What Early A.A. Was Really Like ?
stevenm
You won't learn this in A.A.'s basic text today or in our meetings. But
the simplicity of early A.A. will really astound you and attract!
Usually there was hospitalization or at least medical help to save the
newcomer's life. Only the Bible was allowed in the room. Recovered
drunks visited the patient and told their success stories. The newcomer
had to identify, admit that he too was licked, and that he would do
whatever it took. Dr. Bob visited daily. Then, he would explain the
disease as they then understood it; and on the final day, asked two
questions to which there was only one answer: (1) Do you believe in
God? (2) Are you willing to get down on your knees and pray? The
newcomer then gave his life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Many
were too sick to venture far; so they lived with the Smiths (and later
others) in Akron homes. It is a myth that they recovered in an
afternoon or in four easy lessons. They shook. They shivered. They
fidgeted. They forgot. And they were ashamed, insecure, and
guilt-ridden. But they learned what a loving God had made available. At
the homes, they had daily Quiet Time (Bible study, prayer, asking
guidance, reading a devotional, and discussing Anne Smith's Journal).
They shared their woes and problems with Dr. Bob, with Anne (his wife),
and with Henrietta Seiberling. They had similar Quiet Times in their
personal lives or at their home. They had one meeting a week. No
drunkalogs. No whining. No psychobabble. Just prayer. Reading from
Scripture. Quiet Time. Use of The Upper Room or similar devotionals for
discussion. Then surrender upstairs for the newcomer in a prayer
session resembling that in James 5:14-16. The "elders" prayed with him
that alcohol be taken out of his life and that he devote himself to
living according to God's will. Following that, downstairs there were
announcements about newcomers at hospitals. Socializing. And it started
all over again. There were sessions with Dr. Bob involving a moral
inventory (as to adherence to the Four Absolutes), confession, prayer
to have the sins removed, and plans for restitution. Did it work? You
bet it did. 75% recovered in Akron. Soon, 93% were recovering in
Cleveland. That's why we need to know about early A.A.! It took
surrender. It took God. It took the Bible, a life-change decision with
attendant action, and witnessing to others. It took fellowship. And it
took time--lots of it.