synchronicity the development of the message of alcoholics anonymous

SYNCHRONICITYThe Development of the

Message of Alcoholics Anonymous

Burns M. Brady, MD, FASAM, FAAFP

Bill Wilson - letter to Carl Jung, Jan. 23, 1961A. Thanks for direction to Rowland Hazard

B. Jung’s reply: Jan. 30, 19611. Alcohol excess

Man’s thirst for God (union) 2. Relieved by Grace

Companionship with others Higher education of the mind beyond rationalism3. Alcohol in Latin – Spiritusa. Highest religious experienceb. 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

I. Bill Wilson – Carl Jung

A. Background1. Wealthy family – Connecticut2. Carl Jung 1931-19333. Joined Oxford Group 19344. Died 1944 – never in AAB. Oxford Group participation1. Carried the messageKey manChangeGuidance – prayer & shareService (help people – all, not just alcoholics)RestitutionInventory

II. Rowland Hazard

C. Meets Ebby Thacher – 19341. Manchester – Ebby jaila. Judge Graves – Father Cebra G.b. Cebra G.c. Shep C.d. Rowland HazardD. Sponsors Ebby for approximately 6 months1. Texas2. Clean up Manchester3. Delivers to Calvary Mission Fall 1934 (Home Oxford Group)

II. Rowland Hazard

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)

III. Oxford Group

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 partiesB. ChangeC. GuidanceD. 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:HonestyUnselfishnessLovePurity

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 sinners2. Men can be changed3. Confession is prerequisite to change4. The changed soul has direct access to God5. The age of miracles has returned6. 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 ShoemakerDirector of Mission – Henry Harrison Hadley II

IV. Oxford Group New York

DirectorD. Henry Harrison Hadley II1. Jerry McAuley – Water Street Mission NYC 1870 Died 19842. Mission run by Samuel Hopkins Hadley (Varieties of Religious Experience) and his brother Henry Harrison Hadley3. Sam’s son, Henry Harrison Hadley II, brought the fundamental basis of spiritual conversion to Calvary Mission from his own and his father’s experience

IV. Oxford Group New York

PriestE. Sam Shoemaker1. Met Frank Buchman in China in 1918 while on missionary trip (Sam was 24 years old, handsome, rich, devout, Princeton graduate2. He asked for help and through their work together underwent a conversion experience

“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.”

IV. Oxford Group New York

E. Sam Shoemaker (cont’d)3. To Seminary and was ordained 1921. In 1924 became rector of Calvary Church and was there 28 years4. To Pittsburgh Calvary Church in 1950. Died 19635. Condolences – good friends Norman Vincent Peale and Billy Graham6. This man was a giant. Wilson stated that he and he alone was the inspiration of the Steps of AA

IV. Oxford Group New York

A. Development of the Firestone connection1. 1924 James Newton (19 years old, luggage salesman) by mistake went into a “First Century Christianity” meeting (precursor of the Oxford Group). He underwent a spiritual change2. 1928 – hired as personal assistant by Harvey Firestone, Sr., age 233. Became close friend of Russell (Bud) Firestone, Harvey’s second son. 4. Bud was severe alcoholic and tried with Newton to deal with this unsuccessfully until 1931

V. Oxford Group Akron

5. 1931 – Trip to Denver for Episcopal Church meeting – Newton, Firestone, and “coincidentally” some Oxford Group team members including Sam Shoemaker6. On return trip Shoemaker and Firestone had a personal and private talk. Surrender and conversion occurred. 1951 – Died sober 7. Harvey Firestone, Sr., so grateful he sponsored Oxford Group House Party 1933

V. Oxford Group Akron

B. Oxford Group 1933 Akron1. 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.

V. Oxford Group Akron

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

V. Oxford Group Akron

A. Relationship – William D. Silkworth1. Disease – physical allergy & mental obsession2. Solution – moral psychologyB. Relationship – Ebby1. Ebby’s background, rich family, politicians, manufacturers, summered in Manchester2. Drinking – Bill Ebby had some episodes, not frequent3. Call – Ebby made “12” Step call in November 1934. Contents – personal story – choose your own concept of a Higher Power, do the steps (Oxford Group)4. Fellowship – Roland, Sam, Oxford Group and Towns

VI. Bill Wilson

C. Rapture experience “Hot Flash” Religious Experience – Spiritual Experience – Spiritual Awakening

Richard Bucke – Cosmic ConsciousnessWilliam James – Varieties of Religious

ExperienceWilson did the Steps December 11-18

“wind blew through”

The stage was set in New York

VI. Bill Wilson

A. Failed business dealB. Broke and afraidC. Multiple phone callsD. Reached Rev. Walter Tunks – Henrietta

Seiberling – Bob Smith

VII. Meeting in Akron

A. One alcoholic to another “I drank like that – I feel like that”

B. Disease – Bodily and mentally differentC. Spiritual Solution – mental, physical,

emotional illnessSpirituality – Humility – 1-2-3 StepsResponsibility – 4-12 Steps

“Faith without works is dead”D. Pass it on

VIII. Message in Akron to Bob Smith

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