> 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."
>
____________________________________________________________________________
____\
____
Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know.
Ask your question on www.Answers.yahoo.com
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++++Message 3938. . . . . . . . . . . . Correction - MIDNIGHT at Towns
Hospital on December 10th
From: mweemwow . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 6:22:00 PM
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The correct date and time for the ceremony at
Towns Hospital is Sunday, December 10, at
11:59 p.m. (just before MIDNIGHT).
Janie
(mweemwow at yahoo.com)
- - -
Message No. 3920 from Robt Woodson
(wdywdsn at sbcglobal.net)
said:
The Charles B. Towns Hospital
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.]
A Candle will be lit in the window of the former
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."
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++++Message 3939. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Use of "The Upper Room" in early
AA
From: Doug B. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 3:25:00 PM
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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.
Glenn Chesnut
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++++Message 3940. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Use of "The Upper Room" in early
AA
From: Hugh Mulliken . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 9:14:00 AM
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I have a complete set of the
Upper Room from 1935 to 1945.
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++++Message 3941. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Bleeding deacons or bleating
deacons?
From: Jim Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 10:53:00 PM
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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
On 12/9/06, Azor521@aol.com wrote:
>
> AA Grapevine 1962 and 1963
>
> "Bleating Deacons' Corner"
> "Bleeder's Bleat"
>
> AAGrapevine.org .... AA Grapevine Digital Archive
>
> Azor
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++++Message 3942. . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Webster, author of The Little Red
Book
From: Ken Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/10/2006 8:55:00 AM
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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
But please do check through the web pages on
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.
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++++Message 3943. . . . . . . . . . . . My Utmost for His Highest
From: chief_roger . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/13/2006 12:25:00 AM
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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.
A Google search brought up articles where Dick B.
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.
Thank you as always for your wonderfully detailed
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?
Dick B., "Dr. Bob's Library," says on page 32
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."
- - -
Oswald Chambers was born in 1874. He was a
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."
Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana)
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++++Message 3944. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: The Brattleboro Retreat
From: Jan . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/12/2006 8:16:00 PM
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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
____________________________________________________________________________
____\
____
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
http://new.mail.yahoo.com
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++++Message 3945. . . . . . . . . . . . What it was like
From: Mike B. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/7/2006 9:37:00 AM
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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?"
Mike Barns
- - -
Well, as a point of fact, the actual text of the
Big Book doesn't say what you said either. It says
"what we USED to be like."
G.C.
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++++Message 3946. . . . . . . . . . . . The Little Red Book 25th printing
From: John Wikelius . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2006 6:52:00 PM
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Was the 25th printing the larger format?
"John Wikelius"
(nov85_gr at graceba.net)
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++++Message 3947. . . . . . . . . . . . Meetings and recovery
From: David Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/10/2006 12:34:00 PM
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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.
In addition, I'd like to comment on the line of
historical thought which claims meetings aren't
vital to recovery.
In order to do this, I'll just list some quotes
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.
>>>When your patient is out of the hospital your
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.<<<
>>>There may be a meeting of an A.A. group. Attend
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 MEETINGS don't criticize the leader.<<<
>>>IT HAS BEEN found advisable to hold meetings
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.
In larger communities where there are several
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]
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++++Message 3948. . . . . . . . . . . . Bill W.''s 1960 response to a
Chicago Group
From: doci333 . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/11/2006 4:20:00 PM
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Bill W.'s 1960 response to a Chicago Group for
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.
Any of you Buffs know where it may be found in
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."
"I'm sure that you will understand that I have
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."
Bill Wilson
1960
Any info would be an AA vitamin for me.
Thx. and AA Hugs -0- -0- -0-
Dave G.
Illinois
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++++Message 3949. . . . . . . . . . . . Bleeding deacons in the 12 and 12
From: Jim S. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/11/2006 8:46:00 AM
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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.
Jim S.
- - -
From the moderator. The reference is to the
chapter on the Second Tradition, where the
section reads as follows:
This brings us straight to the question "Does
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
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