reverend Merrick Lyon Streeter,” which was published by Twin City Printery in Lewiston, Maine in 1971.
Mary died at Cranston General Hospital on July 8, 1975 after an illness of one month. She was laid to rest in Swan Point Cemetery beside her partner in adventure and Christianity.
Kelly Sullivan is a Rhode Island columnist, lecturer and author.
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Publish date : 2024-09-03 13:00:00
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