We Began to Count Noses - Silkworth.net

I went into the hospital and started to build my body up again through proper
nourishment, and my mind through a different method than I had ever known
of. A religious awakening was conveyed to me through some unseen force. I at
one time would have laughed at such a possibility because I had tried it and
failed because I had not applied it properly. I, at last, was shown the way by
these men to whom I am now most grateful.
I am now 50 years old, unmarried, have become sane and sensible again, have
made my mother happy and brought back those who were dear to me, have
made many new friends, mix where I never mixed before, received back my old
position.
I have the respect of my fellow men and have learned how to actually live and
really enjoy life. It has been nearly a year and a half since I have found this new
life and I know as long as I do the few things that God requires me to do, I never
will take another drink.” 77
Lloyd would later be called on to help a Clevelander named Clarence
Snyder, who is not counted among our First Forty, but would become well
known for his tireless efforts in organizing A.A. in Cleveland.
Bill Jones, another Clevelander, proved to be an early casualty and was
rescued by Harold Grisinger after a relapse in Cincinnati according to the 1954
recollections of Bob Evans. 78
Bill J. is mentioned frequently in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers but is
curiously absent from the Cleveland 220 list. If this list is true to form, we can
assume that Bill Jones did not stay sober and was dropped from the list or
forgotten as appears to be the case with Walter Bray, Phil Smith, Harold
Grisinger and Frank Curtis.
Chester Parke and Lawrence Patton can not be found anywhere in A.A.
literature other than Dr. Bob’s list to Frank Amos. A well known archivist in
Akron suggested that these two were “Oxford Groupers” who never really
joined our devotees and may have continued the journey on another path. This
may also apply to Frank Curtis. We may never know for sure.
After adding the last ten names from Akron and Cleveland we return to
the Eastern City of Roselle Park, New Jersey. Here in July of 1937 we find Paul
Kellogg.
Lois’s diary entry for July 28, 1937 indicates she had supper at the
Kellogg’s and then returned home to find that Oscar* had gotten a job on a boat
and would be leaving soon. 79
“We cannot really make ourselves known to others until we have been introduced to ourselves”
* Oscar Vieths was one of the many drunks who took up residence at the Wilson’s Clinton Street home during the
years 1936 and 1937. According to Russ Rathbone none of them achieved any appreciable sober time during that
period and are not included in The First Forty. (See Pass It On pages 166-167)