Bill finds sobriety at Towns hospital in December,1934 and stops using alcohol by 12-11- 1934. Bill will later describe the event as a spiritual experience and joins the Oxford Group, a Christian revival organization operating in New York city. Bill shares his white light experience over the next six months with anyone who would listen, but alas, he is unable to help anyone other than himself get sober. Frustrated, he goes to Dr. Silkworth and shares his concerns. Dr. Silkworth encourages Bill to explain the fatal nature of alcoholism, the physical addiction and mental compulsion before discussing spiritual matters. Th en, and only then, share the spirit. In May, 1935, Bill goes to Akron on a big business deal which would net him a great working position if he can succeed but its fails, and he is left broke and down and desires to drink. He tries to find another alcoholic to talk with, to share his miracle recovery. He finds. Bob, a failing drunken doctor in Akron who had joined the Oxford group trying to get sober. Bill follows Dr. Silkworth’s suggestion, and Dr. Bob gets sober immediately after May meeting with Bill; however, Bob drinks once more on a business trip to Atlantic City. He arrives back in Akron by June 10,1935 and informs Bill and his family that he will now do whatever it takes to get sober. He works the Six Step Program of the Oxford Group ( later to become AA’s Twelve Steps) and never drinks again. The experiences learned that day were to always share the fatal nature of the illness first ( step 1), then give them the spiritual experience (steps and 3). The middle steps allow us to clean house and help others. Dr. Bob develops the 112-step work techniques in Akron and Cleveland, while Bill develops the principles needed to unify the many conflicting influences running counter to our unity. We learn from experiences, first looking objectively at mistakes and then eliminating the errors to find right path. Today in AA, we are still learning, still adjusting and still fi findingpath to help the alcoholic get and stay sober. We owe our blessings to the work done by both of our founders Bill W. and Dr. Bob.
Vic L. Decisions Group, Winter Springs, Florida