Henrietta Seiberling

Henrietta Seiberling - without her would be no AA in this world

This is an 8 page (4 pages/2 sided) letter from Henrietta Seiberling to Clarence Snyder written on Friday, July 31st and postmarked August 1, 1952 from Akron, Ohio. The back flap of the envelope states - GATE LODGE NORTH PORTAGE PATH AKRON, OHIO interesting to note it was called Gate Lodge rather than Gate House which is usually used in AA literature. This is one of about 6 letters to Clarence from Henrietta that we have. Here is the transcription of that letter from Henrietta's handwriting. Also attached are copies as scanned from the original letter.

Letter from
Henrietta Seiberling

(She introduced Bill W. to
Anne and Dr. Bob Smith in 1935)

Click on envelope to magnify

To Clarence H. Snyder
"The Home Brewmeister"
in the story section of
the big book

Founder of the very first group
that called itself "AA"

Letter page 1 - Click to magnify	Friday, July 31st, 1952 Dear Clarence, It was such a happy surprise to get your letter - I have wanted to answer it long before this but have been "burning daylight" as the old saying goes. My Dorothy & I drove here from New York July 4th & she had 3 weeks here only & I had been notified by the Seiberling brothers & sisters that they felt they should rent my house, as we are here so little, so John & his wife & baby came as soon as I could get it opened & ready, & Mary & her husband came from Chicago for a week; all to go over & col- lect their belongings, piling up for 29 years. So you can imagine that I've stayed away from pen & paper. I drove back to New York Sunday with Dorothy - car loaded with things & Fred picked me up & drove me back Tuesday. I see John off next week & then, as usual, Henrietta really will tear into things - & finish up - It was a terrific blow - the thought of not having this sweet little place to come to & enjoy the beauties of nature, trees, birds, sun- shine, & quiet & to be with
Letter page 2 - Click to magnify	so many good friends. & at first, I didn't know how to take it - so I just surrendered it & asked to be shown what to say + what to do + put myself out of the picture entirely & let God show me - after a few days, I think I was guided to have the right attitude & wrote my brother-in-law a letter to which he responded the next day, with many thanks & much appreciation. & since we've been back I feel a warmth of affection from Fred's brothers & sisters, that in the end, means more than even my haven of my own joy & tranquility. & so God works things out for us always & I realize that we have to have things like that to make us turn to Him & rely completely on Him. "The branch that beareth not fruit, He cuts off but He purges the branch that beareth fruit" so it "will bear more fruit." I realized that it was just another challenge to meet, so that I would rely more completely on His direction, & I knew that relying on "His direction, I would "never be misled" I may work something out, renting the house furnished or move the furniture here to the Big House & I can stay there when I want to I know. I was so interested to think of your being in Georgia & seeing Roland & Dorothy - They are such dear wonderful
Letter page 3 - Click to magnify	real people & I think we can be so grateful to our Maker for giving us a fel- lowship with so many all over. all with the same purpose in life & trying to live the same quality of life. Last night, Bill Van Horn & Mickey came over and got me & we picked up Bill Dotson, who now lives near King School, &we went out to Stow where I led the little group in a meeting - It was just like old times at T. Henry's - Every one felt they could get up and talk & you could feel that we were really gathered together in His Name & we had the real fellowship of the "Holy Spirit" that was left in the world, so we would never "be comfortless" - Bill Dotson said he had been to Albany, Georgia to speak. I told him that I had your letter & they were so glad to get news of you & spoke of you in the meeting. I feel very sure that God has His Guiding Hand on our works, It looked for a while as if Bill Wilson 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
Letter page 4 - Click to magnify	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 Wilson'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 -
Letter page 5 - Click to magnify	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 Crystal**, 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 Dotson if he knew where I was & Bill said "on Park Ave" & he said "Have you seen her" ?
* Bill did begin taking instruction with Bishop Sheen to convert to becoming Roman Catholic but didn't complete the instruction.	** Horace was a leading member of The Alcoholic Foundation (AA General Service Board Inc. ) and Vice-President of Works Publishing, Inc., New York. (now AA World Services, Inc.)
Letter page 6 - Click to magnify	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 imagine Selma* will like the South. They are dear people & I hope you like the new situation. (*Clarence's 2nd wife) I realize that what may seem the "closed door" of my idyllic little place here, may be the opening of many more doors & vistas, so maybe it is a release for me to go around & see more people - anyway we, all know & I felt confidant of that, for which I am grateful that we are equal to anything in Him who strengthens us. Bill Van Horn had his "purging" the other day. The cute little boy's "mother" had been taking a course at Kleet normal & little
Letter page 7 - Click to magnify	Billy was thru his school &Bill planned to go on a fishing trip with him & he came home one night & found she had taken off. He learned she went to California. The little boy was the apple of Bill's eye, but he will "bear more fruit" for this last challenge to meet & he seems to know that "bearing fruit" is what we are here for. He is going to take me up to Cleveland to their Luncheon group some time. Maybe in the course of time, I'll meet Ed Howe. But it's like the 'father who seeth in secret,' that matters. Just so we keep His Guidance, which is so very real, I know nothing else really matters, as you know too. Do let me know what's going on with you, Clarence - I'll probably be here until the middle of September, at least. It is unnecessary to say "keep up your good works." You do that anyway, but I am very grateful for such true people as you & Selma & Bill Van Horn & Roland & all. We'll have our own "Grapevine," "underground" but from "overhead" - God has been good to us to give us a glimpse of such a little "colony of Heaven"
Letter page 8 - Click to magnify	as Paul calls it - Annabel & Wally go to the King School still - Ernie Galbraith was there & so many of the "faithful." John Cluffs led; Marie Bray appeared (remember them?) Bob Graham died & so did poor Ernie Springston, if you remember him. I saw Henry Schwering in N.Y. - Bill Dotson* brought him over. Bill W. wouldn't let him in the "convention." Goodby, Clarence. Your good work speaks always of you to so many. It is a great joy to think of, isn't it. As ever Faithfully Henrietta * Bill Dotson was a lawyer in Akron, Ohio. His story is in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous". Look for "AA Number Three".