Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

tiaritan An Interview With Rev. Ethel Duncan by Don Frank She found that to successfully handle this ever-growing work, she needed a base of operations — a central location, where the work could be organized and operated efficiently. Quarters were obtained in a two-story frame building near the outskirts of Long Beach. Still the volume grew, and still the calls for help increased. A few months ago it was decided to open another Good Samaritan Relief Station, as she called her depot, and South Los Angeles, on Florence Avenue, was selected. Los Angeles Depot Number One was opened April 15 of this year. It is a twostory building, with 1800 square feet of space on each floor. The soup kitchen is on the main floor, and serves food from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m. daily. The first week nearly four hundred persons were served. The second depot was opened May 2, a few miles north of Belvedere Gardens' business section. Both of these depots dispense clothing as well as food, and are equipped with clothing racks and shoe bins. Reverend Duncan plans to open several more of these depots in the future. There are no territorial restrictions to the Good Samaritan station, and persons from anywhere may apply for help. The Good Samaritan, since October, 1930, has been an organization incorporated under the state laws of California. Since the date of incorporation an average of one hundred persons a day have been given a hot meal at the Long Beach station, and six hundred families every month have been provided with groceries and clothing. Since the new stations have been organized, the number has been tripled. The Good Samaritan is in no way connected with the Church of the Apostles, which Reverend Duncan also founded, two years ago. The story of Ethel Duncan's life is bound up with poverty and service. RADIO DOINGS She is proud of her t w o grown sons, and they in turn are just as proud of their famous mother. misunderstandings and — mystery. As I talked to her about her church, and her charity work, my curiosity about her "gift of prophecy" was constantly asserting itself. At last I asked her about it, and the story she told was a strange one. I pass it on for you to believe or not, as you like. The Good Samaritan found this old woman alone in her hut. She hadn't eaten for four days. She was born thirty-seven years ago in the little country town of Parkville, Missouri. While yet a baby she gave evidence of a divine gift — that of prophecy. The gift was not understood by her parents, her relatives — and much less by herself. To this day she doesn't pretend to explain it. Often her sudden outbursts of prophecy or opinions resulted in dire punishment at the hends of her parents. Many an unhappy hour was spent in a dark cellar room for an outspoken word to her elders. She believes much of this misunderstanding on the part of father and mother was due to her parents' religious difference. This difference was often aggravated by the small daughter, whom they began to look upon as "queer." Intent, serious, and questioning, she was torn between them. And out of it all came a deep desire to worship of her own will and in her own way, the God whom she believed had given her the power to see into the future, and put words of advice into her mouth when persons crossed her path. One noon, with guests in the house, when Ethel was twelve, she looked suddenly at her father and said, "Father, before three o'clock today you will pass away. I see you lying on the table, a sheet over your face!" Her indignant father sent her away from the dinner table, with the threat that he would punish her later. It was the last she [Turn to Page 38] Page Twenty-five