A work crew relocating a mural during the renovation of Sutherland Auditorium uncovered a window to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s past and revived the memory of the faithful woman for whom the auditorium was originally named.

Sutherland Hall was one of the first buildings constructed when 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 relocated from downtown Los Angeles to the La Mirada campus in the late 1950s. A renovation of the venerable building in 2023 included the relocation of a large mural hanging in the lobby. Created by noted California artist Millard Sheets, the sweeping mural illustrated Jesus parable of the talents.

When workers removed the mural, they discovered a dusty plaque hanging on the wall behind it. The undated plaque paid tribute to Ethel Maude Lee, and noted that the auditorium had originally been dedicated in her memory.

I gave an update to staff on the construction, and I threw in this little tidbit about discovering the plaque, says Brian Phillips, associate vice president of facilities management. I think there was more interest in the plaque than in the renovations. All of us had always called that space Sutherland Auditorium. We had no idea it was ever known by any other name. Who was Ethel Maude Lee? And why was the auditorium in one of the main buildings on campus named after her?

Intrigued by the long-forgotten plaque and the mystery of the woman who inspired it, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 staff members began digging through the archives, searching for the story of Ethel Maude Lee. They found answers in faded issues of The Kings Business, a publication once produced by 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023.

The 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 Bible Women were a group of women associated with the university who taught Bible studies in Southern California. Ethel Lee had been a 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 Bible Woman for 31 years, from 1920 until her death in 1951 at the age of 73. As one of the articles described, Many souls have been brought to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ through her clear-cut messages.

Born in England, Lee served as a nurse to the poor in the slums of London. After hearing the call to evangelism, she relocated to the United States to study at Moody Bible Institute, then spent a decade as a Bible teacher in Wisconsin. Lee eventually moved to California, where she joined the 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 Bible Women, a group formed by Anna Horton, wife of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 co-founder T.C. Horton, and led for several decades by Lula Stewart, wife of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 co-founder Lyman Stewart.

Lee dedicated the rest of her life to sharing the gospel throughout the Los Angeles area.

Following her death, Lees students and friends contributed to a fund in her memory, describing her as a happy Christian, transparent in the radiance of the Lord Jesus Christ and a great prayer warrior whose teaching of the Word of God was clear, emphatic, with compassion and devotion. Helen and Elizabeth Babcock, dear friends of Lee and donors to the construction of the auditorium, suggested it be named in her honor. Over the years, the original name of the Ethel Maude Lee Memorial Auditorium was forgotten as the space was commonly referred to as Sutherland Auditorium.

The rediscovery of Lees legacy inspired the 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 community to once again honor this faithful 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 Bible Woman. When the renovation was completed in 2024, some 66 years after the auditorium was originally dedicated, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 rechristened this key space within Sutherland Hall the Ethel Lee Auditorium.

The name Ethel means noble, President Barry H. Corey said at the dedication ceremony. What more noble calling is there than to teach and proclaim Scripture to a needy world. After decades hidden behind a mural ironically depicting the parable of the talents, Jesus admonition that Gods gifts to us should not be hidden away but shared, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 is once again honoring Ethel Lees devotion to sharing the gospel.

I think its important to honor the memory and the history of these faithful folks whove supported the university, Phillips says. When no one living personally remembers what they did, its all the more important to keep their stories alive.