July 31 in A.A. History

In 1879, John Henry Fitzhugh “Fitz” M. [right] was born in Chelsea, New Jersey, to Robert A. and Annie Taylor M.

In 1949, Central Ohio’s first interracial Alcoholics Anonymous group was started by Charlie W. 
   Around the same time, a committee led by Bert P. was organizing the Central Ohio Group Fellowship and opening a new office. The bylaws governing the COGF were approved on this date, at Neil House in downtown Columbus, with Floyd W., Al B., and Harry C. as the primary architects. As always, Reverend Faust provided spiritual guidance during this process. Since its inception, the Central Ohio Group Fellowship has been dedicated to serving the groups and members in need.

In 1952, Henrietta Seiberling [far left] wrote a handwritten letter to Clarence S. [near left] of eight pages (four pages, double-sided). In part, it stated [underlining in original]:

    It looked for a while as if Bill W[—–] would like to crowd God out but we know that it is up to us to seek more & more of God’s power to help other people to know this way of Life & our fellowship. You certainly are doing your part & thank God, all those who have glimpsed the real vision are doing theirs. The joy of it is, to me, that those who have only been offered “the stone,” are so eager & grab at the “bread,” that we know we have to offer - as you say, it is appalling how little they have been offered by the would be “elder statesman” - but the 12 steps & the fact that, as Stanley Jones say, wherever man opens his mind to God, He reveals himself - they have helped the groping AA’s - who have been denied so much of the real “bread” - & given the “stone” of Bill W[—–]’s designs.
    But, Clarence, I have made one big whale of a surrender of Bill & his schemes - & all thought of him & the possibilities of what harm he could do just left me in the most amazing way. I don’t have to try to “not think of him” again, I just don’t - He is completely consigned to God by me & I know He can handle him - We will be closely knit - even with his taking the money & trying to take the book. I am sure he will need our pity & compassion because he has put himself apart from the real fellowship - more and more I see that the 16th Chapter of Luke that I read in answer to my asking to understand Bill & what he was doing, illuminated the situation - He has put himself with the “children of darkness” - he has his henchmen & ingratiates himself with those in the dark - Let us keep ourselves “children of the Light” & keep serving God, instead of “Mammon.” Bill has made his choice - Read the chapter over.
    I heard talk in Missouri 2 years ago about his connection with Sheen but I don’t imagine it is so. He imagines himself all kinds of things. His hand “writes” dictation from a Catholic priest, whose name I forget, from the 1600 period who was in Barcelona Spain - again, he told Horace C[—–], he was completing the work that Christ didn’t finish, & according to Horace he said he was a reincarnation of Christ. Perhaps he got mixed in whose reincarnation he was. It looks more like the works of the devil but I could be wrong. I don’t know what is going on in the poor deluded fellow’s mind.
    He must be wistful. He asked Bill D[—–] if he knew where I was & Bill said “on Park Ave” & he said “Have you seen her”?
    I learned from a Texas friend that a Chaplain in the prisons said the only way they really reached prisoners was thru Alcoholics Anonymous, even for the non alcoholic - so besides such things as that, Bill & his schemes pale into insignificance for us - I am sure.
    We can stand by & see him claim the “glory” if we can keep the “power” to help transform lives - Thank God, you & so many others are still doing that.…
    I saw Henry S[—–] in N.Y. - Bill D[—–] brought him over. Bill W. wouldn’t let him in the “convention.”…
As ever Faithfully
Henrietta

In 1970, Bernard B. Smith [right], 68, died of a heart attack at his home at 1165 Park Ave. in New York City. He was the longest-serving Trustee of Alcoholics Anonymous, holding the position from 1944 to 1970. Initially a member of the Alcoholic Foundation Board, he later became a Trustee of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, serving as Chair from 1950 to 1956. Bill W. referred to him as “the architect of A.A.’s general service structure.”
    Earlier in the month, due to Bill’s poor health, “Bern,” as he was commonly known, stepped in for many of Bill’s scheduled appearances at the Fifth International Convention in Miami, Florida, which celebrated A.A.’s 35th anniversary.

In 1972, a sober Ralston "Rollie" H. [left], known as “Rollickin’ Rollie,” died at the age of 65 from a heart attack in Washington, DC. He had had a notable 18-year career in Major League Baseball as a catcher, earning five All-Star selections. Hemsley played for several teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds (twice), St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees (winning the World Series in 1943), and Philadelphia Athletics. Following his playing career, he managed various minor-league teams and coached the Washington Senators and Philadelphia Athletics.
    His battles with alcohol were legendary while he played for the Indians. In 1939, while on a train trip, he got drunk, poured water on a sleeping porter, tossed lit matches into sleeping berths, and climbed into manager Oscar “Ossie” Vitt’s bed, blubbering incoherently. As a result, he was immediately suspended. When Cy Slapnicka, the Indians’ general manager, gave Hemsley a $1,500 [~$34,700 in 2025] diamond ring and told him it was a gift for his daughter, the tough catcher was deeply moved and teared up. He vowed to quit drinking on the spot, and Slapnicka arranged for him to meet with some members of Alcoholics Anonymous, who promptly admitted him to the hospital. After four days there, he joined A.A., becoming its 77th member.

In 2002, the first meeting of the month-long Online Service Conference (OSC) concluded.
    During the meeting, representatives discussed several important issues affecting online A.A. groups. Topics included how to establish a group conscience online, the internet publication of A.A. copyrighted documents, online anonymity, relationships with "face-to-face" A.A. bodies, and other relevant concerns.
    The OSC representatives passed two actions:

• ratifying the Conference as beginning a general service structure for online A.A. and planning to meet again in January 2003; and 
• electing six members of a Steering Committee to stand for the Conference and prepare an agenda in the interim between meetings.

In 2003, the third meeting of the month-long Online Service Conference (OSC) concluded.
    Two key actions were discussed: defining online A.A. groups and recommending that these groups provide representatives to the OSC for two-year terms. However, neither proposal achieved substantial unanimity and both were referred for further study. Committees were formed to study the issues, and new members were elected to fill vacant positions on the Steering Committee.
    As with the previous assembly, no Online Advisory Actions were voted on during this third conference.