Dr. Bob S. from Akron, OH, Sister Ignatia from Akron, OH and Bill W. from New York, NY

Hello. The lesson to be learned and one that we must never forget if we wish to maintain a insurance policy against our drinking. You recall a story about, you know, having, been having had some spiritual experience, having been, sold on the idea of attempting to be helpful to others. You are not only recalling the fact that he had been working quite hard at it for around 5 months or so, almost incessantly. And still had not created, if you please, a single congress.

Not one. As we expected, no one had But he had worked tirelessly. There was no thought of saving his own strength for all time or anything. But, nothing seems to register. Which perhaps for the good of all of us turned out to be quite a flop.

Although, we had to think right for the moment. Wondering whether he better buy those 2 first of June, and be a king for a night or he expresses it or not. And his teachings led him to believe that he possibly might avoid getting into difficulty if he found some alcohol going home to work. Bulletin board in the lobby of the MHI, called up the good doctor power them up without very much success. They have either just left and is a highlight on the name of Michigan and happened to get our good friend, Henrietta.

But we called up at good Henry and told her what he wanted and she could come right out and have lunch. So Harvey went and went into his story in considerable detail and she said I have just a man for you. So she rushes to the farm and piles up Anne and tells her that she has just the farm to be helpful to Bob. We should come out well. And he said, well, I guess we better not go with the day.

But Henry is well, and they didn't think it's quite wise for us to come out there. And finally, Henry bore in to such an extent that she had to tell her that I was very much in the second. And, I had in fact, it passed all of our capabilities for listening to any conversation, and it would just possibly have to be postponed. So she's passing the next day, having invited being Sunday and Mother's Day. And we said that, Anne said we would be over.

Well, I don't ever remember a feeling much worse. But being very fond of Anya and having said we'd go over, we started over and I expected the promised man on the way over the 15 minutes of this stuff was caught. But I didn't wanna talk to this mug or anybody else, and we'd really make it snappy. Now these are actual facts. We got there at 5 o'clock, and it was 11:15 when we left.

Now you know probably your memory is good enough to carry you back to certain times when you haven't felt too good, and you can easily visualize the fact that you wouldn't have listened to anybody unless that individual had really had something to tell you. And that's the way I thought about Bill. And I recognize the fact that he did have something. And so I listened both, many hours. And I stopped drinking immediately.

But very shortly after that, there was a medical meeting in, Atlantic City. And I do it, developed a terrific thirst for knowledge. I have to have knowledge. Oh, we would gather I would gather Atlantic City and absorb lots of knowledge. I usually mention the fact that I incidentally had acquired the first for Scott, but I mentioned that.

But anyway, I went to Atlantic City and really hung one on. And, when I came to, I was in the home of a friend of ours in the. One of our. And Bill came over and got me and, got me home, gave me a hook or a 2 of spots at night and about what they're the next morning. And, that was on the 10th June of 35, and I have had no alcohol in any form that I know of since.

Now the the interesting part of all this, and not all these sort of details, but the condition that we 2 fellows were in. We had both been associated with the same, bunch of the people. He in New York and I in Akron. I have been associated with them, in fact, for 2 years and a half He brought 5 months. He had acquired this idea of service, and that I have not.

But I have done an immense amount of reading, which they recommended. I had refreshed my memory on the good book, and I've had an excellent training in that over the youngster. They told me that I should go to their meetings regularly and I did every week. They said I should, affiliate myself with some church, and we did that. And they also said that I should cultivate the habit of prayer.

And I did that, at least, to quite a considerable extent for me. But I got tight every night. And I mean that for till once in a while, practically every night. And I couldn't understand what was wrong. I had done all these things that these good people told me to do.

Every one of them, and I thought very faithfully and sincerely, but I still continued to over and doubt. But the one thing that they haven't told me was the one thing that Bill had. The instruction to attempt to be helpful to somebody else. So we immediately started to look around for prospects, and it wasn't long before I wanna pay it in the man whom you all know. At least a good many of you know, our good friend, William Hackham.

I knew that this, Bill was the county school superintendent. And I also thought that he probably forgot more about the good book every night than I ever knew. And here, who was I to be trying to tell him about it? And to make me feel somewhat hypocritical. It is not a time for me to talk to him, on that topic.

But anyway, we both did and I'm very glad to say the conversation fell on federal ground. Then in October, we had 3 dumped in our laps, almost simultaneously. But the point I wanted to bring out was the fact that that in my mind, the spirit of service is a priming problem. I'll know it has to be backed up with some knowledge of, the subject. And now I used to go to the hospital and I stand there and and talk.

I talked many a time to a chap in the bed for 4 or 5 or 6 hours. I don't know how he he ever stood me for 5 or 6 hours, but he did. Probably, we didn't tell her something. But anyway, they came to my mind that I thought it didn't know too much about what I was talking. That's why we being stewards of what we have and that includes our time.

I was not giving a good account of my stewardship of time. If it took me 6 hours to say something to this man that I could have said in an hour, we'll say, if I'd known what I was talking about. I certainly was not a very efficient individual. And incidentally, I'm somewhat allergic to work anyway. So, I felt that I should, continue to increase my familiarity not only with the good books, but, read a good deal of good standard literature and possibly something of a scientific interest along with it.

So I did follow with this habit of reading, and I think I've I think I'm not exaggerating when I say that I have probably averaged 3 to an hour a day for, like, 15 years. Now I don't say that to try to to tell you on the idea that you've got to cover it, that habit of reading an hour a day because there are plenty of people in fine that don't read very much. You see back in those days, we were groping in the dark entirely. We did not, know much about it. We knew practically nothing about alcoholism.

Alcoholism. I, a physician, knew nothing about it to speak out. I'd read about it, but there wasn't anything worth reading in any textbook. And, usually, the information about it consisted on concrete for DTEs just on that fire. And if you hadn't, why you prescribed the and, gave the fellow a good lecture.

And I don't know which you thought the amount is very much. And in early days, we became quite convinced that Another tough we discovered later that we, most any dietary restriction have very little to do with a acquisition and maintenance of permits Friday. We, in our own stories in the mountain, things peaked out. When I we started in Mountville, we had no trial stats. We had no traditions.

We had, nothing of that kind. But we were convinced that the answer to our problem was in the good book, And it, became somewhat evident. We thought to some of the older ones that it was contained. The fact that we found absolutely essential to a rather limited function of the good folk. In other words, the I think we got those ideas pretty firmly implanted in our mind very early.

And we had in those days, our membership got to 5 and 7 and 10 and still small. My we used to have fairly meetings in somebody's house. And awful broke too. It is probably much easier for us to be successful when broke than it would have been to have been successful if we had a good checking account piece. But I know that we were we were everyone of us got so painfully broken.

Well, it wasn't a pleasant problem. But nothing could be done about it and everybody else's brother too and, we didn't take it too much to have. But I do think the doctor's providential. And but, anyway, we kept on having these meetings and having these discussions and attending the meetings of the good people who are whom we have been associated and discontinued to have them with them until in Akron, I'm talking about, of course, until about 40 or maybe early in 41. I think January 41.

I don't recall We have outgrown that and so we just got out. In a short time, the pride, they rental of the auditorium in the King's School, and we have we I mean, I'm talking about the roof that I have And there was hardly a night in that 3 months that we didn't sit up for 2 or 3 o'clock discussing these things. And it'd be hard for me to conceive that something wasn't set as doing those nightly discussions around our kitchen table that influenced the actual writing of the golf bridge. Of all. We got them, why we had them, but not in exactly the written form.

You know them now. As we grew, I've got, we began to get offshoots. 1st one was in Cleveland. And I don't remember the next one, but, anyway, they won't started in Akron not too long after that and I've been continuing ever since. It was very self satisfaction to me to feel that I may have heard from Bob in digging in my 2 bits worth of getting this thing started.

I like to think that I have done that. Maybe I'm taking too much for granted. I don't know. But I I feel that I will hopefully use a job as a agent. But I'm not sure that I would have been glad to have anything presented that would have been workable and produced the the variety which I thought at least that I wanted for better.

I even got that at of any living human who want want really wanted to do something as badly as I think I wanted to do it, which would be for October a period. But anyway, I think I'm just the way to work it yet. But anyway, that is the way I thought about it. And the guys will remind me of this, the body has I don't believe I'll be at all for a long time. And of extreme New York that I didn't get in Akron.

Matter of too satisfied with the answer. I usually consult some friends who are judgment perhaps, I think, in this particular case and actually getting a discount. And you are now the absolute feel that I never have been very successful at it. They they never don't tell me to love my car, man. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't a few people who do.

I think maybe I know some that come pretty close to it. And that I think I could count them on the fingers of one hand. I don't feel like they're in aspect of, particularly as it applies to a And I don't really do any work to well unless we practice it. We fell over the wind, we should practice. There's a practice of our day, a cry in the spirit of service.

Neighbor has $900, you're a much better man than your neighbor to the extent of a $100,000. I think that it can be a cloud. It can be a cloud slowly. I don't really have to that there's something that has to be cultivated elsewhere. That was not easy for me.

I don't assume it's difficult for us. It's quite important that we do acquire it. I think I've acquired it. I have much more of it than I could have. I love not enough to let me any yet.

Yeah. Somebody called me. That's occupied just to check my big mouth shut. Another thing was that your monsters are not over the last, and that is I don't think we're necessarily car on to be shut ground and put down by anyone and we have a right to stand up for a ride. And if he had to say that, how about you and me?

But did you say it? Far to acquire those things, then we find a 3 different. And I think I've had them in, very large mega. There's 2 things happening and peace of mind. And I feel most extremely fortunate.

And I feel very grateful and thankful that our army father has seen fit that I enjoyed it. There seem to be some rules of the game that we have to follow. But then here I'll have them and pray to everyone who wishes to take advantage of to take advantage of. And by putting advantage doesn't mean they're familiarizing familiarization with them and putting them in practice and cooperating them in our own thinking and action, and we're bound and determined to to get certain results of review. To feel that maybe I get in my 2 bit road truck and dialing it.

But as I said, I feel that I was simply used as a beacon. A question might arise, the simplicity of our program, if we continue to remember that our job is to get further and to stay further and to help our lost parts, miss Bella, and doing the same thing. I got very much if we shall have any trouble, and we shall continue to grow and try and prosper. Because a contract can call him, he'll never never, refused to help and give him a grace he needs. I feel that, it's a privilege to work in this field.

I owe much to my community. I when Bill called me about this, I certainly could hardly think of. I'm carrying on a problem like this. And as I said, well, it's something like the AA third step. We turn our life and our will over to God on this direction of our superior.

My superiors might have sent word at any time. I would take no more. It came now to that nearly to that point in a few cases, but thank God and the fervent prayers of well, I suppose many of the sickies who were interested and are the little doctor Bauch and Phil himself. Somehow, we let it through. I'll just, Bill asked me to say a few words about how we got started in Athens?

I hardly know myself. I was sent there in 1928 just as a well, my data doctor recommended occupational therapy. Change of occupation for a while. I was in the field of music, and as you know, that's rather nerve wracking. I changed my computer for me.

So, I was sent to to Saint Thomas, which was just opened in 1928. And it was there I met doctor Bob. We had an open staff the 1st year because we didn't know the men nor do they know us. Doctor operated at our hospital and the other hospitals. I didn't know they had drinking problem, and in fact, I wouldn't have known it had he not told me so because he didn't come to the hospital when he was drinking evidently.

Oh, I can recall, sometimes his voice was rather reverberating. I I could hear him when he came in the back door. He had decided to English accent. I mean, New England accent. But I somehow, I liked him because he was so so straightforward.

Those of us working on hospitals know that some doctors make everything an emergency, a matter of life or death. I will tell you the exact truth about the case. Say, well, my patients wait a few days or if they can't, then you know that you take them for what they say. However, the answer is so straightforward, so I enjoyed working with him. And one day, he called he looked rather down.

We often had little chats. And this morning, they came and looked rather down. I said, doctor, what's the trouble this morning? Well, then he told me. He said, well, sisters, he said I might as well tell you that, I came in contact with a New York broker and just had a drinking problem for a long time.

And somehow we got together, and we've all tried to work out something that will help these drugs, they said. Well, these are we've been trying it out. They tried a few rest homes, and, he had some in the other hospitals. And he said, sister, would you consider taking 1? Well, I hesitated because sometime before, oh, probably some months before, I took a man in who oh, he looked I didn't I didn't know much about this drinking.

I knew some could drink. I think some could drink and handle it well and others couldn't. So, they called me to the emergency, and I went down and talked to him. Always just try to just lie down a little while. He went at the city garage and looked like a very respectable person.

Yeah. I've been drinking a little too much, and I want to get straightened out, which I thought was a good thing. Well, the only bet that we have at the time was a bed in a 4 bedroom. Then we knew nothing about special treatment. And, I signed him to the man on service on medical service and registered him, put him to bed, and I said, you won't cause any trouble.

Oh, no. He'd be an angel. Well, I forgot about him. When I came over early the next morning, the night supervisor who was tall, sister, we all see to rub a lot of big feet. Well, she was standing at the door waiting for me.

She said the next time you take a DT in this place, please stay up all night and run around after miss Wheaton. That wasn't me under it either. I decided then that's that's enough. I often felt sorry to see them turned away, but I was not the last word in the hospital. So when doctor disclosed my taking a real because I thought a real Well, you can imagine my misgivings.

I said, oh, dear me. I I told him about this experience, and I said, doctor, not only well, I need put out, but I said the patient and everything else. I said, I don't think they want alcoholics. So he said, sister, this patient won't give you a bit of trouble because I will I will medicate him. I'll assure you.

Well, I'm confident in him because he never said anything that wasn't sold. I'll always say that. Well, very carefully, I said, well, doctor, I shall take him then. And we put him in a bedroom. I thought I was doing pretty well because we were so crowded in those days, and that's rather premium.

So I took him to this 2 bedroom. Doctor hired me. Doctor went up and medicated him and everything. And I thought, well, I figured I wouldn't hear much till the next morning anyway if there wasn't any trouble. So, well, there was a word about it.

Doctor then came to the office. Thank you. He said, sister, would you mind putting my patient in a private room? I thought I had done pretty good to put him on a 2 bed. He said, you know, they he said there'll be some men come to visit him, and they'd like to talk to him privately.

Well, I, said I'll do what I can, doctor. After he left, I went up and looked the situation over. And right across the hall, we had a flower room where we used to prepare the patient's flowers. And I thought, well, they can fix that flower somewhere else for the day, and I believe I could push the bed in there. That's what we did.

And these visitors came. We kept a close eye on them. Looking man. They don't know that they ever took a drink. And went along.

I said, now the next time, I won't have the trouble. I'll put him in a private room. So the next one that came along, I put him in a private room. And, he, seem I didn't know much about these alcoholics. I was not an expert.

Surely, the lord picked out a a weightling when he picked out me. I know. But, however, I took him down to the room as I would any patient, and then was taking the track to the desk to explain to the nurse a little about it. I couldn't tell her too much, but said doctor Bob would, would give her the orders. And wasn't he down after me?

Well, he had his short time and everything else. I nearly I nearly went through the floor because the nurses all looked and everyone and I you go by that to remove you right now. So the nurse came down with me, and here he was under the bed. Well, I thought this will never work. I believe this will go at all.

I better put 2 together the next time. I didn't wanna give up at once. I don't know just exactly what I did, whether I have someone stay with him or what I did. But I know after that, I put, put 2 together and then finally took a full other room. That seems all pretty good.

1 would help the other. Usually, 1 or 2 would be in a few days before they'd be coming out of it pretty well. And so then we took the mother too bed across the hall. Well, it was hard to say no when they really wanted to do something about it. And for that time, the men were coming in quite often.

So and so some of the sisters said, who are these fine living conditions so often? I've seen so interested in patients. And, I didn't say much at first, but I later, I said, well, that is AA. I said, what is AA? Would you like to know something about it?

Well, yes. Well, I'll bring some litter children. I know my grandson got them. But, of course, before that, a committee from Alcoholics and talked with Sitchy Superior. She was one who had a lot of experience in the old days of charity and all, and, she knows what we were doing.

And she said to these men, she said, well, strange. She said, when we have them, a charity, they'd be running around the halls and doing a lot of trouble. But since doctor Bob is treating them, we don't know that they're in the house. So she said there's no problem. If I bite and see, just go right along.

Well, that was wonderful. But that wasn't all. Of course, I'm letting patients complain because they couldn't have visitors at any time in these days. They they seem like such privileged characters. So finally, they decided to we had a small accident warrant.

It was sort of off in the risk of the hospital. And there we put in a coffee bar, and doctor set up the program. I, want to tell you that the first opportunity he had, he brought Bill over. And, of course, I couldn't imagine who this wonderful Bill was, but I soon learned that, Dawn had chosen 2 great men, but one didn't have the other supplement us, and together, they were perfect. I could just see I often say to our boys, had dogs picked out 2 great religious leaders, no one would have come near them because the alcoholic doesn't want anything about religion or God.

I mean, do we try to preach religion to them? But they aren't in a very long until they're asking or telling you what experience they've had and what they'd like to do. They know they haven't been living right, And I feel that as many of our nurses have said, the best set of this is peace of mind. If once they can be relieved of their anxieties and worries and treated properly, there should be no trouble. First, when we first come in and doctor, set up the program, no televisions, no radios, no newspapers, Only literature pertaining to AA or something that would have a a moral, I mean, ability of their morals and things of that kind.

Because they don't they have all the reading they can take care of and then their visitors too. Well, we went on with that. There's there are many details I could bring in, but I don't wanna make it too long because I know many of you have probably questions that maybe could answer some of these people who want know much more than I. But, anyway, during doctor's time, I think we treated before between 4 5000. And he treated them.

He came in every day unless he was out of town or something like that. And, without any charge, he said that's my contribution to AA. As in those days, they didn't have too much either to start with, and you couldn't mention money very well or how much of it cost because if we just get them sober, there's been a a great deal. But that was taken care of later on. Thank god.

It worked out very well. And there are no problems. Oh, many times, whether they have it or don't, we take them in because god certainly provides. And the man who gets his phone is everlastingly grateful. Doctor, is a shark to understand, sometimes he'd make rounds and they come down and say, sister, let that man go home.

He doesn't want this prune. Oh, but doctor has a big family and he has to step in the other. Doesn't want the the frozen, sister. He's ready. So he was always right.

Three times, they'd frighten me. And once they have a heart or they would tell me they have a bad heart or something. And I hate it to bother doctor too much. Often, I call Anne. I think memories of this group or any alcoholic, she'd often say a prayer for Anne because she was the backbone of this.

In her calm, quiet way, she was really an angel. I was calling and say, oh, Anne, I'm so worried about this soul. She knew most of them from either reputation or doctor telling about them. That's right. And, he would get the doctor if it was anything serious, but I'd like to know.

Don't worry about them because well, they have they have a, they're allobiologists, in other words. Well, we take number once back what doctor's plan to I thought, oh my. That's kind of strict, isn't it? Oh, I see the wisdom of it. Because if there is merry-go-round, when that temptation comes, they wanna think, well, I can get back in there for 5 or 6 days.

Why not be alright? Sutra's good. She'll take me back. And I'd only be encouraged in my drinking. They know that it's a one way trip.

The sponsors and this, colonel Pound said they are their cooperation is tremendous. Any hospital who tries to just take them in on their own is very foolish because they need this sponsorship. I often say it's something like learning the technique of. You may know all the angles and all the rules, but unless you get out there in the field and do some footwork and practice, you won't be much of a golfer. So we tried after self if they could be take taken on the environment.

At first, it was just 5 days because people were pretty depleted after the depression and all, financially. And, the sooner we got them back to their family, the better. Although many of those first aids would take them into their own homes and try to help indoctrinate them. They worked in groups. It was marvelous what they did.

But, however, we certainly have a a phone that was very wise because the sponsor will not bring them until they are ready. And then we he screens them carefully and goes over it. We wanna be sure that sponsor is not just a person I met in the bar somewhere. But, one, my user has some questions are attending for us now. I know most of them well, know who are the spouse or not, but it's a tremendous help.

So finally, we, the time came well, as Anna first died in 49, and that was very hard for doctors. He called in the clean airport. They had just gotten in from Texas and plain the sound. It's like he's Bill knows more about this than I. Anyway, they brought it right there to the hospital, and we kept out of there too because he was pretty well shaken up with all this.

And Anne died of pneumonia and all that. So, went on from their doctor then died in 1950, a year and a half later. He knew them. I believe that he had them. Let me see.

He has talked with Bill. Well, I think that several times a week, if not every other day, he'd give me a little message. And, I felt as though I knew Bill and his guiding spirit too because there wasn't very much done that they didn't consult together on. Is there anything affecting this this foundation of this. Then one day, I got worried.

We're just like people in the army. You know, we go to where we're sent. I also wondered whether I was off the mailing list or whatever's forgotten. I was there for, 24 years. Probably 1 week chart of 24 years.

And, finally, the obedience came. So I have to go to charity and work with AA there. They have had AA at Charity and find workers there, but they just had a small department. And sister, a very fine sister who everybody loved, was there too. And she came down, and we told her everything, and doctor Bob talked with her.

And she really did a good job. But, they decided to build a new wing and all the extra. Oh, I know they thought alcoholics and all this was a thrill then or not, but everything was discontinued. It wasn't absolutely a case of life or death. So they just kind of forgot about AA.

But Reverend mother didn't. She saw much good in it. I know. I went there in August, and I didn't hear a word about other than on my obedience, it said, that I would take care of this floor and visit the station and work with AA. Well, I knew someday maybe we'd have them.

But, anyway, I just observed and went along day by day. Finally, one day, I got a call. I was in surgery checking on the patient to see find out the condition. And we were worried about this patient, and the bill rang furiously and said, period 1, she's on your floor. And I came down, and the architect of the new building was there.

And a few nurses, the director of our nursing service was there. And, first, Terry said, what kind of a setup would you like for this AA? What do you imagine standing in the middle of a floor and feeling rather strange. I didn't want to at home myself or not just yet, and I couldn't think very fast. So this nurse, said, well, sister, are they violent?

I said, no. They're not violent. Oh, they're not intoxicated. Yes. They are in housekeeping, but they're clear enough to be screened because we must make sure that they want the person.

Well, because the architect, you won't need those tapes then. Well, I said I said, and, as you're asking, would you mind give me a few days, and we'll drop a little plan of what we'd like? Fine. Well, the day that they came was on the feast of our lady of the rosary. That's how we call it, Rosary Hall.

And there is connected with that. When I was moved there, I thought, oh, I'd love to have this in memory of doctor Bob. Well, I thought if I get her permission rather than call it the alcoholic ward, we'll call it Rosary Hall. And I think you're Martin at Rose r h. Well, I thought all I need is a mess, and I have doctor's initials, r h s.

Robert Hobel Smith. So we call the Rosary Hospitalarium. Insignia on the door is RHS. Permission to open the warrant is granted by a the hospital of Arizona, October 7th 1952. Feast of the most over rosary.

I feel that the people whether they're in the church or whatever the denomination, when you see a rosary, you know it means prayer. People get the rosary out. Why do you think they're praying somehow? So to everyone, I think this is all a result of someone's prayer. The grace of god comes to someone's prayer and penance.

That's for sure. Well, anyway, the is the grandfather named Rosary Hall Solarium? Oh, I told you about that. The insignia eloquently expresses the efforts of the sisters of charity Saint Augustine, a Catholic religious order as they join forces with the members of AA, a strictly non sectarian movement. In an attempt to rescue men and women of all creeds from the bottomless pit of alcoholism.

Be admitted to this award, you must be sponsored by a member of a a n Good standing. You must also evidence the desire, not just to get sober, but also preserve and perpetuate your sobriety on a day by day basis. Unless you yourself are willing to admit that you are an alcoholic, you are advised to seek help other elsewhere. The physical therapy is most modern known to medical science. The patient's entire stay is retiring from the outside world and the habits which has have caused to collapse.

There are no radio, television, newspapers or magazines. Nothing but AA literature and other literature in keeping with the programs are available. A patient may have no visitors except members of Alcoholics Anonymous who are welcome between 9 AM and 9 PM. The conversation has turned to alcoholism and it's ravaging problems. Every evening, a member of AA comes to the hospital to conduct a brief AA meeting for the patients.

And the check of Pompey Branch stands in the center of the hall where AA members and the patients often gather to discuss the compounding. A little oratory is open to all times. Just if they want, do some prayerful thinking. There, the remodeling and construction work for the solarium was done by members of AA who contributed their time and money. Members who belong to the building trades work day and night during these spare hours to complete the loveliest quarters at no cost to the hospital.

Hospital. Accepted its first question 1 year ago, and since that day, 1,000 men and women have been hospitalized there in we have much room for women. We're hoping to get more. Oh, we have 3. We usually, we have 3.

Sometimes 4 and even a stretch to 5. That isn't good. However, the remodel Rosie Hall accepted its 1st place 1 year ago and since that date well, pardon me for repeating. They have been offered not only the key to sobriety, but they're also the key to a happy sobriety. The Sisters of Charity and members of Alcoholics Anonymous who assisted them decline any individual credit.

They are aware that it isn't giving we receive. Well, god bless you all, and I wish you a continued happy sobriety. And, may god's grace be with you always and bless every one of you. Thank you. This recording of Bill Wilson was transferred from a record to the tape.

We talked at an open meeting here, April 1947. Thank you. There are two ways of looking at Alcoholics Anonymous. To our friends, seated here among us, Alcoholics Anonymous doubtless seems a huge and spectacular success. They may be thinking of us as the people who have won Billy's personal victory by fighting great odds.

But every AA in this audience knows his friend giving too much credit that in actuality his recovery did not happen that way at all. Each in his heart knows that he became too weak to fight alone. That he had to confess his life had become unmanageable and therefore, unbearable. He remembers how his power of will to conquer alcohol through under his own strength. Nevertheless, he will tell you that this better admission, the hardest a human being can make, was the beginning of his new life.

That new life of which this medium is such a glowing and grateful testimony. Hence, no AA instead our humble demonstration of that sailing grace which all of us have found in a simple reliance on a power greater than ourselves. But our friends may object, Isn't this contrary to most human experience nowadays? Each of you puts the fight. You form in a group, then you help each other.

Meanwhile, depending upon some higher power. We have never worked. We've seen the food. Still, your philosophy doesn't entirely make sense. How can you win wars without fighting battles?

Nowadays, when almost everybody feels he must fight even to survive. Here is the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous telling us, less prudent to the whole world that in their experience, they have found a new life only by first admitting they could not personally control the old one, let alone managing anything or anybody else. By what strange paradox then has this new strength arisen out of your bygone weakness? When inside of complete defeat comes your astounding transformation? Explain if you can.

The secret of this seeming contradiction, this divine paradigm. These are the very natural questions that those who first absorb us. Now comes this wholesale liberation, thousands every month. Is this miracle of recovery due only to the fact that we, alcoholics, have gotten together, telling each other that we are sick, advising each other to touch in more suffer, and exhorting each other to be more honest and powerful. Is that all there is to Have we only constructed one more psychological gadget this time operated by the patients rather than the doctors?

Few people who have taken a good look at AA believed us to be the full explanation. 10 years ago, a prominent physician was asked to explain an alcoholic phenomenon to a group of his colleagues. One hand, I'm declining the invitation. These lawyers have assembled many powerful psychological resources, yet the same total of these resources does not explain to me the results I have witnessed. In days weeks, I have seen unbelievable changes in their behavior and motivation.

Changes in alcoholics which formerly, if at all possible, should have taken years at that. I can only say that there is no power at work among these people for which I cannot account. I have to call it the x factor. Most AA's call it God. I have no scientific explanation for this mystery.

Like our friend, the doctor, NRA will also admit that he cannot fully explain the inner mystery of his own transformation. He can only tell the story of it as best he can so that others may, if they wish, find their own freedom. Mine is a simple tale to tell. As with countless other 1,000 who had gone before me down the left hand path to alcohol oblivion, I came finally to the jumping off place and could not turn back. It was midsummer 1944.

At a New York Hospital for alcoholic, I was lying on one of those green beds, Our physical and mental anguish, we all know so well. I have been there before, but this time, it was different. This time, I had no hope. This was the finish. The curtain, that seemed to me.

What a devastating blow to my pride. I, who have thought so well of myself and my ability, of my capacity to do not ask, was cornered at last. So I was soon to plunge out into the dark, joining that English procession that had gone on before. I thought of my poor wife. There had been much happiness after all.

What would I not get to make a man? But that was over now. No words can tell of the loneliness and bitter despair I found in that morass of South City. Quick things stretched around me in all directions. I have met my match.

Alcohol was my master. Thanks and anxious. My wife, Laura, sat downstairs with a class of just that kind of a man, doctor William Stifel, a medical saint, or if ever there was a loved one, was trying in a way to explain my alcoholic dilemma to her. But, she pleaded. Tell me.

Don't spell my feelings. Telling me, don't stare my feelings. Telling me truly just why can't those stop? He has desperately wanted to for these several years. About other things, he always had great will power and perseverance.

He well knows that alcohol means ruin. Oh, tell me the truth, doc. Why can't this stop? As considered as we could, the good man explained how my drinking, once but a habit, had now become a variable of obsession. How my body, which could once tolerate alcohol, had now become highly sensitized to it.

Allergic, he called. It. So my demeanor was too full. An obsession as powerful as that of the kleptomaniac, the stinger, and the physical intolerance to alcohol as grim as that of a diabetic to sugar. The consignion condemned me to drink in spite of myself.

My bodily and talent ensured that I would die or go mad if I kept it up. My only hope, therefore, was the expulsion of my self destructive obsession. A rare occurrence once it had taken firm hold. At first, the doctor had felt that I might be one of those rare exceptions. But now, seemingly, I was too far gone.

I would, he thought, have to be confined somewhere if I were to live very long. Such was my sense, Though not told me in so many words, I well knew what it was. I had tried too many times and had failed to walk. I had no more strength to resist. I was through.

But it was darkest before dawn. For then came a friend with a mentor. He was an alcoholic who had been relieved of his obsession. He stood before me as living proof of what he had to say. 1 alcoholic talking to another.