1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer Articles - Part 7
The first extensive publicity of the newly-formed AA Fellowship.
These articles are reprinted from the Cleveland Plain Dealer with
permission The Elrick B. Davis Articles From The Cleveland Plain Dealer
October - November 1939
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These articles appeared in the main Cleveland newspaper, the Plain
Dealer, just five months after the first A.A. group was formed in
Cleveland. The articles resulted in hundreds of calls for help from
suffering alcoholics who reached out for the hope that the fledgling
Alcoholics Anonymous offered.
The thirteen reliable members of the Cleveland group handled as many as
500 calls in the first month following the appearance of Davis' articles.
The following year Cleveland could boast 20 to 30 groups with hundreds of
members.
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October 21, 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here - Part 1
October 23, 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here - Part 2
October 24, 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here - Part 3
October 25, 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here - Part 4
October 26, 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here - Part 5
November 2, 1939, A Noted Divine Reviews "Alcoholics Anonymous"
November 4, 1939, A Physician Looks Upon Alcoholics Anonymous
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Reprinted from the November 4, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer with
permission A Physician Looks Upon Alcoholics Anonymous
By Elrick B. Davis
Dr. Silkworth
The first appraisal in a scientific journal of Alcoholics Anonymous,
former drunkards who cure themselves by curing each other with the help
of religious experience, was published in the July issue of the journal
Lancet. It was "A New Approach to Psychotherapy [in] Chronic Alcoholism.:
by W. D. Silkworth, M.D. physician in charge, Chas B. Town's Hospital,
New York City. A drunkard during a moment of [deep] depression had the
spontaneous "religious experience" which started his cure. This was the
seed from which came Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Silkworth was at first
skeptical. He is no longer. Excerpts from his paper follow:
"The beginning and subsequent development of a new approach to the
problem of permanent recovery for the chronic alcoholic has already
produced remarkable results and promises much for the future. This
statement is based upon four years of close observation. the principal
answer is: Each ex-alcoholic has had and is able to maintain, a vital
spiritual or 'religious' experience, accompanied by marked changes of
personality. There is a radical change in outlook, attitude and habits of
thought. In nearly all cases, these are evident within a few months,
often less.
"The conscious search of these ex-alcoholics for the right answer has
enabled them to find an approach effectual in something more than half of
all cases. This is truly remarkable when it is remembered that most of
them were undoubtedly beyond the reach of other remedial measures.
Religion
"Considering the presence of the religious factor, one might expect to
find unhealthy emotionalism and prejudice. On the contrary, there is an
instant readiness to discard old methods for new which produce better
results. It was early found that usually the weakest approach to an
alcoholic is directly through his family or friends, especially if the
patient is drinking heavily. Ex-alcoholics frequently insist a physician
take the patient in hand, placing him in a hospital when possible. If
proper hospitalization and medical care is not carried out, this patient
faces the danger of delirium tremens, 'wet brain' or other complications.
After a few days' stay, the physician brings up the question of permanent
sobriety. If the patient is interested, he tactfully introduces a member
of the group. By this time the prospect has self-control, can think
straight, and the approach can be made casually. More than half the
fellowship have been so treated. The group is unanimous in its belief
that hospitalization is desirable, even imperative, in most cases...
"An effort is made for frank discussion with the patient, leading to
self-understanding. He must make the necessary readjustment to his
environment. Co-operation and confidence must be secured. The objectives
are to bring about extraversion and provide someone to whom he can
transfer his dilemma. This group is now attaining this because of the
following reasons:
Reasons
Because of their alcoholic experiences and successful recoveries they
secure a high degree of confidence from their prospects.
Because of this initial confidence, identical experiences, and the fact
that the discussion is pitched on moral and religious grounds, the
patient tells his story and makes his self-appraisal with extreme
thoroughness and honesty. He stops living alone and finds himself within
reach of a fellowship with whom he can discuss his problems as they arise.
Because of the ex-alcoholic brotherhood, the patient too, is able to save
other alcoholics from destruction. At one and the same time, the patient
acquires an ideal, a hobby, a strenuous avocation, and a social life
which he enjoys among other ex-alcoholics and their families. These
factors make powerfully for his extraversion.
Because of objects aplenty in whom he can vest his confidence, the
patient can turn to the individuals to whom he first gave his confidence,
the ex-alcoholic group as a whole, or to the Deity.
The End
Contact:
The Legacy Group of Alcoholics Anonymous © 2005