Aa history Lovers 2006 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page
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> explained by your sponsor. You will read the > Upper Room, or whatever you think best for > yourself." > > Mitchell K., How It Worked: The Story of Clarence > H. Snyder and the Early Days of Alcoholics Anonymous > in Cleveland, Ohio, chapters 3.8 and 5.5. > > Clarence Snyder told Mitchell that "new people > were told they had to read the Bible .... They > were instructed to do this on a daily basis. > Clarence said that newcomers were also told to > read The Upper Room daily and to read The Sermon > on the Mount by Emmett Fox." > > "Clarence believed that in order for a prospective > member to get well, his entire family had to get > well also .... Family members were invited to > attend meetings, were given a copy of the book > Alcoholics Anonymous, and were told to read the > Upper Room." > > From A.A. historian Dick B., whose books on A.A. > history include "The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics > Anonymous," "The Oxford Group and Alcoholics > Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works," and > "New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, > and A.A." In an article at > http://www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml, Dick says: > > In the A.A. "spiritual recovery program which > produced such a high success rate in the 1930's > and early 1940's .... the growth part of the > program had a great deal to do with Quiet Time > -- a Quiet Time that included Bible study, prayer, > receiving revelation from God, and the use of > devotional books and periodicals such as The > Upper Room as ancillary study materials and as > a spur to spending substantial time with God > each morning." > > From Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana), The St. > Louis Gambler and the Railroad Man: Lives and > Teachers of the A.A. Old timers, page 246: > > John D. ("J. D.") Holmes, the tenth person to > get sober in A.A., left Akron in 1938 and moved > to Evansville, Indiana, where he eventually was > able to start the first A.A. meeting in Indiana. > "Although Rhoda was not an alcoholic, she and > J. D. held something like an A.A. meeting every > Wednesday night in their home in order to help > him keep sober .... Like so many A.A.'s from the > very early period, J. D. and Rhoda used an > extremely popular devotional manual called The > Upper Room for their private daily meditation > and also to provide a discussion topic for this > little Wednesday meeting." >
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Hospital on December 10th From: mweemwow . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 6:22:00 PM
Towns Hospital is Sunday, December 10, at 11:59 p.m. (just before MIDNIGHT).
said:
293 Central Park West New York, NY 11:59 a.m., or, one minute before Noon on December 10th. [THIS IS THE PART THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. THE CANDLE LIGHTING WILL ACTUALLY BE HELD AT 11:59 p.m. OR ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT.]
Town's Hospital, outside two lights will be lit symbolizing Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob...from these two lights, those of us who have gathered will light our own, and hopefully return to our lives, to our homes, and to our groups, with some part of this light remaining in each of us that we might each share a bit of what we have received. A vision of a fellowship yet to come (BB p. 14)... "While I lay in the hospital the thought came that there were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might be glad to have what had been so freely given me. Perhaps I could help some of them. They in turn might work with others."
AA From: Doug B. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 3:25:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I have all of the Upper Rooms that were printed from 1935 to 1953 with the exception of the Oct/Nov/Dec 1942 issue..... In case anyone needs to check something.... Doug Barrie www.aahistory.com - - - From the moderator: http://hindsfoot.org/uprm1.html gives some excerpts from some of the issues of The Upper Room from 1938 and 1939, along with some references in various AA written sources to the use of The Upper Room in early AA.
AA From: Hugh Mulliken . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 9:14:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I have a complete set of the Upper Room from 1935 to 1945. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3941. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Bleeding deacons or bleating deacons?
From: Jim Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 10:53:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The Grapevine of September, 1962 had a column called the "Bleating Deacon's Corner". It featured comments from various members which might be classifed as complaints or criticisms of the way other members behave. The January, 1963 column had a comment from the editor explaining the title as "This is a column where bleeding deacons can bleat". Info gleaned from the Grapevine digital archives. Jim L xpd
> > AA Grapevine 1962 and 1963 > > "Bleating Deacons' Corner" > "Bleeder's Bleat" > > AAGrapevine.org .... AA Grapevine Digital Archive > > Azor
++++Message 3942. . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Webster, author of The Little Red Book
From: Ken Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/10/2006 8:55:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Just a minor irritant, but one that seems to go on and on. Ed Webster's sobriety date is December 13, 1941. As listed in his story in his book Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities (Hamar Publishers, Edina, Minnesota 1970). Documented in the Archives Collection of the Alano Society of Minneapolis, Inc. It was not October 10, 1942, as given in Message 3936. - - - As an aside, Ed Webster went to meetings there in his very early sobriety, taught Beginner's Classes (in December, 1942) and only left to join his Group (the Nicollet Group) when it sought another meeting place along with (but later than) Barry Collins in 1944. His delay in leaving was to offer support to his friend John Harrington until he finished his term as President of the Alano Society (formerly known and referred to as the Minneapolis Group). As a further aside, Barry Collins (the 1st known sober member of A.A. in Minnesota) was a signatory to the Articles of Incorporation of the Alano Society on March 28, 1942. Ken Ring (former, I think) Archivist/Historian Alano Society of Minneapolis, Inc. - - - Ken, My apology for the mistake. The web pages had been corrected quite a while ago, but not loaded on the web server (which of course didn't do anybody any good!), and I went by mistake to the uncorrected version. The correct dates for Ed Webster are, I believe: born March 21, 1892 sober December 13, 1941 died June 3, 1971
Ed Webster and early Minnesota A.A., all of which I just reloaded right now, and make sure that I have gotten all the corrections inserted, and did not miss any places where I had the old, incorrect version: http://hindsfoot.org/archives.html http://hindsfoot.org/ed01.html http://hindsfoot.org/ed02.html http://hindsfoot.org/mnclass1.html http://hindsfoot.org/mnfound1.html http://hindsfoot.org/mnfound2.html Glenn C. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3943. . . . . . . . . . . . My Utmost for His Highest From: chief_roger . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/13/2006 12:25:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII History Lovers, I have found a hardback copy of Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest." It is from a 1964 reprint of the original copyrighted in 1935. I recalled reading that this book was read by early AA members.
claimed that early Akron AA members read this book, among other devotionals and Christian material. I also discovered a quote claiming Lois Wilson said she and Bill read this book regularly. I would be interested to know if there are more corroborations and details available about the use of this book by AA members and any potential direct impact it played on our fellowship's development.
discussions. Roger W. - - - From the moderator: Can members of the group come up with other early sources and written citations? If some of the early AA people read this book, how widely was it used?
that "Sue Windows informed the author that her mother and father frequently used [My Utmost for His Highest] as a daily Bible devotional. Lois Wilson informed the author of 'AA The Way It Began' that she and Bill frequently read this devotional." Lois' statement is then footnoted to Bill Pittman, "A.A.: The Way It Began." That book was later retitled "The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous." Pittman's statement is on page 183 of my edition: "According to Lois Wilson, she and Bill frequently read 'My Utmost for His Highest' by Oswald Chambers. This book contains daily inspirational readings which cover all phases of Christian life and service."
Scottish minister and teacher. In 1910, he married an American woman named Gertrude "Biddy" Hobbs, who was extremely good at taking shorthand, and transcribed a large number of her husband's lectures, sermons, and meditations. In 1911 he founded and became principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham in London. During the First World War, he became a YMCA chaplain, and he and his wife (and their two-year-old daughter Kathleen) went to Egypt in 1915, where he ministered to soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. He died there on November 15, 1917, from a ruptured appendix. Biddy put together a book containing 366 daily readings, which was published in London in 1927, entitled "My Utmost for His Highest" (the American edition came out later, in 1935). Her foreword explains how she compiled the material: "These daily readings have been selected from various sources, chiefly from the lectures given at the Bible Training College, Clapham, during the years 1911-1915; then, from October 1915 to November 1917, from talks given night by night in the Y.M.C.A. Huts, Zeitoun, Egypt. In November 1917 my husband entered into God's presence. Since then many of the talks have been published in book form, and others from which these readings have been gathered will also be published in due course .... A large proportion of the readings have been chosen from the talks given during the Devotional Hour at the College -- an hour which for many of the students marked an epoch in their life with God."
From: Jan . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/12/2006 8:16:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I'd like to add that, for the past 40 years at least, the Brattleboro Retreat, a private mental hospital that has always been prominent in the treatment of alcoholics in Vermont, is known throughout Southern Vermont as "The Retreat", and in other parts of Vermont as "the Brattleboro Retreat". It is set on the edge of the village of Brattleboro next to a rural area known for a long time as the "Retreat Meadows". Although it is possible that it was known by a different name during the 19th century, I have never once heard it referred to as an asylum, or any other term of that ilk. The Retreat today continues its historic mission of treating alcoholics, other types of drug addicts, and various types of mental illness. AA meetings are held there every week, and have been for decades. Jan S. Vermont
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From: Mike B. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/7/2006 9:37:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Message 3923 talks about: a "speaker meeting" when the speaker tells his/her story encompassing what it was like (qualifying one's alcoholic behavior), how it was, and then what it is like now (sober life). Why do so many people say "what it was like" when the Big Book tells us to say "what WE were like, what happened and what WE are like now?"
Big Book doesn't say what you said either. It says "what we USED to be like."
From: John Wikelius . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 6:52:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Was the 25th printing the larger format? "John Wikelius" (nov85_gr at graceba.net) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3947. . . . . . . . . . . . Meetings and recovery From: David Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/10/2006 12:34:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I would like to second the sentiment it would be great if we had access to the original author's last revision of The Little Red Book.
historical thought which claims meetings aren't vital to recovery.
from "A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous," From AA Group No. 1, Akron, Ohio, 1940, from Dr. Bob's home group referenced from: http://www.barefootsworld.net/aamanual.html Of course, this has been referenced many times before in this group (see the Search function), so I'm not breaking any new ground here. I just thought I'd cull the statements which mention meetings. Inference is risky, I know, but I "infer" that Dr. Bob's influence on his own group was strong enough to ensure this manual did not go out to the newcomer containing views which he himself did not subscribe to.
work has not ended. It is now your duty not only to him but to yourself to see that he starts out on the right foot. Accompany him to his first meeting.<<<
it without question. You have no valid excuse except sickness or being out of town, for not attending.<<< >>>Your sponsor will take you to your first meeting. You will find it new, but inspirational. You will find an atmosphere of peace and contentment that you didn't know existed .... After you have attended several meetings it will be your duty to get up on your feet and say something.<<<
at least once a week at a specified time and place. Meetings provide a means for an exchange of ideas, the renewing of friendships, opportunity to review the work being carried on, a sense of security, and an additional reminder that we are alcoholics and must be continuously on the alert against the temptation to slip backward into the old drunken way of living.
groups it is recommended that the new member attend as many meetings as possible. He will find that the more he is exposed to A.A. the sooner he will absorb its principles, the easier it will become to remain sober, and the sooner problems will shrink and tend to disappear.<<< >>>So attend your first meeting with an open mind. Even if you aren't impressed try it again. Before long you will genuinely enjoy attending and a little later you will feel that the week has been incomplete if you have not attended at least one A.A. meeting.<<< >>>Remember that attendance at meetings is one of the most important requisites of remaining sober.<<< [note: this was bold print in the original document] IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3948. . . . . . . . . . . . Bill W.''s 1960 response to a Chicago Group From: doci333 . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/11/2006 4:20:00 PM
taking his inventory Good Day AA History Lovers, In listening to track 8, Disk 7, of "Big Book Workshop" facilitated by Scott L. and Bob D.; read was a response letter which was written by Bill W. to the Chicago group who had sent Bill W. a seething letter taking his inventory.
a literature piece for further documentation? The letter reads (as transcribed from the CD): (A letter from a group in Chicago was mailed to Bill W. in 1960, taking his inventory and this was Bill W's response. Bill was 26 years sober at the time.) "That you seemed disillusioned with me personally may be a new and painful experience for you but many members have had that experience with me. Most of their pain has been caused not only by my several shortcomings but by their own insistence on placing me, a drunk, trying to get along with other folks, upon a completely illusionary pedestal; a station which no fallible person could possible occupy."
never held myself out to anybody as either a saint or a superman. I have repeatedly and truthfully said that A.A. is full of people who have made more spiritual progress than I ever, or can make. That in some areas of living I have made some decided gains but in others I seem to have stood still. And in others, still other ways I may have gone backwards. I am sorry that you are disillusioned with me but I am happy that even I have found a life here."
1960
Thx. and AA Hugs -0- -0- -0- Dave G.
Illinois IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3949. . . . . . . . . . . . Bleeding deacons in the 12 and 12 From: Jim S. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/11/2006 8:46:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII On page 135 in the 12 and 12, as cited in "As Bill Sees It," page 138, the term is "Bleeding Deacons." This would seem to predate a 1962 "Grapevine" column.
- - - From the moderator. The reference is to the chapter on the Second Tradition, where the section reads as follows:
A.A. have a real leadership?" Most emphatically the answer is "Yes, notwithstanding the apparent lack of it." Let's turn again to the deposed founder and his friends. What becomes of them? As their grief and anxiety wear away, a subtle change begins. Ultimately, they divide into two classes known in A.A. slang as "elder statesmen" and "bleeding deacons." The elder statesman is the one who sees the wisdom of the group's decision, who holds no resentment over his reduced status, whose judgment, fortified by considerable experience, is sound, and who is willing to sit quietly on the sidelines patiently awaiting developments. The bleeding deacon is one who is just as surely convinced that the group cannot get along without him, who constantly connives for reelection to office, and who continues to be consumed with self-pity. A few hemorrhage so badly that - drained of all A.A. spirit and principal - they get drunk. At times the A.A. landscape seems to be littered with bleeding forms. Nearly every oldtimer in our Society has gone through this process in some degree. Happily, most of them survive and live to become elder statesmen. They become the real and permanent leadership of A.A. Theirs is the quiet opinion, the sure knowledge and humble Download 13.83 Mb. Share with your friends:
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