Press Release: A Portion of the AA History Workshops in
East Dorset, Manchester, St. Johnsbury in Our Vermont A.A. Leader Cadre
Workshops – September 2 – 9, 2012
Contact:
Richard G. Burns
808 874 4876
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
A New Awakening Recovery Path Today in
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
By Dick B.
©
2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved
Preparations for the September 2012 A.A. History Cadre Workshops in
Vermont
Suggested
Inspirational Walk to Places Where A.A.’s Cofounder Dr. Bob Smith Received What
He Called His Excellent Training in the Good Book as a Youngster in Vermont
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov 22:6 KJV)
Dick B. and Ken B.
Making available to visitors and those diligently seeking
recovery from addictions, substance abuse, and other life-controlling problems
the major biblical sources of the original, highly-successful, Christian
recovery program founded and developed by Bill W. and Dr. Bob in Akron, Ohio,
on and after June 10, 1935.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Walk Around St. Johnsbury
DR. BOB’S BIRTHPLACE AND BOYHOOD HOME; Begin at Dr. Bob’s
Birthplace and Boyhood Home at 297 Summer Street.
Snap a
photo of yourself and Dr. Bob’s family home.
Visit the
premises.
If you
like, attend one of the “open” A.A. meetings held there.
NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ST. JOHNSBURY: Walk to the
Smith family church at 1325 Main Street--North Congregational Church, St.
Johnsbury.
Snap a
photo of yourself and the beautiful, towering stone edifice.
Enter the
church and view the ornate sanctuary.
Allow ample time to see, browse, and study the materials in
the Dr. Bob Core Library, which has been graciously provided, and is
maintained, by the church.
The Dr. Bob Core Library volumes will tell you, as to the
church, where the family of Judge Walter P. Smith--Bob’s father--worshipped on
Sunday morning, attended Sunday school that afternoon, and that evening heard
preaching and united in prayers (and also attended such YMCA events, lectures,
and concerts as were provided there). You will see where the church’s Christian
Endeavor Society for young people held its meetings. You can read volumes of
material on Christian Endeavor and on the history of Christian Endeavor in
Caledonia County. You may learn the subject of the sermons, the Sunday school
lessons, the Sunday prayer meetings, and the Wednesday evening prayer and
Christian Endeavor meetings. You will see the extensive, varied, and reported
details of the “Great Awakening” of 1875 in St. Johnsbury, which transformed
the town, the church, and the people of St. Johnsbury; converted hundreds to
Christ and impacted on community life for decades thereafter. There is much on
the history of the North Church; the role of Fairbanks family members as
donors, builders, office holders, and Sunday school and mission work
participants. Governor Erastus Fairbanks was a lifetime Deacon to the church.
There are many records of the extensive church participation by the Smith
family members (including Judge Walter P. Smith, Mrs. Susan H. Smith, Mrs.
Smith’s mother, Dr. Bob, and Dr. Bob’s foster sister Amanda Northrup). There is
much material to assist visitors in understanding the relevance of the church
and its training to the subsequent history and program of Alcoholics Anonymous,
its founders, principles, and practices. You will have an opportunity to get a
greater perception of the Bible roots of the Akron Christian A.A. Fellowship.
And how these Vermont roots figured largely in A.A. beginnings--with its required
conversions; required reliance on God; required five elements of recovery;
weekly and almost daily “old fashioned prayer meetings;” stress on reading of
the Bible privately and at meetings; stress on cultivation of the habit of
prayer; regular seeking of God’s guidance; Quiet Time, the use of devotionals,
and frequent reading of Christian literature; and persistent and continuing
personal work in love and service to provide free help to new alcoholics so
that they could get straightened out and live successful spiritual lives. In
the language of A.A.’s own Big Book text, the recovered pioneers were said to
have become happy, joyous, and free. They had conceded to their innermost
selves that they were alcoholic and could not manage their own lives; that probably
no human power could relieve them, and that--when God had been sought and they
had established a relationship with Him--God could and would do, and had done,
for them what they could not do for themselves. They vociferously declared that
they had been cured by the power of God; that the Creator had healed them of
their terrible malady; and that they had unselfishly been moved to witness to
others precisely how this miracle of recovery had been accomplished.
Consider
dropping a donation in the box.
FAIRBANKS MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM: Cross Main Street to the
impressive Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, donated to the Town of St.
Johnsbury by Colonel Franklin Fairbanks, and containing substantial historical
archives, diaries, and records.
Snap a photo.
Visit the
museum.
Make an
appointment, if desired, to view the historical records in their archives.
THE ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENAEUM: Walk south to 1171 Main Street
to the magnificent St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a library for the town and for St.
Johnsbury Academy “scholars” (i.e., students). Built in the Second Empire
style, the Athenaeum was a gift to the town from Governor Horace Fairbanks in
1871. It contains a treasure trove of books, manuscripts, photos, papers, and
other historical materials. Researchers and historians, as well those in
recovery, can--as we did--spend hours and hours in the comfortable library
amidst its well-stocked shelves and stacks.
Snap a photo of yourself and the
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
Be sure to visit the St. Johnsbury
Athenaeum. Utilize the available help from the library staff, indexes,
computers, and copy facilities. There are comfortable chairs, adequate rest rooms, water fountains, and
newspapers.
Consider dropping a donation in the
box.
Spend substantial time reviewing
the history of the Green Mountain state and the sons and daughters of Vermont.
Examine the history of St. Johnsbury, the extensive role of the Fairbanks
family in community affairs, the immense economic blessings emanating from the
invention of the platform scale by Thaddeus Fairbanks and the long-lasting
success of the Fairbanks Scales business. Look through the town directories
which tell the story, year by year, of the Smith family’s great involvement in
the affairs of the community. Search the Smith family genealogy; the activities
of North Congregational Church, St. Johnsbury, and the town’s other churches;
Congregationalism in Vermont; the YMCA in Vermont; the “Great Awakening” of
1875 in St. Johnsbury; the Christian Endeavor Society in St. Johnsbury and in
Vermont; Temperance activities; and the role of women (including Mrs. Walter P.
Smith) in domestic missionary work, women’s clubs, local and traveling
libraries, Temperance, and the St. Johnsbury Academy.
View on the microfilm reader the
complete newspaper accounts of Dr. Bob’s boyhood days in St. Johnsbury in the
St. Johnsbury Caledonian (town newspaper), which is today known as the
Caledonian-Record.
See the genealogies, biographies, and
historical activities of the important sons of Vermont.
THE FORMER SITE OF THE ST. JOHNSBURY YMCA BUILDING
(destroyed by fire in 1984 and then demolished), Eastern Avenue.
Rev. Henry Fairbanks donated the YMCA building which was
constructed in 1885 and located just off Main Street at 113 Eastern Avenue
(until it was destroyed by fire in 1984). Prior to the erection of the
building, the state Executive Committee of the Vermont YMCA had conducted
Gospel “canvasses” in St. Johnsbury (and throughout Vermont for several years
beginning in 1875) and--through the work of lay evangelists--catalyzed the
“Great Awakening” of 1875 in St. Johnsbury itself through “Gospel Meetings”
which built on the prayers for revival and “union meetings” of the local churches
of several denominations in St. Johnsbury. Even the Fairbanks Scales plant was
opened at noon time for prayer meetings. Hundreds were converted to Christ
during this revival work. At least one report made at the national YMCA
Convention in Richmond, Virginia, in 1875, placed the number of decisions for
Christ at 1,500--almost one-third of the town population. And YMCA people
continued the evangelical work for some time after 1875.
Dr. Bob’s father, Judge Walter P. Smith, was president of
the St. Johnsbury YMCA from 1895 until at least 1897. Dr. Bob attended St.
Johnsbury Academy from 1894 until he graduated in 1898. The Academy on Main
Street was easy walking distance from the YMCA building on Eastern Avenue. The
YMCA and the Academy’s students interacted closely, even to the point that the
YMCA was putting ¼-½ page ads in the student publication while Dr. Bob was in
school there. Fairbanks family members were leaders in its evangelical work,
beginning no later than the annual State of Vermont YMCA Convention held in
Norwich in November of 1874.
The YMCA provided Bible classes, Bible studies, Bible
conversation classes, and meetings for young men. It conducted lectures,
concerts, and other events in the churches and at St. Johnsbury Academy. It
provided gym facilities for young men; and it worked in close cooperation with
St. Johnsbury Academy, running regular advertisements in the student newspaper.
THE COURT HOUSE, Main Street, and Judge Walter P. Smith
(Bob’s father)
Just across the street from the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is
the court house where Dr. Bob’s father, Walter Perrin Smith, served many
successive elected terms as Probate Judge handling the settling of estates and
probate of wills. The Judge is also frequently listed and recorded among the community
lawyers. He served as a town agent and village auditor; superintendent of
schools; State’s attorney; and representative for St. Johnsbury in the Vermont
Legislature. At the North Congregational Church, St. Johnsbury, he was a Sunday
school teacher for many years, a Sunday school superintendent, and a Deacon.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, he taught in schools and served as Principal of
Hardwick Academy. He served St. Johnsbury Academy as one of its examiners. The
Judge was long involved in the local banking system as an investor, director,
trustee, and officer in three of the town’s banks--Merchants National,
Passumpsic Savings, and First National. He became President of Carrick Brothers
Granite Company. He was a widely sought-after speaker at political events, a
Republican, and a well-known Congregationalist.
ST. JOHNSBURY ACADEMY, 1000 Main Street (Mrs. Walter Smith
and Bob himself)
Dominating the south end of Main Street is the campus of St.
Johnsbury Academy, which was founded by the three Fairbanks brothers--Thaddeus,
Erastus, and Joseph P. The details of this unusual facility can best be learned
by making an appointment in advance to visit with the Academy archivist, Joanne
Bertrand, who works at the Grace Orcutt Library on campus.
Snap several photos of yourself, of
the Academy buildings, and of South Church next door where daily chapel was
often held.
Located in the archives are many of the founding papers
requiring religious training and Bible study. Academy governing papers required
that trustees be members of a Congregational Church, that “scholars” (=
students) attend Daily Chapel where there were Scripture readings, sermons,
exhortations, prayers, and singing. All scholars were duty-bound to attend a
church service and a Bible study once each week.
Important archival and library papers include school
catalogs showing the textbooks, curricula, trustees, Principal, staff,
teachers, and scholars in attendance. There are histories of the Academy (at
least one of which was partially prepared by Mrs. Walter P. Smith), attendance
cards for Bob and, earlier, his mother; photographs of Dr. Bob and of his
graduating class; Dr. Bob’s commencement program which names him as Orator;
accounts of Bob’s activities as Manager and member of the Glee Club; Dr. Bob’s
participation in debates, a fraternity,
and class offices; class notes about Dr. Bob; and many copies of the student
newspaper (both at the Academy and at the Athenaeum). Papers also show Bob’s
mother as an Academy student, then an Academy teacher, then an active member of
the Alumni Executive Committee, presenter of a large portion of the school’s
history at major celebrations, and author of two chapters of a book on the
history of the Academy.
Robert Holbrook Smith (A.A.’s Dr. Bob)--who was born August
8, 1879, in the family home at 20 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury--is listed as
a member and Sunday school scholar at North Congregational Church, St.
Johnsbury. He himself wrote that he was active in the Christian Endeavor
Society of North Congregational Church. He wrote, and records confirm, that he
and his family regularly attended Sunday morning service, Sunday school, and Sunday
evening service, as well as the Christian Endeavor meeting. Frequently, Bob
attended the church prayer meeting on Wednesday and regularly attended
Christian Endeavor meetings on Wednesday. He attended the local Summer Street
School and was later a scholar at St. Johnsbury Academy from 1894 to 1898 (at
which time he graduated). He attended and graduated from Dartmouth. And he
received medical training at the University of Michigan and at Rush. He later
received specialist training as a proctologist and practiced medicine in Akron,
Ohio. Plagued with alcoholism since college days, he prayed for recovery with a
small group of Christians at the home of inventor T. Henry Williams in Akron.
Shortly after he thus sought God’s help, he attained sobriety. The date was
June 10, 1935, regarded as the founding day of A.A. by Dr. Bob Smith and Bill
Wilson of New York. From that date on, Dr. Bob personally helped over 5,000
drunks to recover, without charge to the drunk. This selfless service led A.A.
cofounder Bill Wilson to dub Dr. Bob the “Prince of all Twelfth Steppers.” Dr.
Bob had met Anne Robinson Ripley (his wife-to-be) at a St. Johnsbury Academy
dance. He later married her at her home in Illinois and settled in the family
home at 855 Ardmore Avenue in Akron where A.A. is said to have been founded.
Anne Smith died first; Dr. Bob died shortly thereafter; and the two are buried
in Akron. Both Dr. Bob and his wife were deeply committed to serving the
Creator; were devout Christians; and were strong believers in Bible study,
prayer, and seeking God’s guidance. Both widely read, recommended, and
distributed Christian literature to early A.A. pioneers. And Dr. Bob assured
newcomers to A.A. that--if they went to any lengths to establish their
relationship with God, accept Christ, follow his teachings, abstain from
drinking and temptation, diligently seek God’s help, and witness in love and
service to newcomers in recovery: “Your Heavenly Father will never let you
down!” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th
ed., 181).
The “excellent training” Dr. Bob had received in the “Good
Book” as a youngster in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, provided the foundation for the
“absolutely essential” Bible-basics of the early A.A. program. A.A. claimed for
that original program a 75% success rate. And Dr. Bob’s sponsee, Clarence
Snyder, followed up with a documented, 93% success rate in Cleveland among “seemingly-hopeless,”
“medically-incurable,” “real” alcoholics who went to any lengths to be cured.
He declared that A.A.’s basic ideas came from the Bible study done by the A.A.
pioneers--particularly in the Book of James, in the Sermon on the Mount, and in
1 Corinthians 13.
Dr. Bob’s mother, Mrs. Walter P. Smith (Susan Holbrook
Smith--born Susan Amanda Holbrook), can--in the alumni, faculty, and other library
records of St. Johnsbury Academy, in St. Johnsbury Athenaeum records, in
women’s affairs records, in St. Johnsbury Caledonian newspaper articles, and in
missionary records--be seen as very much involved in: (1) church service, (2) Sunday school service,
(3) the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, (4) libraries, (5) education, (6)
Temperance activities, and (7) music. She was also involved in St. Johnsbury
community affairs through other teaching and other religious activities, and
through other Academy-related activities. Susan attended St. Johnsbury Academy
and graduated from it in 1874. She then taught at St. Johnsbury Academy from
1874 to 1876. She and Judge Smith were married shortly thereafter after. Based
on our intensive research over the past eight months, it seems very likely that
both of Dr. Bob’s parents were impacted by the “Great Awakening” of 1875 in St.
Johnsbury. Both were listed in North Congregational Church records in beginning
in 1878 and became members in 1882. In the church, Mrs. Smith served as Sunday
school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, Intermediate Department
superintendent, president of the Women’s Club, editor of its cook book volume,
member of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, and participant in the
church quartet. She is listed as a participant in the Women‘s Christian
Temperance Union. Through her activity with the International Women’s Clubs and
the St. Johnsbury Women’s Club, she was singled out as the well-known and
tireless worker for the free state library facilities in rural communities. She
became a member of the State Library Commission.
-----------------------------------------------------Gloria
Deo------------------------------------------------
