Robert Holbrook Smith, His Parents, and the Young Men’s Christian Association of St. Johnsbury, Vermont
By Ken B., M.A. (Dick B.’s son Ken). © 2021 Anonymous. All rights reserved.
[To view this article in PDF file format: https://bit.ly/KenBRobertHolbrookSmithHisParentsAndTheYMCAOfStJohnsburyVT ]
To my knowledge, A. A. cofounder Robert Holbrook Smith, M.D. (A.A.’s “Dr. Bob”) never wrote or said publicly that either he or his parents had been involved with the Young Men’s Christian Association in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
Robert H. Smith was born at his home at 20 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on August 8, 1879, and was raised there until he left the state in mid-September 1898 to attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. (The address of the Smith home was changed to 297 Summer Street a number of years later, when at least some of the homes on Summer Street had their addresses renumbered.)
Dr. Bob’s father, Judge Walter P. Smith, became involved with the Young Men’s Christian Association of St. Johnsbury by no later than Jan. 1887. In quick succession, he:
[1.] introduced a lecture in the Y. M. C. A. course on Jan. 4. [“St. Johnsbury Republican,” Jan. 6, 1887, p. 3. (“Republican.”)]
[2.] responded to a toast at the Y. M. C. A. banquet on Jan. 28. [“The St. Johnsbury Caledonian,” Feb. 3, 1887, p. 1. (“Caledonian.”)]
[3.] addressed the young men at the Sunday afternoon Y. M. C. A. meeting on Feb. 13. [“Caledonian,” Feb. 10, 1887, p. 1.]
Judge Smith also spoke at the young men’s meetings on: (1) Aug. 4, 1889; (2) Feb. 8, 1891; (3) Nov. 8, 1891; (4) Dec. 10, 1893; and (5) Sept. 9, 1894. [“Caledonian” and/or “Republican” for the week before and/or after the given Y. M. C. A. meeting.]
Judge Smith was elected President of the St. Johnsbury Y. M. C. A. on Sat., Sept. 7, 1895; and he was reelected on Sept. 5, 1896. [“Republican,” Sept. 11, 1895, p. 1; “Caledonian,” Sept. 11, 1896, p. 1.]
On Sept. 14, 1897, Judge Smith was elected a director of the St. Johnsbury Y. M. C. A. [“Caledonian,” Sept. 17, 1897, p. 1.] He was reelected on Sept. 27, 1898. [“Republican,” Sept. 18, 1898, p. 1.]
Dr. Bob’s mother, Susan H. Smith (aka: Mrs. W. P. Smith), was chosen President of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the St. Johnsbury Young Men’s Christian Association in September 1893. [“Caledonian,” Sept. 28, 1893, p. 1.]
Mrs. Smith conducted the devotional service at the Woman’s Auxiliary meeting of the St. Johnsbury Y. M. C. A. in May 1897. [“Republican,” May 12, 1897, p. 8.]
Robert H. Smith, as a member of the Junior Department of the St. Johnsbury Young Men’s Christian Association, participated in “the event of the year”—a camp at Lake Memphremagog from June 26 to July 3, 1893—conducted by Secretary Lewis. [“Caledonian,” Mar. 16, 1893, p. 2; June 1, 1893, p. 8; June 29, 1893, p. 8.]
At the Y. M. C. A. reception on Jan. 18, 1897, he won “an autograph gathering contest” using cards from the membership contest. [“Caledonian,” Jan. 22, 1897, p. 8.]
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Dick B.’s Body of Work
If you are not familiar with the 25 years of research, writing, and speaking by my dad (pen name: “Dick B.,” JD,CDAAC—29+ years of continuous sobriety in A.A.; 45 published titles on A.A. and its history) on “the rest of the story” about what he called “the Biblical roots of A.A.,” the best place to start is with his best selling title:
“The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible” by Dick B.:
If you have read that book, it is important to know that he wrote 40 books after the second (“Bridge Builders”) edition of “The Good Book and the Big Book” was published in 1997, 35 of which have been published. He (and I) learned some things during his 18 remaining years of research (and, for me, during my ongoing research from September 2015 to date).
To learn more about why early A.A. succeeded and how its highly-effective principles and practices may be used to help those who still suffer today, you might enjoy obtaining:
Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery by Dick B. and Ken B. [four videos and accompanying guide(s)]: http://bit.ly/IntroductoryFoundationsForChristianRecovery
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B.: https://bit.ly/TheDickBChristianRecoveryGuideDickBKenB
The 31-volume “Dick B. A.A. History Reference Set”: https://bit.ly/TheDickBAAHistoryReferenceSet
While you’re at it, please check out the “Dick B. on Recovery Blog”:
And join the list to receive the “Dick B. on Recovery” email newsletter in order to stay informed about: (1) my forthcoming book, “Bill W.’s Pastor;” (2) articles by Dick B. (usually lightly edited by me) and me about “the rest of the story” of what I call “the roles God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in early A.A.’s astonishing success; and can still play today for those who want God’s help through His Son Jesus Christ and the Bible;” and (3) my upcoming presentations via ZOOM.
I welcome courteous questions about why early A.A. succeeded, and about how to apply its principles and practices today to get the same results for/with those who still suffer, please send me an email message:
Gloria Deo
Dick B. on Recovery Blog 