Re: Moral Psychology
#chat
I detect a touch of Moral Psychology in the story "The Keys of the Kingdom" wherein the author's doctor had the wealthy socialite divorcee "performing the most menial labor for his charity patients".[Page 271 4th edition]?
This was the same doctor who "somehow" had heard about the book Alcoholics Anonymous in Chicago and a little about the people responsible for its publication, bought a copy, read it and brought it to her.
As I understand it, moral psychology was based on the premise that the mentally ill or at least some of them were overly preoccupied with their own problems, thoughts and challenges. Part of the treatment was a moral examination of one's self and encouraging them to be less self-centered by service to others.? This is of course one of the premises of AA's program of recovery, way of life and program of action.
Of course the program of recovery is not all Moral Psychology, reliance on a power greater than oneself is deemed essential in the program in the book. (Not judging whether some AA's can stay sober without a Higher Power's help as laid out in the Big Book.)?
Hank P almost immediately getting drunk after the publication of the Big Book did no service to idea of permanent recovery on a non-spiritual basis. Had he managed to stay sober he might have "shouted this theory" himself as AA grew and developed.
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Obituary for Dr. Frank Crane author of Just for Today
On on the AAHL FB group on May 29, 2021 Jim W posted an image? of a 1921 column written by Dr. Frank Crane which was the basis for the classic, "Just for Today" which has circulated far and wide without credit to Dr. Crane.
Today I wanted to share that information in a group so I did a little googling to try to find out more about Dr. Crane.
I didn't dream that he was a prolific author with a newspaper readership of 5 million people.? He published numerous books including a 10 volume set with an essay for every day of the year.
When he died in 1928 he merited a page 25 New York Times obituary.
I wonder if other nuggets of Dr. Crane's approach to life anonymously made it into the rooms one way or another.
Here is the text of the obituary.
DR. FRANK CRANE, NOTED WRITER, DIES
[Published: November 7, 1928 Copyright ? The New York Times]
The End Comes Suddenly at Nice, France, on a Trip Around the World."
CLERGYMAN FOR 25 YEARS
Author of Many Books- His Articles Reached Several Millions of Readers
MALDEN, Massachusetts, Nov. 6, 1827 -The death of Dr. Frank Crane, writer, in Nice, France, was announced in a cablegram received here today by his nephew. Dr. Henry H. Crane of this city. Death came suddenly last night.
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Dr. Henry Crane said the body would be cremated and the ashes brought to this country on a ship scheduled to arrive on Nov. 14.
Ordained to the Methodist Episcopal ministry in 1882, Dr. Crane turned to journalism in 1909 and reached through magazines and newspaper a vast audience through out the country. His message always was one of uprightness of living, sincerity of thinking and “sweet reasonableness.”
Among the churches he served during a more than twenty-five years in the ministry were Trinity and Hyde Park Methodist Episcopal in Chicago, He was there from 1896 to 1903. He served the the Union Congregational Church In Worcester, Mass from 1904 to 1909
A Liberal In Religion
Dr. Crane in his later years believed himself to be as thorough a Christian as any one, even though he considered the dogmas and creeds of the churches to be of little or no consequence. If you should ask me," he wrote, "whether I am a Trinitarian or a Unitarian, a Catholic or Protestant, Fundamentalist. or Modernist, Methodist or Baptist you might as well and if I am Guelph or a Ghibelline.
He was born at Urbana, Ill., on May 12, 1861, the son of James L and Elizabeth Mayo Crane. His early early education, was in the schools of that city. After he bad served in the ministry for several years he attended Illinois Wesleyan University receiving the degrees of Bachelor of of Philosophy in 1892. Nebraska Wesleyan conferred upon him in 1894 the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
In 1910, when Dr. Crane was associated with The New York Globe, Mauice Maeterlinck, the Belgian poet and philosopher said of him: “The essays of Dr. Crane must have accomplished an immense good. I wish that they might be translated into all languages and circulated everywhere.” It has been said that Dr. Crane’s little “sermons” have been printed and widely circulated in eighteen countries and that he had 5,000,000 daily readers.
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In 1888 Dr. Crane married Miss Ellie C. Stickle of Hillsboro, Ill. He had a son James L. Crane, former husband of Alice Brady, the actress and a daughter, Mrs. Alfred E. Drake of 39 East Seventy-ninth Street of this city. In recent years he had a home in Hollywood, Cal. He has resided n several places in this country and in France and England during his may years of writing.
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Books He Wrote.
He had been the editor of Current Opinion and was the author of may books, one of which, “The Ten Commandments which has just been published.His other works were "The Religion of Tomorrow” “Vision." "The Song of the Infinite” “Human Confession” "God and Democracy”, Lame and Lovely" “Footnotes to Life,” “War and World Government”,"Adventures In Common Sense," "Four Hundred Essays" (in 10 volumes) The Crane Classics" and Everyday Wisdom." "Why I am a Christian," he said, was his only autobiographical work, a philosophical discussion of his own experience in life.
Dr. Crane war a member of the New York Athletic, the Lambs and the Author clubs. He had been suffering for a long time from diabetes, and just before he sailed a tour of the world on Sept. 1 he was injured in an elevator in Los Angeles. He had expected in return to this country about April 1, and was about to leave France, for the Orient for his homeward trip when he was fatally stricken.
Dr. Crane's years sat lightly upon him, despite his illness. He was able to handle a great volume of correspondence which came from all parts of the country, including letters from persons seeking advice and encouragement. He had an unusual knowledge of human nature, and was the confidant of a host of persons.
"I was try to write constructively,” he said, "to write about the things I like in a book I have read or a play I have seen. I like to write about the good things that appeal to me, not to dwell on and criticize the bad. I am essentially an optimist and I like to think of my work as being the business of appreciating people. There is good in everyone and it will come to the surface.
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Published: November 7, 1928 Copyright ? The New York Times
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August 6th Upcoming History Event
Hello Everyone,
please come join us and experience these wonderful and inspiring presentations. The 1940’ was a incredible time for Alcoholics Anonymous. We will be covering a great deal of this timeline. Hope to see you there.
Warm Regards,
Al J
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Bill W and Pierce Governor Company
? Although mostly unknown by many Indiana AA’s, Bill Wilson was a director of a factory in Anderson Indiana called Pierce Governor Company in 1938. ?I believe you will find the attached information of interest. ? Research for this was done by Archives Chairperson, Area 22, Indiana: ?Bruce C. ? Bob S? ? -- Bob S
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Re: Did Bill W come up with the term "King Alcohol" or is there more history behing the term?
I found this video that I think helps explain where he may have gotten the term.? The second link is for more contextual reference.
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Did Bill W come up with the term "King Alcohol" or is there more history behing the term?
A sponsee asked me this great question. ?I checked our site found - nothing, silkworth - nothing other sites nothing..
So I ask the experts....
Did Bill W come up with the term "King Alcohol" or is there more history behing the term??
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SW John
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Re: Change to History Flyers
I don't know what? you mean by the "first" meeting. The audio only parts of the Friday night history group will be archived at??
I am unable to attend the first zoom meeting. Can you please let us know the URL of where the meeting will be archived? Thanks in Advance, Kent B
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Re: Change to History Flyers
I am unable to attend the first zoom meeting. Can you please let us know the URL of where the meeting will be archived? Thanks in Advance, Kent B
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Hello Everyone. We had some problems with Zoom so we switched our codes and passwords. Enclosed are two of the flyers. In the future all history flyers will have the same code and password in case of any Mixups.
Best Regards,
Al
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Several months ago I read in William Schaberg's "Writing The Big Book" (pg. 139) what Dr Silkworth had meant, and also examined in detail, what moral psychology is. Moral psychology is mentioned only once in our book, pg. xxvii, (forth edition) and I often pondered what Dr Silkworth meant. For amplification?I also read Silkworth's 1937 paper "Reclamation of the Alcoholic"??(2 years before the Big Book was published!). I found the paper dry and too clinical but my imagination was fired!. Had I been one of? New York's' atheists or agnostics members in early AA,?I would have shouted this theory of how to recover from the roof tops! Especially to all who had problems with the spirituality of the program. I think Hank Parkhurst may have, but is there any source of information that points to this speculation?
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Re: Have we anyone able to tell us more about the ideas of Hank P's prominent Chicago physician regarding pressure of the spinal fluid, their history and validity?
Thanks for digging that out of the archive Gary and sharing it again. Your response answers my original question to my satisfaction. Thanks!
Your response led me to look for Charles Towns' book. Here is a Project Gutenberg edition of it: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35270/35270-h/35270-h.htm
Here is a link to an Issuu.com document, "Additional Notes to Stellar Fire" by Cora Finch.
It states that Rowland had been treated by Cowles.
Here's an excerpt from Dr. Edward Spencer Cowle's book "Don't Be Afraid" here.
The person who posted it was under the impression that Bill Wilson had written the passage in "To Employers". ?
This book was published in 1941. Though from the dust jacket (which you can see on a Amazon) it is apparently about much more, from the excerpt on Eskimo.com it seems like in part it is a response to Alcoholics Anonymous,
"To Remember
??? 1. Chronic alcoholism is not a sin. It is a brain chemistry disease.
??? 2. Moral suasion, psychoanalysis, and religious conversions cannot alter the facts of the brain chemistry any more than they can cure tuberculosis.
??? 3. Lumbar punctures that reduce the fluid pressure on the brain are the only means that will change the brain chemistry and give the patient the chance of a scientific cure. "
I wasn't so interested in the identity of Hank's prominent Chicago physician but having looked into it a little it seems that some people assert that it is Cowles (who was not in Chicago but definitely punctured lumbars to treat alcoholism) while others identify Dr. Dan Craske MD (who was in Chicago) as both Hank's physician and Earl Treat's "doctor, a young man" (though how prominent this young man was in 1939 is an unknown to me).
In "Names & Events in the A.A. Big Book From the members of the AA History Lovers" edited by Glenn Chesnut (April 26,2014) Dr. Cowles and Dan Craske M.D. are listed with question marks as possibilities for the Chicago physician. On this website Dan Craske MD is identified as both the prominent Chicago physician and "The doctor, a young man" who turned over to two prospects to Earl Treat in Chicago.? .? No sources are given on that site or on another which states that Craske is Hank's prominent Chicago physician.
Presumably Earl Treat would have remembered the name of the young Chicago physician who referred the first newcomers who led to the founding of AA in Chicago. If Dr. Dan Craske was the doctor to whom Hank was referring presumably he would have heard of him through Earl,
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The following files and folders have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Thom R. <thomr021092@...>
Description:
Paley's Evidences of Christianity - 1855 copy, expanded upon from the original 1789 work. Contains all of the text of the 1789 book anyway, so why not keep this one in our archives? -Thom
The following files and folders have been updated in
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Thom R. <thomr021092@...>
Description:
The Runner's Bible - an early devotional - 1913 copy
The following files and folders have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Thom R. <thomr021092@...>
Description:
The Spiritual Exercises Of St Ignatius of Loyola - 1914 copy
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Re: Have we anyone able to tell us more about the ideas of Hank P's prominent Chicago physician regarding pressure of the spinal fluid, their history and validity?
The following three paragraphs have been taken from AAHL message 11066 that wrote back in 2015. I'm sorry to report that the Hindsfoot link contained within the three paragraphs that mentions the writing of Cora Finch no longer works. Hope these three paragraphs are found to be helpful.
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Gary Neidhardt
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? ? ? While the Towns-Lambert treatment was in every way bizarre, we must keep in mind that Towns was praised not only by Dr. Alexander Lambert, who went on to become President of the AMA, but other doctors such as very highly esteemed Robert C. Cabot of Massachusetts General Hospital. Towns’ advertising brochures carried the endorsements of more than two dozen other doctors. Towns authored four articles in?Century Magazine on alcoholism and addiction in 1912, nearly three dozen articles in sophisticated magazines marketed to doctors such as?Modern Hospital and?Medical Review of Reviews from 1916 to 1918. His book?Habits That Handicap, published in 1915, is still available in print today with the forward by Dr. Cabot and the appendix by Dr. Lambert. ?Not bad for Towns, who was a self-educated man who may have never had more than an eighth grade education.
????? But as bizarre as Towns’ methods were, I don’t believe the belladonna treatment would fit into the top five of weird treatments for alcoholism, maybe not even the top ten, used around a hundred years ago. The Oppenheimer Treatment was advertised to be supported by 3,000 doctors, and all you had to do was send in $5 to receive the cure. The Keely Cure, where one received four injections a day of a mysterious formula, is right up there in bizarre-land. There are many more.? My particular bizarre favorite? How about the treatment given Roland Hazard in 1928? Included as a footnote in my book thanks to Cora Finch:? ? ?
????? A medical approach to curing alcoholism was given to Rowland Hazard in 1928, and is listed here as an example of a cure provided by a licensed medical doctor of the times. From?Stellar Fire: Carl Jung, a New England Family, and the Risks of Anecdote, Cora Finch,?http://hindsfoot.org/jungstel.pdf, @2008, p. 28,?“After returning to the United States, Rowland Hazard went into treatment with Dr. Edward S. Cowles in New York City. Dr. Cowles subscribed to an allergy theory of alcoholism. The allergy, he believed, irritated the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. His treatment included repeated lumbar punctures. Dr. Cowles believe that drawing off spinal fluid would decrease the pressure and protein content of the cerebrospinal fluid, and that this would eliminate the craving for alcohol. His methods were unorthodox and controversial, even by the standards of the time.”
[Moderator note: I have the data and I'm working on getting Hindsfoot back online... And I'm making progress on doing so. Keep your fingers crossed that we can get back up soon! -Thom]
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Re: Have we anyone able to tell us more about the ideas of Hank P's prominent Chicago physician regarding pressure of the spinal fluid, their history and validity?
A while back I found an article in the NYT archives about a physician in NY City who was relieving spinal fluid pressure to cure alcoholism in 1942 I think. I tried to see if he had moved from Chicago, but I didn't find any evidence to suggest that. Since he wasn't Hank's Chicago doctor and I couldn't connect him to AA in any way I dropped it.
My question is along the lines of the one I asked about Dr. Silkworth's colloidal gold and colloidal iodine treatment [ 2020-12-11 ? #687} which Bob Dunkley was able to answer.
I am curious as to whether this doctor's concern with spinal fluid pressure turned out to be valid, the history of treatments of spinal fluid pressure, whether such a treatment would have been considered a sensible treatment at the time and how it would be viewed today.?
Having read your book, when I found the NYC doctor who liked to relieve spinal pressure, my first thought was "Hank probably misremembered it or put the doctor in Chicago instead of NYC for some other reason!"
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Re: Have we anyone able to tell us more about the ideas of Hank P's prominent Chicago physician regarding pressure of the spinal fluid, their history and validity?
The only thing I have ever found that MIGHT be relative to this is the following from Dr. Siilkworth's April, 1937 article "Reclamation of the Alcoholic" in Medical Record:
"To relieve the pressure in the brain and spinal cord (unless spinal puncture is contemplated), dehydration must begun at once. Unless contraindicated, we begin with a large dose of physic, preferably a cathartic to be followed by a saline purgative."
Perhaps Silkworth had read the "prominent Chicago physician's" report of this phenomenon and passed that knowledge along to Hank?
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Have we anyone able to tell us more about the ideas of Hank P's prominent Chicago physician regarding pressure of the spinal fluid, their history and validity?
On page 140 paragraph 2 Hank P wrote "I well remember the shock I received when a prominent doctor in Chicago told me of cases where pressure of the spinal fluid actually ruptured the brain."
Do we have anyone with knowledge of medicine and/or medical history who can tell us more about this spinal fluid pressure theory??
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On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 01:54 PM, <roger.a.wheatley@...> wrote:
Question is why was Henrietta in El Paso, TX...There is a document cited in Wikipedia I don't have access to. it was written by Bill Pittman and Richard G. Burns. anyone have access that can put it in the files?
I don't see any citation for a Dick B. / Bill Pittman collaboration in the Wikipedia article as it stands today. [Moderator comment: and this is exactly why we frown on using Wikipedia as a source here at AAHL. The quality of it has really gone down the tubes and even the co-founder of it has publicly stated that it has been compromised by activists. Nowadays, no citation or source for statements fact seems to be more and more of the norm there. Therefore, I personally hope we as a group don't use or try to use Wikipedia as a source anymore. We can do better than that. -Thom] Can you clarify which document you are looking for?? The only book I know that they collaborated on as "compilers" is "Courage to Change: The Christian Roots of the Twelve-Step Movement" which is an edited collection of Sam Shoemaker's writings primarily prior to Bill Wilson's writing of the Big Book along with historical information.? There is nothing I can see online or on the Wikipedia page indicating that Pittman collaborated on either of Dick B's works which are cited in the article:? The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous. First Edition Design Pub. ISBN 9781937520397 or? When Early Aas Were Cured And Why. Good Book Publishing Company. ISBN 9781885803948.
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Dick B's book About Henrietta?
Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio's Lady with a Cause
?doesn't answer the question of exactly where they met and why she was wherever that was. He does say:  -- Duane R-H
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The Wikipedia article is probably?. It notes that she grew up in El Paso and San Antonio.
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Duane R-H
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Hi Roger, Where is the document in Wikipedia? Can you provide a link to the article? James in Dallas
[Moderator note: Just as a FYI, we try not to use Wikipedia as a defacto source for anything due to the fact that even the co-founder has stated publicly that he knows that has been compromised by activists and can't be fully trusted, but in this case, it's just part of a conversation, so in this context, I approved this message? -Thom]
Wondering if any of you scholars may be able to assist.? Henrietta Buckler was born in Lawrenceburg, KY and is buried here in KY. She attended college in NY and that is where she lived when she died.? She met Lt John Seiberling while he was mobilized with the Ohio National guard in El Paso, TX during the same time and by the same new federal authorities Bill was mobilized from Norwich.? Question is why was Henrietta in El Paso, TX. One source (John Seiberling bio) says she was from there. So living there maybe but why and when?? After graduation from Vassar College in NY???
There is a document cited in Wikipedia I don't have access to. it was written by Bill Pittman and Richard G. Burns. anyone have access that can put it in the files?? It may be helpful in answering the question.
Thank you all very much for any help you can provide.
Roger Wheatley
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Seastones
Bob S
Kent_B
NeidhardtG
william schaberg
duanerh