History of Alcoholics Anonymous Founders and Influences
Explore the background and key figures influencing the founding and development of Alcoholics Anonymous, including insights into individuals such as Bill Wilson, Carl Jung, Frank Buckman, and Rowland Hazard. Delve into their spiritual journeys, encounters, and contributions that shaped the foundation of AA, touching on themes of spirituality, recovery, and personal transformation.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Bill Wilson - letter to Carl Jung, Jan. 23, 1961 A. A. Thanks for direction to Rowland Hazard Jung s reply: Jan. 30, 1961 1. Man s thirst for God (union) 2. B. 1. Alcohol excess 2. Relieved by Grace Companionship with others Higher education of the mind beyond rationalism 3. Alcohol in Latin Spiritus a. b. 3. a. Highest religious experience b. Most depraving poison Spiritus contra Spiritum It takes the Spirit of God to overcome the (harmful) spirit of alcohol. C. Rowland Hazard given the spiritual religious solution C.
Background 1 1. 2. 3. 4. Oxford Group participation 1. Key man Change Guidance prayer & share Service (help people all, not just alcoholics) Restitution Inventory A. . Wealthy family Connecticut 2. Carl Jung 1931-1933 3. Joined Oxford Group 1934 4. Died 1944 never in AA B. 1. Carried the message
C. Meets Ebby Thacher 1934 1. Manchester Ebby jail a. Judge Graves Father Cebra G. b. Cebra G. c. Shep C. d. Rowland Hazard D. Sponsors Ebby for approximately 6 months 1. Texas 2. Clean up Manchester 3. Delivers to Calvary Mission Fall 1934 (Home Oxford Group)
Frank Buckman 1878 Lutheran background Ordained as minister in 1905 Serious resentment and rebuff at orphanage where he was director 1908 Keswick Convention Keswick, England where he had a rapture experience of Jesus while listening to a sermon by a little-known minister, Jessie Penn-Lewis (spiritual awakening of the sudden light experience ) vs (educational experience)
He talked of sin and acceptance of Christ Alcoholics Anonymous, 27 years later, talked of character defects and a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps
He spent 6 years at Penn State as a YMCA secretary where he developed his philosophy of the Oxford Group, which was primarily the Key Man and Abstinence position (alcohol and smoking)
Initially, from 1920 to 1928, the group was called First Century Christian Fellowship From 1928 to 1938 it was known as the Oxford Group - (first called by South African press when a group from Oxford came there to preach)
In this 10-year period were developed the concepts of: A. House parties B. Change C. Guidance D. Maximum
Attempts to refer to the 6 steps of the Oxford Group (as precursors of the 12 Steps of AA) were only loosely connected since the Oxford Group referred to the four absolutes , not the 6 steps: Honesty Unselfishness Love Purity Derived from Robert Speer in his 1902 book The Principles of Jesus
The Oxford Group did have some critical points that were emphasized 1. Men are sinners 2. Men can be changed 3. Confession is prerequisite to change 4. The changed soul has direct access to God 5. The age of miracles has returned 6. Those who have been changed must change others
These absolutes and 6 points were the foundation of anecdotal communication prior to the writing of the book Alcoholics Anonymous with its Twelve Step Program
In 1938, the Oxford Group became known as MRA Moral Rearmament It still exists with its headquarters in Caux, Switzerland Its membership and support declined greatly after Buckman s death in 1961
A. Calvary Episcopal Church International Headquarters of the Oxford Group B. Calvary Mission 1926-1936 Indigent recovery center where Rowland Hazard left Ebby Fall 1934 C. Calvary House location of administration of the church - also housed meetings of the Oxford groups Priest Sam Shoemaker Director of Mission Henry Harrison Hadley II
Director D. Henry Harrison Hadley II 1. NYC 1870 Died 1984 2. (Varieties of Religious Experience) and his brother Henry Harrison Hadley 3. brought the fundamental basis of spiritual conversion to Calvary Mission from his own and his father s experience 1. Jerry McAuley Water Street Mission 2. Mission run by Samuel Hopkins Hadley 3. Sam s son, Henry Harrison Hadley II,
Priest E. Sam Shoemaker 1. while on missionary trip (Sam was 24 years old, handsome, rich, devout, Princeton graduate 2. together underwent a conversion experience 1. Met Frank Buchman in China in 1918 2. He asked for help and through their work Give to God the resentment and look at my part. God s love and turn the other cheek. Do God s work in God s way.
Sam Shoemaker (contd) 3. In 1924 became rector of Calvary Church and was there 28 years 4. Died 1963 5. Vincent Peale and Billy Graham 6. that he and he alone was the inspiration of the Steps of AA E. 3. To Seminary and was ordained 1921. 4. To Pittsburgh Calvary Church in 1950. 5. Condolences good friends Norman 6. This man was a giant. Wilson stated
Development of the Firestone connection 1. salesman) by mistake went into a First Century Christianity meeting (precursor of the Oxford Group). He underwent a spiritual change 2. Firestone, Sr., age 23 3. Firestone, Harvey s second son. 4. to deal with this unsuccessfully until 1931 A. 1. 1924 James Newton (19 years old, luggage 2. 1928 hired as personal assistant by Harvey 3. Became close friend of Russell (Bud) 4. Bud was severe alcoholic and tried with Newton
5. 1931 Trip to Denver for Episcopal Church meeting Newton, Firestone, and coincidentally some Oxford Group team members including Sam Shoemaker 6. Firestone had a personal and private talk. Surrender and conversion occurred. 1951 Died sober 7. sponsored Oxford Group House Party 1933 5. 6. On return trip Shoemaker and 7. Harvey Firestone, Sr., so grateful he
B. Oxford Group 1933 Akron 1. Lasted weekend with thousands attending, including many industrialists (key man) 2. Train met by Bud s wife, Dorothy, and Rev. Walter Tunks, Bill s contact in Mayflower. Anne Smith (Bob s wife) and Henrietta Seiberling were there. Bob was not. 3. 1934 Bob began to attend Oxford Group meeting at the home of T. Henry and Clarace Williams with Ann and Henrietta. They had been attending for 2 years.
4. Bob confessed (they all knew) that his secret was he could not stop drinking 5. They all knelt and prayed for guidance (this was approximately 2 weeks prior to Bill s arrival in May 1935) The stage was set in Akron
Relationship William D. Silkworth 1. 2. Relationship Ebby 1. manufacturers, summered in Manchester 2. Ebby had some episodes, not frequent 3. 1934. Contents personal story choose your own concept of a Higher Power, do the steps (Oxford Group) 4. Towns A. 1. Disease physical allergy & mental obsession 2. Solution moral psychology B. 1. Ebby s background, rich family, politicians, 2. Drinking Bill 3. Call Ebby made 12 Step call in November 4. Fellowship Roland, Sam, Oxford Group and
C. Rapture experience Hot Flash Religious Experience Spiritual Experience Spiritual Awakening Richard Bucke Cosmic Consciousness William James Varieties of Religious Experience Wilson did the Steps December 11-18 wind blew through The stage was set in New York
A. Failed business deal B. Broke and afraid C. Multiple phone calls D. Reached Rev. Walter Tunks Henrietta Seiberling Bob Smith
A. One alcoholic to another I drank like that I feel like that B. Disease Bodily and mentally different C. Spiritual Solution mental, physical, emotional illness Spirituality Humility 1-2-3 Steps Responsibility 4-12 Steps Faith without works is dead D. Pass it on
1937 Bill and Lois left the Oxford Group 1939 Bob and Ann left the Oxford Group 1941 Sam Shoemaker and Calvary Episcopal Church left the Oxford Group AA at this time had the message, recorded it in text book form, and became all inclusive never exclusive
