A.A. Number Three: Bill Dotson--Recovery by God's Power
A.A. No. Three Bill Dotson—His Recovery by God's Power
Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved
In the last two years--after 20 years of research and digging--we have been able to put together the simple facts about how the first three AAs got sober by the power of God. The details are laid out in The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml.
The first three were, in this order, Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob Smith, and attorney Bill Dotson.
Though a few Christian A.A. critics, and others opposed to A.A. have contended that none of the early AAs was a Christian, the facts show otherwise; and we have documented them.
The important facts about these early Christian AAs have to do with the time, the way, and the process by which they got sober. All were required to declare a belief in God. All were required to declare that Jesus Christ was their Lord and Savior. And all were required to study the Bible, pray, and observe a Quiet Time. And--there were no Twelve Steps, no Twelve Traditions, no pages of a Big Book to follow, no drunkalogs to hear, and no meetings as we know them today. See our class: "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery"
www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml.
How, then, did the A.A. pioneers get sober, maintain sobriety, and make new lives? The answer is that they built on the principles that the first three AAs had proved would work.
Each of the first three AAs believed in God and said so. Each of the first three AAs had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And each of the first three AAs had been involved in extensive Bible study--something not fully established until our recent books on The Conversion of Bill W. and Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous. Each of the first three AAs had turned to God for help, been cured of their malady, and so stated. See particularly pages 180-181 and 191 of the current edition of "Alcoholics Anonymous."
Now, we have a very good picture of the story concerning Akron attorney Bill Dotson--the third AA to get sober and maintain sobriety, and the first alcoholic upon whom Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith "worked" successfully.
Here is the Dotson story as we have discovered it in this month of January, 2011--particular as verified by a tape of Bill Dotson's recorded talk now being circulated.
Dotson had a seemingly hopeless battle with alcohol. By the time he met Bill and Dr. Bob, Dotson had been hospitalized for alcoholism eight times in the previous six months.
He had been a Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He and his wife were much involved in church life. He believed in God. He often referred to the Bible. And he stood on the teachings of Jesus. In fact, in his recorded talk, Dotson opened the address by praying "in the name of Jesus." Typically, Dotson had prayed a good deal, declared many times he would quit drinking, and--as he put it--drank too much, got drunk too often, and been unable to quit.
Dotson also recognized the role of the Devil in his plight. One frequent temptation from the Adversary, came, said Dotson, in the argument that if Dotson quit, he would have "no fun." As Dotson put it, the Devil was paying him lots of attention.
Finally, on his last hospitalization, Dotson's wife told him he was going to quit--something he doubted. She said that two men (Bill and Dr. Bob) had been "licked" just as he was, and that they had the same weakness that he did. She assured Dotson that these two would not accept a cent for their services
When Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob visited Dotson, they made some very simple points:
(1)They asked Dotson if he wanted to quit.
(2)They asked him if he could do it by himself.
(3)They asked him to admit he had his drinking problem.
(4)They asked him if wanted help and would ask for help.
(5)They said the action had to come from Dotson and that if he wasn't interested, they would
be on their way.
(6)Then they asked him if he believed in a "higher power." But Dotson replied emphatically and
stated that he believed in God and the Bible.
(7)They told him that if he sought and received help, it would be necessary for him to help
others as well. He was told he must "take the message" to others.
(8)They told him he needed to call on God for help, and they left.
(9)In their absence, Dotson reflected and asked God for help. He was instantly cured.
(10)On the return of Bill, Dr. Bob, and Mrs. Dotson, Dotson declared he was leaving and never
drank again. The date was July 4, 1935.
Wilson declared that this date marked the founding of the first A.A. fellowship--Akron
Number One.
Both Wilson and Dotson confirmed Bill Wilson's statement that the Lord had cured him of his terrible disease and that he just wanted to keep talking about it and telling people (See the 4th edition of the Big Book, page 191).
When I was reviewing recorded transcripts at the A.A. General Services Office in New York, I ran across a specific statement that an early member recalled that Bill Dotson was leading one of the meetings with a Bible in his lap and reading from it. There were other accounts of early members leading meetings with a Bible.
www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml; www.dickb.com; dickb@dickb.com
Gloria Deo
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
a a
,alcoholics anonymous history
,a a number 3
,bill dotson aa number 3
,dick b first three aas
On June 10, 2011, alcoholics all over the world will celebrate the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous at the home of its cofounder Dr. Bob Smith and his wife Anne at 855 Ardmore Avenue in Akron, Ohio. For many years, thousands of alcoholics have gathered in Akron at this time to visit the historic spots having to do with A.A.'s founding. But not enough is known about the events that led to this historical day. This article--The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous will tell you.
Few in A.A. or in the recovery community of scholars, writers, and counselors have any idea of how powerful the concept of a relationship with Jesus Christ was in early Alcoholics Anonymous. Here, with quotes of Bill Wilson's physician Dr. William D. Silkworth; of the first three AAs--Wilson, Smith, and Dotson; and of Cleveland A.A. Clarence H. Snyder, the facts about A.A., Jesus Christ, the "Great Physician," and the cure of alcoholism are laid out for all to view
Building on his earliers article on the seemingly hopeless plight of alcoholics and addicts in recovery today, author Dick B. turns here to the solution that was adopted by early A.A. in 1935 but has been a reliable solution for centuries--from earliest biblical times to today. Here is an article that shows there is hope, there is a solution, there is an option today for alcoholics and addicts in recovery to turn successfully to God for help. And receive it!
Shortly, Dick B. and Ken B. will be releasing their new 4 DVD Class titled Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery. This article is the first of several previews of the content of the class. This particular preview covers the remarkable story of A.A. Cofounder Bill Wilson's return to God in the depths of alcoholism, his conversion to Jesus Christ, and his actual healing by a white light experience he had at Towns Hospital in New York when Bill cried out to God for hellp and was answered
A fast way to get gout relief is with baking soda which I've found it to be very effective. But now that I have gotten my uric acid levels under control I don't need to use this home remedy anymore.
Gout was once the 'disease of kings' due to their diet, but not any more. Anybody can have gout nowadays. Easy access to relatively cheap, mass-produced food and alcohol has meant that we are all at the mercy of gout through our diet.
Protruded discs are a major orthopedical challenge these days, as the cases of spondilitis and other chronic skeletal diseases increase in a daily basis. The orthopedic in NJ have found many solutions to this problem while working in the Center for pain management in New Jersey. The following is an insight to their unique treatment processes.
We need to keep our omega 6 foods at a minimum and include more omega 3 into our diets. Adding food items such as walnuts, chia seeds, to our salads is a simple and natural way to get our omega.
Most children demonstrate some impulsive/hyperactive behavior or have difficulty remaining on-task. Although typically found in boys, in 3-7% percent of children the inattentive, hyperactive, and/or impulsive behavior is recognized by clinician as being a significant problem that is not typical of normal development.
This book "Courage to Change" will open your eyes to how much of the thinking and writing and language of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker can be found in the A.A. Big Book and A.A. Twelve Steps. Here are four books--taken together--which show the content, the applicability, and the power of Sam Shoemaker's long relationship with Bill Wilson
Despite increasing pressure by a few who vigorously oppose A.A., tens of thousands--probably hundreds of thousands--of suffering alcoholics and addicts both afflicted and affected are participating in A.A. and other 12 Step Fellowships. Is A.A. Christian today? Here is the answer
Author, historian, retired attorney, Bible student and recovered A.A. returns for the 3rd year to the annual conference of Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors at Palm Springs, California. This article highlights the address given to assembled participantgs and challenges the Christian recovery community with the new projects and efforts of the rapidly growing Christian Recovery Movement. Dick just returned from two California summit cvonferences.
Today marks confused contention about Alcoholics Anonymous. Is A.A. a religion, cult, sect, denomination, church, Christian?! Or secular, atheist, humanist, spiritual, spiritual but not religious, and fosters belief in nothing at all? Or ineffective and a trap for the unwary Christian? The author quickly concedes what courts have ruleld--AA is a religion. But not Christian--today. Instead, open to believers, unbelievers, Christians, and irreligious--those down and out souls wanting surcease.
A aurvey or the price paid for the long-misunderstood and underpublished history of Alcoholics Anonymous and its replacement with opinion, rumor, and restriction by those who do not recognize the price
Discuss this Article
