Getting
Started (Continued)
J:
Okay, let's go to the forward to the second edition. Roman numeral fifteen
at the bottom of the page: (p. xv, par. 3 p. xvi, par. 1) 'The spark that
was to flare into the first A. A. group was struck at Akron, Ohio, in June
1935, during a talk between a New York stockbroker and an Akron physician.
Six months earlier, the broker had been relieved of his drink obsession by
a sudden spiritual (top of p. xvi) experience, following a meeting with an
alcoholic friend who had been in contact with the Oxford Groups of that
day.'
Bill's
vital spiritual experience came (after) his contact with Ebby, who had
been in a contact with the Oxford Groups. (p. xvi, par. 1) 'He had also
been greatly helped by the late Dr. William D. Silkworth, a New York
specialist in alcoholism who is now accounted no less than a medical saint
by A. A. members, and whose story of the early days of our Society appears
in the next pages. From this doctor, the broker had learned the grave
nature of alcoholism. '
Now,
we can see right here the three things we were talking about. From the
doctor he learned the problem. (p. 7, par. 2) Ebby brought him the
solution (p. 12, par. 4; p. 27, par. 5) and the recovery plan of the
Oxford Groups. (p. xvi, par. 1-2) 'Though he could not accept all the
tenets of the Oxford Groups, he was convinced of the need for moral
inventory, confession of personality defects, restitution to those harmed,
helpfulness to others, and the necessity of belief in and dependence upon
God.
'Prior
to his journey to Akron, the broker had worked hard with many alcoholics
on the theory that only an alcoholic could help an alcoholic... ' From
Bill's spiritual experience in Towns (Hospital) in December of 1934 up
until May of 1935, he had worked with a lot of alcoholics, but had helped
no one. He just stayed sober himself.' (Joe says elsewhere, in effect,
that Bill was starting people off at Chapter Five.) (p. xvi, par. 2)
'The
broker had gone to Akron on a business venture which had collapsed,
leaving him greatly in fear that he might start drinking again. '
