Aa history Lovers 2004 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page

other days. For, her part, Sister regaled us with stories of St. Thomas and

with cherished recollections of Anne and co-founder Dr. Bob. It was

unforgettable.

Before Sister became too tired we addressed ourselves to our main project.

From New York, I had brought an illuminated scroll. Its wording was in the

form of a letter addressed by me to Sister, and it was written on behalf of

our AA Fellowship worldwide. I stood up, read the scroll aloud, and then held

the parchment for her to see. She was taken by complete surprise and could

scarcely speak for a time. In a low voice she finally said, "Oh, but this is

too much - this is too good for me."

Our richest reward of the evening was of course Ignatia's delight; a joy

unbounded the moment we assured her that our gift need not be publicized; that

if she wished to stow it away in her trunk we would quite understand.

It then seemed that this most memorable and moving evening was over. But there

was to be another inspiring experience. Making light of her great fatigue,

Sister insisted that we all go up to Rosary Hall, there to make a late round

of the AA ward. This we did, wondering if any of us would ever again see her

at work in the divine vocation to which she had given her all. For each of us

this was the end of an epoch; I could think only of her poignant and

oft-repeated saying, "Eternity is now."

The scroll given to Sister may now be seen at Rosary Hall. This is the

inscription:

IN GRATITUDE

FOR SISTER MARY IGNATIA

ON THE OCCASION OF HER GOLDEN

JUBILEE

Dear Sister,

W e of Alcoholics Anonymous look upon you as the finest friend and the

greatest spirit we may ever know.

We remember your tender ministrations to us in the days when AA was very

young. Your partnership with Dr. Bob in that early time has created for us a

spiritual heritage of incomparable worth.

In all the years since, we have watched you at the bedside of thousands. So

watching, we have perceived ourselves to be the beneficiaries of that wondrous

light which God has always sent through you to illumine our darkness. You have

tirelessly tended our wounds; you have nourished us with your unique

understanding and your matchless love. No greater gifts of Grace than these

shall we ever have.

Speaking for AA members throughout the world, I say: "May God abundantly

reward you according to your blessed works - now and forever!'

In devotion,

March 25,1964 Bill W.

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++++Message 1726. . . . . . . . . . . . In Memory of Helen (1955)

From: Lash, William (Bill) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/31/2004 2:09:00 PM

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November 1955 AA Grapevine

In Memory of Helen

JUST six years ago last month, a girl named Helen made a journey from Boston

to New York. She came to this city to join the staff of AA's General Service

Headquarters.

Her decision to leave Boston's Central Office, where she had for three years

been much loved as its first Secretary, was to result in benefits beyond

measure to worldwide AA. But for her, this decision proved to be a fateful

one.

Helen died in my home at Bedford Hills September 28, 1955. Her death was the

climax of a long period of severe exhaustion and of many difficulties. She had

come to stay with Lois and me to recuperate for the fresh start about which

she had eagerly written to friends only one day before the unexpected attack

of illness that did, in a matter of minutes, carry her away from us.

All the countless AAs who knew Helen will surely declare her to have been one

of the finest servants that we have ever had. Speaking for ourselves here at

Headquarters we feel that a void has been left in our lives of the kind which

can never quite be filled. With Lois and me, Helen always stood high among our

most devoted and treasured friends.

One more unforgettable thing: When the crucial decisions were made in 1951

that a Conference of elected AAs should be called to meet yearly with our

Trustees, that this Conference should ultimately become the guide and

conscience for our entire Society, and the successor to its founders, a most

difficult problem had to be faced. Anxiously we asked ourselves, "How can this

be done?"

Because of her keen sense of AA feeling and reaction, her inborn flair for

sound diplomacy, Helen was assigned to help me in the preparation of the Third

Legacy. This document, on which the future of AA so much depends, and of which

so many of us recently became conscious at St. Louis, will ever bear the stamp

of Helen's great perception and devotion.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Bill W.

Helen B. was buried in Rockland, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 1,

following a Solemn High Mass of Requiem at the Church of the Holy Family in

Rockland.

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++++Message 1727. . . . . . . . . . . . Traditions Question

From: Lash, William (Bill) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/31/2004 2:35:00 PM

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Does anyone know why the Twelve Traditions are in the order that they are in?

Thanks!

Just Love,

Barefoot Bill

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++++Message 1728. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Traditions Question

From: Cloydg . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/1/2004 1:25:00 AM

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A.A. Traditions

***************

During its first decade, A.A. as a fellowship accumulated substantial

experience which indicated that certain group attitudes and principles were

particularly valuable in assuring survival of the informal structure of the

Fellowship. In 1946, in the Fellowship's international journal, the A.A.

Grapevine, these principles were reduced to writing by the founders and early

members as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were accepted

and endorsed by the membership as a whole at the International Convention of

A.A., at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.

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++++Message 1729. . . . . . . . . . . . Harper Brothers

From: [e-mail] . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/1/2004 1:36:00 AM

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The following is a compilation of earlier posts which have been deleted:

Nancy

From: John Wikelius

Date: Sun Oct 13, 2002 11:32 pm

Subject: Harper Brothers

In 1953 Harper printed the 12&12 because I believe Bill did not want the

controversy associated with getting this book into prints like he went through

on the Big Book. If this is true, why did Harper do two more printings since

AA published their first printing in 1953 as well. The AA Publishing was

established at that time. Was it a contract issue per chance?

In 1957 Harper printed the first printing of AA Comes of Age along with AA.

Does anyone know why they got involved in printing this book.

The answer may be obvious to some but I cannot find any reference to this

information to date.

From: "tcumming"

Date: Mon Oct 14, 2002 10:05 pm

Subject: re: Harper Brothers

Pass It On has nice fairly succinct history of the writing of our "Twelve

Steps & Twelve Traditions" on pages 352-56. Far too much for this lazy

alcoholic to type out the whole thing for you. But on pages 355-6 you can

read:

"'Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions' was first published in two editions -- one

for distribution through AA groups, and the second edition, costing 50 cents

more ($2.75 instead of $2.25), intended for sale in commercial bookstores and

distributed through Harper & Brothers (by arrangement with AA's old friend

Eugene Exman). AA made a contract with Harper that enabled the Fellowship to

retain full control and

copyright ownership of both editions."

AA Comes of Age, page 219, also has a bit on this:

"One more noteworthy event marked this period of quiet; the publication of

AA's 'Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions' in 1953. This small volume is strictly

a textbook which explains AA's twenty-four basic principles and their

application, in detail and with great care.

"Helped by my editorial team, Betty L. and Tom P., I had begun work on this

project in early 1952. The final draft was widely circulated among our friends

of medicine and religion and also among many old-time AA's. This rigorous

checkup was topped off by none other than Jack Alexander, who had added the

final editorial touch. For group distribution we published the volume

ourselves, and our old friend Gene Exman of Harper offered favorable terms for

distribution through his firm to bookstores."

I'll also include a quote from earlier in AA Comes of Age, pertaining to the

publishing of the Big Book, which may well have had an influence on this

volume as well. On page 158:

"... But Henry was not discouraged. He still had ideas. 'Bill,' he said, 'you

and I know this book is going to sell. And Harper thinks it will sell. But

these New York drunks just do not believe it. Some take it as a joke, and the

rest talk high and holy about mixing a spiritual enterprise with money and

promotion. ... .'"

Other references pertaining to Harpers include:

AA Comes of Age - 153, 156, 158, 219

Language of the Heart - 143-4

Pass It On - 193, 194, 195, 356

(BTW, it is not too difficult to look these up in the index at the back of the

books)

That's the official word. Now with salt shaker in hand:

What I think I remember being told about Harper publishing the 'Twelve Steps &

Twelve Traditions' is that it was set up that way to soothe some of those

complaints. Where GSO would publish and distribute copies for the fellowship,

and Harpers would handle it for those outside the fellowship. That way GSO

wouldn't have to engage in promoting the book to bookstores, and money from

outside sources

wouldn't get mixed in with our self support funds (Traditions 11 & 7).

It seemed like a good plan, but in reality it just didn't work.

At first Harpers did OK with the book, but eventually some bookstores and

institutions outside AA found they could get the book cheaper through GSO than

through their regular channels. Printing, distribution and publicity costs may

also have gone up. In the end, what I remember being told, Harper's sales were

down, costs were up and they knew they had to raise the price to make a

profit. They also

knew that GSO wasn't going to raise the price. They made the simple business

decision that it wasn't profitable to publish the book anymore and they

stopped. And so ended our experiment with split distribution, 'within the

fellowship' vs. outside the fellowship.

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++++Message 1730. . . . . . . . . . . . Periodical Literature

From: Jim Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/1/2004 9:45:00 AM

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I have aquired 13 more articles and with post them on successive days

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

Alcoholics take steps to cure themselves.....

Alcoholics Anonymous

From The Illinois Medical Journal, Oak Park, Ill.

A new approach to the problem of chronic alcoholism has been taken by the

alcoholics themselves. Calling their group "Alcoholics Anonymous," they first

realized the utter hopelessness of their condition and then set out to do

something about it.

All of them had been in sanitoria, and many of them had been confined to

institutions for the insane. They recognized their addiction to be a disease

which medicines alone were unable to cure. They also realized that by

themselves they were unable to break the hold alcohol had upon them.

The chronic alcoholic has lost his friends by his drinking. He feels that no

one-not even his family-understands his plight. He is truly alone-and finds

solace and companionship only in his bottle. Most chronic alcoholics really

want to stop. When they openly admit this, and are willing to let others help,

then the members of Alcoholics Anonymous can enter the picture.

The chronic alcoholic in talking to a member of the group finds a person who

understands" - who has had the same experiences.

The new member is introduced to the fellowship of the group. "Business"

gatherings are held weekly to talk over common problems. "Social" gatherings

are held several other nights of the week where companionship is sincere and

bridge, poker and conversation abound.

There are no officers in the group. Each member has equal standing. There are

no fees, dues, nor expenses whatsoever.

When a new member has become thoroughly acquainted with the meaning of his new

life he should go out himself and work with other unfortunates.

This giving of himself, without thought of remuneration gives him strength to

combat his own desire.

It is indeed a miracle when a person who for years has been more or less

constantly under the influence of alcohol and in whom his friends have lost

all confidence, will sit up all night with a "drunk" and at stated intervals

administer a small amount of liquor in accordance with a doctor's order

without taking a drop himself.

Full co-operation is given to the medical profession. In dealing with patients

who are ill the family physician is called in who assumes charge until the

patient has recovered.

About six years ago "Alcoholics Anonymous" was started in New York. The group

gained headway slowly, but now there are about a thousand members with groups

in nearly every large city.

The first member in Chicago joined the group on Akron, Ohio, about three years

ago. One year ago Chicago had eight members; now there are 150 and the group

grows daily.

Of alcoholics who are contacted about 80% join "Alcoholics Anonymous." Of the

first 40 to join the Chicago group 23 have not tasted alcohol since being

admitted. This covers a period of time of from six months to three years.

Eleven have had one "slip." Three have had from two to four "slips" and three

have been lost.

A new member may feel so well physically and so strong mentally that in his

new condition he may believe he can drink moderately as many people do. In

trying to do so he re-discovers his complete lack of power to combat this

disease. After such an experience he usually remains firmly attached to his

new found heaven.

It seems unbelievable, when one considers that in people who were "hopeless

alcoholics" 58% have attained complete sobriety and 92% practical sobriety.

Broken minds and bodies that have been a weight on society have been

rehabilitated. Broken homes have been restored-innocent families no longer

suffer.

A movement that is strong enough to make rehabilitated men, some of high

position and great wealth, give themselves to help restore other broken lives

without thought of remuneration, is indeed a powerful thing, worthy of our

attention.

Source: Current Digest, April 1941

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++++Message 1731. . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Ed Dowling Obituary (1960)

From: Lash, William (Bill) . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/1/2004 1:30:00 PM

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AA Grapevine June 1960

To Father Ed - Godspeed!

By Bill W.

EARLY Sunday morning, April 3rd, Father Edward Dowling died peacefully in his

sleep. The place was Memphis, Tennessee. Cheerfully unmindful of his ebbing

health, he had been visiting one of his "Cana'' groups (a favorite undertaking

which he founded, Father Ed's Cana groups are dedicated, under Church

auspices, to the solution of difficult family problems through the practice o

f AA's Twelve Steps.). Never was there a gayer evening than in the hours

before. He would have wanted to take his leave of us in just that way. This

was one of the most gentle souls and finest friends we AAs may ever know. He

left a heritage of inspiration and grace which will be with us always.

Father Ed had planned to be at our 1960 Long Beach Convention, come July. This

prospect, now to be unfulfilled, brings a moving recollection of his

appearance at AA's St. Louis International Convention of 1955. It seems

altogether fitting that I repeat the introduction I then made of him, together

with an account of the unforgettable impression he left upon me the very first

time we met - a fragment of history recorded years afterward in AA Comes o f

Age:

"With deep joy, I present to you Father Ed Dowling who lives at the Jesuit

House right here in St. Louis. Father Ed, knowing whence comes his strength,

is definitely allergic to praise. Nonetheless I think that certain facts about

him should be put into our record - facts that new generations of AAs ought to

hear, read, and know.

"Father Ed helped to start the first AA group in this town; he was the first

clergyman of his faith to note the surprising resemblance between the

spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (founder of the Jesuit order) and the

Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. As a result, he was quick to write in

1940 the first Catholic recommendation of AA of which we have any knowledge.

"Since then, his labor for us has been a prodigy. Not only have his

recommendations been heard worldwide, but he has himself worked at AA and for

AA. Travels, AA meetings, wise and tender counsel - these works of his can be

measured in thousands of miles and thousands of hours.

"In my entire acquaintance, our friend Father Ed is the only one from whom I

have never heard a resentful word and of whom I have never heard a single

criticism. In my own life he has been a friend, adviser, great example, and

the source of more inspiration than I can say.

"Father Ed is made of the stuff of the saints.

* * *

'A great cheer of welcome greeted Father Ed Dowling as, indifferent to his

grievous lameness, he made his way to the lectern. Father Dowling of the

Jesuit order in St. Louis is intimately known to AAs for a thousand miles and

more around. Many in the Convention audience remembered with gratitude his

ministry to their spiritual needs. St. Louis old-timers recalled how he helped

start their group; it had turned out to be largely Protestant, but this fazed

him not a bit. Some of us could remember his first piece about us in The

Queen's Work, the Sodality's magazine. He had been the first to note how

closely in principle AA's Twelve Steps paralleled a part of the Exercises of

St. Ignatius, a basic spiritual discipline of the Jesuit order. He had boldly

written in effect to a11 alcoholics and especially to those of his own faith:

'Folks, AA is good. Come and get it.' And this they certainly had done. His

first written words were the beginning of a wonderfully benign influence in

favor of our fellowship, the total of which no one will ever be able to

compute.

"Father Ed's talk to us at the Convention that Sunday morning flashed with

humor and deep insight. As he spoke, the memory of his first appearance in my

own life came back to me as fresh as though it were yesterday: One wintry

night in 1940 in AA's Old Twenty-Fourth Street Club in New York I had gone to

bed at about ten o'clock with a severe dose of self-pity and my imaginary

ulcer. Lois was out somewhere. Hail and sleet beat on the tin roof over my

head; it was a wild night. The Club was deserted except for old Tom, the

retired fireman, that diamond in the rough lately salvaged from Rockland

asylum. The front doorbell clanged, and a moment later Toni pushed open my

bedroom door. 'Some bum,' said he, 'from St. Louis is down there and wants to

see you.' 'Oh, Lord!' I said. 'Not another one! And at this time of night. Oh,

well, bring him up.'

"I heard labored steps on the stairs. Then, balanced precariously on his cane,

he came into the room, carrying a battered black hat that was shapeless as a

cabbage leaf and plastered with sleet. He lowered himself into my solitary

chair, and when he opened his overcoat I saw his clerical collar. He brushed

back a shock of white hair and looked at me through the most remarkable pair

of eyes I have ever seen. We talked about a lot of things, and my spirits kept

on rising, and presently I began to realize that this man radiated a grace

that filled the room with a sense of presence. I felt this with great

intensity; it was a moving and mysterious experience. In years since I have

seen much of this great friend, and whether I was in joy or in pain he always

brought to me the same sense of grace and the presence of God. My case is no

exception. Many who meet Father Ed experience this touch of the eternal. It is

no wonder that he, was able to fill all of us there in the Kiel Auditorium

with his inimitable spirit on that wonderful Sunday morning."

Everyone then present will remember this famous quote from Father Ed's St.

Louis talk:

"There is a negative approach from agnosticism. This was the approach of Peter

the Apostle. 'Lord, to whom shall we go'?" doubt if there is anybody in this

hall who really ever sought sobriety. I think we were trying to get away from

drunkenness. I don't think we should despise the negative. I have a feeling

that if I ever find myself in Heaven, it will be from backing away from Hell."

(End)

Just before his death, Father Ed had completed the article he wrote for AA

TODAY, the twenty-fifth anniversary commemorative book prepared by the

Grapevine. The article will appear in the book under the title, "AA's Steps

for the Underprivileged Non-AA." - THE EDITORS.

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++++Message 1732. . . . . . . . . . . . Eddie Shill

From: Carter Elliott . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/2/2004 8:01:00 AM

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