Hello, and welcome to the continuation of the complete history of Alcoholics Anonymous Southern Illinois Area 21 District 19 (Article 2). This story is brought to you courtesy of "Alcoholics Anonymous in Springfield Illinois 1941 - 2001" printed for the 60th anniversary of our fellowship. You can expect to find a little more of the story each month here on the website, and a complete printing at the end of the year. Stay tuned....

"There is one characteristic that marks the decline of every civilization... they forgot where they came from." -Carl Sandburg, Illinois Poet Laureate

...The May 23rd letter contained a pamphlet titled "A.A.". This first piece of A.A. literature, now extremely rare, was printed in April 1940 on 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" paper and contained 33 pages. It was about a few groups of men and women who had found a solution to their problem. The letter also informed that this solution was explained in their book "Alcoholics Anonymous". Elizabeth immediately sent them $3.50 to order a copy of this new hope for alcoholics.

A follow-up letter of June 5, 1941 gave Elizabeth the name of Mr. (F.L.) F. at the Gibson Hotel, 5883 Enright in St. Louis as a contact person if she wanted more information. Mr. F. and "Father Ed", a non-alcoholic priest*, had only recently started holding regular A.A. meetings at the Gibson Hotel.
______________________________

*Father Edward Dowling: A Jesuit from St. Louis who first met Bill W. in 1940 the returned home to help form the first St. Louis A. A. meeting. He remained Bill's spiritual sponsor, guide and mentor for the next twenty years. When Father Dowling passed away in 1960 the first car in his procession carried two old friends...Bill W. and Ward M.

At this time Bill also sent a blue second printing (possibly the first red printing of his new book Alcoholics Anonymous. Armed with the directions contained in this book, Ward M. finally obtained permanent sobriety on Tuesday, December 16, 1941.

However, getting to a meeting was quite an adventure of Ward in those first two years of sobriety. There were no meetings in downstate Illinois. The only groups near him were in either St. Louis or Chicago. So, in addition to studying the book, Ward (with his wife, Marian) traveled twice weekly to St. Louis in order to attend the A.A. meetings there.

By the Spring of 1943, Ward saw the need for an A.A. meeting here in central Illinois and a weekly meeting took shape at his home on 1516 Bates Avenue. This Friday night meeting attracted several "potential customers" that Ward had talked to in Springfield plus a few additional "prospects" he had searched out in Decatur. But none were ready "to go all the way with A.A." as they used to say in those days. Ward found that he was repeating the pattern experienced by A.A.'s founder Bill W. in New York. With the notable exception of themselves, none of the small bands were able to stay sober. "They would clear up for a little while and then flop dismally."**

None of this deterred Ward. By mid-1943 a young man by the name of Jerry C. started to attend Ward's meeting and soon appeared very interested in the message of Alcoholics Anonymous. Ward stated to a friend at the St. Louis meeting, "I think Jerry is ripe".

Ward finally hit pay dirt in June 1943. While enjoying his favorite treat (a chocolate sundae) at the old Leland Hotel, Ward's conversation with Jerry turned
______________________________

**Pass It On: A.A. World Services, Inc. 1984, p. 132.

to staying sober and making a full commitment to the "A.A. way of life". Jerry C. became A.A. #2 in Springfield that afternoon and soon assisted in attracting others to the program.

On July 26, 1943 Ward received a short letter from the Alcoholic Foundation's new secretary, Margaret R. (Bobbie) Burger. Bobby sent him a copy other reply to a recent inquiry about A.A. that had reached the "NY National Headquarters" from Decatur, Illinois. Her reply to this inquiry stated "a small beginning in our work has been made in Springfield." It named Ward as the "contact person" for A.A. in central Illinois. This personal touch of sending out Ward's name and address for "more complete information" was continued until at least December of 1945.

By September 7, 1943 Mike K. had become A.A. #3. He played on a professional sports team in St. Louis but lived in Springfield so he attended meetings in both locations.

Around this time period (1942 or 1943) the annual "New Years Eve Party" started as a small gathering held at Ward's home to celebrate both his A.A. birthday and the New Year. However, it gained in popularity and size. By 1945 it had become a large family event and was held at the public pavilion in Washington Park. The "Party eventually moved to Lincoln Park and is presently held at the Heritage House (3851 S. 6th).*** It still serves as this areas annual opportunity to meet, reunite and celebrate sobriety with fellow members.
______________________________

***At the time of the printing of "Alcoholics Anonymous in Springfield Illinois 1941 - 2001"

To be Continued....Stay Tuned. You will find this in a new section next month....