AA and Freemasonry - Dr. Bob was a mason

beautifulmind's picture
Submitted by beautifulmind on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 19:07

Forums:

For over a year I had some suspicion that AA was connected to freemasonry in some way and a few weeks ago that was confirmed as I learned that the other founder of AA Dr. Bob was a freemason. I personally find this rather disturbing.

The things that made me question this possibility:

In both AA and Freemasonry it is required that you believe in "a god" or higher power.

AA and Masonic symbols are similar. Both organizations espouse "spirituality".

The reason I find this disturbing has to do with several things. The first of which involve my personal interactions with my family members. I have had family members who were masons and others who were alcoholics and later members of AA. There was abusive behavior from both "goups"

In healing my own life from the abuse experienced at the hands of the masons and alcoholic family members I have done much research into both organizations seperately. There is virtually nothing availbale to research connecting the two organizations other than the fact of Bob being a mason. But the similarities in cult programming are present in both groups. Incidently in researching Freemasonry it is pretty easy to see it's involvement in other religions and cults such as Mormonism and of course scientology. These observations and speculations I find disturbing because if Freemasonry is spawning these "front groups" then the cult programming of AA is deeper than innitially suspected.

Wondering if any of you have any thoughts, information or even experiences regarding this information that you could share with me?

Innocent Abroad

Thu, 06/23/2011 - 03:26

I didn't know Dr Bob Smith was a mason but I don't see why anyone should be surprised. It may even be that pretty much all the physicians at that time and place were, too.

Another similarity between Masonry and A.A. is its decentralised nature - Lodges like Groups are autonomous and can't be closed down by Head Office no matter what they get up to or what laws their members break.

Orange's picture

Orange

Thu, 06/23/2011 - 11:59

Here are some letters about Dr. Bob being a member of the Masons:

http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-letters55.html#Mason
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-letters55.html#Mason2
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-letters55.html#Mason3
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-letters127.html#Mason4
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-letters136.html#Mason
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-letters139.html#Mason

beautifulmind's picture

beautifulmind

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 06:50

Thought this was good:
"Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Vermont told AAHistoryLovers:
Confirmation from Cedric Smith:
I have a Robert H. Smith who was a member of our Passumpsic Lodge No. 27 located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He joined the Masons Lodge on February 12, 1903 and died on November 16, 1950.

I have a William B. Wilson who was a member of our Franklin Lodge No. 4 located in St. Albans, Vermont. He joined the Masons Lodge on December 4, 1849 and was dropped in 1860."

It seems by some of your letters that the possibility of Bill W being as Mason as well is there.

Orange, since you run this forum is there any chance of being able to post pics or vids in the comments section? I would really like to explore this topic more fully and being able to link visuals would really help.

2tired2

Mon, 02/11/2013 - 18:43

Hey there, Beautifulmind...:-)

Well, I'm still unearthing my old research on this topic ~ however, my "old stuff" is likely no different than that posted below *shrugs shoulders*

Meanwhile, I just looked up something that echoes (in part) what you found.

"Dr. Bob carried his Masonic background into early A.A., and this must be considered as a factor in A.A.’s development."
Quoted from: http://mywordlikefire.com/tag/freemason/
(very interesting article)

Additionally, on David Icke's site are some interesting observations about the topic:
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29311

And, much of this is probably already mentioned in the links Orange posted ~ so, not necessarily NEW news, just in a different spot..here...!

live_free_or_die's picture

live_free_or_die

Tue, 07/31/2012 - 09:50

Alcoholics Anonymous: MyNotGodHasItCovered®
http://www.expaa.org/
http://bereanresearch.com/
http://badrecovery.blogspot.com/
NOT AA:
Rational Recovery, SOS, HAMS
http://alcoholabusesolutions.com/

2tired2

Sun, 02/10/2013 - 05:22

Thanx for the links, Orange...!

I'm new here :-)

I have long believed and noticed the freemason / AA connection.

Look at the symbolism.

Look at the language of any of the masonic literature ~ AA literature mirrors that.

Notice the "blue" freemason books (if you can get your hands on them)

Based upon my years of research into freemasonary and AA, I believe that AA was indeed created by the freemasons as just another way to control people. In my opinion, Bill W. & Dr. Bob were merely masonic puppets.

Note: I will supply documentation ~ once I dig it out of my archives. Until then ~ this is my opinion.

~2tired2~

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 02/10/2013 - 10:07

Welcome 2tired2, always good to see another researcher join the forum. The more the merrier!

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

stevef

Sun, 02/10/2013 - 07:55

Wow. That is quite a claim. I know you are tired but have you got any evidence to back that claim up? I don't give a damn about the freemasons or aa. But I need to see evidence here, got any?

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 02/10/2013 - 10:52

Dr Bob and the Freemasons has made quite a stir lately. Dick B, the AA historian recently had to write about it and give a "dig" to Glenn Chestnut" one of the "other" AA historians who has banned him from his group. It is pretty funny, people demanding to see the files of people in "secret societies" like AA, Freemasons, KKK, Aryan Brotherhood, etc... like they are easy to come by and provable.

http://mauihistorian.blogspot.com/2011/08/typical-sloppy-incomplete-and.html

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

2tired2

Sun, 02/10/2013 - 18:39

Thanx, JR Harris...for you & your great information :-)

@ "Stevef" ~ Yep ~ I literally have to dig my files out of storage. I suppose you did not thoroughly read my post.

Note: it has been a while since I have had to battle the likes of those of the AA mentality ~ yet, the AA issue has reared it's ugly head AGAIN ~ so, I am furiously looking for my files and as stated above, I will furnish documentation to support my "opinion".

~2T2~

2tired2

Mon, 02/11/2013 - 18:50

...See my reply to "Beautifulmind" above...

(new here...just need to get used to the way stuff works *lame grin*)

~2T2~

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Mon, 02/11/2013 - 19:09

I'm seeing references to Anne Ripley Smith (Dr Bobs wife) and one of her journals referencing Dr. Bob and Freemasonry. I'm still looking for a link, but that would appear to be where this information comes from.

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Mon, 02/11/2013 - 19:28

It is not well known that Dr. Bob was a Mason. Suspended in 1934, he gained reinstatement after being sober for some years.[4] According to John Weldon, "The truth is that Masonry is a distinct religion that espouses teachings incompatible with Christian faith in the areas of God, salvation, and other important doctrines."[5]
----
4. Cedric L. Smith, PGM, Grand Secretary of Masons in Vermont
5. John Weldon, The Masonic Lodge and the Christian Conscience, CRI DM 166, pg. 1

Source: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=3537

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.