A soulful "SOUL OF SPONSORSHIP"
The Soul of Sponsorship: The Friendship of Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J. and Bill Wilson in LettersAn excellent historical portrait of Bill Wilson and his relationship with a spiritual sponsor.
Featuring the Major A.A. Role Players in our History
This is an important book - a good piece for the total A.A. picture. I cite the book frequently in my books (http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml). I had a long chat with the author Fr. Fitzgerald just after our History Conference in Minnesota. And I found the priest to be genial, tolerant, inquisitive, and quite willing to swap views and trade laughs.
The book's importance lies not so much in what Father Dowling and Bill Wilson said to each other. Dowling was not part of the founding of A.A., but a very big part of helping to shape what A.A. became during and after Bill Wilson's long years of depression after he wrote the Big Book. And when Bill emerged from the dark cloud in the 1950's, he turned to two Jesuit priests - Father Ed Dowling and Father John Ford - for consultation and editing of two A.A. books that dramatically changed how A.A. looked at itself. The books were A.A. Comes of Age and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Real Twelve Step Fellowship History.
But it has taken a long time for writers and publishers other than A.A. to depart from story-telling and drunkalogs and turn to feature facts about some of the great individual contributors to the biography of A.A. itself. Father Dowling was one such person, and Fr. Fitzgerald puts him in context. Sister Ignatia was another, and Mary Darrah put her in context. Clarence Snyder was another, and Mitch K. put him in context. Dr. Silkworth was another, and Dale Mitchel put him in context. Lois Wilson was added to the group with the new When Love is Not Enough. And even Bill's own long-submerged partial autobiography only saw the light of day toward the end of Bill Pittman's life. And now we've had more than a dozen biographical efforts at the life of Bill Wilson. Even Nell Wing's story and the story of Dr. Bob's kids have hit the light of day. They are all important--not so much for content--as for meeting the hunger of AAs and others for something other than abstinence and meetings, for some real spiritual insight. A.A. now calls itself a spiritual program. The courts rule that it is a religious program. But history defines it as one where early alkies sought recovery through establishing and growing in a relationship with their Creator God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century. The role-players in that drama are what this book is about Making Known the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous: A Sixteen-Year Research, Writing, Publishing, and Fact Dissemination Project, Third Edition.
There are more figures to be studied. Bill Pittman and I did a short piece on Reverend Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.; and I did an exhaustive study of Shoemaker's writings, friendship with Wilson, and role in A.A. long ago.New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A. (2d ed.). I obtained Anne Smith's Journal and brought that important historical piece to light.Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939: A.A.'s Principles of Success. Of late, I did what I could with the A.A. role of Henrietta Buckler Seiberling.Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio's Lady with a Cause, Third Edition. To a limited extent, I have been able to provide some material on T. Henry and Clarace Williams, in whose home the formative meetings were held The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous.
There are still many pieces and much more detail that need illumination, and I believe they will receive treatment now that the history rush has become acceptable. The pieces include the Bible, Quiet Time, Professor William James, Dr. Carl G. Jung, the rescue missions, the Salvation Army, Christian Endeavor Society, the YMCA, and the New Thought writers. Both Mel B. and Glenn C. are chugging away at the latter.
Love and tolerance will be the code, as the Big Book suggests, if and when the A.A. heirarchy and AAs themselves are willing openly, freely, and discerningly to look at all the spiritual roots of their program and look at them in depth and tolerance. This means going beyond the usual chatter about Bill Wilson's violin and boomerang or about his shortcomings. I've tried to take the new approach in my recent books about the youth of Bill Wilson and Robert Smith and their religious training Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good Book As a Youngster in Vermont.
Fr. Fitzgerald's book is part of the story too. For it must be remembered that even Bill Wilson thought enough of the clergy to have Father Dowling and Reverend Shoemaker speak at the St. Louis International Convention. And then in Long Beach, Bill had Shoemaker and another high-ranking Roman Catholic clergymen address AAs at their convention. And why not! Drinking stories are perhaps best told by drunks. But religious and spiritual matters are certainly enhanced when we open our hearts to what the clergy said and have to say.
Discernment Lessons from a Sponsor
This small book packs a powerful punch not only in it's historical value but in it's messages of discernment, humility, and thoughtful soul-searching. Following the relationship of a Jesuit priest who was having his own spiritual doubts with that of a former stockbroker who helped to found Alcoholics Anonymous, one is drawn into the very human quest not only for friendship and acceptance from another human being but the added bonus of a profound insight in one's psyche of a Higher Power .
Great background
It is always fascinating to learn about the beginnings of the 12 step movement. From this book it is clear that Bill W. utilized the Ignatian discernment criteria for writing the Twelve and Twelve with the support and guidance provided by Fr. Ed Dowling at Bill's request. Learning that very early on Fr Dowling considered food addiction an issue was a help. The book is well-researched and provides important insights into recovery, sponsorship, and the frienship between these men. It is clear that Fr. Dowling had a profound influence on the movement and gave it practical as well as spiritual support. I can't help feeling grateful.
spirituality
I found this book to be of interest in my addiction. It shows that the incurable can be greatly helped in restoring the alcoholic(addict) in returning to a productive life among his fellow man by following a spiritual path.
(8 reviews)
