“FOREWORD TO SECOND EDITION
Figures
given in this foreword describe the Fellowship as it was in 1955.
Since
the original Foreword to this book was written in 1939, a wholesale
miracle has taken place. Our earliest printing voiced the hope “that
every alcoholic who journeys will find the Fellowship of Alcoholics
Anonymous at his destination. Already,” continues the early text
“twos and threes and fives of us have sprung up in other
communities.”
Sixteen
years have elapsed between our first printing of this book and the
presentation in 1955 of our second edition. In that brief space,
Alcoholics Anonymous has mushroomed into nearly 6,000 groups whose
membership is far above 150,000 recovered
alcoholics. Groups are to be found in each of the United States and
all of the provinces of Canada. A.A. has flourishing communities in
the British Isles, the Scandinavian countries, South Africa, South
America, Mexico, Alaska, Australia and Hawaii. All told, promising
beginnings have been made in some 50 foreign countries and U. S.
possessions. Some are just now taking shape in Asia. Many of our
friends encourage us by saying that this is but a beginning, only the
augury of a much larger future ahead.[see
Timeline]
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 [Bill Wilson] and an Akron physician [Dr Bob]. Six months earlier, the broker had been
relieved of his drink obsession by a sudden spiritual experience,
[see Bill's Story] following a meeting with an alcoholic friend
[Ebby Thacher] who had been in contact
with the Oxford Groups of that day. 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 [note the term 'opinion' in the chapter
heading – contrary to AA received wisdom it would seem that
'opinions' are not entirely to be dispensed with!] of the early days of our Society appears in the next
pages . From
this doctor, the broker had learned the grave nature of alcoholism
[again
contrary to AA conventional thinking it would seem that a
non-alcoholic is quite capable of 'carrying the message'].
Though he could not accept all the tenets of the Oxford Groups
[foreshadowing an early break with the aforementioned organisation],
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, [but see above] but he
had succeeded only in keeping sober himself. The broker had gone to
Akron on a business venture which had collapsed, leaving him greatly
in fear that he might start drinking again. He suddenly realized that
in order to save himself he must carry his message to another
alcoholic. That alcoholic turned out to be the Akron physician.”
(our
emphases)
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
Caution:
This curse (sorry!!) COURSE is not to be taken as AUTHORITATIVE nor
is it to be regarded as DEFINITIVE in any way. Anyone found to be
according it any undue status will be reported to the appropriate
authorities (ie. GSO York or whoever) who will then do ….
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! (quite rightly too we say!). Moreover any person
discovered to be quoting from the aforementioned course will be
TERMINATED with extreme prejudice!
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