Books of the Oxford Group – Part 1 presented by Nick H. – 6/16/2026

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Nick Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2026

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Nick Listen to Workshop Recording

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Nick ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Nick Nick H. speaking on "Books of the Oxford Group - Part 1" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (June 16, 2026). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Nick Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.819 – 00:00:07.879] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

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[00 00:07.879 – 00:00:10.558] Thanks everyone for joining us tonight.

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[00 00:10.558 – 00:00:19.539] My name is Tim, and tonight's presentation is part one of Books of the Oxford Group, presented by Nick H.

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[00 00:19.539 – 00:00:20.899] in Georgia.

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[00 00:20.899 – 00:00:26.019] And we meet here every Tuesday night at the same time using the same Zoom ID.

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[00 00:26.019 – 00:00:36.060] And as we continue exploring the people, events, recordings, books, and stories that helped shape AA and the wider

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[00 00:36.060 – 00:00:37.170] 12-step movement.

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[00 00:37.170 – 00:00:48.840] This meeting is recorded, and all past presentations are preserved and made available through the new website recoveryspeakers.org.

0:55

[00 00:48.840 – 00:00:53.759] Uh, so far I have all of the recordings of 2026 posted.

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[00 00:53.759 – 00:01:00.579] I am still working on getting the past six years of workshops put up, up there.

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[00 01:00.579 – 00:01:10.579] And Recovery Speakers is a 501[c][3] nonprofit dedicated to preserving

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[00 01:10.579 – 00:01:15.239] and sharing the audio history of AA and the 12-step fellowships.

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[00 01:15.239 – 00:01:25.319] Our archive includes thousands of recordings, many transferred from original reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes so these voices and stories are

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[00 01:25.319 – 00:01:26.640] not lost to time.

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[00 01:26.640 – 00:01:32.239] We are not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous or any other 12-step organization.

1:31

[00 01:32.239 – 00:01:42.319] Our purpose is historical preservation, education, and carrying this recovery history forward for future generations.

1:37

[00 01:42.319 – 00:01:52.560] Recoveryspeakers.org features our growing searchable archive, speaker of the day recordings, restored talks, historical

1:44

[00 01:52.560 – 00:01:58.920] archives that are newly added, and a museum is now added to the new platform.

1:50

[00 02:09.620 – 00:02:19.829] uh, create an account, and there's free access for all of the audio, getting into the museum, and, uh, historical archives.

1:59

[00 02:19.829 – 00:02:23.919] There will be a subscription fee for that starting August 1st.

2:03

[00 02:23.919 – 00:02:29.319] Right now until August 1st, everything on the website is free to access.

2:09

[00 02:29.319 – 00:02:37.560] And if you are able to support this preservation work, contributions are appreciated.

2:14

[00 02:37.560 – 00:02:40.520] I'll be sharing the donation information in the chat.

2:18

[00 02:40.520 – 00:02:43.939] And tonight we should...

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[00 02:43.939 – 00:02:45.030] Well, a couple things.

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[00 02:45.030 – 00:02:55.120] Nick's presentation on Books of the Oxford Group, there will be a few people asked to, uh, participate by reading a quote from an Oxford Group

2:33

[00 02:55.120 – 00:02:59.580] book and sharing a little bit of experience to how you relate on it.

2:39

[00 02:59.580 – 00:03:09.620] And also at the end of the meeting, we should have some time for Q&A, so if you have any questions for Nick, please write them down and be ready

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[00 03:09.620 – 00:03:11.039] to ask questions at the end.

2:54

[00 03:11.039 – 00:03:15.719] And I am also closing the chat during the presentation.

2:59

[00 03:15.719 – 00:03:18.039] I will open that back up at the end of the meeting.

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[00 03:18.039 – 00:03:22.060] And with that, that is it for me.

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[00 03:22.060 – 00:03:25.159] I am going to go ahead and introduce Nick.

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[00 03:25.159 – 00:03:32.539] I'm grateful for your research and your work in putting this together and looking forward to the presentation tonight.

3:19

[00 03:32.539 – 00:03:35.460] All right.

3:20

[00 03:35.460 – 00:03:40.400] Uh, thanks Tim, and, uh, Mike, and everyone at Recovery Speakers for asking me to join.

3:27

[00 03:40.400 – 00:03:42.219] I'm grateful to be here.

3:29

[00 03:42.219 – 00:03:46.860] My name's Nick, and I'm a, a grateful member of the Al-Anon family groups.

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[00 03:46.860 – 00:03:49.840] Bear with me just a moment.

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[00 03:49.840 – 00:03:55.319] Share this presentation.

3:40

[00 03:55.319 – 00:04:03.939] All right.

3:41

[00 04:03.939 – 00:04:05.379] Can everybody see that okay?

3:43

[00 04:05.379 – 00:04:08.479] All right.

3:44

[00 04:08.479 – 00:04:18.600] So, uh, Tim suggested, uh, a while back when I did a presentation, uh, a number of years ago that maybe I should, uh, share a little bit about

3:56

[00 04:18.600 – 00:04:22.060] myself, uh, before I jump into the presentation.

4:00

[00 04:22.060 – 00:04:26.779] So I'll tell you a, a story about my recovery.

4:04

[00 04:26.779 – 00:04:32.680] I, uh, I came, uh, to Al-Anon, uh, after my wife had been to Alcoholics Anonymous.

4:11

[00 04:32.680 – 00:04:34.689] I came a couple of months after.

4:14

[00 04:34.689 – 00:04:38.800] Uh, she had been to a treatment center, and then I got sober in AA.

4:20

[00 04:38.800 – 00:04:45.120] And I, I wasn't doing so great, and I was going to see a therapist.

4:26

[00 04:45.120 – 00:04:55.360] And, uh, so I, I started in Al-Anon, and I got a sponsor, and he was a double winner who had been sober 27 years.

4:36

[00 04:55.360 – 00:04:57.240] He was kind of like an old-school AA guy.

4:40

[00 04:57.240 – 00:05:00.319] He was really a character.

4:43

[00 05:00.319 – 00:05:10.360] And, uh, he was, uh, sort of, uh, telling me that I had a part in all my problems and that I couldn't blame all my troubles on my wife, and this sort

4:56

[00 05:10.360 – 00:05:10.860] of stuff.

4:57

[00 05:10.860 – 00:05:13.680] And I didn't really like what he was saying.

5:01

[00 05:13.680 – 00:05:14.439] I didn't wanna hear it.

5:03

[00 05:14.439 – 00:05:24.660] So I was going to this therapist, and I told the therapist that I had this sponsor in Al-Anon, and he was acting like Al-Anon and AA were

5:15

[00 05:24.660 – 00:05:26.079] some kind of magical thing.

5:17

[00 05:26.079 – 00:05:31.800] I was just gonna be transformed, and it was like snap my finger and I'm gonna be better.

5:25

[00 05:31.800 – 00:05:41.839] And the therapist said to me, "You know, Nick, you've been traumatized with what you've been through, and, uh, you know, people who've been traumatized, they, they don't just snap their finger

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[00 05:41.839 – 00:05:42.660] and get better.

5:39

[00 05:42.660 – 00:05:52.769] Sometimes, uh, you know, it can be a lifelong process of overcoming trauma." And I thought, "Man, that's exactly what I'm gonna tell my sponsor next time he starts harping all this

5:52

[00 05:52.769 – 00:06:02.839] AA and Al-Anon 12-step stuff." So he starts doing it one day and I said, "Hey, man, I wanna tell you, you know, I also go to a therapist and,

6:04

[00 06:02.839 – 00:06:12.839] and he's a trained professional, and he told me that I've been traumatized, and that a person who's been traumatized like me can't just snap your fingers and get

6:16

[00 06:12.839 – 00:06:14.040] better instantly.

6:17

[00 06:14.040 – 00:06:18.079] It doesn't work like that." And he says, "I'll be damned, Nick.

6:23

[00 06:18.079 – 00:06:20.920] For once I agree with everything you just said.

6:26

[00 06:20.920 – 00:06:22.240] I can't believe it.

6:28

[00 06:22.240 – 00:06:24.019] But he's right.

6:30

[00 06:24.019 – 00:06:27.819] You cannot just overcome the trauma you've been through.

6:34

[00 06:27.819 – 00:06:31.860] But this program doesn't have anything to do with you.

6:38

[00 06:31.860 – 00:06:36.600] In fact, I don't see your name mentioned one time in the 12 steps.

6:44

[00 06:36.600 – 00:06:39.519] I see God's mentioned several times.

6:46

[00 06:39.519 – 00:06:46.879] And in this program we rely on God, and not Nick." And so it was an important lesson for me.

6:55

[00 06:46.879 – 00:06:56.098] And I look back and think, uh, what might have happened to me, uh, if I wouldn't have had that sponsor, uh, in Al-Anon.

7:05

[00 06:56.098 – 00:06:59.350] I, I may have sat in a therapist's office the rest of my life talking ab-

7:11

[00 06:59.529 – 00:07:00.929] About how I'd been traumatized.

7:14

[00 07:00.929 – 00:07:10.949] And instead, uh, you know, he led me down the path of relying on a power greater than myself, and, uh, it's been 20 years, uh, now for me, and

7:25

[00 07:10.949 – 00:07:12.899] I'm, I'm grateful to still be on the journey.

7:29

[00 07:12.899 – 00:07:19.009] So that's a little bit about me, and now we'll get into the books of the Oxford Group.

7:37

[00 07:19.009 – 00:07:23.369] All right.

7:38

[00 07:23.369 – 00:07:30.829] So I figure we have people, uh, from, you know, all different, uh, stages in sobriety or on their journey in recovery.

7:47

[00 07:30.829 – 00:07:40.089] So I thought it would make sense to, uh, put a slide together just to sort of explain what the Oxford Group was, for those of you who might not know.

8:00

[00 07:40.089 – 00:07:50.429] So the Oxford Group was a non-denominational Christian movement founded by American Lutheran minister Frank Buchman in 1921.

8:07

[00 07:50.429 – 00:08:00.529] Originally under the name First Century Christian Fellowship, Buchman believed that fear and selfishness were

8:13

[00 08:00.529 – 00:08:02.209] the root of all problems.

8:15

[00 08:02.209 – 00:08:06.429] Some of you may have heard that before, uh, in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

8:22

[00 08:06.429 – 00:08:16.009] He also believed that the solution to living without fear and selfishness was to surrender one's life over to God's plan.

8:31

[00 08:16.009 – 00:08:26.649] Buchman had a spiritual experience at a chapel in Keswick, England when he attended a decisive sermon by Jessie Penn-Lewis.

8:39

[00 08:26.649 – 00:08:35.709] He resigned a part-time post at Hartford Seminary in 1921 to found a movement called First Century Christian Fellowship.

8:46

[00 08:35.709 – 00:08:41.849] By 1928, the fellowship had come to be known as the Oxford Group.

8:52

[00 08:41.849 – 00:08:47.739] The Oxford Group enjoyed worldwide popularity and success in the 1930s.

8:56

[00 08:47.739 – 00:08:54.799] Buchman encouraged participants in the group to continue as members of their own respective churches.

9:03

[00 08:54.799 – 00:09:05.209] The Oxford Group literature defines the group as not being a religion, for it had no hierarchy, no temples, no endowments,

9:11

[00 09:05.209 – 00:09:10.249] its workers no salaries, and no plans but God's plan.

9:16

[00 09:10.249 – 00:09:19.808] In fact, one could not belong to the Oxford Group, for it had no membership lists, badges, or definite location.

9:24

[00 09:19.808 – 00:09:25.869] It was simply a group of people from all walks of life who have surrendered their life to God.

9:32

[00 09:25.869 – 00:09:34.609] Their endeavor was to lead a spiritual life under God's guidance, and their purpose was to carry their message so others could do the same.

9:42

[00 09:34.609 – 00:09:40.509] The group was more like a spiritual revolution unhampered by institutional ties.

9:47

[00 09:40.509 – 00:09:44.029] It combined social activities with religion.

9:50

[00 09:44.029 – 00:09:51.309] It had no organized board of officers and declared itself to be not an organization but an organism.

9:57

[00 09:51.309 – 00:09:58.489] The tenets and practices of the Oxford Group greatly influenced Alcoholics Anonymous.

10:02

[00 09:58.489 – 00:10:07.669] Ebby Thatcher's sobriety through the Oxford Group led him to carry the message to Bill Wilson, who then carried the message to Dr.

10:12

[00 10:07.669 – 00:10:08.129] Bob.

10:13

[00 10:08.129 – 00:10:12.429] So that's sort of a background as to how it all started.

10:18

[00 10:12.429 – 00:10:21.989] This is a picture of Frank Buchman, who was the founder of the Oxford Group, and, uh, it's really hard to find audio clips of Frank Buchman speaking.

10:29

[00 10:21.989 – 00:10:29.109] But here's a really short one, and it'll sort of give you an idea o- of what he set out to do, uh, in the Oxford Group.

10:40

[00 10:29.109 – 00:10:34.049] That by the time I finish speaking, some of you will have made a decision.

10:46

[00 10:34.049 – 00:10:37.469] Some have come hoping to be changed.

10:50

[00 10:37.469 – 00:10:41.749] Some of you come here with the hope that you will learn to change others.

10:56

[00 10:41.749 – 00:10:46.329] The danger is that some of you want to stop there.

11:01

[00 10:46.329 – 00:10:52.949] I am tremendously interested in a third point, how to save a crumbling civilization.

11:06

[00 10:52.949 – 00:10:55.969] Then I want to reach the millions of the world.

11:11

[00 10:55.969 – 00:10:59.149] The next step is revolution.

11:13

[00 10:59.149 – 00:11:01.209] It is uncomfortable.

11:15

[00 11:01.209 – 00:11:03.529] I'm not here to make you comfortable.

11:18

[00 11:03.529 – 00:11:04.969] I'm not here to make you like me.

11:21

[00 11:04.969 – 00:11:07.569] I'm going to promise you one thing.

11:24

[00 11:07.569 – 00:11:09.949] I am not turning back.

11:27

[00 11:09.949 – 00:11:17.089] I'm not turning back, no matter who does, no matter what it is going to cost.

11:34

[00 11:17.089 – 00:11:26.929] So that'll give you an idea of, of what they were trying to do with the Oxford Group, which is basically change the world, uh, and spark a revolution.

11:45

[00 11:26.929 – 00:11:30.849] Uh, and they became extremely popular during the 1930s.

11:49

[00 11:30.849 – 00:11:35.989] Uh, but Bill Wilson would often say, "We learned a lot from the Oxford Group.

11:56

[00 11:35.989 – 00:11:46.999] We learned what to do and what not to do." Uh, and in some ways, uh, some would argue that the Oxford Group sort of lost their way because they stopped focusing,

12:09

[00 11:46.999 – 00:11:55.069] uh, on changing people and helping others, uh, and instead on changing the world, uh, which can be viewed a little bit differently.

12:18

[00 11:55.069 – 00:12:04.829] That by the time- So, uh, I have a collection of Oxford Group books, and so I've put them together, uh, in separate slides.

12:28

[00 12:04.829 – 00:12:13.189] We'll do one book at a time, and we'll go through a little history about when the book was published, uh, who it was written by, uh, et cetera.

12:40

[00 12:13.189 – 00:12:17.649] And then we'll read a quote, uh, from each of the books.

12:45

[00 12:17.649 – 00:12:27.649] Uh, and then I've put on the slide a comparison where, uh, sort of the same principle that you find in this Oxford Group book, uh,

12:55

[00 12:27.649 – 00:12:36.529] you'll also see that it was carried over, uh, from Bill's experience in the Oxford Group, carried over, uh, into the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

13:06

[00 12:36.529 – 00:12:42.769] So this is, like, sort of the major, uh, book of the Oxford Group.

13:12

[00 12:42.769 – 00:12:47.349] It was titled For Sinners Only, and it was written by A.J.

13:17

[00 12:47.349 – 00:12:47.969] Russell.

13:18

[00 12:47.969 – 00:12:51.869] And you see there's three different versions here, uh, on the screen.

13:23

[00 12:51.869 – 00:12:57.329] The, the one on the far left, uh, that's the, uh, first printing from the United Kingdom.

13:30

[00 12:57.329 – 00:13:04.409] The one in the center, uh, is a first printing that was printed here in the United States.

13:38

[00 13:04.409 – 00:13:09.029] And the one on the right, that is a later printing.

13:43

[00 13:09.029 – 00:13:15.249] It was a little bit smaller version, uh, and it was also printed in the United Kingdom.

13:50

[00 13:15.249 – 00:13:20.469] So this book was published in 1932.

13:52

[00 13:20.469 – 00:13:26.549] Uh, the UK publisher was Hodder & Stoughton, and the US publisher was Harper & Brothers.

13:59

[00 13:26.549 – 00:13:36.589] And here's a little slide to show, uh, on page, uh, 283,

14:04

[00 13:36.589 – 00:13:37.649] chapter 23.

14:05

[00 13:37.649 – 00:13:46.629] Uh, it's titled The Spirit Moves, and it's talking about, uh, Oxford Group people going out and helping others.

14:12

[00 13:46.629 – 00:13:49.229] Uh, and the little quote reads...

14:15

[00 13:49.229 – 00:13:50.869] Whoa.

14:16

[00 13:50.869 – 00:13:53.289] My mouse is a little touchy.

14:19

[00 13:53.289 – 00:13:58.749] The quote reads, "A Persian lad of such low character that all

14:24

[00 13:58.945 – 00:14:05.305] Regarded him as hopeless, was winning other students within the first six months.

14:29

[00 14:05.305 – 00:14:08.785] Armenians and Jews as well.

14:32

[00 14:08.785 – 00:14:11.805] Ancient hatreds began to melt.

14:34

[00 14:11.805 – 00:14:20.105] And what I thought that, uh, that was similar to in the big book comes from chapter two.

14:42

[00 14:20.105 – 00:14:23.805] There is a solution on page one, or on page seventeen.

14:46

[00 14:23.805 – 00:14:33.965] And the quote says, "We are people who normally would not mix, but there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness,

14:55

[00 14:33.965 – 00:14:43.974] and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful." So the, the people in the Oxford Group were going out and helping others, people of different cultures,

15:05

[00 14:43.974 – 00:14:46.445] different faiths, different religions.

15:07

[00 14:46.445 – 00:14:55.925] Uh, and then you see that carried over today, uh, even now in Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon, any 12-step recovery group.

15:16

[00 14:55.925 – 00:15:06.135] Next is another book, uh, titled One Thing I Know, also written by

15:21

[00 15:06.135 – 00:15:06.445] A.J.

15:22

[00 15:06.445 – 00:15:06.965] Russell.

15:23

[00 15:06.965 – 00:15:17.225] And this is the, uh, British printing for the United Kingdom on the left, and the one on the right is, uh, the United States printing.

15:34

[00 15:17.225 – 00:15:27.265] This one was published, uh, in 1933, and again, Hodder & Stoughton in the United Kingdom and

15:40

[00 15:27.265 – 00:15:31.625] Harper & Brothers, uh, in the United States.

15:44

[00 15:31.625 – 00:15:41.805] And from page 175, the, uh, chapter is titled

15:48

[00 15:41.805 – 00:15:42.765] Still Waters.

15:49

[00 15:42.765 – 00:15:51.505] Uh, the quote from the Oxford Group book here says, "Can a man be absolutely honest, loving, unselfish, pure?

15:57

[00 15:51.505 – 00:15:53.385] No, he cannot.

15:58

[00 15:53.385 – 00:16:03.825] The more he thinks of it, the more certain he becomes that these are the impossible ideal." And

16:06

[00 16:03.825 – 00:16:08.105] from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5, How It Works, page 60.

16:11

[00 16:08.105 – 00:16:10.045] Many of you will be familiar with this one.

16:15

[00 16:10.045 – 00:16:17.745] The quote says, "No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles.

16:23

[00 16:17.745 – 00:16:19.665] We are not saints.

16:25

[00 16:19.665 – 00:16:30.214] The point is that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines." So again, just another example of principles,

16:32

[00 16:30.214 – 00:16:35.855] uh, that were found in the Oxford Group being carried over into the beginnings of AA.

16:39

[00 16:35.855 – 00:16:44.425] Next is a book, uh, titled Discipleship, uh, by Leslie Weatherhead.

16:44

[00 16:44.425 – 00:16:48.465] He was really a prolific guy.

16:47

[00 16:48.465 – 00:16:52.245] Uh, he probably wr- wrote about 60 books.

16:50

[00 16:52.245 – 00:17:03.295] Uh, and he was a, um, minister, uh, in the United Kingdom and sort of like the head of the Oxford Group movement, uh, in the UK, similar,

17:01

[00 17:03.295 – 00:17:05.994] uh, to what Sam Shoemaker was here in the United States.

17:06

[00 17:05.994 – 00:17:09.705] Uh, but this book is titled Discipleship.

17:09

[00 17:09.705 – 00:17:12.835] It was published in 1934.

17:11

[00 17:12.835 – 00:17:16.505] And there were-- Uh, you saw two different printings.

17:15

[00 17:16.505 – 00:17:21.265] Uh, the one on the left was Hodder & Stoughton, and the one on the right, the Abington Press.

17:23

[00 17:21.265 – 00:17:24.625] Again, the UK and US versions.

17:25

[00 17:24.625 – 00:17:34.845] And the quote here from pages, uh, 10 and 11 says, "The words which form the chapter headings

17:32

[00 17:34.845 – 00:17:43.705] are words which are being very much emphasized at present by the Oxford Group movement to which I personally owe a great debt.

17:42

[00 17:43.705 – 00:17:49.535] Yet this book is not a book on the Oxford Group movement.

17:47

[00 17:49.535 – 00:17:53.805] In the lectures given, no reference was made to it.

17:51

[00 17:53.805 – 00:18:03.805] I am sure that the movement does not desire to patent, as it were, these special words which are the keynotes of any real

18:01

[00 18:03.805 – 00:18:14.175] revival of religion." So, uh, what he's saying there is the Oxford Group doesn't have a patent on these spiritual ideas,

18:10

[00 18:14.175 – 00:18:14.455] right?

18:10

[00 18:14.455 – 00:18:20.344] And then you see, uh, in the big book, chapter two, there is a solution, page 28.

18:17

[00 18:20.344 – 00:18:30.445] Bill Wilson wrote, "We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired."

18:26

[00 18:30.445 – 00:18:40.505] So sort of the same, uh, concept of open-mindedness and willingness to not just focus on one particular

18:34

[00 18:40.505 – 00:18:42.165] faith or group of people.

18:36

[00 18:42.165 – 00:18:47.905] Next, uh, is another one, uh, written by A.J.

18:40

[00 18:47.905 – 00:18:48.505] Russell.

18:41

[00 18:48.505 – 00:18:50.285] And this is a really interesting book.

18:44

[00 18:50.285 – 00:18:55.325] Uh, if you can ever come across one, it's, it's a cool book to read.

18:50

[00 18:55.325 – 00:19:02.045] Uh, it's titled Healing in His Wings: The Biography of a Spiritual Healer.

18:56

[00 19:02.045 – 00:19:07.745] And this one was published in 1937.

18:59

[00 19:07.745 – 00:19:18.305] Uh, the only, uh, publication I've ever been found is printed in, in Great Britain in 1937, and the publisher was Methuen.

19:07

[00 19:18.305 – 00:19:28.405] And in this one, chapter eight, uh, is titled The Archbishop's Blessing.

19:12

[00 19:28.405 – 00:19:38.425] And on, uh, these pages, he wrote, "Evelyn Underhill's answer in her book on mysticism is that rapture

19:20

[00 19:38.425 – 00:19:49.085] or ecstasy includes a moment, often a very short and indescribable moment, in which the mystic enjoys

19:27

[00 19:49.085 – 00:19:59.445] a supreme knowledge of or participation in divine reality." And

19:31

[00 19:59.505 – 00:20:09.905] from Bill's, uh, own personal story in the big book, chapter one, Bill's story, Bill wrote, "At long last,

19:39

[00 20:09.905 – 00:20:12.685] I saw, I felt, I believed.

19:42

[00 20:12.685 – 00:20:17.225] Scales of pride and prejudice fell from my eyes.

19:46

[00 20:17.225 – 00:20:19.245] A new world came into view.

19:49

[00 20:19.245 – 00:20:22.885] For a brief moment, I had needed and wanted God.

19:53

[00 20:22.885 – 00:20:33.265] There had been a humble willingness to have Him with me, and He came." So these types of, uh-- Some people would refer to Bill Wilson,

20:04

[00 20:33.265 – 00:20:35.044] uh, as a, a mystic.

20:06

[00 20:35.044 – 00:20:44.325] Uh, but people who are familiar with mysticism and, uh, in the Oxford Group movement, there was a strong belief, uh, in these types of things.

20:17

[00 20:44.325 – 00:20:54.385] Uh, and in Bill Wilson's own personal experience, uh, in Townes Hospital, he felt that the presence of divine reality,

20:25

[00 20:54.385 – 00:20:58.105] uh, as it refers to, uh, in the Oxford Group book.

20:30

[00 21:00.301 – 00:21:02.481] Next is another one, uh, by A.J.

20:33

[00 21:02.481 – 00:21:04.851] Russell, who wrote a lot of Oxford Group books.

20:37

[00 21:04.851 – 00:21:08.461] Uh, this one is titled Their Religion.

20:40

[00 21:08.461 – 00:21:18.761] It was published in 1934 in Great Britain, and the publisher was Hodder & Stoughton.

20:46

[00 21:18.761 – 00:21:27.981] And I believe Barry Swift, it's your turn to read, uh, this one if you'd like to, brother.

20:53

[00 21:27.981 – 00:21:36.121] And you can read, uh, the Oxford Group quote, uh, the quote from the Big Book, and then share a little bit about, uh, your own experience, strength and hope.

21:06

[00 21:36.121 – 00:21:46.381] I'm Barry Alcoholic, and, uh, don't drink, don't smoke, don't chew, don't swear, don't gamble, don't lie, don't cheat, love

21:14

[00 21:46.381 – 00:21:47.801] God, love your fellow man.

21:16

[00 21:47.801 – 00:21:50.981] Love truth, love virtue, and be happy.

21:19

[00 21:50.981 – 00:21:54.181] Well, that was, uh...

21:21

[00 21:54.181 – 00:21:57.361] It's a lot.

21:23

[00 21:57.361 – 00:22:01.801] And, uh, but we aren't a glum lot.

21:27

[00 22:01.801 – 00:22:05.361] Well, I think, I don't know if those two...

21:30

[00 22:05.361 – 00:22:10.861] Y- you caught me off guard, Nick.

21:34

[00 22:10.861 – 00:22:14.931] I wasn't, I wasn't prepared to share tonight, but I, I, I love these words.

21:40

[00 22:14.931 – 00:22:18.021] Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't.

21:42

[00 22:18.021 – 00:22:18.861] Love God.

21:43

[00 22:18.861 – 00:22:20.341] Be a good boy.

21:45

[00 22:20.341 – 00:22:23.521] And it could never work for me.

21:49

[00 22:23.521 – 00:22:25.741] Yeah.

21:49

[00 22:25.741 – 00:22:37.501] What stood out to me, uh, was this last little, uh, whoa, last little section, um, where he says, "And be happy." And

21:59

[00 22:37.501 – 00:22:41.701] then what we see in the Big Book, you know, if, but we're not a glum lot.

22:06

[00 22:41.701 – 00:22:46.381] If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it.

22:12

[00 22:46.381 – 00:22:48.981] We absolutely insist on enjoying life.

22:15

[00 22:48.981 – 00:22:59.421] And, uh, so I figure by putting, uh, "And be happy" at the end, they were trying to put an emphasis on it, how important it is to,

22:26

[00 22:59.421 – 00:23:00.461] to enjoy life.

22:28

[00 23:00.461 – 00:23:08.641] And that's why I came into AA in 1993, because I saw people smiling, and I realized that I wasn't smiling.

22:36

[00 23:08.641 – 00:23:10.301] And I had a...

22:38

[00 23:10.301 – 00:23:15.561] I was good living, making a good living, and had a good life, and I wasn't smiling.

22:45

[00 23:15.561 – 00:23:17.421] But I do today.

22:47

[00 23:17.421 – 00:23:19.621] Thanks, that's all I got.

22:49

[00 23:19.621 – 00:23:21.661] Thanks, Barry.

22:51

[00 23:21.661 – 00:23:28.861] We're on a roll here with, uh, books written by A.J.

22:56

[00 23:28.861 – 00:23:29.391] Russell.

22:57

[00 23:29.391 – 00:23:31.121] This is a cool, uh, book.

22:59

[00 23:31.121 – 00:23:33.481] It's titled Christ Comes to Town.

23:02

[00 23:33.481 – 00:23:43.501] Uh, it's a fictional story, uh, sort of like what would it be like if Christ came into your town today, and how would

23:12

[00 23:43.501 – 00:23:46.201] things be handled, and how would people receive him?

23:16

[00 23:46.201 – 00:23:46.961] What would he do?

23:18

[00 23:46.961 – 00:23:49.661] It's an interesting concept to think about.

23:21

[00 23:49.661 – 00:23:58.421] It was published in 1935 and, uh, in Great Britain, and the publisher was Cassell.

23:27

[00 23:58.421 – 00:24:08.561] And in chapter four, Miracles, the quote reads, "It is here, there, and everywhere.

23:33

[00 24:08.561 – 00:24:16.341] Wherever men attain knowledge of God's love and enter into communion with God, there is a golden age.

23:40

[00 24:16.341 – 00:24:21.301] It is within us because God is in us.

23:44

[00 24:21.301 – 00:24:31.531] It is around us because we are in God." And then, uh, from the Big Book of AA, in chapter four, We Agnostics,

23:54

[00 24:31.531 – 00:24:41.961] page 55, it reads, "Actually, we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man, woman and child

24:01

[00 24:41.961 – 00:24:52.421] is the fundamental idea of God." So I thought there's a really vivid example of a principle carried right over from the Oxford Group, uh, into Alcoholics

24:12

[00 24:52.421 – 00:24:53.061] Anonymous.

24:12

[00 24:53.061 – 00:25:02.741] Next is a book by Jack Winslow, uh, titled Why I Believe in the Oxford Group.

24:19

[00 25:02.741 – 00:25:07.681] And I think the title will tell you a little bit about, uh, what the book is about.

24:27

[00 25:07.681 – 00:25:17.201] It was published in 1934 and, uh, the publisher was Hodder & Stoughton in the United Kingdom.

24:33

[00 25:17.201 – 00:25:27.341] And from the forward, uh, in this book, on pages 10 and 11, I found this little quote.

24:40

[00 25:27.341 – 00:25:33.881] It says, "True, we may fail and fall far short of our ideal.

24:45

[00 25:33.881 – 00:25:43.901] But for one who honestly makes absolute unselfishness his ideal, it must mean nothing less than

24:52

[00 25:43.901 – 00:25:54.161] that self-emptying which found its highest expression in our Lord and must be the very foundation of a character

25:00

[00 25:54.161 – 00:26:04.241] which is fashioned after his likeness." So when they're talking about this absolute unselfishness, many of you are probably familiar with the four absolutes of the Oxford

25:11

[00 26:04.241 – 00:26:05.261] Group.

25:12

[00 26:05.261 – 00:26:07.511] Uh, that's what he's referring to.

25:15

[00 26:07.511 – 00:26:14.691] And then, uh, what I was able to come up with, uh, out of the Big Book is chapter five, How It Works, on page 63.

25:25

[00 26:14.691 – 00:26:23.741] The quote reads, "God, I offer myself to thee to build with me and to do with me as thou wilt.

25:33

[00 26:23.741 – 00:26:31.981] Relieve me of the bondage of self that I may better do thy will." So many of you are probably familiar with that.

25:43

[00 26:31.981 – 00:26:38.761] We call that the third step prayer, and it's the same principle, uh, that you would find in the Oxford Group.

25:52

[00 26:38.761 – 00:26:48.920] Absolute unselfishness, they refer to as self-emptying, and, uh, that's exactly what we're doing, uh, in the third step prayer,

26:00

[00 26:48.921 – 00:26:51.741] uh, surrendering our will, uh, over to God.

26:03

[00 26:51.741 – 00:26:59.781] This is a, another one, uh, is titled One Sermon Only.

26:08

[00 26:59.781 – 00:27:05.491] And, uh, you see there's a whole list of different, uh, authors or contributors, uh, to this book.

26:16

[00 27:05.491 – 00:27:06.781] Uh, A.J.

26:17

[00 27:06.781 – 00:27:09.701] Russell, uh, is here at the bottom.

26:20

[00 27:09.701 – 00:27:11.521] He, uh, served as the editor.

26:23

[00 27:11.521 – 00:27:18.081] Uh, we also see Leslie Weatherhead, uh, the, one of the authors we t- talked about just a moment ago.

26:31

[00 27:18.081 – 00:27:21.801] So this is a collection, uh, of different messages.

26:35

[00 27:21.801 – 00:27:30.421] It was published in 1938 by Nicholson and Watson in the United Kingdom.

26:40

[00 27:30.421 – 00:27:38.961] And I took a quote here from chapter nine, which was titled, What Can We Believe?

26:47

[00 27:38.961 – 00:27:49.281] On pages 90 and 91, the quote reads, "Think of yourself not as somebody who had just lost a pound or a packet

26:56

[00 27:49.281 – 00:27:54.341] on the derby, but as one in whom God is concerned.

27:00

[00 27:54.341 – 00:27:57.671] So concerned, in fact, that he w-

27:04

[00 27:57.937 – 00:28:08.377] To the length of inspiring men through the centuries, and finally, in self-disclosure of revealing himself toward you

27:11

[00 28:08.437 – 00:28:13.757] and placing power at your disposal to help you make the best of yourself.

27:17

[00 28:13.757 – 00:28:18.137] No matter how you explain that power, it does work.

27:21

[00 28:18.137 – 00:28:28.437] So what they're saying to someone in essence is, "Hey, if you just went through a hard time and lost your money at the derby, don't think of yourself as a schmuck, uh,

27:35

[00 28:28.437 – 00:28:30.056] who, who just lost his money.

27:37

[00 28:30.056 – 00:28:40.557] Think of yourself as a person who is God, who God is so tremendously concerned with, uh, that he's been building up people for centuries,

27:48

[00 28:40.557 – 00:28:50.017] uh, with the intent o- of revealing himself to you through a, a message from someone else." So, like, God is really concerned about you personally.

27:58

[00 28:50.017 – 00:29:00.337] And then in the big book, How It Works, page 59, step two says, "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore

28:08

[00 29:00.337 – 00:29:09.837] us to sanity." So this very same power that they would refer to in the Oxford Group, it's not just God coming into your life, but a power.

28:19

[00 29:09.837 – 00:29:15.737] Uh, same principle that we find in AA or any 12-step group.

28:25

[00 29:15.737 – 00:29:25.917] Next is the one that many of you are probably familiar with.

28:30

[00 29:25.917 – 00:29:30.577] Uh, it's titled I Was a Pagan, and, uh, the author was B.C.

28:36

[00 29:30.577 – 00:29:31.057] Kitchen.

28:36

[00 29:31.057 – 00:29:35.237] This is really one of my favorite Oxford Group books, a great story.

28:42

[00 29:35.237 – 00:29:40.736] Uh, and I think you can actually get, like, a cheap paperback version now if you're interested in reading it.

28:50

[00 29:40.736 – 00:29:46.297] But the one here on the left is the, uh, UK printing, uh, by Hodder & Stoughton.

28:57

[00 29:46.297 – 00:29:50.797] The one on the right is the Harper & Brothers, uh, printing from the United States.

29:04

[00 29:50.797 – 00:29:57.077] It was published in 1934, and again, the author was B.C.

29:09

[00 29:57.077 – 00:29:57.697] Kitchen.

29:09

[00 29:57.697 – 00:30:01.937] And the quote I took from this one...

29:13

[00 30:01.937 – 00:30:04.647] I, uh...

29:14

[00 30:04.647 – 00:30:06.977] Oh, forgive me.

29:16

[00 30:06.977 – 00:30:14.877] I have a magic mouse, and this thing is going a little haywire.

29:21

[00 30:14.877 – 00:30:17.277] Here we go.

29:23

[00 30:17.277 – 00:30:27.577] So the quote I took from it, it says, "I found a new purpose and usefulness in life, the kind of usefulness which, as Finney

29:33

[00 30:27.577 – 00:30:37.497] suggests, makes one spirit-filled Christian more useful while sick in bed than any hundred able-bodied Christians of common order.

29:41

[00 30:37.497 – 00:30:43.207] I found that I was no longer vexed, distressed, or worried.

29:46

[00 30:43.207 – 00:30:51.387] When people spoke against me, I found myself calm under affliction and happy regardless of circumstances.

29:52

[00 30:51.387 – 00:31:02.737] I found what was really beautiful in nature, what was really true in thought, and infinite goodness of God." And,

30:00

[00 31:02.737 – 00:31:09.757] uh, what I came up with out of the big book is in chapter six, Into Action, on, uh, pages 83 and 84.

30:09

[00 31:09.757 – 00:31:14.477] The quote says, "We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

30:15

[00 31:14.477 – 00:31:18.157] We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.

30:21

[00 31:18.157 – 00:31:21.637] We will comprehend the word serenity, and we will know peace.

30:26

[00 31:21.637 – 00:31:27.707] No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.

30:34

[00 31:27.707 – 00:31:31.217] That feeling of usefulness and self-pity will disappear.

30:37

[00 31:31.217 – 00:31:35.417] We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.

30:43

[00 31:35.417 – 00:31:37.117] Self-seeking will slip away.

30:45

[00 31:37.117 – 00:31:43.417] Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change." So I know many of you are familiar with that.

30:53

[00 31:43.417 – 00:31:45.797] We refer to that as the promises.

30:56

[00 31:45.797 – 00:31:49.517] Uh, but it's the exact same type of experience that B.C.

31:01

[00 31:49.517 – 00:31:58.517] Kitchen had, uh, in the Oxford Group, uh, where he says, "I found myself calm under affliction and happy regardless of the circumstances.

31:10

[00 31:58.517 – 00:32:07.437] Found what was really beautiful in nature." Next, uh, is a book written by Stephen Foot.

31:17

[00 32:07.437 – 00:32:13.137] The title is Life Began Yesterday, and you'll see three different versions here.

31:23

[00 32:13.137 – 00:32:17.197] Uh, the one on the far left is the, uh, United Kingdom printing.

31:28

[00 32:17.197 – 00:32:19.336] Uh, the one in the middle is the US printing.

31:32

[00 32:19.336 – 00:32:22.577] And the one on the far right, that's a later version.

31:37

[00 32:22.577 – 00:32:26.217] Uh, and they referred to it as the first cheap edition.

31:42

[00 32:26.217 – 00:32:35.157] And, uh, you'll see, uh, a little change, uh, in the name of the Oxford Group book, uh, from these first printings to the later one.

31:53

[00 32:35.157 – 00:32:45.157] You'll see, uh, on the f- first two on the left, it says, "A new book on the Oxford Group." But you see on the far

32:03

[00 32:45.157 – 00:32:55.197] right, "A book of moral rearmament." So this is showing you where the, the name of the Oxford Group, uh, changed from Oxford Group

32:13

[00 32:55.197 – 00:32:59.017] to Moral Rearmament, uh, in the late 1930s.

32:17

[00 32:59.017 – 00:33:04.417] And this one was published in 1935.

32:19

[00 33:04.417 – 00:33:12.097] Uh, Heinemann was the UK, uh, publisher, and Harper & Brothers, uh, published, uh, the US printing.

32:26

[00 33:12.097 – 00:33:15.807] And Tim, I believe, uh, this one is yours, brother.

32:31

[00 33:15.807 – 00:33:17.577] Thanks, Nick.

32:32

[00 33:17.577 – 00:33:27.457] I'm Tim, I'm an alcoholic, and Life Began Yesterday, Chapter 8, Family Life, pages 130 to 131.

32:38

[00 33:27.457 – 00:33:30.137] "What a difference when a family is changed.

32:41

[00 33:30.137 – 00:33:40.597] I have now met hundreds of fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, who have had experience of two kinds of homes, the unguided

32:50

[00 33:40.597 – 00:33:41.457] and the guided.

32:52

[00 33:41.457 – 00:33:52.137] They all speak of an entirely new atmosphere, a joy and radiance, a fellowship and trust in the home life that makes it an entirely

33:02

[00 33:52.137 – 00:34:03.377] different place." And from the AA Big Book, from Chapter 9, The Family Afterword, page 134, "In

33:08

[00 34:03.377 – 00:34:09.597] time they will see that he is a new man, and in their own way they will let him know it.

33:17

[00 34:09.597 – 00:34:19.597] When this happens, they can be invited to join in mor- morning meditation, and they can take part in f- in daily discussions without

33:27

[00 34:19.597 – 00:34:20.817] rancor or bias.

33:28

[00 34:20.817 – 00:34:24.657] From that point on, progress will be rapid.

33:32

[00 34:24.657 – 00:34:34.657] Marvelous results often follow such a reunion." And, uh, in my experience, you know, I was

33:38

[00 34:34.657 – 00:34:36.147] 23 when I got sober.

33:40

[00 34:36.147 – 00:34:44.137] I didn't think that I caused too much havoc to the world around me or my family or, uh, even friends or anything.

33:50

[00 34:44.137 – 00:34:53.177] And, uh, you know, I, uh, when I first read this before the meeting, I thought, "You know, I, I didn't have a family.

34:00

[00 34:53.177 – 00:34:56.497] Uh, you know, what, what change did they really experience?"

34:04

[00 34:57.333 – 00:35:07.353] And then I remembered my, right around 90 days sober, I, I had gotten sober in Arizona, and then, uh, my family was

34:13

[00 35:07.353 – 00:35:09.034] still in, uh, Buffalo, New York.

34:16

[00 35:09.034 – 00:35:13.233] And my grandmother, uh, she passed away when I was 90 days sober.

34:21

[00 35:13.233 – 00:35:21.193] So I went back to Buffalo for the funeral, and basically my whole childhood up until, you know, I was ...

34:29

[00 35:21.193 – 00:35:25.413] When I got sober, um, I kind of had like a second family.

34:35

[00 35:25.413 – 00:35:26.952] It was, uh, my best friend.

34:37

[00 35:26.952 – 00:35:30.913] Um, I'd always be over at their house and crashing over there.

34:42

[00 35:30.913 – 00:35:34.833] And, uh, for long stretches I probably lived in their house.

34:47

[00 35:34.833 – 00:35:42.333] And, uh, my friend's dad showed up to my grandmother's funeral and saw me, and he broke down into tears.

34:55

[00 35:42.333 – 00:35:45.574] And he was just, um, "I thought you were dead.

35:00

[00 35:45.574 – 00:35:53.713] I thought you were just gonna be gone." You know, there was no belief that, uh, I could change and, and be any different.

35:10

[00 35:53.713 – 00:35:59.454] And, you know, when he walked into that funeral home and saw me, uh, he just broke down in tears.

35:18

[00 35:59.454 – 00:36:06.954] And that was really, that was the first time that I saw the effect of my alcoholism on other people.

35:26

[00 36:06.954 – 00:36:09.833] You know, I always thought I was just hurting myself.

35:30

[00 36:09.833 – 00:36:20.393] And, uh, I had to remake some amends after that because I didn't truly see the effect that I had on other people in my drinking and using, and still now in my sobriety.

35:44

[00 36:20.393 – 00:36:26.094] Um, so thank you for bringing this up, Nick, and, uh, I'll pass it back to you.

35:51

[00 36:26.094 – 00:36:27.954] No, thank you, Tim.

35:53

[00 36:27.954 – 00:36:29.413] I appreciate you sharing that.

35:56

[00 36:29.413 – 00:36:35.454] Next is another book, uh, written by Stephen Foot.

35:59

[00 36:35.454 – 00:36:39.293] Uh, this one is titled Three Lives and Now.

36:03

[00 36:39.293 – 00:36:49.034] It was published in 1937 in Great Britain, uh, and the publisher was Heinemann.

36:09

[00 36:49.034 – 00:36:59.233] And before I read these quotes, I wanna let everyone know, uh, we would ask, uh, for some more volunteers to do, uh, what Tim

36:19

[00 36:59.233 – 00:37:08.643] just did by reading, uh, the couple of quotes that are on the screen, and then sharing your own experience, uh, and how it may have applied to your own personal recovery.

36:32

[00 37:08.643 – 00:37:15.994] Uh, so if you're interested in volunteering to do that later on in the presentation, uh, we'll do it like every fifth book that we cover.

36:43

[00 37:15.994 – 00:37:23.653] Uh, if you would use the raise hand feature on Zoom, uh, then when we get to that point, uh, Tim will call on you to share.

36:54

[00 37:23.653 – 00:37:29.913] So the quote I took, uh, from this book is, uh, part three, chapter seven.

37:00

[00 37:29.913 – 00:37:40.474] It was titled A Fourth Life, and it reads, "Moreover, the speaker was telling us of his own experience, and he was obviously

37:09

[00 37:40.474 – 00:37:41.594] speaking the truth.

37:11

[00 37:41.594 – 00:37:51.134] He had been one of the leaders of the Africans Party in Pretoria with exceedingly bitter feelings against the English.

37:19

[00 37:51.134 – 00:38:01.474] But the whole of his outlook, indeed his whole nature, had changed as a result of meeting the Oxford Group."

37:28

[00 38:01.474 – 00:38:08.594] So many of you are probably familiar with all the different, uh, hostilities that took place in South Africa and what was going on there.

37:38

[00 38:08.594 – 00:38:15.074] Uh, and the Oxford Group went there to help people, uh, and carry a message, and that's what he's referring to.

37:46

[00 38:15.074 – 00:38:25.163] And I thought, "How is this comparable to what we find, uh, in the Big Book?" So in chapter six, Into Action, the quote reads,

37:57

[00 38:25.163 – 00:38:35.233] "And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone, even alcohol, for by this time sanity will

38:03

[00 38:35.233 – 00:38:36.134] have returned.

38:05

[00 38:36.134 – 00:38:38.833] We will seldom be interested in liquor.

38:08

[00 38:38.833 – 00:38:42.713] If tempted, we will recoil from it as from a hot flame.

38:13

[00 38:42.713 – 00:38:49.554] We react sanely and normally, and will find this has happened automatically.

38:18

[00 38:49.554 – 00:38:56.393] We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given to us without any thought or effort on our part.

38:27

[00 38:56.393 – 00:38:58.233] It just comes.

38:29

[00 38:58.233 – 00:39:08.233] That is the miracle of it." All right, and next, uh, is a book called

38:35

[00 39:08.233 – 00:39:12.173] God Calling, and this is a daily devotional book.

38:39

[00 39:12.173 – 00:39:13.253] Uh, A.J.

38:40

[00 39:13.253 – 00:39:16.114] Russell, uh, served as the editor.

38:43

[00 39:16.114 – 00:39:26.333] Uh, the author is, uh, the two listeners, and these were, uh, what you could refer to as mystics,

38:51

[00 39:26.333 – 00:39:32.953] uh, who believe they had, uh, received messages from God, uh, and they wrote those down.

38:58

[00 39:32.953 – 00:39:34.213] And A.J.

38:59

[00 39:34.213 – 00:39:38.753] Russell compiled those, uh, into a devotional book.

39:03

[00 39:38.753 – 00:39:43.953] And, uh, I know Mike's give some presentations sort of about the history behind this one.

39:09

[00 39:43.953 – 00:39:47.913] It's, it's a really popular book, I think one of the best-selling books of all time.

39:16

[00 39:47.913 – 00:39:51.403] Uh, and it, it's really a lot of great messages.

39:20

[00 39:51.403 – 00:40:01.594] And I think, uh, they more or less took a lot of the principles from this book, uh, and created the 24 Hours

39:29

[00 40:01.594 – 00:40:03.393] a Day, uh, daily reader.

39:32

[00 40:03.393 – 00:40:06.373] It sort of, uh, mirrors what you'd find in this one.

39:37

[00 40:06.373 – 00:40:16.563] But this was published in 1945, and the quote that I took from it, uh, is, uh, from May 9th,

39:44

[00 40:16.563 – 00:40:19.634] and on pages, uh, 100 and 101.

39:47

[00 40:19.634 – 00:40:27.514] The quote reads, "Doubt always your power or wisdom to put things right.

39:52

[00 40:27.514 – 00:40:38.873] Ask Me to right all as you leave it to Me and go on your own way loving and laughing." So,

40:01

[00 40:38.873 – 00:40:42.193] uh, how does that compare to what we might find in the Big Book?

40:07

[00 40:42.193 – 00:40:46.494] Uh, I went to chapter 11, A Vision for You, on page 164.

40:12

[00 40:46.494 – 00:40:51.833] That quote reads, "Abandon yourself to God as you understand God.

40:16

[00 40:51.833 – 00:40:55.833] Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows.

40:20

[00 40:55.833 – 00:40:57.673] Clear away the wreckage of the past.

40:23

[00 40:57.673 – 00:41:00.574] Give freely of what you find and join us.

40:27

[00 41:00.574 – 00:41:10.703] We shall be with you in the fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the happy road of destiny." It's always

40:39

[00 41:10.703 – 00:41:14.903] a, a great reading, uh, you know, the end of the first 164.

40:44

[00 41:14.903 – 00:41:22.074] Uh, but the exact same principle of, uh, abandoning yourself to God and turning things over to Him.

40:52

[00 41:22.074 – 00:41:32.253] Uh, and I really like, uh, how it says, "Go on your way loving and laughing." Uh, and then when Bill wrote the Big Book, uh, he referred to us as trudging

41:05

[00 41:32.253 – 00:41:33.614] the road of happy destiny.

41:07

[00 41:33.614 – 00:41:39.634] So again, a, a big emphasis on being happy and joyous and enjoying our life.

41:13

[00 41:39.634 – 00:41:49.634] And I can tell you, when I showed up at Al-Anon, my wife showed up at AA, w- enjoying our life wasn't even a

41:23

[00 41:49.634 – 00:41:50.014] thought.

41:24

[00 41:50.014 – 00:41:52.614] Uh, I think both of us were so miserable.

41:28

[00 41:52.614 – 00:41:56.623] And, uh, man, I'm grateful that we, we hooked up with all of y-

41:34

[00 41:56.756 – 00:42:02.416] You and, uh, you all were smiling and laughing just as, uh, Barry was referring to earlier.

41:41

[00 42:02.416 – 00:42:06.476] Uh, next is another one.

41:43

[00 42:06.476 – 00:42:10.596] Uh, it's referred to as a companion volume, uh, to God Calling.

41:48

[00 42:10.596 – 00:42:18.736] Uh, and again, the authors would be the two listeners, uh, and AJ Russell, uh, served as the editor.

41:56

[00 42:18.736 – 00:42:25.756] And this was published in 1950, uh, by Dodd, Mead and Company.

42:01

[00 42:25.756 – 00:42:32.056] And the quote that I took from it is June the 15th.

42:06

[00 42:32.056 – 00:42:42.436] On Page 90 and 91, it reads, "Do not let doubt or fear assail or depress you because of this time of anguish

42:15

[00 42:42.436 – 00:42:46.816] and failure since through which you have passed.

42:18

[00 42:46.816 – 00:42:48.416] No, this had to be.

42:21

[00 42:48.416 – 00:42:51.356] Useful work lies ahead of you.

42:23

[00 42:51.356 – 00:43:01.356] Before the onset of so great a task, my servant has usually to walk through the valley of humiliation or

42:32

[00 43:01.356 – 00:43:09.496] into the wilderness." So in essence, they're saying, you've been through some kind of terrible thing in your life.

42:39

[00 43:09.496 – 00:43:10.956] You've wandered in the wilderness.

42:42

[00 43:10.956 – 00:43:13.716] You've been subject to humiliation.

42:44

[00 43:13.716 – 00:43:17.136] Uh, and how does this, uh, carry over into the Big Book?

42:49

[00 43:17.136 – 00:43:27.556] Chapter nine, The Family Afterward on Page 132 it says, "So we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness.

42:57

[00 43:27.556 – 00:43:37.576] Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past, but

43:05

[00 43:37.576 – 00:43:39.016] why shouldn't we laugh?

43:07

[00 43:39.016 – 00:43:49.076] We have recovered and have been given the power to help others." And so in the Oxford Group, uh, quote there

43:15

[00 43:49.076 – 00:43:59.376] in the book, it refers to, uh, you know, before such a great task, uh, folks may have, have suffered or went through tough times.

43:25

[00 43:59.376 – 00:44:09.436] Uh, but this is referring to in, in the Big Book how w- whatever we suffered or went through, uh, we can laugh about today, uh, because we know it's given

43:38

[00 44:09.436 – 00:44:14.556] us the power, uh, to do God's will and to help others and, and carry a message.

43:45

[00 44:14.556 – 00:44:24.616] And for me, that's been a really important, uh, principle, uh, to be able to hang out with folks, uh, in an Al-Anon meeting and

43:55

[00 44:24.616 – 00:44:31.756] laugh about the crazy things that I said and did, or the chaos that played out, uh, in our home.

44:04

[00 44:31.756 – 00:44:42.446] And, and to be able to genuinely laugh about it, uh, and to share that with another person who, who's, who may be, you know, right in the middle of dealing with that tragic type of situation.

44:18

[00 44:42.446 – 00:44:47.676] Uh, and then they're able to see in us, uh, that you can recover.

44:24

[00 44:47.676 – 00:44:48.696] You can get better.

44:26

[00 44:48.696 – 00:44:51.556] Uh, people's lives, uh, truly are changed.

44:29

[00 44:51.556 – 00:45:00.056] Uh, next is a book that has a lot of different, uh, writings from several different folks.

44:37

[00 45:00.056 – 00:45:03.356] Uh, it's titled Oxford and the Groups.

44:40

[00 45:03.356 – 00:45:10.396] And, uh, I've only seen one copy with this, uh, original band here on it.

44:46

[00 45:10.396 – 00:45:15.046] And, uh, when I saw that, I said, "I'm gonna have to swipe that up." ...

44:52

[00 45:15.046 – 00:45:16.036] one of those before.

44:54

[00 45:16.036 – 00:45:21.716] You, you can see on that little band it says, "The story of the groups by a leader of the movement.

45:03

[00 45:21.716 – 00:45:31.176] Bookmanism criticized and defended." So there are a lot of different Oxford Group books that would give you, like, different perspectives, uh, on the Oxford Group.

45:14

[00 45:31.176 – 00:45:36.096] There were some books written that were just a straight up criticism of the Oxford Group.

45:20

[00 45:36.096 – 00:45:42.316] So it, it became so popular, uh, and spread across basically the whole world.

45:26

[00 45:42.316 – 00:45:52.356] Uh, there were a lot of different folks, uh, in, in religions, uh, folks in the Catholic Church who, who were, uh, not really fond of the Oxford

45:38

[00 45:52.356 – 00:45:54.636] Group because it became such a big deal.

45:41

[00 45:54.636 – 00:46:02.036] Uh, and it was open to people of any denomination or any different faith.

45:47

[00 46:02.036 – 00:46:12.036] Uh, I'm Catholic myself, but you know, if you go tell the Catholic Church, uh, there's many ways towards a relationship with God, they didn't like that m- too

45:59

[00 46:12.036 – 00:46:12.576] much, so.

46:00

[00 46:12.576 – 00:46:20.596] Uh, but th- this one was published in 1934, uh, and the publisher was Basil Blackwell in Oxford.

46:07

[00 46:20.596 – 00:46:30.676] And the quote I took comes from Chapter 7, which was titled The Group Movement and Social

46:14

[00 46:30.676 – 00:46:40.936] Problems, and the quote reads, "This putting off of the day of self-surrender is the greatest stronghold of sin,

46:22

[00 46:40.936 – 00:46:44.176] and it must be stormed out at all costs.

46:25

[00 46:44.176 – 00:46:54.256] Every man must be brought to see that the root of all evil is within himself." And in Chapter 5, How

46:34

[00 46:54.256 – 00:46:58.656] It Works on Page 62, many of you are probably familiar with this one.

46:39

[00 46:58.656 – 00:47:00.376] It's quoted a lot in meetings.

46:42

[00 47:00.376 – 00:47:06.466] "So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making.

46:47

[00 47:06.466 – 00:47:16.476] They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually

46:55

[00 47:16.476 – 00:47:17.536] doesn't think so.

46:56

[00 47:17.536 – 00:47:23.836] Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness.

47:00

[00 47:23.836 – 00:47:26.276] We must or it kills us.

47:03

[00 47:26.276 – 00:47:36.296] God makes that possible." And I thought, "Man, this is almost just a, you know, a mirror of the principle that you find in the Oxford Group

47:14

[00 47:36.296 – 00:47:46.596] book, that, uh, this sort of selfish type of thinking, uh, and our, our problems being within ourselves." Uh, makes me tremendously

47:23

[00 47:46.596 – 00:47:56.596] grateful to be a part of 12-step recovery and Al-Anon because, uh, I could have blamed my problems on other

47:32

[00 47:56.596 – 00:47:58.206] people or my wife's drinking.

47:34

[00 47:58.206 – 00:48:05.636] Uh, and instead I had this stubborn old school sponsor who demanded, uh, that I take a look at myself.

47:42

[00 48:05.636 – 00:48:15.616] And, you know, when he, when he finally started to get through to me and, and I took a look at myself, I, I was able to find that I, I created a lot of my own problems.

47:58

[00 48:15.616 – 00:48:25.876] You know, my wife's drinking might have been, uh, some trouble to deal with, but man, my reaction to her drinking was oftentimes, y- you know, the spark

48:09

[00 48:25.876 – 00:48:28.416] that, uh, set, set the fire.

48:12

[00 48:28.416 – 00:48:35.676] Next is a book that's titled, uh, What Is The Oxford Group?

48:17

[00 48:35.676 – 00:48:44.356] And, uh, I believe this one, uh, if anyone has raised their hand, uh, we would like to call on you to share with us.

48:27

[00 48:44.356 – 00:48:53.106] Uh, this one was written, uh, by an anonymous, uh, author, uh, who called himself The Layman with a Notebook.

48:35

[00 48:53.106 – 00:48:56.046] And it was published in 19-

48:38

[00 48:56.172 – 00:48:57.152] 1933.

48:38

[00 48:57.152 – 00:49:00.032] Publisher was the Oxford University Press.

48:41

[00 49:00.032 – 00:49:05.212] And, uh, Tim, do we have anyone that's raised their hand?

48:45

[00 49:05.212 – 00:49:13.642] We do not, but I think Paul jumped back on, and he volunteered earlier.

48:51

[00 49:13.642 – 00:49:14.472] Paul, are you there?

48:53

[00 49:14.472 – 00:49:24.492] And we'll still need two more volunteers after this one,

48:58

[00 49:24.492 – 00:49:24.992] right, Nick?

48:59

[00 49:24.992 – 00:49:25.872] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

49:00

[00 49:25.872 – 00:49:26.672] No, I'm back in.

49:02

[00 49:26.672 – 00:49:27.092] I'm on.

49:04

[00 49:27.092 – 00:49:27.832] That's great.

49:05

[00 49:27.832 – 00:49:28.512] I'd love to.

49:06

[00 49:28.512 – 00:49:31.072] Yeah, step in and I'll read for sure.

49:10

[00 49:31.072 – 00:49:32.312] Great show.

49:11

[00 49:32.312 – 00:49:33.772] Let me pull it up.

49:13

[00 49:33.772 – 00:49:37.172] Okay, Paul, alcoholic.

49:15

[00 49:37.172 – 00:49:37.552] Sorry.

49:16

[00 49:37.552 – 00:49:39.352] What is the Oxford Group?

49:18

[00 49:39.352 – 00:49:43.512] Chapter five, restitution, page 56, 57.

49:20

[00 49:43.512 – 00:49:54.632] "Confronted by a changed person who comes to make restitution for some wrong done, many unchanged people are not sure how to deal with the situation.

49:31

[00 49:54.632 – 00:50:04.712] Someone coming seemingly out of the blue to make with absolute honesty and humility restitution for a wrong done to them!" It is unprecedented, and there

49:41

[00 50:04.712 – 00:50:15.092] are no printed rules or regulations that they can refer to which will tell them how, without loss of dignity or acquiring patronage, to deal with this strange situation."

49:53

[00 50:15.092 – 00:50:17.652] And that's from that book, as you said, What Is The Oxford Group?

49:59

[00 50:17.652 – 00:50:18.412] Chapter five.

50:00

[00 50:18.412 – 00:50:24.892] And I guess the follow-up from AA book is, what, chapter six, Into Action, page 78.

50:06

[00 50:24.892 – 00:50:28.612] "In nine cases out of 10, the unexpected happens.

50:10

[00 50:28.612 – 00:50:35.992] Sometimes the man we were calling upon admits his own fault, so feuds of years standing melt away in an hour.

50:18

[00 50:35.992 – 00:50:39.532] Rarely do we fail to make satisfactory progress.

50:22

[00 50:39.532 – 00:50:44.052] Our former enemies sometimes praise what we are doing and wish us well.

50:27

[00 50:44.052 – 00:50:46.392] Occasionally, they will offer assistance.

50:30

[00 50:46.392 – 00:50:47.972] It should not matter.

50:32

[00 50:47.972 – 00:50:55.992] However, if someone does throw us out of his office, we have made our demonstration, done our part, it's water over the dam." Thanks for letting me read.

50:43

[00 50:55.992 – 00:50:59.332] Thanks, Paul.

50:44

[00 50:59.332 – 00:51:09.372] And so, uh, you all may recall a presentation Mike did, uh, here recently about the six steps of the Oxford Group, or

50:54

[00 51:09.372 – 00:51:14.532] sort of the six, uh, principles that they had, and restitution, uh, was one of them.

51:00

[00 51:14.532 – 00:51:19.212] And, of course, that was carried over into Alcoholics Anonymous.

51:05

[00 51:19.212 – 00:51:27.132] And what both of these readings are, are about is the, the process of making restitution to someone, uh, we've done harm to.

51:14

[00 51:27.132 – 00:51:37.212] Uh, and it's interesting, uh, to see the direct correlation, uh, between what w- what they were doing in the Oxford Group and, and then what they did in, in early

51:27

[00 51:37.212 – 00:51:37.752] AA.

51:27

[00 51:37.752 – 00:51:47.492] Uh, next is a book titled The Eight Points of The Oxford Group, and the author is C.

51:35

[00 51:47.492 – 00:51:48.692] Irving Benson.

51:36

[00 51:48.692 – 00:51:58.692] It was published in 1936, and the publisher was Humphrey Milford,

51:40

[00 51:58.692 – 00:52:01.372] Oxford Unity- Oxford University Press.

51:43

[00 52:01.372 – 00:52:11.372] And the quote that I took from it on pages 22 and 23 reads, "Their solitary search for

51:50

[00 52:11.372 – 00:52:14.612] forgiveness is generally unsuccessful.

51:51

[00 52:14.612 – 00:52:22.912] The forgiveness of God is an amazing gift, but it is hard to believe and accept the gift.

51:59

[00 52:22.912 – 00:52:27.552] Sharing makes God's pardon real.

52:01

[00 52:27.552 – 00:52:37.652] Peace without forgiveness is impossible, and confession is the way to forgiveness and therefore the way to peace."

52:09

[00 52:37.652 – 00:52:47.712] So what they're saying is, uh, if you're trying to seek, uh, forgiveness on your own, uh, it's, it's generally unsuccessful.

52:17

[00 52:47.712 – 00:52:50.852] Uh, you have to share things with another person.

52:21

[00 52:50.852 – 00:53:01.012] Uh, and then of course in, uh, the Big Book, chapter six, Into Action, on page 72, uh, the quote reads, "This is perhaps difficult,

52:31

[00 53:01.012 – 00:53:05.152] especially discussing our defects with another person.

52:34

[00 53:05.152 – 00:53:09.952] We think we have done well enough in admitting these things to ourselves.

52:40

[00 53:09.952 – 00:53:12.132] There is doubt about that.

52:42

[00 53:12.132 – 00:53:18.192] In actual practice, we usually find a solitary self-appraisal insufficient.

52:47

[00 53:18.192 – 00:53:21.691] Many of us thought it necessary to go much further.

52:51

[00 53:21.691 – 00:53:30.272] We will be more reconciled to discussing ourselves with another person when we see good reasons why we should do so.

53:00

[00 53:30.272 – 00:53:40.272] The best reason first, if we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking." So, uh, if you've been around

53:08

[00 53:40.272 – 00:53:44.232] a while, I'm sure you've heard, uh, people say, "Well, I'm just gonna do it on my own.

53:16

[00 53:44.232 – 00:53:52.311] I can do it my own way." And, uh, you know, I think the experience of the folks in the Oxford Group show that that generally didn't work.

53:27

[00 53:52.311 – 00:53:58.032] Uh, and, and I know that's definitely the case, uh, you know, my experience in Al-Anon.

53:34

[00 53:58.032 – 00:54:08.852] And, uh, I'm also appreciative, uh, of what, uh, it emphasizes here a- a- a- about talking with another person a-

53:42

[00 54:08.852 – 00:54:18.982] and, and sharing your shortcomings with them, and what a big burden it takes off of my shoulders, uh, when I know I can sit down with a sponsor, another

53:55

[00 54:18.982 – 00:54:24.972] friend in Al-Anon, uh, and share the real truth about what's going on in my life or how I feel.

54:03

[00 54:24.972 – 00:54:34.322] Uh, I know that I'm not alone, and I think two people gathered together in God's name, uh, trying to, to get better a day at a time, what a real blessing.

54:16

[00 54:34.322 – 00:54:42.372] Uh, next is a book titled God Does Guide Us by W.E.

54:21

[00 54:42.372 – 00:54:43.392] Sangster.

54:22

[00 54:43.392 – 00:54:52.612] It was published in 1934 in the United Kingdom by Hodder & Stoughton.

54:27

[00 54:52.612 – 00:54:57.552] And the quote that I took from this one, uh, is chapter 13.

54:32

[00 54:57.552 – 00:55:00.162] It's, uh, titled By Way of Warning.

54:35

[00 55:00.162 – 00:55:10.252] And the quote reads, "No apology therefore is necessary for sounding the note of warning and of looking squarely

54:43

[00 55:10.252 – 00:55:20.252] at the dangers, because it is still imperative that he who thinketh he standeth should take heed lest he

54:51

[00 55:20.252 – 00:55:29.832] fall." So it's talking about this sort of idea of standing on my own and, uh, overcoming your problems by yourself.

55:00

[00 55:29.832 – 00:55:39.852] And in chapter five, How It Works, page 68, it reads, "We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator.

55:08

[00 55:39.852 – 00:55:44.352] We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness.

55:13

[00 55:44.352 – 00:55:47.932] Paradoxically, it is the way of strength.

55:16

[00 55:47.932 – 00:55:51.992] The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage.

55:21

[00 55:51.992 – 00:55:54.272] All men of faith have courage.

55:23

[00 55:54.272 – 00:55:55.462] They tru-

55:25

[00 55:55.618 – 00:55:56.258] their God.

55:26

[00 55:56.258 – 00:55:58.188] We never apologize for God.

55:28

[00 55:58.188 – 00:56:02.348] Instead, we let Him demonstrate through us what He can do.

55:33

[00 56:02.348 – 00:56:09.968] Next is a, uh, a book written by Dr.

55:37

[00 56:09.968 – 00:56:20.168] Ebenezer MacMillan, and it's titled Seeking and Finding, and you'll see there on the dust jackets, the one on the left is the United Kingdom printing.

55:47

[00 56:20.168 – 00:56:27.148] The one on the right is the US, and, uh, on the cover there it says Oxford Group Sermons.

55:55

[00 56:27.148 – 00:56:37.168] It was published in 1933, and, uh, as with the case of many Oxford

56:01

[00 56:37.168 – 00:56:42.888] Group books, Hodder & Stoughton published in the United Kingdom, and Harper & Brothers in the United States.

56:08

[00 56:42.888 – 00:56:53.208] And the quote I took from this one is Chapter 3: The Fear of Spiritual Change, and on pages 46 and 47 it reads,

56:17

[00 56:53.208 – 00:57:01.368] "It is usually the religious who most deeply resent in others what they have not got themselves.

56:24

[00 57:01.368 – 00:57:06.868] Envy and fear are the root of their bitterness, chiefly fear.

56:29

[00 57:06.868 – 00:57:16.068] Fear of what such change would mean to themselves, fear of coming too close to the supernatural.

56:36

[00 57:16.068 – 00:57:26.088] It is a fear we have all known." And then I took, uh, from the Big Book, Chapter 5: How It Works, on page 62, "Selfishness and

56:46

[00 57:26.088 – 00:57:29.568] self-centeredness, that we think is the root of our troubles.

56:50

[00 57:29.568 – 00:57:40.008] Driven by 100 forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate."

56:59

[00 57:40.008 – 00:57:45.728] Next is another book, uh, by Dr.

57:02

[00 57:45.728 – 00:57:50.628] Ebenezer MacMillan, and this one is titled Finding and Following.

57:06

[00 57:50.628 – 00:57:52.588] It's sort of a part two.

57:09

[00 57:52.588 – 00:58:04.118] Uh, and you'll see up top it says, "A book of the Oxford Group." It was published in 1935 in the United Kingdom by Hodder & Stoughton, and

57:20

[00 58:04.118 – 00:58:14.258] the quote I took from this one is, uh, from Chapter 10: No Looking Back, and it reads, "We are not ready to adventure out without

57:30

[00 58:14.258 – 00:58:19.388] God as Abraham did, going out knowing whither he went.

57:34

[00 58:19.388 – 00:58:29.908] If we are still hankering after the old life, the old human loves and sentimental relationships." And

57:41

[00 58:29.908 – 00:58:38.228] from the Big Book, Chapter 5: How It Works, on page 58, I took the quote, "We thought we could find an easier, softer way.

57:51

[00 58:38.228 – 00:58:48.548] Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas, and the result was nil until we let go absolutely." So both, uh,

58:01

[00 58:48.548 – 00:58:57.868] the Oxford Group book and the Big Book are talking about hanging on to old ideas, uh, the old life, old relationships, uh, not being able to let go absolutely.

58:13

[00 58:57.868 – 00:59:05.588] Uh, next we can probably get, uh, close to wrapping things up.

58:18

[00 59:05.588 – 00:59:07.528] We'll maybe do two more volunteers.

58:21

[00 59:07.528 – 00:59:17.528] I don't know if anyone has their hand raised, uh, to read, but if not, there's a guy on here I sponsor, and I can be one of those overbearing sponsors and see if

58:35

[00 59:17.528 – 00:59:20.008] Michael, uh, share with us.

58:37

[00 59:20.008 – 00:59:28.748] If you're still on, Mike.

58:40

[00 59:28.748 – 00:59:30.568] Yeah, I'm still on.

58:42

[00 59:30.568 – 00:59:32.188] There we go.

58:43

[00 59:32.188 – 00:59:32.728] Uh, thanks, Nick.

58:45

[00 59:32.728 – 00:59:34.868] It's always good to be put on the spot.

58:49

[00 59:34.868 – 00:59:36.908] That means I have to rely on God, right?

58:53

[00 59:36.908 – 00:59:38.388] There you go, man.

58:55

[00 59:38.388 – 00:59:41.528] So I'll go through these two real quick, and then I'll turn it over to you.

59:01

[00 59:41.528 – 00:59:42.508] All right.

59:02

[00 59:42.508 – 00:59:47.148] Uh, so this is a book, uh, titled The Philosophy of Courage or the Oxford Group Way.

59:10

[00 59:47.148 – 00:59:48.788] The author is Philip Leon.

59:12

[00 59:48.788 – 00:59:50.948] Here's the UK and US printings.

59:15

[00 59:50.948 – 01:00:00.328] It was published in 1935 by the Oxford University Press, and I'll turn things over to you here, Mike.

59:22

[01 00:00.328 – 01:00:10.547] Philosophy of Courage or the Oxford Group Way, Chapter 3: Sharing or Spreading World Revolutions,

59:28

[01 00:10.548 – 01:00:13.088] pages 142 and 143.

59:29

[01 00:13.088 – 01:00:23.108] "Now the producer of the self, its strong mode of self-defense is to refuse to face itself as fear.

59:37

[01 00:23.108 – 01:00:25.888] It hides his face from itself.

59:40

[01 00:25.888 – 01:00:36.168] In its war against heaven, its strongest weapon is its visor." Uh, Alcoholic Anonymous, Chapter

59:46

[01 00:36.168 – 01:00:46.188] 5: How It Works, page 67, "Notice that the word fear is bracketed alongside the difficulties with

59:52

[01 00:46.188 – 01:00:46.308] Mr.

59:53

[01 00:46.308 – 01:00:50.668] Brown, Miss Jones, the employer, and the wife.

59:57

[01 00:50.668 – 01:00:56.648] This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives.

60:01

[01 00:56.648 – 01:01:00.808] It was an evil and corroding thread.

60:05

[01 01:00.808 – 01:01:06.488] The fabric of our existence was shot through with it." Wow.

60:09

[01 01:06.488 – 01:01:09.128] You know, I'm, I'm actually, uh...

60:12

[01 01:09.128 – 01:01:11.687] There's just so much here.

60:14

[01 01:11.687 – 01:01:14.528] Uh, fear was not one of my things.

60:18

[01 01:14.528 – 01:01:16.208] If someone had told me I was fearful...

60:21

[01 01:16.208 – 01:01:18.208] I'm in the online program.

60:24

[01 01:18.208 – 01:01:19.788] I've been in it for a year and a half.

60:28

[01 01:19.788 – 01:01:23.548] My wife joined AA at the same time.

60:32

[01 01:23.548 – 01:01:26.028] Uh, I had a lot of fear.

60:35

[01 01:26.028 – 01:01:27.578] Didn't know that's what it was, though.

60:38

[01 01:27.578 – 01:01:37.768] Fear of being found out, fear of exposure, fear of, uh, really coming to grips with who I was, and I tell

60:47

[01 01:37.768 – 01:01:41.228] you, I'm thankful to God today.

60:50

[01 01:41.228 – 01:01:46.828] This is a spiritual program because if it wasn't, I couldn't make it.

60:55

[01 01:46.828 – 01:01:56.868] And, uh, the Oxford Group, I'm really grateful for learning this history, and, uh, it's made all the difference in the world for me, my wife, my

61:06

[01 01:56.868 – 01:01:57.508] family.

61:07

[01 01:57.508 – 01:02:04.668] And, uh, I just wanna say thank you, Nick, for, for putting this presentation on, and thank you for letting me share.

61:16

[01 02:04.668 – 01:02:05.688] Yeah.

61:17

[01 02:05.688 – 01:02:07.948] Thank you, Mike, and I appreciate you joining, brother.

61:21

[01 02:07.948 – 01:02:09.528] Thanks for sharing.

61:22

[01 02:09.528 – 01:02:12.628] No problem.

61:24

[01 02:12.628 – 01:02:16.818] All right, we'll, uh, do one more set of slides and then close out here in just a few minutes.

61:32

[01 02:16.818 – 01:02:18.988] So, uh, this is a book...

61:35

[01 02:18.988 – 01:02:23.728] There's actually three versions of this book with three different titles, but they're all the exact same book.

61:42

[01 02:23.728 – 01:02:28.648] Uh, The Oxford Groups, The Oxford Group Movement, uh, and The Oxford Group Movement.

61:48

[01 02:28.648 – 01:02:38.688] They were published in 1933, uh, by the Oxford University Press, uh, either in London or New York, depending

61:55

[01 02:38.688 – 01:02:41.168] upon which version you have.

61:58

[01 02:41.168 – 01:02:45.508] And what I took from it came from Chapter 2: The Charge.

62:03

[01 02:45.508 – 01:02:54.468] Quote reads, "When we reflect on the conditions under which divine truth is perceived and appropriated by individuals..."

62:10

[01 02:55.024 – 01:03:04.804] We cannot but see how irrational and presumptuous it must be for us to pass judgment on the spiritual experiences of others.

62:19

[01 03:04.804 – 01:03:14.864] And from the Big Book, Chapter 4, We Agnostics, on page 52, uh, the quote I took from there is, "When we saw others solve their problems by a simple

62:30

[01 03:14.864 – 01:03:21.464] reliance upon the spirit of the universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God.

62:37

[01 03:21.464 – 01:03:31.524] Our ideas did not work, but the God idea did." And it's talking about, for me, the real power, uh, in someone

62:46

[01 03:31.524 – 01:03:32.944] sharing their experience.

62:48

[01 03:32.944 – 01:03:42.344] I mean, if you're sharing a philosophy with somebody or what you learned out of a book, uh, well, you can debate that with somebody, uh, but you can't argue against someone's experience.

63:01

[01 03:42.344 – 01:03:43.134] Mm-hmm.

63:02

[01 03:43.134 – 01:03:46.964] Uh, next is a book written by Olive Jones.

63:06

[01 03:46.964 – 01:03:49.884] Uh, the title is Inspired Children.

63:09

[01 03:49.884 – 01:03:56.124] This was published in 1933 by Harper & Brothers.

63:12

[01 03:56.124 – 01:04:00.024] And the quote I took from it comes from Chapter 1.

63:16

[01 04:00.024 – 01:04:07.244] Uh, and these are stories about children who had, like, uh, spiritual experiences that changed their lives.

63:24

[01 04:07.244 – 01:04:11.684] And, uh, the quote reads, "The release..." Whoa.

63:27

[01 04:11.684 – 01:04:15.384] My mouse is so touchy.

63:29

[01 04:15.384 – 01:04:25.344] "The release and peace, the discovery of the reality of God, and the inner certainty of faith which gives a reason for life.

63:39

[01 04:25.344 – 01:04:30.704] All these have been mine in these last six best years of my life.

63:45

[01 04:30.704 – 01:04:40.924] I might never have known them except that a child's challenge led me eventually into contact with the Oxford Groups,

63:53

[01 04:40.924 – 01:04:51.064] the first century Christian fellowship, as we often call it in America." So there's a, a, an experience of someone who ran into the Oxford Group,

64:04

[01 04:51.064 – 01:04:52.624] uh, and had a changed life.

64:06

[01 04:52.624 – 01:05:02.624] And from Bill's story, Chapter 1, page 14 in the Big Book, the quote I took were, "These were revolutionary and drastic proposals,

64:15

[01 05:02.624 – 01:05:07.264] but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric.

64:20

[01 05:07.264 – 01:05:12.884] There was a sense of victory followed by such a peace and serenity as I have ever known.

64:27

[01 05:12.884 – 01:05:15.304] There was utter confidence.

64:29

[01 05:15.304 – 01:05:25.394] I felt lifted up as though the great clean wind of a mountaintop blew through and through." Next is another

64:37

[01 05:25.394 – 01:05:27.314] book written, uh, by Olive Jones.

64:40

[01 05:27.314 – 01:05:29.384] It's titled Inspired Youth.

64:42

[01 05:29.384 – 01:05:32.544] There's a photo of the dust jacket cover.

64:46

[01 05:32.544 – 01:05:36.624] It was published in 1938 by Harper & Brothers.

64:49

[01 05:36.624 – 01:05:46.644] And from, uh, pages 272 and 273, the quote I took is, "Another thing I have

64:55

[01 05:46.644 – 01:05:49.704] been given by God is a purpose in life.

64:59

[01 05:49.704 – 01:05:57.304] At one time I did not want to live, and I might have gone so far as to kill myself if I had had the nerve.

65:10

[01 05:57.304 – 01:06:07.573] Now I know that I was put into the world for a reason, and so I have something definite to aim at." And

65:19

[01 06:07.573 – 01:06:17.064] from the Big Book, Chapter 7, Working with Others on page 89, uh, came up with the, "Life will take on a new meaning.

65:28

[01 06:17.064 – 01:06:27.064] To watch other people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to

65:38

[01 06:27.064 – 01:06:31.524] have a host of friends, this is an experience you must not miss.

65:43

[01 06:31.524 – 01:06:33.984] We know you will not want to miss it.

65:47

[01 06:33.984 – 01:06:44.364] Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives." And, uh, again, the same sort of principles, uh, that were playing out in the Oxford

66:00

[01 06:44.364 – 01:06:44.704] Group.

66:00

[01 06:44.704 – 01:06:51.704] Uh, thank God that Bill, uh, had the spiritual wisdom to carry that over, uh, into what we have today.

66:09

[01 06:51.704 – 01:07:01.844] Next is a, uh, book titled The Big Bender, and this is written by an alcoholic

66:15

[01 07:01.844 – 01:07:06.144] member of the Oxford Group, uh, Charles Clapp Jr.

66:19

[01 07:06.144 – 01:07:09.944] And this is a really cool book to read if you ever get time.

66:25

[01 07:09.944 – 01:07:12.324] Uh, it, it's really fun and interesting.

66:28

[01 07:12.324 – 01:07:16.764] Uh, it was published in 1938 by Harper & Brothers.

66:32

[01 07:16.764 – 01:07:23.464] And the quote I took from it comes from pages 90 and 91.

66:37

[01 07:23.464 – 01:07:27.744] He's talking about his drinking experience, and he says, "Remorse.

66:41

[01 07:27.744 – 01:07:32.444] The word does not in any way describe my feelings.

66:46

[01 07:32.444 – 01:07:37.784] I felt I was the lowest of the low for having become so completely paralyzed.

66:52

[01 07:37.784 – 01:07:44.604] I felt so low that I generally argue with myself that it just could not have been my fault.

67:00

[01 07:44.604 – 01:07:48.864] I would not, did not mean to, get into that condition.

67:05

[01 07:48.864 – 01:07:58.904] The whole thing must have been due to some outside causes which were beyond my control." So there he is in his drinking misery, uh,

67:15

[01 07:58.904 – 01:08:09.044] reflecting back on it thinking, "Well, it must have been somebody else's fault or some sort of circumstance." And in chapter three, More about Alcoholism, on page 30,

67:26

[01 08:09.044 – 01:08:14.144] uh, the quote reads, "All of us felt at times that we were regaining control.

67:32

[01 08:14.144 – 01:08:24.964] But such intervals, usually brief, were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible

67:40

[01 08:24.964 – 01:08:26.024] demoralization.

67:41

[01 08:26.024 – 01:08:32.364] We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness.

67:49

[01 08:32.364 – 01:08:42.684] Over any considerable period, we get worse, never better." So, uh, Charles Clapp was talking about remorse such terrible, uh, the word doesn't even begin

67:59

[01 08:42.684 – 01:08:44.064] to reflect how I feel.

68:02

[01 08:44.064 – 01:08:54.274] And, uh, Bill Wilson I think did an excellent job encapsulating that into, uh, what many of us are familiar with, uh, incomprehensible demoralization.

68:11

[01 08:54.274 – 01:08:57.264] Uh, what a, what a tough spot to be in.

68:16

[01 08:57.264 – 01:09:05.104] Uh, thank God, uh, Charles Clapp was eventually able to get sober, uh, when he came into contact with Bill and the Oxford Group.

68:26

[01 09:05.104 – 01:09:10.623] Uh, another book by Charles Clapp Jr., Drunks are Square Pegs.

68:30

[01 09:10.623 – 01:09:12.944] Uh, again, this is another...

68:33

[01 09:12.944 – 01:09:16.684] His books are all really kind of funny to read and interesting.

68:38

[01 09:16.684 – 01:09:19.224] Uh, uh, this was his second book.

68:41

[01 09:19.224 – 01:09:25.044] It was published in 1942 by the Island Press, uh, in New York.

68:46

[01 09:25.044 – 01:09:30.734] And the quote I took from it, uh, comes from pages 36 and 37.

68:51

[01 09:30.734 – 01:09:36.184] It reads, "When you hear a man or woman say, 'Liquor doesn't mean anything to me.

68:58

[01 09:36.184 – 01:09:39.864] I just drink to be sociable,' watch out.

69:02

[01 09:39.864 – 01:09:43.044] Those are alcoholic words.

69:04

[01 09:43.044 – 01:09:46.104] They are the drunk's slogan, prayer, and motto.

69:07

[01 09:46.104 – 01:09:54.354] Others might make such a statement, but that is what the square peg wants to believe." And, uh, the quote-

69:15

[01 09:54.561 – 01:10:00.121] I took from the Big Book is, uh, chapter two, "There is a solution," on page 32.

69:22

[01 10:00.121 – 01:10:01.841] Or I'm sorry, page 23.

69:24

[01 10:01.841 – 01:10:11.881] It reads, "If you ask him why he started on that last bender, the chances are he will offer you any one of a hundred alibis.

69:35

[01 10:11.881 – 01:10:21.101] Sometimes these excuses have a certain plausibility, but none of them really make sense in light of the havoc an alcoholic's drinking bout creates.

69:45

[01 10:21.101 – 01:10:31.141] Once in a while he may tell you the truth, and the truth, strange to say, is usually that he has no more idea why he took

69:56

[01 10:31.141 – 01:10:33.441] that first drink than you have.

69:58

[01 10:33.441 – 01:10:44.691] Some drinkers have excuses with which they are satisfied part of the time, but in their hearts they really do not know why they do it." And

70:09

[01 10:44.691 – 01:10:45.981] this will be our last one.

70:12

[01 10:45.981 – 01:10:48.961] Uh, it's another book, his last one, Charles Clatt Jr.

70:16

[01 10:48.961 – 01:10:52.341] Uh, here's a photo of the dust jacket.

70:20

[01 10:52.341 – 01:11:02.601] Uh, you can see it reads here at the bottom, "How you can help a potential alcoholic." It was published in 1949 by

70:29

[01 11:02.601 – 01:11:04.841] Thomas Crowell Company.

70:31

[01 11:04.841 – 01:11:14.861] And the quote I took comes from chapter two, which is titled, "Who drinks, why, and how?" It reads, "To feel better is the

70:40

[01 11:14.861 – 01:11:19.001] real and uncomplicated reason why anyone takes a drink.

70:44

[01 11:19.001 – 01:11:29.201] For many psychological reasons, people have offered a variety of explanations for the extremely simple act of pouring a liquid

70:53

[01 11:29.201 – 01:11:34.181] containing a small percentage of alcohol down their throats and swallowing it.

70:58

[01 11:34.181 – 01:11:45.161] In spite of all their excuses, apologies, and arguments to the contrary, our true impulse, that naive but honest one, to feel better." And

71:08

[01 11:45.161 – 01:11:55.461] I can recall, uh, being on a search for why my wife drank the way she did, and I thought it had to be some deep psychological thing, uh, that it might take

71:21

[01 11:55.521 – 01:11:58.641] scientists and 100 doctors to finally figure out.

71:24

[01 11:58.641 – 01:12:06.181] Uh, I showed up at Al-Anon, uh, got a sponsor, uh, and, and he made it real simple for me.

71:32

[01 12:06.181 – 01:12:11.681] Uh, he explained the doctor's opinion to me, uh, and I'll read this quote here.

71:39

[01 12:11.681 – 01:12:17.821] "Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol.

71:44

[01 12:17.821 – 01:12:27.821] The sensation is so elusive that while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after time differentiate the true from the false." So

71:54

[01 12:27.821 – 01:12:34.241] this big, deep, uh, question I was on a mission to, to figure out, uh, my sponsor made it real simple for me.

72:03

[01 12:34.241 – 01:12:41.401] He said, "We alcoholics, uh, drink because we like the produ- effect produced by alcohol." Short and simple.

72:10

[01 12:41.401 – 01:12:50.301] Uh, Tim and Mike, everyone at Recovery Speakers, thank you for, uh, allowing me to do the presentation, and, uh, hope you all have a good evening.

72:21

[01 12:50.301 – 01:12:51.661] Thanks everybody for joining.

72:23

[01 12:51.661 – 01:12:54.521] Thanks so much, Nick.

72:25

[01 12:54.521 – 01:12:55.521] Great job.

72:27

[01 12:55.521 – 01:12:59.961] And, uh, now we do have some time for questions if anyone has a question.

72:33

[01 12:59.961 – 01:13:03.461] Uh, so I will, uh ...

72:35

[01 13:03.461 – 01:13:03.841] Let's see.

72:36

[01 13:03.841 – 01:13:09.971] I will open up the chat, and if anyone, uh, wants to raise their hand with any questions, I'll get you unmuted.

72:45

[01 13:09.971 – 01:13:11.861] And first up is Duke.

72:48

[01 13:11.861 – 01:13:13.101] You can unmute.

72:49

[01 13:13.101 – 01:13:15.851] Uh, hey, Nick.

72:51

[01 13:15.851 – 01:13:17.561] Uh, thanks for the presentation.

72:53

[01 13:17.561 – 01:13:21.321] Um, how many of these books do you think Bill might have read?

72:59

[01 13:21.321 – 01:13:23.521] Or, or do you think people around him would have read them?

73:04

[01 13:23.521 – 01:13:32.111] I mean, I can definitely see where you're making these connections, so I'm wondering, you know, would Bill have known about these books, read them, others read them?

73:15

[01 13:32.111 – 01:13:33.361] Like, um ...

73:17

[01 13:33.361 – 01:13:41.901] You know, I, I can tell you what I know, uh, is that Bill Wilson said he was not a big reader, uh, that Dr.

73:27

[01 13:41.901 – 01:13:44.201] Bob was and he wasn't.

73:29

[01 13:44.201 – 01:13:54.901] Uh, so I'm thinking, uh, Bill wasn't the type of guy to be going through these books and writing down quotes and, and then, uh, you know, carrying them over

73:41

[01 13:54.901 – 01:13:55.761] into the Big Book.

73:43

[01 13:55.761 – 01:14:06.301] I think more of what Bill did is take the general principles that were discussed at Oxford Group meetings, uh, that people were sharing about,

73:54

[01 14:06.301 – 01:14:08.081] uh, in the early AA meetings.

73:56

[01 14:08.081 – 01:14:18.161] Uh, I think he just sort of took all those principles, uh, that were at play in people's lives, uh, and then sort of

74:06

[01 14:18.161 – 01:14:26.561] took that and in- incorporated it into something that made sense for people, uh, who were alcoholics.

74:13

[01 14:26.561 – 01:14:32.401] And that, that got to be sort of a divide with Bill, uh, and the folks in the Oxford Group.

74:21

[01 14:32.401 – 01:14:38.321] Uh, the Oxford Group called on all their members to, uh, go out and help everybody.

74:28

[01 14:38.321 – 01:14:47.721] And, you know, if you've heard Bill's story, what he, uh, thought was he was best suited to help other alcoholics, and that's really what he wanted to do.

74:40

[01 14:47.721 – 01:14:53.601] Uh, and the Oxford Group didn't want him to limit his outreach to only alcoholics.

74:46

[01 14:53.601 – 01:14:57.541] Uh, but I think Bill felt strongly convicted.

74:50

[01 14:57.541 – 01:15:07.620] Uh, and if you've heard him talk about his experience there at Towns Hospital, he sort of had a vision of being able to go out and sober up all the drunks in the world.

75:04

[01 15:07.620 – 01:15:14.701] Uh, and gosh, you know, I guess he almost got there, right?

75:09

[01 15:14.701 – 01:15:18.441] He did do an amazing thing.

75:12

[01 15:18.441 – 01:15:27.241] Uh, but you know, uh, to just give you a quick answer, I don't think Bill, uh, was an avid reader of the Oxford Group books.

75:22

[01 15:27.241 – 01:15:33.141] I think he just took more of the principles that were at work in people's lives and carried that over.

75:31

[01 15:33.141 – 01:15:35.561] Well, that sounds sensible to me.

75:33

[01 15:35.561 – 01:15:45.721] And, uh, just a side note, uh, while some of these books are not available for purchase or at least not, uh, at a, at a price most of us can afford, uh, some of these books are available

75:49

[01 15:45.721 – 01:15:47.241] through interlibrary loan.

75:51

[01 15:47.241 – 01:15:54.541] For, so for those who are avid readers, uh, you might be able to get them through your local library through interlibrary loan.

76:00

[01 15:54.541 – 01:15:55.261] Thank you.

76:01

[01 15:55.261 – 01:15:56.601] Yeah.

76:02

[01 15:56.601 – 01:15:57.141] Thanks, Duke.

76:03

[01 15:57.141 – 01:15:58.181] Thanks for sharing that.

76:05

[01 15:58.181 – 01:16:01.261] All right.

76:06

[01 16:01.261 – 01:16:02.261] Thank you, Duke.

76:08

[01 16:02.261 – 01:16:04.821] Um, I have a question, Nick.

76:11

[01 16:04.821 – 01:16:07.241] I didn't notice any Shoemaker books tonight.

76:14

[01 16:07.241 – 01:16:08.801] Are we, uh ...

76:15

[01 16:08.801 – 01:16:09.661] Where are those at?

76:17

[01 16:09.661 – 01:16:17.001] Well, I intentionally left those out because I did the Shoemaker, uh, presentation, uh, earlier this year.

76:25

[01 16:17.001 – 01:16:20.661] Uh, which, you know, is he has a ton of books.

76:29

[01 16:20.661 – 01:16:23.581] And, uh, of course they are Oxford Group books.

76:33

[01 16:23.581 – 01:16:29.221] Uh, but I have a whole other presentation to do on that one, and it's, it's two parts, so.

76:41

[01 16:29.221 – 01:16:31.381] I was joking.

76:43

[01 16:31.381 – 01:16:32.441] I, I knew that.

76:45

[01 16:32.441 – 01:16:35.621] Um, any other questions tonight?

76:47

[01 16:35.621 – 01:16:38.621] All right.

76:48

[01 16:38.621 – 01:16:41.421] Well, I will allow everyone to unmute and thank Nick.

76:52

[01 16:41.421 – 01:16:44.141] And, uh, thank you everyone for being here tonight.

76:56

[01 16:44.141 – 01:16:46.521] If I can find you.

76:59

[01 16:46.521 – 01:16:50.601] Yeah.

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

Books of the Oxford Group – Part 1 presented by Nick H. – 6/16/2026

Books of the Oxford Group – Part 1 presented by Nick H. – 6/16/2026

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