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Real People of the Big Book - looking at the individuals behind aa folklore Henry G. "Hank" Parkhurst (1895-1954) is the person in these anecdotes: About one year prior to this experience a man was brought in to be treated for chronic alcoholism. He had but partially recovered from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a case of pathological mental deterioration. He had lost everything worthwhile in life and was only living, one might say, to drink. He frankly admitted and believed that for him there was no hope. Following the elimination of alcohol, there was found to be no permanent brain injury. He accepted the plan outlined in this book. One year later he called to see me, and I experienced a very strange sensation. I knew the man by name, and partly recognized his features, but there all resemblance ended. From a trembling, despairing, nervous wreck, had emerged a man brimming over with self-reliance and contentment. I talked with him for some time, but was not able t...
How long does it take to go through the Steps? "Another feeling we are very likely to entertain is one of resentment that love and loyalty could not cure our husbands of alcoholism. We do not like the thought that the contents of a book or the work of another alcoholic has accomplished in a few weeks that for which we struggled for years." Big Book, page 118 To Wives " Much the same approach will apply at the office or factory. We shall at once think of a few people who know all about our drinking, and who have been most affected by it. But even in these cases, we may need to use a little more discretion than we did with the family. We may not want to say anything for several weeks , or longer. First we will wish to be reasonably certain that we are on the A.A. beam." 12&12 page 84 Step Nine (Emphasis added) It seems the Big Book assumes that the Program will take effect in 'a few weeks.' The 12&12 is a bit more laid back, expecting us to be makin...
Throwback Thursday AA history post - The six articles published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in late 1939 led to tremendous growth in Cleveland's AA Group #3, but also got Clarence kicked out: That fall Clarence smuggled freelance reporter Elrick Davis into meetings of that first Greater Cleveland group and Mr. Davis wrote a series of articles on A.A. which were published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This resulted in over 500 calls for help to be tended by the only 13 active members... Many members were upset by this workload and by the surreptitious manner in which it was done. So they voted Clarence out of A.A. (which was something that could be done at the time). (aa.cle.org) Reprinted from the October 23, 1939, Cleveland Plain Dealer with permission. [4th of 6 articles] Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here by ELRICK B. DAVIS October 25, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer In three previous articles, Mr. Davis has told of Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization of fo...