Richard G. Burns (Dick B.)
Post Office Box 837
Kihei, Maui, HI 96753-0837
(808) 874-4876
[log in to unmask]
Got the new book? <http://dickb.com/conversion.shtml> The Conversion of
Bill W.:
http://dickb.com/conversion.shtml
Have you seen our new web site? Dr. Bob and Alcoholics Anonymous
<http://www.DrBob.info> :
http://www.drbob.info/
"Be <http://www.drbob.info/newsletters/Be_a_Part_of_Something_Great.shtml>
a Part of Something Great":
http://www.drbob.info/newsletters/Be_a_Part_of_Something_Great.shtml
URLs:
http://dickb.com/index.shtml
http://dickb-blog.com
http://aa-history.com
http://freedomranchmaui.org
_____
From: Dick Burns [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 6:30 PM
Subject: FW: The March 1948 article in The Tidings about Bill W. and Dr. Bob
speaking at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles
TO OUR HISTORY GROUP MEMBERS AND OTHERS. THIS IS NOT A DUPLICATE, BUT A
CORRECTED SUBJECT LINE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE SHRINE TALKS OCCURRED IN
1948 - not 1943. The existence of this article, a faxed copy of it from the
Tidings, a positive verification from their staff of the date - March 26,
1948, page 17-plus several comments in Lois Remembers have confirmed this
memorable and significant address by the two founders shortly before Anne
Smith died. The correct date (1948) has been confirmed with a calendar for
1948. Lois put the attendance at 6,000. The Tidings reporter put it at
4,500. But we now have the copy with the blurred date, which copy was given
to me by an old-timer in the Los Angeles area at a meeting many years ago.
And at last, we have obtained a clearly dated copy - thanks to several
helpful staff members at Tidings. Again, March 26, 1948, page 17.
Many have questioned or denied the existence of the article even though one
Roman Catholic professor and substance abuse therapist quoted a portion of
it in two articles. Several have said it couldn't be found, Others have
cited the 1943 perhaps erroneously believing that this was the date, or more
probably citing the erroneous date that I had previously cited when I viewed
and used the early, blurred, erroneous date. The earlier date represented
the combined best conclusion of the AAs at the meeting where I saw and
received a copy. But 1948 is the actual, now legible, and correct date.
1948! We now have a clear copy from the staff who could not, at first,
locate the article or the issue at all but have now sent my son and me a
clear copy and have verified the article's contents and existence in the
bound copies of this and other articles at the same time period.
Here's an exciting piece of evidence just revived. It is the long sought
Tidings article on the address of Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith (their wives
were also present) to an audience of 4500 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los
Angeles on Friday, March 26, 1948. Note what Bob and Bill said about
conversion, Divine Aid, prayer, reading the Bible, reading religious
literature, religion, and the resumption of church attendance as favored.
God Bless, Dick B.
The article contents make even more clear the findings in our two most
recent books about the younger years of Bill Wilson and of Dr.
Bob-conversion, the power of God, the importance of prayer, the required
Bible reading, the suggested reading of religious literature, and the
"resumption" of church attendance (something that Dr. Bob had certainly
accomplished, while Bill never got much farther along than presence in Sam
Shoemaker's Calvary Episcopal Church where he met Sam and also served as a
godfather.
Richard G. Burns (Dick B.)
Post Office Box 837
Kihei, Maui, HI 96753-0837
(808) 874-4876
[log in to unmask]
Got the new book? <http://dickb.com/conversion.shtml> The Conversion of
Bill W.:
http://dickb.com/conversion.shtml
Have you seen our new web site? Dr. Bob and Alcoholics Anonymous
<http://www.DrBob.info> :
http://www.drbob.info/
"Be a <http://www.drbob.info/newsletters/Be_a_Part_of_Something_Great.shtml>
Part of Something Great":
http://www.drbob.info/newsletters/Be_a_Part_of_Something_Great.shtml
URLs:
http://dickb.com/index.shtml
http://dickb-blog.com
http://aa-history.com
http://freedomranchmaui.org