…goes to the co-founder of this great fellowship. The man whom I speak is our co-founder, Bill. So I shall now give you Bill. We all sense the great spirit that fills this hall. And we know that the name of that spirit is gratitude. Gratitude, indeed, is the keynote of every AA gathering. Gratitude to him who presides over all, who has delivered us, the children of the night, from this dark bondage. And today, we have with us our friend. Some of the many who have helped make this society what it is. Dr. Sadler is here. Mr. Carlson is here. They say that this thing is good. They are saying something more than that, though. They are saying not only have we become soberer. They are saying that we now belong again. Something we always wanted so much to do. We belong. We are citizens of this great city, this marvelous commonwealth, this beloved land of ours. Indeed, we are now worldwide, 5,000 groups in all in 52 countries. And I think that we are being welcomed and recognized as citizens of the world. It is often well said, that Alcoholics Anonymous and its supposed virtues are not really virtues at all because they haven't been earned. The thing that happens to us and will, we trust, happen to hundreds of thousands of more is in its essence a gift. A gift of God. Again, on behalf of our entire fellowship, I record my thanks to everyone who has come. So many of our friends seem present. It seems fitting that we talk a little bit today about what sort of folks get to be Alcoholics Anonymous. What is this thing, alcoholism? As we alcoholics understand it, as the medics understand it. Of what does it consist? How are people taken from this bondage? One of the most fatal ailments of mind and soul that has ever beset men and women. And that since time out of mind. How do we get released from this thing? What is this society all about? How did it start? How does it remain whole? How does it function? And then perhaps in conclusion, the way we may presume to live the veil that obscures our future and take a look ahead. It is customary in a meeting to hang information on the thread of personal narrative. And so, I hope…