A Brief Introduction From A Devoted Historian

by Richard G. Burns, J.D.
(Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, USA)

This being my first entry, I will keep the details brief.

First, I entered the rooms of A.A. on April 23, 1986, having been sober for two previous days. I have never had a drink since April 21, 1986; and my A.A. story has been one of steady progress in digging out of the wreckage of the past, trusting in the Creator for strength and guidance, diving into the A.A. program and fellowship activities, and spending lots of time sponsoring and endeavoring to help those who still suffer and want to get well and go to any lengths to do it.

Second, the first months were very rough. At nine days I had three grandmal seizures. I was severely depressed, bewildered, frightened, anxious, shaking, and forgetful. I spent a month in a treatment program--and many months thereafter in its after care program.

I had a sponsor in A.A. from almost the first few days. He had only six months of sobriety, was extremely kind and thoughtful, and soon made it apparent he knew little about taking someone through the steps. Unfortunately, he and his sponsor had a strong bias against the Bible. They began chastising me for reading the Bible, bringing newcomers to my Bible fellowship, and exposing them to what they deemed the dangers of drinking when you read the Bible.

Third, at about my third year, a young man now dead of alcoholism asked me if I knew that A.A. came from the Bible. I responded that I had never heard that despite hundreds of meetings, conferences, and fellowship activities attended. He suggested I read DR. BOB and the Good Old timers and pointed out that the early A.A.'s were so involved in the Book of James that they wanted to call the society The James Club.

Fourth, that brought me to the Seattle Convention in 1990 where I hoped to learn more. I quickly saw that practically nobody among the old timers and archivist panel members was acquainted with A.A.'s Bible roots, its Oxford Group and Shoemaker associations, and the Christian fellowship and literature that characterized the early days. Fortunately I met A.A.'s General Services Archivist who launched me on my historical quest.

Fifth, I spent the remainder of my A.A. time traveling, reading, collecting, interviewing, visiting libraries and archives, and unearthing A.A.'s long ignored early history. I met Dr. Bob's kids, Bill Wilson's secretary Nell Wing, most of the still surviving Oxford Group leaders around the world, the family of Rev. Sam Shoemaker, the Seiberling family, and the T. Henry Williams family.

What's more I discovered how many A.A.'s were really hungry for information about A.A.'s Biblical roots and early Christian days, were often intimidated in the fellowship when they raised questions about it, were sometimes denounced in meetings for mentioning the Bible, Jesus, and religion, and were frequently on the verge of leaving A.A. because of an assumed anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-church attitude.

Sixth, as the result of all these factors, I've now published 33 titles, over 170 articles, more than 70 audio talks on the subject of accurate early A.A. history and its astonishing documented 75% to 93% success rate among medically incurable, seemingly hopeless, real alcoholics, who went to any lengths to establish a relationship with God and grow in fellowship.

Seventh, I maintain four websites--http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml; http://www.dickb-blog.com; http://DrBob.info; and http://freedomranchmaui.org--all of which are presenting free information on early A.A., the potential for applying "old school" A.A. principles today, and the joy of learning that Christians and believers are not alone in present day recovery fellowships.

God Bless, Dick B.