From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/25/2006 10:26:00 AM
great paradox of A.A. that we know we can seldom keep the precious
gift of sobriety unless we give it away. If a group of doctors
failed their mission through self-seeking. Yet such a failure wouldn't
jeopardize their personal survival. for us, if we neglect those who
sanity. Under these compulsions of self-preservation, duty, and love,
high mission - to carry the A.A. message to those who don't know there
From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/25/2006 10:03:00 AM
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Hi Mel
Re the paper below
EARLY ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT: THE EMMANUEL MOVEMENT and RICHARD PEABODY
Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Vol.45, No.1, 1984.
http://www.aabibliography.com/historyofaa/reco1.htm
There are several references in the paper to Peabody not staying sober
"Peabody and his coworkers apparently did not share Baylor's personal
success at remaining sober. A common opinion is that Peabody died
intoxicated, although the evidence is not conclusive. Samuel Crocker,
who had once shared an office with Peabody, told Faye R. that he was
intoxicated at the time of his death. The personal copy of Peabody's
A.A. Archives, contains the following inscription; "Dr. Peabody was as
This copy was originally owned by Rosa Burwell of Philadelphia. Some
early A.A. members share the opinion that Peabody died intoxicated.
The published sources contradict each other. Wister quoted Peabody's
second wife to the effect that he died of pneumonia. The editors of
claimed that he died of a heart attack. Mrs. Crosby did not say."
guess is impossible at this date. Marty Mann concluded that Peabody
alcoholism. Others who failed at the Peabody method were known to have
joined A.A. in its early years, but it is impossible to determine how
many remained quietly sober without joining A.A. or professional
groups. The fact that several of the Peabody method's major
drunk Most of what I've seen is qualified as anecdotal reports.
(ArtSheehan at msn.com)
Subject: RE: [AAHistoryLovers] "Take what you need and leave the
rest"
> The "half measures" citation reputedly owes its origin to the
1931
> book "The Common Sense of Drinking" by Richard Peabody. It
> strengthened the concept of alcoholism as an illness and contained
the
> statement "Half measures are to no avail." The book was a
prominent
> reference source in the early AA Fellowship. Peabody died drunk so
the
> catchphrase did not appear to serve him very well.
Yahoo! Groups Links
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++++Message 3656. . . . . . . . . . . . Dartmoor Bill died Tuesday, 53 years
sober
From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/28/2006 3:22:00 PM
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"Dartmoor Bill", who died on Tuesday aged 85, was
the longest-sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous
in Britain and Europe, having not touched a drink
for the past 53 years.
His story is available in an article in the online
version of the widely read British newspaper,
the Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILSandgrid=andxml=/n
ews/2006/08/\
26/db2601.xml [9]
This was sent in by Ernie Kurtz. The newspaper
article contains a good deal of information about
the beginnings of AA in Britain.
To give a few excerpts from the article:
"The first British AA meeting had been held on
March 31 1947 at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
By 1953 there were only four in the capital (today
there are more than 700). Dartmoor Bill found one
in Chandos Street, behind the Edgware Road. He immersed
himself in AA's '12 Steps', and remained sober. By
the 1960s he was a husband and father, making a living
as a street-trader; he also trained as an electrician
and found stage-lighting work around the West End
theatres."
"Dartmoor Bill reached his half-century of sobriety
in May 2003, and hundreds of AA members celebrated
with him at a party given by his wife Eunice at a
church hall in Chelsea. Despite the onset of asbestosis,
he spoke loud and clear for half an hour, regaling
the company with his experience and sense of hope,
insisting: 'If you don't take the first drink, you
can't get drunk.'"
Posted by the moderator
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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++++Message 3657. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Johnstone P.''s story, "You have
to give it away..."
From: Mel Barger . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/27/2006 8:30:00 AM
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Hi Kilroy,
I'd heard that Johnstone Parr had passed on. I think he was a professor
at Kent State University. The Social Security Death Index lists a Johnstone
Parr as born on May 5, 1911 and passing away on May 30, 1991. The Social
Security number was 416 34 6270, and it had been issued in Alabama. Place
of death was not shown.
This could be the same Johnstone Parr, given the unusual first name. Or
it could be a coincidence.
I always thought it was a shame to remove his fine story from the Big Book
after the second edition. But the four paradoxes still survive in AA lore
and are sometimes quoted.
Mel Barger
melb@accesstoledo.com
(melb at accesstoledo.com)
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++++Message 3658. . . . . . . . . . . . How to identify 1st printing 1st
edition Big Books
From: Robert Stonebraker . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/25/2006 10:37:00 AM
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Dear AA Friends,
In the late 1990's, I donated to the Indianapolis
(Indiana) Intergroup what I believed was a first
printing, first edition Big Book for display in
their office.
For many years I thought the only large Big Book
was the first printing of the first edition, but
during a visit to the Akron Inter-group Archives I
learned that several of those first edition printings
were also of the large variety. After learning this
I was, of course, concerned as to whether my gift
was really the first printing, and not a later
printing of first edition.
Recently, Bruce C, from Muncie sent me the
following information:
1st Edition, 1st Printing.
Page 154, line 29 has "aberrations" misspelled.
Page 234, line 27 repeats line 26.
Page 391, the story Lone Endeavor is only in
this printing.
The highlighted page 234 mistake was corrected in
the second printing of the first edition and
"The Lone Endeavor" story was also exclusive thereby.
So, now I could really solve this mystery! Yesterday,
I had the opportunity to check this out . The suspense
was terrific! I walked into the office, put on
the white glove and breathtakingly opened the Big Book.
Happy-happy news: IT WAS authentic !
There is another method of authenticating a first
printing. In Dr. Bob's Nightmare on page 192 the
second line states " . . . nearly four years have
passed."
But the second printing states: " . . . nearly six
years have passed."
This alteration continued throughout all the rest of
the first edition printings, all of the second edition
printings, and up till, I think, the ninth printing of
the third edition.
So, this information was further evidence in yesterday's
quest!
Bob S., Richmond, Indiana
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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++++Message 3659. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Johnstone P.''s story, "You have
to give it away..."
From: Jay Lawyer . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/28/2006 9:47:00 PM
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"Anne Smith's Journal" by Dick B. pg 69 talks some about:
"witness-give it away to keep it." Which she used and talked
about mornings in the quiet time during the early days of the
fellowship.
She also said - 'Giving Christianity away is the best way to
keep it.'
Further on it talks about an early pamphlet and a later book
from Rev. Samuel Shoemaker (pg 72-73 etc...) 'about giving
it away to keep it.'
So this action has been around and known for a
looonnnnggggg time.
Jay
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++++Message 3660. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Johnstone P.''s story, "You have
to give it away..."
From: Robt Woodson . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/28/2006 9:59:00 PM
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Kilroy,
John Stone Parr, Author of "The Professor and the Paradox" was a
Professor at
nearby Kent State University and a member of the Cuyahoga Falls
"Pilgrim" Group
of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Woody in Akron, Ohio
Kilroy@ceoexpress.com wrote:
Can someone tell me whatever happened to Johnstone
P. from Ohio? His story appeared in the second edition
of the Big Book and was missing thereafter.
I often hear people quote him at meetings. Mostly
they only use one of his four quotes, the one that
states, "You have to give it away if you want to
keep it."
Kilroy W.
4021 Club
Philadelphia PA
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++++Message 3661. . . . . . . . . . . . Identifying Big Book first printing
From: DudleyDobinson@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/28/2006 4:30:00 PM
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**With a note from Glenn C. on "spiritual experience"**
Hi Bob
Thanks for your insight on the differences between
the first and later printings of the Big Book.
I have probably One of the few copies of "Big Red"
in Ireland and will almost certainly donate it some
time in the near future. When and to whom is my
current dilemma.
Perhaps the most important change made to the First
printing which you did not mention was the change
in the Twelfth step from "experience" to "awakening"
and the addition of an appendix on the subject added
in the Second printing.
I believe it was pointed out to Bill W. that he
had his spiritual experience before the steps were
written. Also some members thought they could not
recover if they did not that type of experience.
In fellowship - Dudley D.
__________________________________
Note from the moderator:
There were actually three separate experiences that
Bill W. had during the period when he was getting
sober:
-------------------------
(1) October 1934: When Ebby said to Bill, "Why
don't you choose your own conception of God?"
Bill W. says that the "scales fell ... from my
eyes." (Big Book p. 12) Most Americans at that time
read from the Bible regularly or heard it read
from in church. They would have immediately
recognized this as a reference to the Apostle
Paul's conversion experience on the Road to
Damascus in Acts 9:18. That means that Bill W.
is telling us here, "this was my conversion
experience." He became aware of "the real
significance" of his awareness of the divine
presence at Westminster Cathedral. Living in
continual "God consciousness" or "awareness of the
divine presence" was the way the most important
Protestant preachers and theologians of the 1920's
and 1930's described the life of those who were
among the saved. Bill W. also noted (p. 10) that
his beloved grandfather had pointed out that one
could have the same sense of awe and wonder at
the divine presence while looking up at the starry
sky at night -- with the advantage that the
preachers couldn't tell you how to interpret that
experience!
This understanding of what is meant by "God
consciousness" is referred to many times in the
Big Book. One of the two greatest Protestant
theologians of that period, Rudolf Otto, talked
about this kind of spiritual experience in his
book "The Idea of the Holy," which went through
printing after printing. The original German
of the book also went through printing after
printing: "Das Heilige: ueber das Irrationale in
der Idee des gottlichen und sein Verhaeltnis
zum Rationalen." This could be useful to German
AA members trying to understand what the English
version of the Big Book means by the words
"spiritual" and "spiritual experience," because
the original German of Otto's book explains it
in terms that are part of the German cultural
heritage.
-------------------------
(2) Shortly afterwards, Bill W. made a visit to
the rescue mission run by Father Sam Shoemaker's
Calvary Church, drunk out of his mind ("Pass It
On, pp. 116-119). He disrupted the meeting, and
at one point stood up and gave a long, confused
drunken speech. No one afterward could quite
remember what he had said, except that it was
disruptive and embarrassing. But Ebby thought that
he remembered that during Bill's speech, he had
"given his life to God." So there are some people
in AA who count that as a conversion experience.
He was totally drunk however, and continued to
drink for another two or three days, so I do not
in fact know any pastor in the evangelical
tradition who would regard anything said by an
obnoxious and disruptive drunk who broke into a
revival meeting, and started ranting, as a genuine
conversion.
(3) The ecstatic vision of the great white light
which Bill had in Towns Hospital in December 1934,
where he felt as though he was standing on a mighty
mountain peak where the wind of the spirit blew
(see "Pass It On, p. 121, and "AA Comes of Age,
p. 63).
Bill W. said nothing about the divine light in his
account in the Big Book (p. 14). But he did say
that this happened when he realized that "I must
turn in all things to the Father of Light who
presides over us all," where the light motif occurs
(it is a reference to the epistle of James 1:17).
-------------------------
The first of these experiences was the one that
the Big Book and early AA people in general stressed
as the primary meaning of "spiritual experience"
or "spiritual awareness." It might come slowly
instead of quickly, but it meant learning to practice
the presence of God in our everyday lives at all
times, being aware of his love and compassion and
willingness to help, and letting that guide all our
daily decisions. And it meant learning to respect
and appreciate the holy and sacred dimension of
reality in all the ways in which it was revealed
to us: in church and synagogue and mosque and temple,
in the the spirit of the tables (which is the Holy
Spirit at work), and in our wonder and awe at the
glories of nature: the sky, the trees, the scent of
Spring flowers, the sound of birds.
The Song of the Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 is repeated
in countless Jewish and Christian liturgies:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
The Cherubic Anthem which is the centerpiece of
the Eastern Orthodox liturgy makes it clear that
our primary duty as human beings down here on
earth in this material realm, is to join in with
the holy angels in singing this uncreasing hymn.
The Potawatomi Indian tribe which lives in my
part of the U.S. does not believe in a personal
God, but they too sing, to the four corners of
the compass, a hymn to the Manitou, the holiness
and glory of the sacred presence which shines
forth in all the world of nature.
Those who sing this hymn, in any of its forms,
and know what they are singing to, have understood
the primary meaning of "spiritual experience"
and "spiritual awakening" in the twelve step
program.
Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana)
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++++Message 3662. . . . . . . . . . . . Significant September dates in A.A.
History
From: chesbayman56 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/1/2006 11:55:00 PM
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Significant September Dates in A.A. History
Sept 1930 - Bill wrote 4th (last) promise in family Bible to quit
drinking.
Sept 1939 - group started by Earl T in Chicago.
Sept 1940 - AA group started in Toledo by Duke P and others.
Sept 1940 - Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases gives Big Book
unfavorable review.
Sept 1946 - Bill and Dr. Bob both publicly endorsed National Committee
Education Alcoholism founded by Marty M.
Sept 1946 - 1st A.A. group in Mexico.
Sept 1948 - Bob writes article for Grapevine on AA "Fundamentals -
In Retrospect".
Sept 1949 - 1st issue of Grapevine published in "pocketbook" size.
Sept 1, 1939 - 1st AA group founded in Chicago.
Sept 11, 2001 - 30 Vesey St, New York. Location of AA's first office
is destroyed during the World Trade Center attack.
Sept 12, 1942 - U.S. Assist. Surgeon General Kolb speaks at dinner
for Bill and Dr Bob.
Sept 13, 1937 - Florence R, 1st female in AA in NY.
Sept 13, 1941 - WHJP in Jacksonville, FL airs Spotlight on AA.
Sept 17, 1954 - Bill D, AA #3 dies.
Sept 18, 1947 - Dallas Central Office opens its doors.
Sept 19, 1965 - The Saturday Evening Post publishes
article "Alcoholics Can Be Cured - Despite AA"
Sept 19, 1975 - Jack Alexander, author of original Saturday Evening
Post article, dies.
Sept 21, 1938 - Bill W and Hank P form Works Publishing Co.
Sept 24, 1940 - Bill 12th steps Bobbie V, who later replaced Ruth
Hock as his secretary in NY.
Sept 30, 1939 - article in Liberty magazine, "Alcoholics and God"
by
Morris Markey.
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++++Message 3663. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Richard Peabody died drunk?
Documentation?
From: corafinch . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/2/2006 10:29:00 AM
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--- In AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com, "ArtSheehan"
wrote:
>
> Hi Mel
>
> Re the paper below
>
> EARLY ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT: THE EMMANUEL MOVEMENT and RICHARD PEABODY
> Katherine McCarthy, Ph.D.
> Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Vol.45, No.1, 1984.
>
> http://www.aabibliography.com/historyofaa/reco1.htm
>
I have no specific information about Peabody, but a couple of remarks on the
context.
McCarthy's article says that:
" Samuel Crocker,
> who had once shared an office with Peabody, told Faye R. that he was
> intoxicated at the time of his death.
And also that
. Wister quoted Peabody's
> second wife to the effect that he died of pneumonia.
Irving Fisher, a prominent advocate of prohibition, devoted much of his book
Prohibition
At Its Worst (written 1926, I believe, and revised later) to debates about
the
medical value
of alcohol. The issues then were very different from the present-day claims
about
alcohol's value. For example, a physician by the name of Samuel Lambert made
the claim,
based on what appeared to be good evidence, that pneumonia patients had a
lower
mortality rate when given alcohol.
In the days before antibiotics, the importance of that fact, if it was a
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