aa history presented by mike f – 2025-06-03

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown Listen to Workshop Recording

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown mike f speaking on "aa history" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (June 03, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.640 – 00:00:06.860] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:19

[00 00:06.860 – 00:00:09.199] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

0:23

[00 00:09.199 – 00:00:17.940] My name is Tim, and today we have a great presentation on AA history presented by Mike F.

0:31

[00 00:17.940 – 00:00:23.079] And we meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:38

[00 00:23.079 – 00:00:33.759] This meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation as well as all our past presentations can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:49

[00 00:33.759 – 00:00:44.060] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and other 12-step

0:59

[00 00:44.060 – 00:00:44.740] fellowships.

1:00

[00 00:44.740 – 00:00:54.740] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement available for

1:09

[00 00:54.740 – 00:00:56.780] everyone today and in the future.

1:12

[00 00:56.780 – 00:01:03.649] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:19

[00 01:03.649 – 00:01:12.939] Included in the daily emails are links to the recordings of this meeting, as well as information about upcoming presentations and topics.

1:29

[00 01:12.939 – 00:01:20.159] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I shared in the chat a couple minutes ago.

1:40

[00 01:20.159 – 00:01:21.959] I will share it again in a minute.

1:44

[00 01:21.959 – 00:01:30.359] And, uh, or you can send me an email at info@recoveryspeakers.com and I will get you added to our email list.

1:54

[00 01:30.359 – 00:01:40.620] And also something that is going out in our daily emails currently is the flyer for the 74th annual Stepping Stones

2:03

[00 01:40.620 – 00:01:44.560] Lois' Family Group's picnic, Saturday, June 7th.

2:07

[00 01:44.560 – 00:01:46.540] So this coming Saturday.

2:09

[00 01:46.540 – 00:01:56.159] It is a free event on Zoom, but you need to have an advanced registration, so follow the link that's on the screen.

2:19

[00 01:56.159 – 00:02:01.040] I will also share the flyer in the chat for anyone that is interested.

2:26

[00 02:01.040 – 00:02:06.280] And, uh, follow these links and go and register, and it is on Saturday, June 7th.

2:33

[00 02:06.280 – 00:02:16.219] And, uh, Recovery Speakers is a five, uh, nonprofit and official 501[c][3] public charity.

2:39

[00 02:16.219 – 00:02:20.840] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work.

2:46

[00 02:20.840 – 00:02:30.300] I have shared in the chat, um, a link to where you can make contributions, or you can use the QR code that is up on the screen right now.

2:59

[00 02:30.300 – 00:02:34.639] And we really appreciate all of your contributions and support.

3:04

[00 02:34.639 – 00:02:40.020] And tonight, after Mike's talk, we should have some time for Q&A.

3:10

[00 02:40.020 – 00:02:47.580] So if you have any questions throughout the presentation tonight, please write down your questions and be prepared to ask them at the end of the meeting.

3:22

[00 02:47.580 – 00:02:52.159] And I am going to close the chat right now.

3:27

[00 02:52.159 – 00:02:54.889] I will open that back up at the end of the meeting as well.

3:33

[00 02:54.889 – 00:02:57.259] And that is it for me.

3:36

[00 02:57.259 – 00:02:59.659] I'm gonna go ahead and turn it right over to Mike.

3:41

[00 02:59.659 – 00:03:02.340] Hi, Tim.

3:43

[00 03:02.340 – 00:03:03.500] Hi, everybody.

3:44

[00 03:03.500 – 00:03:06.479] I'm Mike, and I'm so glad that you all joined us tonight.

3:50

[00 03:06.479 – 00:03:16.629] You know, Tim has absolutely no idea what I'm gonna talk about, and, uh, and that's because I've been so busy lately that I, that,

4:01

[00 03:16.629 – 00:03:19.819] that we didn't have someone booked for tonight.

4:04

[00 03:19.819 – 00:03:29.189] And we're a couple days late, and Tim says, uh, "I guess you're speaking on Tuesday." So here I am.

4:13

[00 03:29.189 – 00:03:30.580] But...

4:14

[00 03:30.580 – 00:03:36.639] And, uh, so two weeks ago, it's been crazy.

4:19

[00 03:36.639 – 00:03:38.659] We've just been crazy busy.

4:21

[00 03:38.659 – 00:03:48.699] I hope that some of you saw the production that Tom from History Lovers did, um, where he showed a lot of our archives and the work that Recovery Speakers has been

4:35

[00 03:48.699 – 00:03:56.580] doing, and we're real grateful to, uh, to History Lovers for what they're doing and for the relationship that we're developing.

4:45

[00 03:56.580 – 00:03:58.740] Uh.

4:46

[00 03:58.740 – 00:04:01.300] What the heck?

4:47

[00 04:01.300 – 00:04:03.979] I got it fixed.

4:49

[00 04:03.979 – 00:04:06.259] That was wild.

4:51

[00 04:06.259 – 00:04:16.379] So I'm gonna just go into, uh, my presentation and, and tell you that my sobriety date is April 23rd,

5:00

[00 04:16.379 – 00:04:17.600] 1985.

5:00

[00 04:17.600 – 00:04:25.639] And I was very fortunate to, uh, to not have any place to go.

5:07

[00 04:25.639 – 00:04:35.699] And my dad was an AA member, and he, uh, he called a friend of his down in Texas named

5:16

[00 04:35.699 – 00:04:37.379] Big John, John Carlton.

5:18

[00 04:37.379 – 00:04:44.000] And, and, uh, John said, "Send him down here for a couple weeks." And I went to Texas, and I stayed for two years.

5:29

[00 04:44.000 – 00:04:50.660] So I went down to stay with this guy for two weeks, and I stayed for two years, and my life has never been the same.

5:40

[00 04:50.660 – 00:05:00.839] But I can tell you that what I learned from Big John and from the early...

5:47

[00 05:00.839 – 00:05:04.579] John got sober October 28th of 1951.

5:50

[00 05:04.579 – 00:05:13.079] John's sponsor was Dick Breen, and Dick was in Washington, DC when he got sober, and that was in September of '41.

6:00

[00 05:13.079 – 00:05:16.120] And Bill Wilson was Dick's sponsor.

6:03

[00 05:16.120 – 00:05:25.620] So John had developed a relationship with Bill, uh, where they had spent time together.

6:10

[00 05:25.620 – 00:05:37.740] So I was able to get a lot of stories from, from John and being around these guys, and he, he dragged me to see all of his friends

6:23

[00 05:37.740 – 00:05:40.740] that were, like, old-time AA.

6:26

[00 05:40.740 – 00:05:50.800] And, you know, I, I was just 25 years old, just kind of going along saying, "Okay." But one of the guys that his best friend was Bill O'Neill, and Bill and

6:39

[00 05:50.800 – 00:05:53.259] Arbutus O'Neill were incredible people.

6:42

[00 05:53.259 – 00:05:57.939] They lived down in Brownwood, Texas, and they started the Midwest Tape Library.

6:48

[00 05:57.939 – 00:06:04.560] And Arbutus was an Al-Anon member, and she actually came into Al-Anon before Al-Anon had the name.

6:55

[00 06:04.560 – 00:06:10.879] She came in, and her group when they started in Texas was NAA.

7:01

[00 06:10.879 – 00:06:15.120] And they, that was for Non-Alcoholics Anonymous.

7:05

[00 06:15.120 – 00:06:17.959] So they wanted people to know they were not alcoholic.

7:10

[00 06:17.959 – 00:06:21.420] They were the Non-Alcoholics Anonymous Family Group.

7:13

[00 06:21.420 – 00:06:31.439] And, uh, then, uh, she became the first delegate for the state of Texas and a trustee from the state of Texas for

7:23

[00 06:31.439 – 00:06:32.079] Al-Anon.

7:24

[00 06:32.079 – 00:06:37.079] Uh, her husband continued on to record for almost 50 years.

7:29

[00 06:37.079 – 00:06:39.740] He went to conferences and recorded.

7:32

[00 06:39.740 – 00:06:45.509] And, uh, so that library is the, the anchor of Recovery Speakers.

7:37

[00 06:45.509 – 00:06:46.800] All of those reel-to-

7:40

[00 06:46.927 – 00:06:47.588] real tapes.

7:41

[00 06:47.588 – 00:06:54.578] And what we've been doing is getting them digitized, and then you've met Tom from History Lover, or maybe you did or maybe you didn't.

7:52

[00 06:54.578 – 00:06:55.818] We're gonna have him on here.

7:55

[00 06:55.818 – 00:07:06.518] Um, but, uh, he's able to do some things to help us get the sound quality,

8:02

[00 07:06.518 – 00:07:11.608] uh, of a lot of these old recordings way, way better.

8:07

[00 07:11.608 – 00:07:21.938] So we've now partnered somewhat with Tom and with History Lovers in sharing our material with them so that hopefully

8:16

[00 07:21.938 – 00:07:26.518] we can have a broader reach and maybe get more people involved in history.

8:23

[00 07:26.518 – 00:07:34.758] So I was sober about 20 years, and I got up one morning and I had a concern.

8:30

[00 07:34.758 – 00:07:39.388] And a lot of people who've heard me speak know, you know, I, I like to share this.

8:39

[00 07:39.388 – 00:07:40.558] So I had a concern.

8:41

[00 07:40.558 – 00:07:46.878] I laid in bed for a minute and nothing changed, but my concern turned into a problem.

8:49

[00 07:46.878 – 00:07:48.858] I was just thinking.

8:51

[00 07:48.858 – 00:07:52.118] And then I thought a little bit longer and my problem turned into a crisis.

8:58

[00 07:52.118 – 00:07:58.298] So it went from a c- concern to a crisis in less than three minutes, and the only thing that changed was I was thinking.

9:09

[00 07:58.298 – 00:08:08.458] So, uh, having had some really good instruction and guidance from my sponsors,

9:15

[00 08:08.458 – 00:08:12.048] I called Howard, my sponsor, that day and went to see him.

9:20

[00 08:12.048 – 00:08:22.197] We went to Denny's and, uh, I shared with him across the booth what my crisis was, and Howard looked back at me and he said, "Your life is in

9:34

[00 08:22.197 – 00:08:32.198] divine order unfolding into goodness." And I was like, "No, that's not an answer for this problem, Howard." So I kind of gave it to him from

9:46

[00 08:32.198 – 00:08:42.258] another angle hoping he would give me a better response and, and I did, and he came back and said, "Your life is in divine order unfolding into goodness."

9:58

[00 08:42.258 – 00:08:52.858] And then as he saw me struggle, he said, "Mike, if you go back through your life as far back as you can go, and you look at all the times you were afraid,

10:13

[00 08:52.858 – 00:08:58.638] what you'll see is that what happened was you had nothing to be afraid of.

10:20

[00 08:58.638 – 00:09:00.338] It all turned out okay.

10:23

[00 09:00.338 – 00:09:10.338] And when you wanted something really bad and you didn't get it, what you ended up with was usually better than what you wanted." And he said, "And if you look at it, you can

10:38

[00 09:10.338 – 00:09:21.418] see how God has pulled a golden thread through each and every one of these circumstances and events that have led you to where you are right now." I

10:51

[00 09:21.418 – 00:09:31.678] was able to go back and, and look at my life and the events that happened and, and I could see the spirit, if you will, the spirit of the universe underlying

11:05

[00 09:31.678 – 00:09:40.578] the totality of things, as Howard would say, the invisible presence that was working in my life throughout my life that I didn't see it.

11:16

[00 09:40.578 – 00:09:42.218] And it was a golden thread.

11:19

[00 09:42.218 – 00:09:52.638] And then AA, we in AA, are just days away from celebrating 90 years

11:25

[00 09:52.638 – 00:09:53.438] of history.

11:27

[00 09:53.438 – 00:09:55.478] I mean, that is incredible.

11:29

[00 09:55.478 – 00:10:00.858] Now you think about the golden thread that might have been pulled through my life or your life.

11:37

[00 10:00.858 – 00:10:10.918] My gosh, think about the golden thread that was pulled through AA and continues to be pulled through AA.

11:46

[00 10:10.918 – 00:10:13.418] I'm gonna share a little presentation.

11:49

[00 10:13.418 – 00:10:15.178] I may jump around or whatever.

11:52

[00 10:15.178 – 00:10:16.778] I'm not sure what I'm doing yet.

11:55

[00 10:16.778 – 00:10:27.718] But, uh, I wanna share this with you, and I just wanna warn you, some of the audio that I'm gonna play tonight is, uh, needs to be,

12:08

[00 10:27.718 – 00:10:29.918] uh, uh, leveled off and fixed.

12:11

[00 10:29.918 – 00:10:33.958] So you might have to turn your speakers up a little bit, and I apologize for that.

12:18

[00 10:33.958 – 00:10:36.038] I'm gonna share my screen.

12:21

[00 10:36.038 – 00:10:41.218] Then I'm going to...

12:23

[00 10:41.218 – 00:10:43.458] Uh, hang on.

12:25

[00 10:43.458 – 00:10:49.718] I'm gonna learn how to do this, Tim.

12:29

[00 10:49.718 – 00:10:59.738] Thank

12:29

[00 10:59.738 – 00:11:01.058] you for bearing with me.

12:32

[00 11:01.058 – 00:11:07.018] Hey, why don't we just call this presentation A Golden Thread Through AA History?

12:38

[00 11:07.018 – 00:11:17.098] I think that would be a great thing to do to celebrate 90 years, and I know some of you are probably going to Founders Day, and, uh, congratulations, and

12:51

[00 11:17.098 – 00:11:18.158] that's fantastic.

12:52

[00 11:18.158 – 00:11:23.918] I know some of the people that would love to be on here tonight are traveling or getting ready for Founders Day.

13:02

[00 11:23.918 – 00:11:26.318] I know they're gonna have a great time in Akron.

13:07

[00 11:26.318 – 00:11:32.438] We're gonna celebrate Founders Day all over the country and all over the world.

13:13

[00 11:32.438 – 00:11:39.678] Sunday I happen to have the privilege of speaking in, um, London, England.

13:19

[00 11:39.678 – 00:11:48.098] So that should be fun, and I promise I will carry a positive message of 90 years of history to celebrate.

13:28

[00 11:48.098 – 00:11:58.138] Well, the first person we need to really look at if we're talking about AA history and we're talking about where did it all come from, and we're sticking to AA,

13:42

[00 11:58.138 – 00:12:00.698] it's kind of important to introduce Ebby Thatcher.

13:46

[00 12:00.698 – 00:12:10.698] And Ebby was Bill's sponsor, and Bill considered Ebby to be his sponsor his entire life, even though Ebby didn't stay sober the entire time.

13:57

[00 12:10.698 – 00:12:16.018] He had periods of sobriety throughout his life, and he died with about two and a half years sober.

14:06

[00 12:16.018 – 00:12:26.298] But Ebby talks in this little clip that I'm gonna play for you about the, when he was first introduced to

14:15

[00 12:26.298 – 00:12:34.678] the concept of the Oxford Group by Seabury Graves and Shep Cornell.

14:21

[00 12:34.678 – 00:12:46.998] Seabury

14:21

[00 12:46.998 – 00:12:53.408] Graves is now living in Paris, France.

14:25

[00 12:53.408 – 00:12:56.778] And Shep Cornell, and I don't know just where he is.

14:30

[00 12:56.778 – 00:12:58.238] I think he's somewhere in Ohio.

14:33

[00 12:58.238 – 00:13:04.878] Um, uh, I had a hangover, of course, and these two guys wandered around.

14:39

[00 13:04.878 – 00:13:07.698] I was out in the back somewhere in the kitchen, I guess.

14:45

[00 13:07.698 – 00:13:14.408] I remember they came up the back steps, and they, uh, started...

14:50

[00 13:14.408 – 00:13:19.678] They, they didn't know exactly how to begin on me, but they remembered me and having a lot of fun with me drinking.

15:01

[00 13:19.678 – 00:13:25.338] And I saw they had something on their mind, so I said, "Well, what, what do you got on your mind?

15:10

[00 13:25.338 – 00:13:33.668] What's, what's cooking?" And they said, "Well, we kind of come to see you and see if we can get you-

15:20

[00 13:33.763 – 00:13:36.223] I had an idea in your head about something.

15:24

[00 13:36.223 – 00:13:42.703] Said, "You mean about my drinking?" I said, "Yeah, you're not drinking anymore.

15:30

[00 13:42.703 – 00:13:52.823] You're, everything's going wrong."

15:32

[00 13:52.823 – 00:14:06.082] Called the Oxford Group.

15:34

[00 14:06.082 – 00:14:27.543] Hey,

15:35

[00 14:27.543 – 00:14:29.483] Mike, we're not hearing this right now.

15:38

[00 14:29.483 – 00:14:34.883] Okay.

15:39

[00 14:34.883 – 00:14:44.983] It was really choppy, and then it just went- I said, "Well, listen to them." Well, I listened to them

15:48

[00 14:44.983 – 00:14:48.283] and they lent me a book by one of these men in the Oxford Group.

15:55

[00 14:48.283 – 00:14:57.023] I don't recall the name of that book now, but in it I could see myself staring out of those pages.

16:04

[00 14:57.023 – 00:15:05.373] Now, the Oxford Group, let me explain, was not concentrated on alcohol, alcoholics.

16:10

[00 15:05.373 – 00:15:15.503] It was a spiritual group founded by a minister from Pennsylvania named Frank Buchman,

16:17

[00 15:15.503 – 00:15:16.793] B-U-C-H-M-A-N.

16:18

[00 15:16.793 – 00:15:26.973] It got its name, Oxford Group, because Buchman got a lot of people interested, and then in turn went abroad and they went to England to

16:29

[00 15:26.973 – 00:15:29.523] Oxford University, and they got a lot of people interested over there.

16:35

[00 15:29.523 – 00:15:36.903] And from there they went to South Africa, and they got up quite a big meeting down there.

16:43

[00 15:36.903 – 00:15:39.063] I don't know if it was Cape Town or one of those cities.

16:49

[00 15:39.063 – 00:15:49.123] And the reporters referred to them as the group from Oxford, and the damn name stuck, and it had nothing to do with, with the group or its founding or anything in the world.

17:04

[00 15:49.123 – 00:15:52.063] But just like those things happen, that's the name that stuck with it.

17:10

[00 15:52.063 – 00:15:55.043] Thank you, Ebby.

17:12

[00 15:55.043 – 00:16:00.043] So Tim tells me that the audio quality was real choppy and you couldn't hear it.

17:19

[00 16:00.043 – 00:16:02.743] So is that the case, Carl?

17:22

[00 16:02.743 – 00:16:03.783] I can see you, Carl.

17:24

[00 16:03.783 – 00:16:05.543] Was it, uh...

17:26

[00 16:05.543 – 00:16:06.623] Can you shake your head?

17:29

[00 16:06.623 – 00:16:09.323] Yes or no, was it horrible, or was it all right?

17:34

[00 16:09.323 – 00:16:12.463] Bad.

17:35

[00 16:12.463 – 00:16:14.782] All right.

17:36

[00 16:14.782 – 00:16:17.183] I think if I do this.

17:39

[00 16:17.183 – 00:16:18.203] Stop.

17:40

[00 16:18.203 – 00:16:20.783] Bear with me, guys.

17:42

[00 16:20.783 – 00:16:23.543] All right.

17:43

[00 16:23.543 – 00:16:24.083] Tim.

17:44

[00 16:24.083 – 00:16:25.343] Yes.

17:45

[00 16:25.343 – 00:16:27.003] I'm gonna share my screen.

17:47

[00 16:27.003 – 00:16:35.403] There should be a little box to, that says, uh, share audio to optimize audio.

17:54

[00 16:35.403 – 00:16:37.163] Is it something like that?

17:57

[00 16:37.163 – 00:16:46.083] There's one that says share sound, optimize for video sharing, and then, uh, show Zoom windows.

18:04

[00 16:46.083 – 00:16:46.803] Okay.

18:05

[00 16:46.803 – 00:16:51.062] Click the, the two top ones, the sound and the video.

18:10

[00 16:51.062 – 00:16:55.483] And then share your screen again.

18:13

[00 16:55.483 – 00:17:01.863] All right.

18:14

[00 17:01.863 – 00:17:04.163] There we are.

18:16

[00 17:04.163 – 00:17:07.563] I'm gonna go to the next one.

18:19

[00 17:07.563 – 00:17:16.623] So Ebby was introducing or was in- was talking about Shep Cornell and Seabury Graves came to visit him.

18:28

[00 17:16.623 – 00:17:19.163] They left him with a book when they left.

18:32

[00 17:19.163 – 00:17:29.163] The book that they left him with, Ebby didn't remember the name of it, but we've since been able to identify that that book is, uh, I Was a Pagan by V.C.

18:47

[00 17:29.163 – 00:17:29.983] Kitchen.

18:48

[00 17:29.983 – 00:17:35.843] And here is the book, I Was a Pagan.

18:52

[00 17:35.843 – 00:17:43.883] I'm not gonna go ahead and read this 'cause I wanna share so much with you, but I can tell you that, uh, V.C.

19:03

[00 17:43.883 – 00:17:46.593] Kitchen, uh, was from New York City.

19:07

[00 17:46.593 – 00:17:47.943] He knew Bill W.

19:09

[00 17:47.943 – 00:17:50.003] He did attend AA meetings.

19:11

[00 17:50.003 – 00:17:54.823] He obviously, uh, was, uh, was somebody who got sober.

19:16

[00 17:54.823 – 00:17:59.323] He was an advertising guy, and that book, I Was a Pagan, is a fantastic book.

19:23

[00 17:59.323 – 00:18:09.613] It came out in 1934, and that would've been, uh, one of the key books that the Oxford Group, uh, members or people were reading and passing

19:35

[00 18:09.613 – 00:18:10.203] around.

19:36

[00 18:10.203 – 00:18:14.303] So hopefully this, uh- Sorry, Mike.

19:39

[00 18:14.303 – 00:18:17.943] We see the traditions PowerPoint now, not the one you were going from.

19:45

[00 18:17.943 – 00:18:24.543] You gotta stop your screen share and re-share a different screen, different PowerPoint.

19:51

[00 18:24.543 – 00:18:28.683] Wow.

19:51

[00 18:28.683 – 00:18:36.003] I guess I'm gonna have to start doing these every week so that I get this down to...

20:00

[00 18:36.003 – 00:18:45.593] Looks good.

20:01

[00 18:45.593 – 00:18:45.843] All right.

20:02

[00 18:45.843 – 00:18:47.503] Now we're good?

20:04

[00 18:47.503 – 00:18:51.703] I see Lois tells the shoe-throwing story.

20:07

[00 18:51.703 – 00:18:52.663] All right.

20:09

[00 18:52.663 – 00:18:53.363] Here we are.

20:10

[00 18:53.363 – 00:19:02.543] Lois, uh, so Lois was attending the Oxford Group meetings with Bill, and Bill was going quite frequently.

20:18

[00 19:02.543 – 00:19:12.553] And apparently this particular day he was giving Lois a little bit of trouble and telling her to hurry it up and, uh, she re- One day I realized I wasn't as

20:32

[00 19:12.553 – 00:19:14.683] happy as I ought to be under the circumstances.

20:37

[00 19:14.683 – 00:19:16.963] This is how it came about.

20:40

[00 19:16.963 – 00:19:20.123] We were going to a meeting with a friend that brought Bill the message.

20:46

[00 19:20.123 – 00:19:23.103] We went with him every week to certain religious meetings.

20:51

[00 19:23.103 – 00:19:33.243] Bill said to me, "Hurry up and get ready so we won't be late for the meeting." I had a shoe in my hand, and I threw it just as hard as I could

21:06

[00 19:33.243 – 00:19:43.503] and said, "Darn your old meeting." I was s- I so surprised myself with this display of bad temper over nothing

21:15

[00 19:43.503 – 00:19:50.163] and for no reason that I could see, that I began to wonder if there might possibly be something wrong with me.

21:25

[00 19:50.163 – 00:19:53.663] Why wasn't I as happy as I ought to be?

21:30

[00 19:53.663 – 00:19:56.503] Why did I lose my temper so easily?

21:34

[00 19:56.503 – 00:20:03.803] Could it be my fault that I was irritated and frustrated when everything ought to be so wonderful?

21:42

[00 20:03.803 – 00:20:12.363] When everything that I had been working for and looking forward to all my married life had happened, why was it?

21:51

[00 20:12.363 – 00:20:19.863] Once I started seriously thinking about my own behavior in relation to Bill and the other alcoholics-

21:59

[00 20:20.634 – 00:20:21.734] And a little at large.

22:01

[00 20:21.734 – 00:20:27.534] I had just taken for my gra-- I had just taken myself for granted before that.

22:09

[00 20:27.534 – 00:20:37.984] It was only by degrees that I really understood a little about myself, and I began to realize that I had been full of self-pity,

22:20

[00 20:37.984 – 00:20:48.574] that I had resented the fact that someone else had done the job in a few minutes that I had tried so

22:30

[00 20:48.574 – 00:20:49.794] long to accomplish.

22:31

[00 20:49.794 – 00:20:59.974] I wonder how many spouses have felt the same way as Lois as they watch their mate get well after they've

22:41

[00 20:59.974 – 00:21:10.014] tried for years different ways to get them to get sober, and then all of a sudden an AA member that has a message of depth

22:52

[00 21:10.014 – 00:21:15.694] and weight is able to reach that individual like no one else has.

22:58

[00 21:15.694 – 00:21:26.254] And, you know, in the beginning of AA, they didn't know what this was going to turn into.

23:06

[00 21:26.254 – 00:21:29.984] They were just trying to stay sober themselves and share this.

23:11

[00 21:29.984 – 00:21:34.834] I think Bill had a dream that maybe this could be something for, for everyone.

23:18

[00 21:34.834 – 00:21:39.634] Even in the, in the, in his story in the book, he, he mentions that.

23:25

[00 21:39.634 – 00:21:49.654] But, um, but sometimes when they tell the story, they, they may add it

23:32

[00 21:49.654 – 00:21:56.814] or, or add to it or take away from it based on their audience.

23:38

[00 21:56.814 – 00:22:03.794] And Bill wrote his version of his meeting with Ebby in the big book.

23:44

[00 22:03.794 – 00:22:10.414] But Ebby later discussed his version of the meeting.

23:49

[00 22:10.414 – 00:22:14.334] So I'm going to play that, and hopefully the quality will be good.

23:55

[00 22:14.334 – 00:22:18.014] So I called him up one night.

23:58

[00 22:18.014 – 00:22:28.274] I didn't get Bill, but I got Lois, his wife, and told her what had happened to me, that this monster

24:07

[00 22:28.274 – 00:22:31.034] was trying to show me something.

24:10

[00 22:31.034 – 00:22:36.874] Well, I'd only been sober myself then about five, possibly six or seven weeks.

24:17

[00 22:36.874 – 00:22:45.214] But I think sometimes the initial effect that we get from a thing is we're more powerful then than we are later on.

24:27

[00 22:45.214 – 00:22:47.654] We get stale.

24:29

[00 22:47.654 – 00:22:57.114] Well, anyway, Lois said, "Why don't you come over to dinner tonight?" And, uh, then she mentioned the date.

24:37

[00 22:57.114 – 00:23:04.634] I said, "Fine." So that night I went over about half past five, I guess, in the evening.

24:46

[00 23:04.634 – 00:23:11.794] And, uh, and I ra-rang the bell at one eighty-two Clinton Street.

24:51

[00 23:11.794 – 00:23:17.374] The only person home was an old colored man named Green, who I've known for years.

24:58

[00 23:17.374 – 00:23:21.754] He'd been with the family, uh, Lois's family, that is.

25:03

[00 23:21.754 – 00:23:24.714] And he said, "They're both out, both Mrs.

25:07

[00 23:24.714 – 00:23:25.394] Wilson and Mr.

25:09

[00 23:25.394 – 00:23:34.394] Wilson are out, but come on in." So pretty soon Bill appeared, and, uh, he'd been drinking, but he wasn't too bad.

25:18

[00 23:34.394 – 00:23:41.094] And we sat alone, this, that, and the other thing, and he's kind of edging around.

25:26

[00 23:41.094 – 00:23:44.094] Then he made an excuse.

25:28

[00 23:44.094 – 00:23:48.574] He had to go out and get some ice cream and something else for supper.

25:35

[00 23:48.574 – 00:23:50.784] And, of course, I knew what he was going after.

25:40

[00 23:50.784 – 00:23:51.434] I understand.

25:41

[00 23:51.434 – 00:23:54.254] I'd done it so many times myself.

25:45

[00 23:54.254 – 00:24:00.634] So then Lois came in, and there was another girl invited.

25:50

[00 24:00.634 – 00:24:07.494] There was a girl invited because, uh, she lived upstairs and had made the place, uh, into some apartment.

25:58

[00 24:07.494 – 00:24:09.134] So we all sat down to dinner.

26:02

[00 24:09.134 – 00:24:16.574] And Bill's got it a little garbled in the book about the gin across the kitchen table, but it don't make any difference.

26:12

[00 24:16.574 – 00:24:17.494] The idea is there.

26:14

[00 24:17.494 – 00:24:22.054] Now, we had dinner, and then we all moved upstairs.

26:19

[00 24:22.054 – 00:24:27.414] And in those houses in, in the back there in the East, most of the living room was on the second floor.

26:29

[00 24:27.414 – 00:24:37.174] So we moved up on the second floor, and after a little hemming and hawing, Lois said, "Well, let's hear about yourself." So I started in.

26:40

[00 24:37.174 – 00:24:42.714] I guess they got me wound up, and I guess I talked until one o'clock in the morning.

26:48

[00 24:42.714 – 00:24:46.974] And I remember Bill said I would walk to subway with her.

26:54

[00 24:46.974 – 00:24:51.594] And I knew that he wasn't going to go for a drink or...

27:00

[00 24:51.594 – 00:24:53.914] But she had a bottle in the house anyway.

27:04

[00 24:53.914 – 00:24:59.804] And on the way over, he put his arms around my shoulder just before I went on the subway.

27:13

[00 24:59.804 – 00:25:12.574] He said, "I don't know what you got, kid, but you got something, and I want to get it." I

27:22

[00 25:12.574 – 00:25:22.634] find that the story that Ebby shares of the kitchen table, the meeting with Bill, and the

27:29

[00 25:22.634 – 00:25:29.553] story that Bill shares in the big book, you know, basically tells the same story.

27:36

[00 25:29.553 – 00:25:32.754] Uh, I'm not sure whose version is accurate.

27:40

[00 25:32.754 – 00:25:36.574] I do know that Bill was drunk and Ebby was sober.

27:45

[00 25:36.574 – 00:25:44.394] So here's Bill, and Bill's talking about, uh, when Ebby came to see him.

27:52

[00 25:44.394 – 00:25:51.954] At length, I repaired again to the hospital to be cleared up.

27:57

[00 25:51.954 – 00:25:55.734] The doctor put me to bed.

28:00

[00 25:55.734 – 00:25:58.694] I wasn't yet in such a bad way.

28:04

[00 25:58.694 – 00:26:08.934] Three days later, free from sedative and alcohol, I looked up one morning out

28:10

[00 26:08.934 – 00:26:13.794] of my depression and saw this friend standing in the door.

28:15

[00 26:13.794 – 00:26:18.194] I feared he would evangelize me, but no, he didn't.

28:20

[00 26:18.194 – 00:26:23.674] He said he'd heard I was there, just came to pay a friendly visit.

28:27

[00 26:23.674 – 00:26:27.314] I asked him once more what were the terms of his release.

28:32

[00 26:27.314 – 00:26:34.394] Quite simply, he stated them, and again betook himself away.

28:37

[00 26:34.394 – 00:26:45.134] Well, when he had gone, my depression deepened until

28:41

[00 26:45.134 – 00:26:48.074] it seemed that I was in the bottom of a pit.

28:46

[00 26:48.074 – 00:26:58.134] For, you see, I still rebelled against the idea that there, there would be a God who could save me,

28:55

[00 26:58.134 – 00:27:01.894] who could enable me to do what I couldn't do myself.

29:00

[00 27:01.894 – 00:27:06.614] But presently, my rebellion

29:02

[00 27:07.659 – 00:27:07.899] See?

29:03

[00 27:07.899 – 00:27:18.579] And in an agony, I cried out, "If there is a God, will He show Himself?" And

29:11

[00 27:18.579 – 00:27:25.739] then came an experience which, of course, is the great event of my whole life.

29:18

[00 27:25.739 – 00:27:32.319] I had a very sudden experience in which it seemed that the room lighted up.

29:25

[00 27:32.319 – 00:27:35.199] I was caught into a great ecstasy.

29:28

[00 27:35.199 – 00:27:42.719] It seemed as though I were on top of a mountain and a great wind blew, and I knew it was spirit.

29:38

[00 27:42.719 – 00:27:51.439] And at length, I find myself still on the bed, now surrounded by a presence.

29:45

[00 27:51.439 – 00:28:03.099] And I thought to myself, "So this is the God of the preachers."

29:51

[00 28:03.099 – 00:28:13.559] I think that Bill Wilson's spiritual experience, uh, that, you know, that happened in Towns Hospital was absolutely

29:59

[00 28:13.559 – 00:28:14.239] incredible.

30:00

[00 28:14.239 – 00:28:22.259] And, you know, he had suffered from depression most of his life, ever since high school.

30:07

[00 28:22.259 – 00:28:30.779] And in one of his recordings, he said that Ebby showed up in the doorway that morning, and he invited him in.

30:17

[00 28:30.779 – 00:28:41.079] And, and, uh, he had Ebby acquaint him with that simple formula, which were, you know, complete deflation, a belief in a

30:27

[00 28:41.079 – 00:28:51.299] God, even if you try it as an experiment, a written life story or an inventory and then a confession, restitution, and then work with others.

30:38

[00 28:51.299 – 00:28:57.699] And, and Bill said that when Ebby left, he fell into the worst depression.

30:45

[00 28:57.699 – 00:29:03.399] I mean, he called it agony in this talk, but into the worst depression he had ever been in.

30:53

[00 29:03.399 – 00:29:07.479] And it was in the depth of that depression that he cried out as a child.

31:00

[00 29:07.479 – 00:29:17.759] And, uh, it's so amazing that after that experience, Bill was on

31:06

[00 29:17.759 – 00:29:18.319] fire.

31:07

[00 29:18.319 – 00:29:23.619] He wanted to go tell everybody about AA.

31:11

[00 29:23.619 – 00:29:32.899] In this recording, he shares about his trip to Akron in search of an alcoholic to work with.

31:19

[00 29:32.899 – 00:29:36.979] Well, he didn't really go to Akron in search of an alcoholic to work with.

31:26

[00 29:36.979 – 00:29:45.799] What happened was he went to Akron on a shoestring, hoping to be able to walk out with a commitment from the company that he was meeting with.

31:38

[00 29:45.799 – 00:29:55.959] And, uh, that, those meetings weren't going the way that Bill thought they should and, and ultimately left him in the lobby at the

31:49

[00 29:55.959 – 00:29:58.659] Akron, at the Mayflower Hotel in Akron.

31:52

[00 29:58.659 – 00:30:06.959] You remember I arrived in this town on a vige- on a business venture.

31:59

[00 30:06.959 – 00:30:16.759] It was a proxy round for control of what was then a little company in this town.

32:06

[00 30:16.759 – 00:30:21.599] The fight fell through.

32:08

[00 30:21.599 – 00:30:27.219] My associates were of the commelately variety.

32:12

[00 30:27.219 – 00:30:33.219] All my old friends in Wall Street were gone, so they also went.

32:18

[00 30:33.219 – 00:30:37.619] I was left in the Mayflower Hotel with 10 bucks in my pocket.

32:23

[00 30:37.619 – 00:30:46.959] Prior to this, I had worked very hard back home with drunks, uh, you know, Oxford Group people.

32:32

[00 30:46.959 – 00:30:50.459] Uh, had a mission.

32:34

[00 30:50.459 – 00:30:56.199] We worked there, worked at Towns Hospital where my doctor was.

32:39

[00 30:56.199 – 00:30:58.759] Absolutely no result.

32:41

[00 30:58.759 – 00:31:07.119] And looking back, I see that I was still preaching to people.

32:46

[00 31:07.119 – 00:31:17.179] But all of a sudden, in the lobby of the hotel down there, I had my first temptation to

32:55

[00 31:17.179 – 00:31:18.659] drink since sobering up.

32:57

[00 31:18.659 – 00:31:28.719] And it suddenly dawned upon me that I might, while I was, had been

33:03

[00 31:28.719 – 00:31:39.179] granted by God a rebirth, it had been the effort to help others

33:09

[00 31:39.179 – 00:31:42.819] that had kept me sober.

33:12

[00 31:42.819 – 00:31:52.819] So I suddenly knew that if I were to stay sober, I needed to find

33:19

[00 31:52.819 – 00:31:54.699] another alcoholic in this town.

33:21

[00 31:54.699 – 00:32:00.939] So I looked down the church directory.

33:25

[00 32:00.939 – 00:32:09.359] There was a name, Walter Tunk, who turned out to be the episcopal rector here.

33:31

[00 32:09.359 – 00:32:15.099] It was a little odd sounding and, uh, whimsically I picked it out.

33:37

[00 32:15.099 – 00:32:18.999] Providentially, I think too.

33:39

[00 32:18.999 – 00:32:28.999] And this good man directed me to another, a member of the Oxford Groups here at the time, and he in

33:49

[00 32:28.999 – 00:32:31.359] turn gave me a list of about 10 names.

33:53

[00 32:31.359 – 00:32:36.979] And, uh, I began to call them up.

33:57

[00 32:36.979 – 00:32:38.539] Well, it was a weekend.

33:59

[00 32:38.539 – 00:32:43.279] I couldn't make any immediate dates for that day.

34:03

[00 32:43.279 – 00:32:45.259] Somebody I had to see right then.

34:07

[00 32:45.259 – 00:32:48.399] At the end of the list was the name Henrietta Sibleyn.

34:12

[00 32:48.399 – 00:32:58.519] And I thought, "Well, gracious, I, I met the old gentleman one time, and I can't possibly go out to this lady's home telling her I'm looking for a drunk to work on.

34:27

[00 32:58.519 – 00:33:08.679] This will never do." I walked up and down that lobby again, and a voice came saying,

34:34

[00 33:08.679 – 00:33:18.279] "You had better make that call." I went upstairs and made the call, and here was Henrietta's delightful Southern voice on the wire.

34:44

[00 33:18.279 – 00:33:22.199] And she said, "I'm no drinker, but I think I understand.

34:50

[00 33:22.199 – 00:33:29.999] Won't you come straight out here?" How much we owe our friends.

34:55

[00 33:29.999 – 00:33:35.939] And to a stranger she said this.

34:59

[00 33:35.939 – 00:33:38.059] So out I went.

35:01

[00 33:38.059 – 00:33:42.919] Said she, "I think I know just the man.

35:05

[00 33:42.919 – 00:33:45.209] It's Dr.

35:06

[00 33:45.209 – 00:33:45.999] Bob.

35:07

[00 33:45.999 – 00:33:50.999] He and his wife Anne are in a terrible situation.

35:12

[00 33:50.999 – 00:33:54.179] He's des-

35:13

[00 33:54.325 – 00:33:56.225] Constantly trying to get over his drinking.

35:17

[00 33:56.225 – 00:34:22.965] All

35:17

[00 34:22.965 – 00:34:23.285] right.

35:18

[00 34:23.285 – 00:34:23.685] Sorry.

35:19

[00 34:23.685 – 00:34:29.295] I had, uh, someone blasting music in the hallway.

35:23

[00 34:29.295 – 00:34:32.285] Needed to change that.

35:26

[00 34:32.285 – 00:34:35.705] You know, Bill said something really, really important there.

35:30

[00 34:35.705 – 00:34:44.345] He talked about the effort that he was putting forth in trying to help others, and how that was what kept him sober.

35:40

[00 34:44.345 – 00:34:48.865] And, uh, that continued on.

35:43

[00 34:48.865 – 00:34:55.644] It was i- i- i- he, he was so excited about his sobriety that he just wanted to tell people about it.

35:52

[00 34:55.644 – 00:35:05.885] Here, uh, Bill gives Sam Shoemaker, who was a rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York and the leader

36:01

[00 35:05.885 – 00:35:15.885] of the Oxford Group in America, uh, credit for having introduced 10 of the 12

36:07

[00 35:15.885 – 00:35:22.945] steps, and I'm sure that the principles behind them are what Bill was referring to when he said that.

36:16

[00 35:22.945 – 00:35:29.465] I kinda wanna jump back for just a minute when he talked about his call to Reverend Tunks.

36:24

[00 35:29.465 – 00:35:34.545] I don't know if you caught that, but he got one name from Reverend Tunks.

36:31

[00 35:34.545 – 00:35:40.705] A lot of people have thought that Reverend Walter Tunks gave him a list of names.

36:38

[00 35:40.705 – 00:35:43.245] Tunks gave him one name.

36:41

[00 35:43.245 – 00:35:54.185] The name that he gave him was a gentleman named Norman Shepard, and Norman Shepard is the one that gave Tim, uh, uh, Bill

36:51

[00 35:54.185 – 00:35:56.065] the list of names.

36:54

[00 35:56.065 – 00:35:57.345] Well, here's Sam.

36:55

[00 35:57.345 – 00:36:07.745] Dear Bill and dear Lois and dear everybody in AA, because there isn't any crowd in the world

37:03

[00 36:07.745 – 00:36:10.965] that I love more or feel more at home with than I do this crowd.

37:10

[00 36:10.965 – 00:36:13.105] In St.

37:12

[00 36:13.105 – 00:36:27.065] Louis on, after this same occasion, a gal said to me, "You may not be an alcoholic, but you sure do talk like one." Well,

37:23

[00 36:27.065 – 00:36:30.525] I've been looking forward to this tremendous 25th anniversary as you have.

37:28

[00 36:30.525 – 00:36:36.945] It has been one of the privileges of my life to be associated with all this from the early days.

37:37

[00 36:36.945 – 00:36:47.845] I still think that Bill gives me more credit than I deserve, but he does that with a lot of you, and that's why he makes swans

37:49

[00 36:47.845 – 00:36:48.905] out of cemented geese.

37:51

[00 36:48.905 – 00:36:59.785] We were doing some work in my old parish in New York, Calvary Church, that was helping

37:59

[00 36:59.785 – 00:37:01.124] some people to find God.

38:02

[00 37:01.124 – 00:37:11.425] And Ebby and Bill and some of the early founders saw some things going on that they felt might

38:10

[00 37:11.425 – 00:37:16.905] be helpful to alcoholics, and they incorporated them in the principles.

38:15

[00 37:16.905 – 00:37:23.705] We also had made some mistakes that didn't need to be make, made twice, and they didn't incorporate them in.

38:24

[00 37:23.705 – 00:37:34.465] And these 25 years have seen millions of people's lives different because of what began to happen in those

38:32

[00 37:34.525 – 00:37:39.105] early and sometimes unpromising days.

38:35

[00 37:39.105 – 00:37:42.845] Together with you all, I thank God for what's happened.

38:40

[00 37:42.845 – 00:37:50.345] Now, in a way, principles are more important than persons, hence anonymity.

38:45

[00 37:50.345 – 00:37:54.945] But principles alone never saved anybody from defeat and trouble.

38:50

[00 37:54.945 – 00:38:00.465] You probably preached many a sermon to yourself when you were in the greatest need like I have.

38:58

[00 38:00.465 – 00:38:09.125] Principles have gotta be found at work in people so that they become incarnate and visible and available to people in need.

39:08

[00 38:09.125 – 00:38:15.664] They've gotta be clothed with life and with caring and with intelligent action and emotion.

39:15

[00 38:15.664 – 00:38:25.825] Behind people that have found an answer, there are other people that have found an answer, and so on back through a long kind of apostolic succession

39:27

[00 38:25.825 – 00:38:31.145] of real, genuine spiritual discovery that must have been set in motion originally by God.

39:33

[00 38:31.145 – 00:38:33.245] Wow.

39:34

[00 38:33.245 – 00:38:43.265] Dear Bill- There, there were non-alcoholics like Sh- Sam Shoemaker, and if

39:40

[00 38:43.265 – 00:38:53.405] we look back at AA and we look at how it developed and we look for the golden thread, we can see that there were

39:51

[00 38:53.405 – 00:39:00.185] non-alcoholics that were very instrumental and important in AA's success.

39:56

[00 39:00.185 – 00:39:03.065] Here's an article, Alcoholics and God.

39:59

[00 39:03.065 – 00:39:08.925] This was the first article done in a national magazine about Alcoholics Anonymous.

40:05

[00 39:08.925 – 00:39:12.925] This was printed September 30th of 1939.

40:08

[00 39:12.925 – 00:39:23.045] The same article did come out in, uh, Canada two weeks earlier with a different cover, but it's the exact same article, Alcoholics and God,

40:19

[00 39:23.045 – 00:39:26.665] and that came out September 16th of '39.

40:23

[00 39:26.665 – 00:39:36.805] Bill really leaned heavily on non-alcoholics for guidance and for wisdom.

40:28

[00 39:36.805 – 00:39:43.055] One of the gentlemen that he became very close with was Father Ed Dowling from St.

40:35

[00 39:43.055 – 00:39:43.745] Louis.

40:36

[00 39:43.745 – 00:39:49.645] Father Ed had gotten a copy of the big book, and they had some things happening in St.

40:44

[00 39:49.645 – 00:39:52.845] Louis, but he wanted to meet with Bill, and he came up and, uh...

40:50

[00 39:52.845 – 00:39:55.245] Well, I'll let Bill tell you about it.

40:54

[00 39:55.245 – 00:40:05.545] In AA, practically all of us know someone with whom we have especially identified.

41:01

[00 40:05.545 – 00:40:11.265] In our jargon, we say, well, we've clicked with that chap.

41:06

[00 40:11.265 – 00:40:22.985] Years ago, in 1940, not long after the AA book came out, I

41:11

[00 40:22.985 – 00:40:28.165] was lying upstairs in the little clubhouse at old 24th Street.

41:17

[00 40:28.165 – 00:40:31.025] It was a sleety, bitter night.

41:20

[00 40:31.025 – 00:40:41.085] And up came old Tom, our janitor, who was now on the job and, by the way, being paid for

41:28

[00 40:41.085 – 00:40:41.095] it

41:29

[00 40:46.096 – 00:40:49.796] Old Tom knocked at my door.

41:32

[00 40:49.796 – 00:41:00.016] I was lying on the bed suffering from one of my imaginary ulcer attacks, and Tom says, "Bill," he says,

41:41

[00 41:00.016 – 00:41:02.216] "There's some damn bum from St.

41:44

[00 41:02.216 – 00:41:11.136] Louis down there." "Do you wanna see him?" "Oh," I said, "what?

41:50

[00 41:11.136 – 00:41:12.616] Not Tom tonight.

41:52

[00 41:12.616 – 00:41:21.476] Well, yes, Tom, send him up." I heard a slow labored step on the stairs.

41:58

[00 41:21.476 – 00:41:31.476] And finally, a figure appeared in my doorway, and his coat was drawn

42:04

[00 41:31.476 – 00:41:35.176] about him, and it was covered with sleet.

42:08

[00 41:35.176 – 00:41:41.896] And he wore a hat which looked something like a cabbage leaf, also covered with snow.

42:16

[00 41:41.896 – 00:41:49.016] And it was 11 o'clock at night, and he'd come there to see me.

42:21

[00 41:49.016 – 00:41:55.376] And when he threw back his coat, I saw he was a clergyman.

42:27

[00 41:55.376 – 00:42:05.436] He had been the one who had discovered the

42:32

[00 42:05.436 – 00:42:12.356] resemblance between AA steps and the Ignatian exercises of his Jesuit order.

42:37

[00 42:12.356 – 00:42:22.416] Ah, but for m- far more than that, he proved to be one of the greatest examples of the grace of God

42:47

[00 42:22.416 – 00:42:24.116] that this society knows.

42:49

[00 42:24.116 – 00:42:34.716] And as we sat there and just joyfully chatted about

42:54

[00 42:34.716 – 00:42:39.656] this and that, somehow that room seemed illuminated.

42:58

[00 42:39.656 – 00:42:47.776] You could feel the presence and almost see the light.

43:03

[00 42:47.776 – 00:42:52.316] Father Ed.

43:04

[00 42:52.316 – 00:43:02.636] When

43:05

[00 43:02.636 – 00:43:12.636] we think about the golden thread, you know, had Bill said, "No, Tom, I don't wanna see the bum tonight from St.

43:15

[00 43:12.636 – 00:43:21.816] Louis," perhaps he never woulda had the guidance of Father Ed Dowling.

43:20

[00 43:21.816 – 00:43:32.156] We know that Bill leaned heavily on Father Ed, and

43:25

[00 43:32.156 – 00:43:39.356] there's a book out called A Soul of Sponsorship, and it's letters between Bill Wilson and Father Ed.

43:33

[00 43:39.356 – 00:43:49.236] And if you can locate that book, that's a great book to read and get kind of a better understanding of the relationship between these two men.

43:45

[00 43:49.236 – 00:43:59.236] Now, Tom Powers was one of Bill's early sponsees, and here's a picture of Tom and, and his mother together with Bill,

43:55

[00 43:59.236 – 00:44:04.736] and Tom's talking about, uh, well, when he came to AA.

44:00

[00 44:04.736 – 00:44:12.976] Um, I got to my first AA meeting under these circumstances, and, and I lump up when I try to talk about this.

44:10

[00 44:12.976 – 00:44:16.256] It isn't a, an emotional thing.

44:13

[00 44:16.256 – 00:44:23.616] Uh, the AA thing had something that I, I...

44:17

[00 44:23.616 – 00:44:30.316] The AA thing has a quality that I would be dead without.

44:23

[00 44:30.316 – 00:44:36.016] Uh, the AA thing had authenticity.

44:26

[00 44:36.016 – 00:44:41.836] It was real in a way that many things are not real.

44:31

[00 44:41.836 – 00:44:47.876] I, I, in my goofed-up condition, I saw it was not a peep show.

44:38

[00 44:47.876 – 00:44:57.096] I saw it was not a hand club, and yet these people were lit up in a certain way.

44:46

[00 44:57.096 – 00:45:03.576] And damn it, all my hunger was and is to be lit up in that way.

44:54

[00 45:03.576 – 00:45:13.576] And I had been chasing it through, through, I mean, just to be alive and to be relating to people in

45:03

[00 45:13.576 – 00:45:18.296] a way, the word for which I never used anymore because I was afraid of it.

45:10

[00 45:18.296 – 00:45:20.836] These people loved each other in a certain way.

45:15

[00 45:20.836 – 00:45:23.996] I would-- If somebody had told me then, that, it would have turned me off.

45:21

[00 45:23.996 – 00:45:26.936] But I saw the reality of it.

45:25

[00 45:26.936 – 00:45:35.676] These people were getting up in the middle of the night and going out and helping each other, and I never heard of anything like that.

45:36

[00 45:35.676 – 00:45:41.676] I heard of old stories of people who used to do that six to seven hundred years ago when they were nuts on Christianity.

45:47

[00 45:41.676 – 00:45:44.876] This thing was real.

45:49

[00 45:44.876 – 00:45:48.776] I began to get up in the middle of the night and do it myself.

45:56

[00 45:48.776 – 00:45:58.856] Uh, I had not done an act for years without

46:01

[00 45:58.856 – 00:46:02.856] money or personal gain of some kind involved in it.

46:06

[00 46:02.856 – 00:46:05.376] This thing was big for me.

46:09

[00 46:05.376 – 00:46:14.136] I, I, I began to get something out of this association with Alcoholics Anonymous that I hardly dared believe existed.

46:17

[00 46:14.136 – 00:46:27.096] One of the first things that was told to me was that we

46:23

[00 46:27.096 – 00:46:32.536] don't have to do this perfectly.

46:26

[00 46:32.536 – 00:46:37.276] And when Tom's talking, you can tell the enthusiasm that he has.

46:32

[00 46:37.276 – 00:46:45.476] He talks about being lit up, and in the previous slide, Bill talks about it was like the light when, when Father Ed was there.

46:43

[00 46:45.476 – 00:46:49.636] These people were on fire for sobriety.

46:47

[00 46:49.636 – 00:46:55.176] They were running around telling everybody they could tell about this thing.

46:52

[00 46:55.176 – 00:47:02.576] You know what Bill didn't mention when old Tom came up and said, "Bill, there's a guy downstairs from St.

47:01

[00 47:02.576 – 00:47:08.856] Louis," what he didn't tell you is Bill was living in the clubhouse 'cause he was homeless.

47:09

[00 47:08.856 – 00:47:18.936] Him and Lois had been evicted from their home, and they stayed at the 24th Street clubhouse for a while, as well as on people's couch, and they were

47:22

[00 47:18.936 – 00:47:21.276] homeless for two years.

47:24

[00 47:21.276 – 00:47:27.586] Marty Mann was one of the fir-- well, was the first woman, uh, uh, uh...

47:31

[00 47:27.586 – 00:47:27.906] I'm not gonna-

47:32

[00 47:28.061 – 00:47:28.521] I go there.

47:34

[00 47:28.521 – 00:47:29.501] I'm gonna read the slide.

47:37

[00 47:29.501 – 00:47:39.741] First woman to achieve long-term sobriety in AA, and was a founder and the first executive director of the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism.

47:48

[00 47:39.741 – 00:47:48.661] Marti Mann was a force within AA, but also within our culture.

47:53

[00 47:48.661 – 00:47:58.821] Marti was able to take the AA philosophy, principles, and recovery and begin to formulate that

48:01

[00 47:58.821 – 00:48:08.841] so that she could work with communities and create an awareness to lessen the stigma of alcoholism, first with

48:09

[00 48:08.841 – 00:48:11.401] women, but with everyone.

48:11

[00 48:11.401 – 00:48:21.581] And Marti, I would have to say, uh, her contributions to, uh, recovery and to the recovery movement, um,

48:20

[00 48:21.581 – 00:48:23.500] are right up there with Bill Wilson's.

48:23

[00 48:23.500 – 00:48:33.921] I think for me the first indication of what AA meant came

48:29

[00 48:33.921 – 00:48:44.581] not from the book, although something tremendous had happened to me because of that, but came when I went to my first meeting, terrified,

48:39

[00 48:44.581 – 00:48:54.181] not knowing what I was going to find, not knowing who was going to say what or what kind of people they were going to be.

48:51

[00 48:54.181 – 00:49:00.040] And when I discovered that it was the easiest thing in the world for me to talk to these men.

49:00

[00 49:00.040 – 00:49:08.961] I didn't have any feeling of being outside or of being blocked off.

49:06

[00 49:08.961 – 00:49:15.881] I had the feeling instead that they were inside my head, that they could finish my sentences for me and I could finish theirs.

49:17

[00 49:15.881 – 00:49:23.461] I was communicating, and they were communicating with me.

49:21

[00 49:23.461 – 00:49:33.481] Bill took this, as you've seen, at the convention in London and remarked on

49:27

[00 49:33.481 – 00:49:39.781] the extraordinary thing that we have in AA, this, this ability to communicate.

49:33

[00 49:39.781 – 00:49:49.961] But he wasn't talking about it from the point of view of what it means to the new person coming to AA, that sometimes for the first time in years

49:47

[00 49:49.961 – 00:49:54.881] they are able to communicate.

49:49

[00 49:54.881 – 00:50:05.121] I knew before that evening was over, the evening on which I met the first AA members I ever met, that I had rejoined at least

50:01

[00 50:05.121 – 00:50:15.161] that segment of the human race, that I belonged, that I was with other people with whom I could talk and with whom I

50:11

[00 50:15.161 – 00:50:16.721] could keep.

50:13

[00 50:16.721 – 00:50:24.301] Marti was on fire for AA.

50:16

[00 50:24.301 – 00:50:32.701] Her sponsor, Bill Wilson, helped her so much, gave her tremendous encouragement.

50:21

[00 50:32.701 – 00:50:41.001] She was able to get with people like Harry Tiebout and begin the work for the National Council that she did.

50:31

[00 50:41.001 – 00:50:51.021] In March of nineteen forty-one, this is about the time that AA really, really took off because, uh, prior to

50:40

[00 50:51.021 – 00:51:01.041] this year, uh, prior to March, this was the second printing of the first edition came out at the same time as the Jack Alexander article came

50:52

[00 51:01.041 – 00:51:02.921] out in March of forty-one.

50:54

[00 51:02.921 – 00:51:11.761] And like I said, AA membership was hovering somewhere around two thousand, and by the end of forty-one it was close to ten thousand.

51:05

[00 51:11.761 – 00:51:19.501] So they, uh, have contributed close to eight thousand, uh, members as a result of the Saturday Evening Post.

51:13

[00 51:19.501 – 00:51:28.701] And, and, you know, it's probably a lot more than that over the years, but nineteen forty-one was a year that really put AA on the map.

51:25

[00 51:28.701 – 00:51:35.581] And I can just see Bill Wilson sitting in the office, 'cause you see at that time they didn't have a staff.

51:35

[00 51:35.581 – 00:51:38.821] Bill was filling orders for books.

51:38

[00 51:38.821 – 00:51:48.901] I have had a couple of nineteen forty-one big books that inside them had a yellow, uh, lined paper where Bill wrote a little bit

51:49

[00 51:48.901 – 00:51:57.501] of note and stuck it into the, to the book, and it was only in the nineteen forty-one big books I found that in two different books with notes from Bill.

52:03

[00 51:57.501 – 00:52:07.581] So I thought that was really interesting and kind of revealing that AA wasn't huge where they could just, uh, had this machine to

52:14

[00 52:07.581 – 00:52:08.461] send this stuff out.

52:16

[00 52:08.461 – 00:52:13.961] These, there was ones and twos and threes, and, and they were doing the best job they could with what they had.

52:26

[00 52:13.961 – 00:52:15.741] And here's Father Ed talking.

52:28

[00 52:15.741 – 00:52:17.461] He spoke at the International in St.

52:32

[00 52:17.461 – 00:52:18.081] Louis.

52:32

[00 52:18.081 – 00:52:24.601] I'm sure that Bill sitting in that chair, and Dr.

52:37

[00 52:24.601 – 00:52:34.601] Bob, whose angel is possibly sitting on that oddly misplaced empty chair, are growing in the knowledge of

52:45

[00 52:34.601 – 00:52:35.021] God.

52:46

[00 52:35.021 – 00:52:45.041] An old German saying is, and it applies here, "Very few of us know how much we have to know in order to know how

52:57

[00 52:45.041 – 00:52:47.441] little we know." And I'm sure Dr.

53:01

[00 52:47.441 – 00:52:51.881] Bob and Bill would certify that.

53:04

[00 52:51.881 – 00:53:03.361] The approach to this kno- understanding, first of all negative, and the first step as

53:10

[00 53:03.361 – 00:53:14.481] we examine ourselves, who was our latest God, see, uh, is, um, a,

53:16

[00 53:14.481 – 00:53:16.681] a quiet approach to God.

53:19

[00 53:16.681 – 00:53:26.801] It was the approach of Peter the Apostle, "Lord, to whom shall we turn?" I think we should realize that there,

53:28

[00 53:26.801 – 00:53:32.821] uh, I doubt if there's anybody in this hall who really ever sought sobriety.

53:35

[00 53:32.821 – 00:53:37.011] I think we were trying to get away from drunkenness.

53:40

[00 53:37.011 – 00:53:47.541] I don't think we should despise the negative, and I, I know I have a feeling that if I ever should find myself in heaven, I

53:51

[00 53:47.541 – 00:53:49.801] think it will be from backing away from hell.

53:55

[00 53:49.801 – 00:54:00.141] Now- That statement I heard, I believe, in my first year of sobriety,

54:01

[00 54:00.141 – 00:54:07.561] and Father Ed saying if he ever made it to heaven, it would be because he was backing away from hell.

54:11

[00 54:07.561 – 00:54:14.621] I feel like a lot of times in my forty years of sobriety, I've

54:17

[00 54:15.012 – 00:54:19.772] I've done the right thing by staying away from the wrong thing, if that makes sense.

54:24

[00 54:19.772 – 00:54:25.112] They used to say things like, "Stay out of wet places," and, "Stay away from wet people," and this kind of thing.

54:34

[00 54:25.112 – 00:54:32.012] And I, and I have found that staying away from situations that could potentially cause me a problem are a good idea.

54:44

[00 54:32.012 – 00:54:35.452] Here's another non-alcoholic friend of Bill and Dr.

54:48

[00 54:35.452 – 00:54:45.652] Bob that did so much for AA and so much for carrying the message, and certainly- We decided to- Certainly this week in Akron,

54:59

[00 54:45.652 – 00:54:49.112] they're gonna be celebrating Sister Ignatia, and here she is ...

55:03

[00 54:49.112 – 00:54:51.892] we had a small accident ward.

55:06

[00 54:51.892 – 00:55:01.492] It was sort of off from the rest of the, um, hospital, and there we put in a coffee bar, and Dr.

55:16

[00 55:01.492 – 00:55:02.912] Bob set up the program.

55:19

[00 55:02.912 – 00:55:13.052] I, uh, want to tell you that the first opportunity he had, he brought Bill over, and, uh, of course I couldn't imagine who this

55:30

[00 55:13.052 – 00:55:14.272] wonderful Bill was.

55:32

[00 55:14.272 – 00:55:21.832] But I soon learned that, uh, God had chosen two great men.

55:37

[00 55:21.832 – 00:55:27.452] What one didn't have, the other supplemented, and together they were perfect.

55:43

[00 55:27.452 – 00:55:37.512] I could just see, I often say to our boys, had God picked out two great religious leaders, no one would have come near them, because

55:54

[00 55:37.512 – 00:55:44.652] the alcoholic doesn't want anything about religion or God, nor do we try to preach religion to them.

56:02

[00 55:44.652 – 00:55:53.552] But they aren't in there very long until they're asking or telling you what experience they've had and what they'd like to do.

56:13

[00 55:53.552 – 00:56:03.312] They know they haven't been living right, and I feel that, as many of our nurses have said, the best sedative is peace of mind.

56:24

[00 56:03.312 – 00:56:11.292] If once they can be relieved of their anxieties and worries and treated properly, there should be no trouble.

56:32

[00 56:11.292 – 00:56:21.332] Of course, when they first come in and, uh, Doctor Bob set up the program, no televisions, no radios, no newspapers, only

56:42

[00 56:21.332 – 00:56:30.632] literature pertaining to AA or something that would have a, a moral, I mean, a building of their morals and things of that kind.

56:53

[00 56:30.632 – 00:56:35.652] 'Cause they don't, they have all the reading they can take care of, and then their visitors too.

57:01

[00 56:35.652 – 00:56:38.312] Well, we went on with that.

57:04

[00 56:38.312 – 00:56:43.332] There's, there are many details I could bring in, but I don't want to make it too long because I...

57:13

[00 56:43.332 – 00:56:50.852] But anyway, during Doctor's time, I think we treated before between 4,000 and 5,000.

57:18

[00 56:50.852 – 00:56:52.992] And he treated them.

57:21

[00 56:52.992 – 00:56:57.772] He came in every day unless he was out of town or something like that.

57:27

[00 56:57.772 – 00:57:01.392] And, uh, without any charge.

57:30

[00 57:01.392 – 00:57:10.632] He said, "That's my contribution to AA." Uh, it's just amazing to me that this little nun could partner with Dr.

57:39

[00 57:10.632 – 00:57:18.912] Bob and provide services to 5,000 plus people, and then to go on and continue her work after Dr.

57:47

[00 57:18.912 – 00:57:21.932] Bob died, and pay tribute to Dr.

57:51

[00 57:21.932 – 00:57:23.732] Bob throughout her life.

57:53

[00 57:23.732 – 00:57:25.772] Just phenomenal.

57:54

[00 57:25.772 – 00:57:33.052] And, uh, and I wanted to share tonight some of these things so that you could see the golden thread that was being pulled.

58:05

[00 57:33.052 – 00:57:33.492] Dr.

58:06

[00 57:33.492 – 00:57:38.352] Bob needed Sister Ignatia, and she was there, and, and she needed him.

58:12

[00 57:38.352 – 00:57:49.192] As best I could, and with some wonder how this

58:17

[00 57:49.192 – 00:57:54.092] great university would receive it when a drunken stockbroker turned them down.

58:22

[00 57:54.092 – 00:57:57.892] I did write this letter.

58:25

[00 57:57.892 – 00:58:05.632] And I'd like to read it to you so as to get it into the record.

58:32

[00 58:05.632 – 00:58:13.312] I thought of leaving it into the files, but, uh, maybe this is a good time to share it with you.

58:41

[00 58:13.312 – 00:58:17.612] Dear Mr.

58:43

[00 58:17.612 – 00:58:27.732] Secretary, this is my, is to express my deepest thanks to members of the corporation

58:49

[00 58:27.732 – 00:58:37.232] of your great and respected university for considering me as one suitable for the degree of Doctor of Laws.

58:58

[00 58:37.232 – 00:58:47.292] It is only after a most careful cons- consultation with friends and

59:04

[00 58:47.292 – 00:58:56.192] with my conscience that I now feel obliged to decline such a mark of distinction.

59:10

[00 58:56.192 – 00:59:06.292] Were I to accept, the near-term benefit to Alcoholics Anonymous

59:15

[00 59:06.292 – 00:59:14.272] and to those legions who still suffer our malady would no doubt be worldwide and considerable.

59:22

[00 59:14.272 – 00:59:24.712] I am sure that such a potent endorsement would greatly hasten public approval of AA everywhere.

59:30

[00 59:24.712 – 00:59:34.912] Therefore, none but the most compelling of reasons could prompt my decision

59:35

[00 59:34.912 – 00:59:41.152] to deny Alcoholics Anonymous an opportunity of this dimension.

59:39

[00 59:41.152 – 00:59:44.352] Now, this is the reason.

59:42

[00 59:44.352 – 00:59:54.372] The tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous, our only means of self-government, entreats

59:47

[00 59:54.372 – 01:00:04.512] each member to avoid all of that particular kind of personal publicity or distinction

59:54

[01 00:04.512 – 01:00:12.312] which might link his name with our society in the general public mind.

60:00

[01 00:12.312 – 01:00:23.772] I think that we AAs are fortunate to be acutely aware that

60:05

[01 00:23.772 – 01:00:30.712] such forces must never be ruling among us, lest we perish altogether.

60:11

[01 00:30.712 – 01:00:33.052] Wow.

60:12

[01 00:33.052 – 01:00:43.052] And to think that, what if we had another leader at the top who thought that that was a great idea to accept

60:22

[01 00:43.052 – 01:00:45.752] the doctoral degree at Yale?

60:24

[01 00:45.752 – 01:00:55.812] Bill had tremendous humility, and he had enough foresight to see that not only could he not accept

60:33

[01 00:55.812 – 01:01:01.442] a distinct award like that, but AA should refrain from it altogether

60:38

[01 01:04.977 – 01:01:06.137] Well, and here's Bill.

60:40

[01 01:06.137 – 01:01:13.297] You know, at this time, there's a lot of organizations out there that were going on that were starting.

60:49

[01 01:13.297 – 01:01:17.537] This was in the '60s, and, uh, here's what Bill had to say.

60:55

[01 01:17.537 – 01:01:22.397] I say, good friends, we have no pride of membership.

61:00

[01 01:22.397 – 01:01:26.577] We have no property to quarrel about.

61:03

[01 01:26.577 – 01:01:29.437] We have no authority to defend.

61:06

[01 01:29.437 – 01:01:38.897] If you think you could do better under o- other auspices, by all means go and try.

61:14

[01 01:38.897 – 01:01:48.777] You can take everything you've got with you and our complete blessing, all except the name Alcoholics Anonymous.

61:22

[01 01:48.777 – 01:01:50.477] We'd kind of like to hang on to that one.

61:27

[01 01:50.477 – 01:02:00.657] I say- And of course,

61:29

[01 02:00.657 – 01:02:00.917] Dr.

61:30

[01 02:00.917 – 01:02:06.337] Bob had the opportunity to speak to the conference in 1950.

61:35

[01 02:06.337 – 01:02:11.437] It was the last time that he was able to talk to AAs.

61:41

[01 02:11.437 – 01:02:14.437] This was in July 1950.

61:43

[01 02:14.437 – 01:02:14.657] Dr.

61:44

[01 02:14.657 – 01:02:21.617] Bob was suffering with cancer, and he had been suffering for quite some time.

61:50

[01 02:21.617 – 01:02:23.757] Here was his message.

61:52

[01 02:23.757 – 01:02:27.417] Again, let's look for a golden thread.

61:56

[01 02:27.417 – 01:02:38.377] If you'll pardon the injection of a personal note at this time, uh, let me say that I've been in bed for five of the last seven months,

62:08

[01 02:38.377 – 01:02:43.717] and my strength hasn't returned as I'd like, so my remarks will of necessity be very brief.

62:16

[01 02:43.717 – 01:02:52.757] But there are two or three things that flash into my mind on which it would be fitting to lay a little emphasis.

62:26

[01 02:52.757 – 01:02:55.717] One is the simplicity of our program.

62:30

[01 02:55.717 – 01:03:05.837] Let's not louse it all up with Freudian complexes and things that are interesting to the scientific mind but have very little

62:39

[01 03:05.837 – 01:03:08.977] to do with our actual AA book.

62:43

[01 03:08.977 – 01:03:19.337] Our 12 Steps, when simmered down to, uh, a- the last, resolve themselves

62:48

[01 03:19.337 – 01:03:21.777] into the words love and service.

62:51

[01 03:21.777 – 01:03:27.357] We understand what love is, and we understand what service is.

62:57

[01 03:27.357 – 01:03:30.157] So let's bear those two things in mind.

63:00

[01 03:30.157 – 01:03:40.237] Let us also remember to guard that airy member, the tongue, and if we must use it, let's

63:09

[01 03:40.237 – 01:03:44.257] use it with kindness and consideration and tolerance.

63:12

[01 03:44.257 – 01:03:54.337] And one more thing: none of us would be here today, uh, if somebody hadn't taken time to explain things

63:21

[01 03:54.337 – 01:04:04.347] to us, to give us a little pat on the back, to take us to a meeting or two, uh, to have done, uh, numerous little kind and

63:34

[01 04:04.347 – 01:04:06.317] thoughtful acts on our behalf.

63:36

[01 04:06.317 – 01:04:16.577] So let us never get the degree of smug complacency so that we're not willing to extend or attempt to

63:45

[01 04:16.577 – 01:04:23.137] that help that has been so beneficial to us to our less fortunate brother.

63:52

[01 04:23.137 – 01:04:24.917] Thank you very much.

63:54

[01 04:24.917 – 01:04:26.097] Wow.

63:55

[01 04:26.097 – 01:04:36.617] And here was Bill sharing about AA's

63:58

[01 04:36.617 – 01:04:38.237] expression of hope.

64:00

[01 04:38.237 – 01:04:49.497] You know, before I do that, I wanna read something to you, because when I was putting this together and going over this earlier, I was thinking how

64:12

[01 04:49.497 – 01:04:52.357] excited these people were for their sobriety.

64:16

[01 04:52.357 – 01:04:54.497] You know, Bill got, had that hot...

64:19

[01 04:54.497 – 01:05:00.537] the, the white flash, the spiritual experience in Towns Hospital, and what did he do?

64:26

[01 05:00.537 – 01:05:05.497] He went and told everybody about it, and that's what got him sober.

64:32

[01 05:05.497 – 01:05:09.477] And throughout history, we hear about...

64:35

[01 05:09.477 – 01:05:19.797] And, and Bill Dodson, AA number three, in his story on page 199, 191 of the

64:41

[01 05:19.797 – 01:05:25.857] second edition, it reads like this: "It would be hard to estimate how much AA has done for me.

64:50

[01 05:25.857 – 01:05:29.697] I really wanted the program, and I wanted to go along with it.

64:56

[01 05:29.697 – 01:05:37.917] I noticed that others seemed to have such a release, a happiness, something that I thought a person ought to have.

65:05

[01 05:37.917 – 01:05:39.937] I was trying to find the answer.

65:09

[01 05:39.937 – 01:05:44.736] I knew there was even more something that I hadn't gotten.

65:14

[01 05:44.736 – 01:05:54.797] And I remembered one day, a week or two after I had come out of the hospital, Bill," and he's talking about Bill W., "was over at

65:26

[01 05:54.797 – 01:05:57.077] my house talking to my wife and me.

65:30

[01 05:57.077 – 01:06:07.097] We were eating lunch, and I was listening and trying to find out why they had this release that

65:38

[01 06:07.097 – 01:06:08.077] they seemed to have.

65:40

[01 06:08.077 – 01:06:18.097] Bill looked across the table at my wife and said, 'Henrietta, the Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me

65:50

[01 06:18.097 – 01:06:28.237] of this terrible disease, that I just wanna keep talking about it and telling people.'" I thought, "I think I have

66:00

[01 06:28.237 – 01:06:38.437] the answer." Bill very, was very, very grateful that he had been released from this terrible thing, and he had given God

66:09

[01 06:38.437 – 01:06:39.917] the credit for having done it.

66:12

[01 06:39.917 – 01:06:44.297] And he's so grateful about it he wants to tell others about it.

66:18

[01 06:44.297 – 01:06:54.787] That sentence, "The Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease, that I just wanna keep telling

66:28

[01 06:54.787 – 01:07:01.357] people about it," it's sort of been the golden text of the AA program for me.

66:35

[01 07:01.357 – 01:07:04.857] And here is Bill closing us out tonight.

66:39

[01 07:04.857 – 01:07:11.067] 12 years ago, this fellowship commenced to prepare a book.

66:44

[01 07:11.067 – 01:07:15.297] The book we know today as Alcoholics Anonymous.

66:47

[01 07:15.297 – 01:07:24.017] And in the last pages of its text, the book expressed a hope.

66:53

[01 07:24.017 – 01:07:28.997] Yes, it was more than a hope.

66:57

[01 07:28.997 – 01:07:36.577] It told of a dream that we then in this fellowship had.

67:02

[01 07:36.577 – 01:07:46.797] And we expressed our hope and our dream in these words: "Someday we hope

67:09

[01 07:46.797 – 01:07:48.377] that every alcoholic who..."

67:11

[01 07:50.103 – 01:08:00.463] Will find a fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his destination And here we are

67:17

[01 08:00.463 – 01:08:08.923] 90 years later sharing and celebrating what Bill Wilson and Dr.

67:22

[01 08:08.923 – 01:08:15.223] Bob talked about on June 10th, 1939.

67:25

[01 08:15.223 – 01:08:17.133] Happy birthday, AA.

67:27

[01 08:17.133 – 01:08:19.623] Thank you all for being here tonight.

67:30

[01 08:19.623 – 01:08:22.223] If there's any Q&A, Tim, we've got a few minutes.

67:35

[01 08:22.223 – 01:08:25.283] Yeah, thank you so much, Mike.

67:38

[01 08:25.283 – 01:08:26.223] Great job.

67:40

[01 08:26.223 – 01:08:33.423] And, uh, now if anyone has questions, please use the raise hand function, and I will call on you as you raise your hands.

67:50

[01 08:33.423 – 01:08:38.423] And if not, we'll all just call it a night.

67:55

[01 08:38.423 – 01:08:41.403] All right.

67:56

[01 08:41.403 – 01:08:41.903] All right.

67:58

[01 08:41.903 – 01:08:44.063] O- oh, Gary.

67:59

[01 08:44.063 – 01:08:44.393] Gary.

68:00

[01 08:44.393 – 01:08:45.423] Get on in here.

68:02

[01 08:45.423 – 01:08:46.023] Unmute.

68:03

[01 08:46.023 – 01:08:47.003] Hi, Gary.

68:04

[01 08:47.003 – 01:08:48.882] Hi, hi there, Mike.

68:07

[01 08:48.882 – 01:08:51.263] Uh, uh, two questions.

68:09

[01 08:51.263 – 01:08:55.073] What was the year of, uh, the Tom Powers recording?

68:13

[01 08:55.073 – 01:09:05.123] Because, you know, I- I always get it thinking that he's gone on to, uh, done Addictions Anonymous, and he was angry at, uh, Bill and

68:25

[01 09:05.123 – 01:09:09.243] so forth and so on, and of course, that recording is, is nothing like that.

68:32

[01 09:09.243 – 01:09:12.403] Do you have any idea when, uh, that Tom Powers recording was made?

68:38

[01 09:12.403 – 01:09:13.463] I do.

68:39

[01 09:13.463 – 01:09:14.783] I do.

68:40

[01 09:14.783 – 01:09:24.903] It was made in Indianapolis at the International Doctors, uh, meeting of the International Doctors in AA, and it was either

68:50

[01 09:24.903 – 01:09:27.783] 1965 or 1966.

68:51

[01 09:27.783 – 01:09:34.103] And Tom- So that's a lot, that's a lot later than I would have assumed by- Uh- -some things that- Oh, yeah.

69:00

[01 09:34.103 – 01:09:37.823] I mean, but there's a lot of rumors out there about a lot of things.

69:07

[01 09:37.823 – 01:09:39.203] A- all right.

69:09

[01 09:39.203 – 01:09:40.823] One other, one other question.

69:12

[01 09:40.823 – 01:09:51.083] Uh, I always thought that, um, it was Tom that helped edit the 12 and 12 for Bill, but I've been reading in the Sister Ignatia book

69:23

[01 09:51.083 – 01:09:58.802] by Mary Darrett that John Ford, SJ, also ha- happened to edit the, uh, 12 and 12.

69:29

[01 09:58.802 – 01:10:00.923] He was, uh- Is that correct?

69:32

[01 10:00.923 – 01:10:02.723] He was on the editorial committee.

69:35

[01 10:02.723 – 01:10:04.973] Oh, there was such an editorial committee?

69:39

[01 10:04.973 – 01:10:06.663] I- Yeah, there were five people on it.

69:43

[01 10:06.663 – 01:10:08.263] Oh, thank you.

69:44

[01 10:08.263 – 01:10:12.443] And, uh, and Tom Powers was definitely one of them.

69:49

[01 10:12.443 – 01:10:18.603] All right.

69:50

[01 10:18.603 – 01:10:19.283] Chris.

69:51

[01 10:19.283 – 01:10:19.663] All right.

69:53

[01 10:19.663 – 01:10:20.883] Thank you, Gary.

69:54

[01 10:20.883 – 01:10:22.343] And next is Chris.

69:56

[01 10:22.343 – 01:10:26.723] Hi, everybody.

69:58

[01 10:26.723 – 01:10:31.903] Thank you very much, Mike, for another great presentation.

70:02

[01 10:31.903 – 01:10:33.543] And just quick question.

70:04

[01 10:33.543 – 01:10:41.903] Is it just me or has there been a general increase in interest in our fellowship's history in the last few years?

70:14

[01 10:41.903 – 01:10:52.123] Well, you know, we have worked awfully hard at Recovery Speakers to try to salt the oats,

70:22

[01 10:52.123 – 01:10:58.083] we'll say, of AA members so they get thirsty enough to reach out and study our history.

70:29

[01 10:58.083 – 01:11:08.342] So as a result of, you know, what happened at the beginning of the pandemic when we started, I, I, in no way am I taking credit for any of this,

70:43

[01 11:08.343 – 01:11:09.663] but there's been David K.

70:46

[01 11:09.663 – 01:11:19.703] over in, uh, London who has, uh, uh, has weekly broadcasts and history talks, and Nancy K.'s been all over the country, and Gary,

70:57

[01 11:19.703 – 01:11:22.223] and all of these people have been all over doing things.

71:02

[01 11:22.223 – 01:11:32.283] And, and a lot of this started at the beginning of the pandemic, and, and Recovery Speakers kind of has its DNA on a lot of this stuff, and, and I'm just grateful to see that, uh,

71:18

[01 11:32.283 – 01:11:37.283] that, that we have cultivated an interest in our history.

71:23

[01 11:37.283 – 01:11:47.333] Um, you know, I, I'm blessed and privileged enough to, to be able to talk and share my story at meetings and, uh, and

71:33

[01 11:47.333 – 01:11:51.143] I always try to weave the history into it, 'cause I just want people to...

71:40

[01 11:51.143 – 01:12:00.703] You know, I, I, if they invite me to talk, I don't wanna go just give a history talk, but I certainly would like them to walk away going, "Ha, ha, I want to learn more about the history." So- Yeah ...

71:58

[01 12:00.703 – 01:12:06.263] I, I think that, I think that there's a movement and a momentum going in that direction.

72:06

[01 12:06.263 – 01:12:07.263] Yeah.

72:07

[01 12:07.263 – 01:12:17.743] And I can tell you that 20 years ago, uh, yeah, 15, 20 years ago, there was a presence

72:14

[01 12:17.743 – 01:12:20.863] on eBay, of all places, okay?

72:17

[01 12:20.863 – 01:12:21.123] Hmm.

72:18

[01 12:21.123 – 01:12:27.083] That was presenting AA history through pieces of memorabilia.

72:22

[01 12:27.083 – 01:12:27.723] Okay?

72:23

[01 12:27.723 – 01:12:37.823] So there was one guy in particular, he's deceased now, but he would sell a, a first edition AA Big Book, and he would tell you every little detail about

72:36

[01 12:37.823 – 01:12:37.963] it.

72:37

[01 12:37.963 – 01:12:48.453] So I wa- that's how I got a lot of the bug to learn this stuff was watching other people share and learning what they were sharing, and this particular

72:50

[01 12:48.453 – 01:12:50.003] guy was incredible.

72:52

[01 12:50.003 – 01:12:50.533] Hmm.

72:53

[01 12:50.533 – 01:13:00.563] So I hope, you know, that, that, you know, that's not happening on eBay anymore, but I hope that what we're doing with Recovery Speakers and going

73:05

[01 13:00.563 – 01:13:10.823] out into the community and helping people put together the archives, like, at Noblesville and, and these kind of things really does keep our, our story

73:16

[01 13:10.823 – 01:13:11.143] going.

73:17

[01 13:11.143 – 01:13:14.683] 'Cause it's, we need another 90 years, you know?

73:21

[01 13:14.683 – 01:13:15.043] Yeah.

73:22

[01 13:15.043 – 01:13:16.383] We can't, we can't...

73:24

[01 13:16.383 – 01:13:22.923] You know, right now, you know, Recovery Speakers is starting, thinking about how we're gonna celebrate 100-year anniversary.

73:32

[01 13:22.923 – 01:13:24.303] It's only 10 years from now.

73:35

[01 13:24.303 – 01:13:24.763] Oh, yeah.

73:36

[01 13:24.763 – 01:13:25.823] Wow.

73:37

[01 13:25.823 – 01:13:27.243] So that's gonna be fun.

73:40

[01 13:27.243 – 01:13:29.012] Well, thanks for the question.

73:42

[01 13:29.012 – 01:13:30.143] And I appreciate that.

73:44

[01 13:30.143 – 01:13:33.123] And, and I think the an- the answer to that is yes.

73:50

[01 13:33.123 – 01:13:35.383] Yeah.

73:51

[01 13:35.383 – 01:13:36.163] Thank you, Mike.

73:52

[01 13:36.163 – 01:13:39.023] Hell of a long way to get to the yes, but hey.

73:58

[01 13:39.023 – 01:13:40.953] The right answer.

74:00

[01 13:40.953 – 01:13:43.003] Thanks.

74:01

[01 13:43.003 – 01:13:45.202] Thank you.

74:02

[01 13:45.202 – 01:13:47.303] Thank you, Chris.

74:03

[01 13:47.303 – 01:13:50.403] And looks like that is it for questions.

74:07

[01 13:50.403 – 01:13:55.243] I wanna let everyone know I shared a link in the chat about Tom P.

74:14

[01 13:55.243 – 01:14:05.303] and different recordings from the International Doctor Conference, and it looks like the particular one we shared tonight was from 1968,

74:23

[01 14:05.303 – 01:14:10.883] and that was the 19th year of the International Doctors, so.

74:28

[01 14:10.883 – 01:14:17.063] And three years before Bill Wilson died, you could tell that Tom and Bill still had a good relationship.

74:37

[01 14:17.063 – 01:14:22.403] Tom loved this program, and he loved Bill Wilson.

74:41

[01 14:22.403 – 01:14:24.553] Yeah.

74:42

[01 14:24.553 – 01:14:26.623] So that is it for tonight.

74:45

[01 14:26.623 – 01:14:29.603] I am going to go ahead and allow everyone to unmute.

74:50

[01 14:29.603 – 01:14:32.923] And thank, Mike, and I hope to see you all here next week.

74:56

[01 14:32.923 – 01:14:35.123] Who do we have next week, Tim?

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

aa history presented by mike f – 2025-06-03

aa history presented by mike f – 2025-06-03

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