[00:00:00.200 – 00:00:00.900] Now here’s Bill.
[00:00:00.900 – 00:00:16.300] Lois
[00:00:16.300 – 00:00:26.400] and I, certainly in our view, think that we are the two most fortunate people in the
[00:00:26.400 – 00:00:27.200] world today.
[00:00:27.200 – 00:00:32.100] And we have our reasons.
[00:00:32.100 – 00:00:42.400] And these reasons are rooted in the miracle
[00:00:42.400 – 00:00:50.800] of AA, now enlarged and succeeded to by Al-Anon.
[00:00:50.800 – 00:01:00.600] We have lived in two houses since AA began.
[00:01:00.600 – 00:01:04.200] The first was at Clinton Street, Brooklyn.
[00:01:04.200 – 00:01:07.500] We didn’t own the place.
[00:01:07.500 – 00:01:14.700] The mortgage was foreclosed, and we had to get out in nineteen thirty-nine.
[00:01:14.700 – 00:01:24.800] But by then, the principles of recovery for the alcoholic
[00:01:24.800 – 00:01:34.500] that we know as the Twelve Steps had already emerged, were in a textbook called Alcoholics Anonymous.
[00:01:34.500 – 00:01:37.500] So far, so good.
[00:01:37.500 – 00:01:47.600] Now, as we look back to our coming here in forty-one, it’s hard to believe that only two
[00:01:47.600 – 00:01:55.300] years before, there had been only a hundred AA members and three groups.
[00:01:55.300 – 00:02:05.500] However, a formula for recovery was above ground, and it was being
[00:02:05.500 – 00:02:14.400] moved within the view of the world and of the alcoholics in it little by little.
[00:02:14.400 – 00:02:18.200] So far, so good.
[00:02:18.200 – 00:02:28.500] But this, in retrospect, seems but a bare beginning of this vast
[00:02:28.500 – 00:02:38.500] and incredible unfoldment that gives you
[00:02:38.500 – 00:02:50.800] and Lois and me these incomparable joys and
[00:02:50.800 – 00:02:56.800] a sense of gratitude beyond any words.
[00:02:56.800 – 00:03:07.000] When we came here, the Saturday Post piece had just broken.
[00:03:07.000 – 00:03:14.700] At the time, the groups were in considerable numbers.
[00:03:14.700 – 00:03:21.100] The membership, mostly recently arise, had got up to two thousand.
[00:03:21.100 – 00:03:30.400] And then our first great publicity bla-break hit us just as we moved in here.
[00:03:30.400 – 00:03:39.700] And we were soon wondering whether AA could survive this.
[00:03:39.700 – 00:03:43.500] The confusion was incredible.
[00:03:43.500 – 00:03:48.200] The traditions were unthought of.
[00:03:48.200 – 00:03:51.000] There was just the book.
[00:03:51.000 – 00:03:53.200] There were travelers.
[00:03:53.200 – 00:03:56.800] There was a little one-room office in New York.
[00:03:56.800 – 00:03:59.900] And that was it.
[00:03:59.900 – 00:04:06.300] So could Al-Anon sp– or could Al– uh, AA spread?
[00:04:06.300 – 00:04:11.100] Could it attract the drunks of the world?
[00:04:11.100 – 00:04:17.700] Could it relate itself to the world on a basis of friendship and no controversy?
[00:04:17.700 – 00:04:28.000] But above all, the great overriding question was this: Could we drunks
[00:04:28.000 – 00:04:34.400] work and live together even though sober?
[00:04:34.400 – 00:04:44.900] And for the first five years that we were here, this
[00:04:44.900 – 00:04:52.500] crucial issue hung in a doubtful and precarious balance.
[00:04:52.500 – 00:04:59.900] The troubles of the groups were legion.
[00:04:59.900 – 00:05:06.400] Our relatedness to the outside world was in great question.
[00:05:06.400 – 00:05:17.000] We found that though sober, we had by no means achieved,
[00:05:17.000 – 00:05:27.100] individually or collectively, a sufficient purpose of life and a sufficient willingness to
[00:05:27.100 – 00:05:37.400] dedicate the principles that had helped us to dry up to the problem of living and working together.
[00:05:37.400 – 00:05:49.000] The neurotic overhang from the deformities of earlier days was very much with us, and
[00:05:49.000 – 00:05:52.900] I promise you, most terrifying.
[00:05:52.900 – 00:06:03.300] Would we go the way of the Washingtonian movement of a hundred years before?
[00:06:03.300 – 00:06:14.600] Which at one time aggregated thousands, tens of thousands of members, only
[00:06:14.600 – 00:06:18.400] to vanish in a bare decade.
[00:06:18.400 – 00:06:24.800] They couldn’t live and work together.
[00:06:24.800 – 00:06:34.300] They did not know what was unsafe conduct for them in their relatedness in the world about them.
[00:06:34.300 – 00:06:42.600] Their principles were not too clearly stated, and yet they were people exactly like this.
[00:06:42.600 – 00:06:52.700] And yet a hundred years ago, they had passed into oblivion, only relieved by the
[00:06:52.700 – 00:06:58.100] existence today of a couple of hospitals whose endowments never gave out.
[00:06:58.100 – 00:07:02.500] Was this to be our fate?
[00:07:02.500 – 00:07:12.200] Was this to be the penalty of our seeming inability to live and work together?
[00:07:12.200 – 00:07:23.700] Would those forces of power, striving, prestige, clamoring,
[00:07:23.700 – 00:07:33.100] the problems of money, problems of sex, God knows, you name them, we had them all.
[00:07:33.100 – 00:07:36.200] We still have them, but they’re manageable.
[00:07:36.200 – 00:07:38.600] Then it seemed that they weren’t.
[00:07:38.600 – 00:07:48.700] Well, as you know, at this house, in a sense, we look out upon
[00:07:48.700 – 00:07:50.000] the world of A.A.
[00:07:50.000 – 00:07:56.500] because of our lines of communication through Lois’s office and mine.
[00:07:56.500 – 00:08:06.600] We are more in the center of the thing than anyone else, perhaps.
[00:08:06.600 – 00:08:17.700] I think somebody remarked that since 1950, we
[00:08:17.700 – 00:08:26.700] have had maybe 40 of these large meetings here in the yard, first touching upon A.A.
[00:08:26.700 – 00:08:29.700] in the conference and now upon both.
[00:08:29.700 – 00:08:39.200] And on those meetings, it has never rained, and the skies have always been fair.
[00:08:39.200 – 00:08:47.200] However, this wasn’t exactly true of the A.A.
[00:08:47.200 – 00:08:53.300] weather between 1940 and 1950.
[00:08:53.300 – 00:09:02.600] By and by, especially with the advent of the A.A.
[00:09:02.600 – 00:09:13.700] conference, the emergence of the tradition as a new force for unity and
[00:09:13.700 – 00:09:25.000] harmony and functioning, we began to feel as a society a certain security, and
[00:09:25.000 – 00:09:32.800] this was reflected among us in the feeling of personal security.
[00:09:32.800 – 00:09:38.500] But, ah, there was still one great pioneering job to be done.
[00:09:38.500 – 00:09:48.500] Of course, we alcoholics had
[00:09:48.500 – 00:09:52.300] related to each other better, to the world about us better.
[00:09:52.300 – 00:09:55.300] We had got to function better.
[00:09:55.300 – 00:10:00.300] The principles of doing these things had become clear.
[00:10:00.300 – 00:10:07.800] But there wasn’t, but there was one thing not at all clear.
[00:10:07.800 – 00:10:15.900] Would we be able to function as families?
[00:10:15.900 – 00:10:26.300] And as everyone knows, the foundation of all society
[00:10:26.300 – 00:10:34.900] throughout the world, good or bad, rests squarely on the family.
[00:10:34.900 – 00:10:38.500] Can the family function?
[00:10:38.500 – 00:10:42.300] Can it communicate one with the other?
[00:10:42.300 – 00:10:47.400] Has it a compelling enough purpose?
[00:10:47.400 – 00:10:52.700] Will the forces that tend to rend us all seize upon the family?
[00:10:52.700 – 00:10:58.800] Well, the family problem in A.A.
[00:10:58.800 – 00:11:01.800] began to be more and more obvious.
[00:11:01.800 – 00:11:07.800] It had long since been clear to Lois and Anne Smith.
[00:11:07.800 – 00:11:18.700] And naturally, there had been a kinship of the people who had suffered because of us drunks among
[00:11:18.700 – 00:11:19.600] themselves.
[00:11:19.600 – 00:11:30.100] And this had been a groping to fill this tremendous vacuum that existed in family
[00:11:30.100 – 00:11:33.200] relations amongst us.
[00:11:33.200 – 00:11:43.200] Because it was there that the great damage of the drinking we had done and of
[00:11:43.200 – 00:11:53.500] the defects of character and emotion that had propelled us into that insanity, they
[00:11:53.500 – 00:11:55.300] were still with us.
[00:11:55.300 – 00:12:04.200] And they had deformed not only us, but the people closest to us.
[00:12:04.200 – 00:12:11.800] We hadn’t deformed the world to any large extent.
[00:12:11.800 – 00:12:18.500] We hadn’t deformed the business life of America.
[00:12:18.500 – 00:12:25.700] We hadn’t deformed very greatly even our several communities.
[00:12:25.700 – 00:12:37.100] But at this close range, we had deformed our homes, and the deformities were upon us, and
[00:12:37.100 – 00:12:40.600] they were upon those we love.
[00:12:40.600 – 00:12:51.400] So that today, Al-Anon is rapidly filling
[00:12:51.400 – 00:13:02.700] this vacuum with the kind of love and understanding and activity that
[00:13:02.700 – 00:13:09.500] creates a climate in which the home can be repaired.
[00:13:09.500 – 00:13:20.500] Albeit that the old wounds and scars are still there, the sun can shine again, and
[00:13:20.500 – 00:13:21.300] it does.
[00:13:21.300 – 00:13:32.300] So that instead of having destructive hurricanes, we are now more
[00:13:32.300 – 00:13:42.500] apt to sit under a very sweet shower of blessings, of which this lovely
[00:13:42.500 – 00:13:50.500] meeting is a bright, and will always be, a memorable token.
[00:13:50.500 – 00:14:00.700] This meeting and the New York dinner and the occasional international conference,
[00:14:00.700 – 00:14:11.800] these are the times that we see you and feel you and
[00:14:11.800 – 00:14:12.600] touch you.
[00:14:12.600 – 00:14:22.900] Because of our singular position in the Society, we are in a sort of isolation,
[00:14:22.900 – 00:14:25.000] in a sense.
[00:14:25.000 – 00:14:30.700] This is no beef or complaint, but it is fact.
[00:14:30.700 – 00:14:39.300] And this is the one of the times that we not only hear about the world of A.A.
[00:14:39.300 – 00:14:43.300] or learn of it by secondhand.
[00:14:43.300 – 00:14:53.500] Your coming enables us, as of the old times, to see and hear
[00:14:53.500 – 00:15:05.000] and touch and feel the great world of our Society and
[00:15:05.000 – 00:15:08.900] your great part in it, of Al-Anon.
[00:15:08.900 – 00:15:18.900] Lois joins me in saying, “May God bless Al-Anon and keep it and you always.”
[00:15:18.900 – 00:15:19.900] Thank you.
[00:15:19.900 – 00:15:34.600] I’ll
[00:15:34.600 – 00:15:41.300] just say, uh, that it sounded as I– when I spoke, as if I wanted you to immediately go after the meeting.
[00:15:41.300 – 00:15:45.500] You can stay as long as you want to.
[00:15:45.500 – 00:15:52.200] But just those little reminders that I did mention, any time can be done.
[00:15:52.200 – 00:15:56.500] So we’ll look forward to seeing you all next time, and thanks for coming.
[00:15:56.500 – 00:16:02.300] Goodbye.
[00:16:02.300 – 00:16:07.000] Does, does anybody want to– else want to say anything?
[00:16:07.000 – 00:16:10.600] We always close with the Lord’s Prayer.
[00:16:10.600 – 00:16:13.400] Oh, Adele reminded me that we always close with the Lord’s Prayer.
[00:16:13.400 – 00:16:14.900] I don’t know what’s the matter with me.
[00:16:14.900 – 00:16:16.900] Thank you, Adele.
[00:16:16.900 – 00:16:18.700] Will we rise and say the Lord’s Prayer?
[00:16:18.700 – 00:16:23.700] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
[00:16:23.700 – 00:16:29.400] Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[00:16:29.400 – 00:16:38.900] Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.
[00:16:38.900 – 00:16:43.100] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[00:16:43.100 – 00:16:48.400] For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
[00:16:48.400 – 00:16:49.200] Amen.
[00:16:49.200 – 00:16:50.700] Thank you.
[00:16:50.700 – 00:16:56.500] They actually built you a big table.
[00:16:56.500 – 00:16:57.200] Yes.
[00:10:34.900 – 00:10:38.500] Can the family function?
[00:10:38.500 – 00:10:42.300] Can it communicate one with the other?
[00:10:42.300 – 00:10:47.400] Has it a compelling enough purpose?
[00:10:47.400 – 00:10:52.700] Will the forces that tend to rend us all seize upon the family?
[00:10:52.700 – 00:10:58.800] Well, the family problem in A.A.
[00:10:58.800 – 00:11:01.800] began to be more and more obvious.
[00:11:01.800 – 00:11:07.800] It had long since been clear to Lois and Anne Smith.
[00:11:07.800 – 00:11:18.700] And naturally, there had been a kinship of the people who had suffered because of us drunks among
[00:11:18.700 – 00:11:19.600] themselves.
[00:11:19.600 – 00:11:30.100] And this had been a groping to fill this tremendous vacuum that existed in family
[00:11:30.100 – 00:11:33.200] relations amongst us.
[00:11:33.200 – 00:11:43.200] Because it was there that the great damage of the drinking we had done and of
[00:11:43.200 – 00:11:53.500] the defects of character and emotion that had propelled us into that insanity, they
[00:11:53.500 – 00:11:55.300] were still with us.
[00:11:55.300 – 00:12:04.200] And they had deformed not only us, but the people closest to us.
[00:12:04.200 – 00:12:11.800] We hadn’t deformed the world to any large extent.
[00:12:11.800 – 00:12:18.500] We hadn’t deformed the business life of America.
[00:12:18.500 – 00:12:25.700] We hadn’t deformed very greatly even our several communities.
[00:12:25.700 – 00:12:37.100] But at this close range, we had deformed our homes, and the deformities were upon us, and
[00:12:37.100 – 00:12:40.600] they were upon those we love.
[00:12:40.600 – 00:12:51.400] So that today, Al-Anon is rapidly filling
[00:12:51.400 – 00:13:02.700] this vacuum with the kind of love and understanding and activity that
[00:13:02.700 – 00:13:09.500] creates a climate in which the home can be repaired.
[00:13:09.500 – 00:13:20.500] Albeit that the old wounds and scars are still there, the sun can shine again, and
[00:13:20.500 – 00:13:21.300] it does.
[00:13:21.300 – 00:13:32.300] So that instead of having destructive hurricanes, we are now more
[00:13:32.300 – 00:13:42.500] apt to sit under a very sweet shower of blessings, of which this lovely
[00:13:42.500 – 00:13:50.500] meeting is a bright, and will always be, a memorable token.
[00:13:50.500 – 00:14:00.700] This meeting and the New York dinner and the occasional international conference,
[00:14:00.700 – 00:14:11.800] these are the times that we see you and feel you and
[00:14:11.800 – 00:14:12.600] touch you.
[00:14:12.600 – 00:14:22.900] Because of our singular position in the Society, we are in a sort of isolation,
[00:14:22.900 – 00:14:25.000] in a sense.
[00:14:25.000 – 00:14:30.700] This is no beef or complaint, but it is fact.
[00:14:30.700 – 00:14:39.300] And this is the one of the times that we not only hear about the world of A.A.
[00:14:39.300 – 00:14:43.300] or learn of it by secondhand.
[00:14:43.300 – 00:14:53.500] Your coming enables us, as of the old times, to see and hear
[00:14:53.500 – 00:15:05.000] and touch and feel the great world of our Society and
[00:15:05.000 – 00:15:08.900] your great part in it, of Al-Anon.
[00:15:08.900 – 00:15:18.900] Lois joins me in saying, “May God bless Al-Anon and keep it and you always.”
[00:15:18.900 – 00:15:19.900] Thank you.
[00:15:19.900 – 00:15:34.600] I’ll
[00:15:34.600 – 00:15:41.300] just say, uh, that it sounded as I– when I spoke, as if I wanted you to immediately go after the meeting.
[00:15:41.300 – 00:15:45.500] You can stay as long as you want to.
[00:15:45.500 – 00:15:52.200] But just those little reminders that I did mention, any time can be done.
[00:15:52.200 – 00:15:56.500] So we’ll look forward to seeing you all next time, and thanks for coming.
[00:15:56.500 – 00:16:02.300] Goodbye.
[00:16:02.300 – 00:16:07.000] Does, does anybody want to– else want to say anything?
[00:16:07.000 – 00:16:10.600] We always close with the Lord’s Prayer.
[00:16:10.600 – 00:16:13.400] Oh, Adele reminded me that we always close with the Lord’s Prayer.
[00:16:13.400 – 00:16:14.900] I don’t know what’s the matter with me.
[00:16:14.900 – 00:16:16.900] Thank you, Adele.
[00:16:16.900 – 00:16:18.700] Will we rise and say the Lord’s Prayer?
[00:16:18.700 – 00:16:23.700] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
[00:16:23.700 – 00:16:29.400] Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[00:16:29.400 – 00:16:38.900] Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.
[00:16:38.900 – 00:16:43.100] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[00:16:43.100 – 00:16:48.400] For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
[00:16:48.400 – 00:16:49.200] Amen.
[00:16:49.200 – 00:16:50.700] Thank you.
[00:16:50.700 – 00:16:56.500] They actually built you a big table.
[00:16:56.500 – 00:16:57.200] Yes.
