A.A. Sketch # 2 on Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. (Cofounder of A.A.)

A.A. Sketch # 2 on Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. (Cofounder of A.A.)
Dick B.

This year (2010) is a year to learn about Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in New York, a personal friend of Bill Wilson, a well-spring of A.A. ideas, and a cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

And now, what about Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.? Where did his A.A. role begin? What did his activity do to further the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, founding, program, Big Book and Twelve Steps, and A.A. fellowship itself?

We will take these Shoemaker items—piece by piece. And you can find specific documentation in my book New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A., Pittsburgh ed. (www.dickb.com/newligh.shtml); in Sam’s many books and articles; and in my own extensive articles on the web that deal with Sam.

Some Major Shoemaker Language A.A. Big Book Students Will Recognize

Page references are to those in my title, New Light on Alcoholism, which footnote the Shoemaker book and Big Book parallels of the Shoemaker quotes (www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml):

[Re Step Two:]
“A vast Power outside of themselves,” p. 153
“A Force outside himself, greater than himself,” p. 153
“God,” p. 153
“A personal God,” p. 153
“God is,” p. 153
“God is, or He isn’t,” p. 153
“Almighty God,” p. 154
“Heavenly Father,” p. 154
“Father of Lights,” p. 154
“The living God,” p. 154

If you are wondering what Bill Wilson and his friend Ebby Thacher heard or learned from Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., stay tuned for more. And you will soon see why Bill Wilson asked Sam to write the Twelve Steps, and why he declared years later that the substance of Steps Three through Twelve came directly from the teachings of Reverend Sam Shoemaker. Also that Sam was the well-spring from which all the ideas flowed.

dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com; www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml

Gloria Deo