J a n u a r y 1963

remarkable experience while under pointed out how such an experience, treatment by you has definitely be- if brought about, might re-motivate come part of AA history. Our re- him when nothing else could. But membrance of Roland H.’s state- you did caution, though, that while ments about his experience with you such experiences had sometimes

THE BILL W. – CARL JUNG LETTERS is as follows: Having exhausted other means of recovery from his alcoholism, it was about 1931 that he became your pabrought recovery to alcoholics, they were, nevertheless, comparatively rare. You recommended that he pdce himself in a religious atmostient. I believe he remained under phere and hope for the best. This I ) your care for perhaps a year. His believe was the substance of your admiration for you was boundless, advice. and he left you with a feeling of Shortly thereafter, Mr. H. joined much confidence. the Oxford Groups, an evangelical To his great consternation, he movement then at the height of its soon relapsed into intoxication. Cer- success .in Europe, and one with tain that you were his “court of last which you are doubtless familiar. H ERE is a vital chapter of AA’s early history never before published. Before Bill brought the message to Bob, even before Ebbie carried the message to Bill, there was one-known as Roland resort,” he again returned to your care. Then followed the conversation You will remember their large emphasis upon the principles of self- H.-who had taken the message to Ebbie. Roland H., a helpless, between you that was to become the survey, confession, restitution and hopeless alcoholic, had been set on the spiritual path to recovery first link in the chain of events that the giving of oneself in service to by the celebrated psychiatrist, Dr. Carl Jung of Zurich. This extraor- led to the founding of Alcoholics others. They strongly stressed medidinary exchange of letters reveals for the first time not only the Anonymous. tation and prayer. In these surround-‘ direct historical ancestry of AA, but the bizarre situation wherein My recollection of his account of ings, Roland H. did find a conver- Jung, deeply involved with scientists and with a scientific reputa- that conversation is this: First of all, sion experience that released him for tion at stake, felt he had to be cautious about revealing his pro- you frankly told him of his hopeless- the time being from his compulsion found and lasting belief that the ultimate sources of recovery are ness, so far as any further medical or to drink. spiritual sources. Permission to publish Dr. Jung’s letter has been psychiatric treatment might be con- Returning to New York, he begranted to the Grapevine by the Jung estate. cerned. This candid and humble came very active with the “O.G.” statement of yours was beyond doubt here, then led by an Episcopal clergythe first foundation stone upon which man, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker. Dr. January 23,1961 of Alcoholics Anonymous. Though our society has since been built. Shoemaker had been one of the foun- Professor,Dr. C. G. Jung you have surely heard of us, I doubt Coming from you, one he so ders of that movement, and his was Kusnacht-Zurich if you are aware that a certain con- trusted and admired, the impact a powerful personality that carried Seestrasse 228 versation you once had with one of upon him was immense. immense sincerity and conviction. Switzerland your patients, a Mr. Roland H., back When he then asked you if there At this time (1932-34) the Ox- My dear Dr. Jung: in the early 19303, did play a criti- was any other hope, you told him ford Groups had already sobered a This letter of great appreciation cal role in the founding of our fellow- that there might be, provided he number of alcoholics, and Roland, . has been very long overdue. ship. could become the subject of a spir- feeling that he could especially iden- May I first introduce myself as Though Roland H. has long since itual or religious experience-in tify with these sufferers, addressed Bill W., a co-founder of the society passed away, the recollections of his short, a genuine conversion. You himself to the help of still others. One

of these chanced to be an old schoolmate of mine, named Edwin T. (“EbbyW-Ed.). He had been threatened with commitment to an institution, but Mr. H. and another ex- “. .. there came a vision . . . of a society of alcoholics. .. 99

alcoholic “O.G.” member, procured his parole and helped to bring about his sobriety. marked my friend Edwin for a hope- Anonymous,” and also in “AA perience. This concept proved to be Meanwhile, I had run the course less case. Yet here he was in a very Comes of Age,” basic texts which I the foundation of such success as of alcoholism and was threatened evident state of “release” which am sending to you. Alcoholics Anony,mous has since with commitment myself. Fortu- could by no means be accounted for My release from the alcohol ob- achieved. ~ h ‘has k made conversion nately I had fallen under the care of by his mere association for a very session was immediate. At once I experiences-nearly every variety a,physician-a Dr. William D. Silk- short time with the Oxford Groups. knew 1was a free man. reported by James-available on alworth-who was wonderfully capa- Yet this obvious state of release, as Shortly following my experience, most wholesale basis. Our sustained ble of understanding alcoholics. But distinguished from the usual depres- my friend Edwin came to the hos- recoveries over the last quarter cenjust as you had given up on Roland, sion, was tremendously convincing. pital, bringing me a copy of William tury number about 300,000. In so had he given me up. It was his Because he was a kindred sufferer, James’ “Varieties of Religious EX- America and through the world there theory that alcoholism had two com- he could unquestionably commu- perience.” This book gave me the are today 8,000 AA groups. ponents-an obsession that com- nicate with me at great depth. I realization that most conversion ex- So to ,you, to Dr. Shoemaker of pelled the sufferer to drink against knew at once I must find an experi- periences, whatever their variety, do the Oxford. .,Groups, to William his will and interest, and some sort ence like his, or die. have a common denominator of ego James and to my own physician, Dr. of metabolism difficulty which he Again I returned to Dr. Silk- collapse at depth. The individual Silkworth, we of AA owe this trethen called an allergy. The alcohol- worth’s care where I could be once faces an impossible dilemna. In my mendous benefaction. As you will ic’s compulsion guaranteed that the more sobered and so gain a clearer case the dilemna had been created now clearly see, this astonishing alcoholic’s drinking would go on, view of my friend’s experience of re- by my compulsive drinking and the chain of events actually started long . and the allergy made sure that the lease, and of Roland H.’s approach deep feeling of hopelessness had ago in your consulting room, and it . sufferer would finally deteriorate, go to him. been vastly deepened by my doctor. was directly founded upon your own insane, or die. Though I had been Clear once more of alcohol, I It was deepened still more by my al- humility and deep perception. one of the few he had thought it pos- found myself terribly depressed. This coholic friend when he acquainted Very many thoughtful AAs are sible to help, he was finally obliged seemed to be caused by my inability me with your verdict of hopelessness students of your writings. Because to tell me of my hopelessness; I, too, to gain the slightest faith. Edwin T. respecting Roland H. of your conviction that man is somewould have to be locked up. T o me, again visited me and repeated the In the wake of my spiritual expe- thing more than intellect, emotion this was a shattering blow. Just as simple Oxford Groups’ formulas. rience there came a vision of a so- and two dollars worth of chemicals, Roland had been made ready for his Soon after he left me I became even ciety of alcoholics, each identifying you have especially endeared yourconversion experience by you, so more depressed. In utter despair I with, and transmitting his experience self to us. had my wonderful friend, Dr. Silk- cried out, “If there be a God, will to the next–chain style. If each How our society grew, developed worth, prepared me. He show Himself.” There immedi- sufferer were to carry the news of its traditions for unity and struc- Hearing of my plight, my friend ately came to me an illumination of the scientific hopelessness of alchol- tured its functioning, will be seen in Edwin T. came to see me at my enormous impact and dimension, ism to each new prospect, he might the texts and pamphlet material that home where I was drinking. By then, something which I have since tried be able to lay every newcomer wide 1am sending you. it was November 1934. I had long to describe in the book, “Alcoholics open to a transforming spiritual ex- You will also be interested to

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learn that in addition to the “Spir- I was misunderstood in every pos- very aptly the Devil. But the use of one usually hears about alcoholism. itual experience,” many AAs report sible way. Thus I was very careful such words arouses so many mistakes You see, Alcohol in Latin is ‘ a great variety of psychic phenom- when I talked to Roland H. But that one can only keep aloof from “spiritus” and you use the same word ena, the cumulative weight of which what I really thought about, was the them as much as possible. for the highest religious experience is very considerable. Other members result of many experiences with men These are the reasons why I could as well as for the most depraving have-following their recovery in of his kind. not give a full and sufficient explan- poison. The helpful formula there- AA-been much helped by your His craving for alcohol was the ation to Roland H. but I am risking f o p is: spiritus contra spiriturn. ‘ J practitioners. A few have been in- equivalent, on a low level, of the it with you because I conclude from Thanking you again for your kind trigued by the “I ching” and your spiritual thirst of our being for your very decent and honest letter letter remarkable introduction to that wholeness, expressed in medievel that you have acquired a point of I remain work. language: the union with God.* view above the misleading platitudes yours sincerely Please be certain that your place How could one formulate such an C. G. Jung. in the affection, and in the history of insight in a language that is not misour fellowship, is like no other. understood in our days? Gratefully yours, The only right and legitimate way William G. W. to such an experience is, that it hap- Co-founder pens to you in reality and it can only Alcoholics Anonymous happen to you when you walk on a Kusnacht-Zurich path which leads you to higher un- Seestrasse 228 derstanding. You might be led to January 30,1961 that goal by an act of grace or through a personal and honest contact with friends, or through a higher Mr. William G. W. education of the mind beyond the Alcoholics Anonymous confines of mere rationalism. I see Box 459 Grand Central Station from your letter that Roland H. has New York 17,New York chosen the second way, which was, Dear Mr. W. under the circumstances, obviously Your letter has been very wel- the best one. come indeed. I am strongly convinced that the I had no news from Roland H. evil principle prevailing in this world anymore and often wondered what leads the unrecognized spiritual need has been his fate. Our conversation into perdition, if it is not counterwhich he has adequately reported to acted either by real religious insight you had an aspect of which he did or by the protective wall of human not know. The reason that I could community. An ordinary man, not not tell him everything was that those protected by an action from above days I had to be exceedingly careful and isolated in society, cannot reof what I said. I had found out that sist the power of evil, which is called *”As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God.” (Psalm 42,l)