Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-07-18

loneliness of the drinker-how he SHES away from
a society which condemns him and how he reaches
out for the comradeship of his own kind because
he knows that there he will have sympathy; and
how, for this reason, alcoholic addicts will con-
fde in a mutual give and take of advice founded
on experience, letting themselves down 20 one an
other as to no one else. Thus, it was out of the
stuff of their own recovery that Bill and Dick be-
gan the work which has now become national
crusade.
Bill talked things over with his wife
She eager to be of assistance to him and
the cause. Bill gave up all outside work. He and
his wife moved into house in Brooklyn where
they took in five non-paying guests in various
stages of alcoholism. For year Bill dedicated
himself to studying these men, He read every
thing he thought of value that had been written
on the subject. He consulted with doctors, psychi-
artists lay therapists clergymen, welfare workers,
judges, those who had drunkards in their families
with everyone he could find who had had con-
tact with the disease in any Of its phases
Bills guests walked from his house absolved
from the drinking habit.
Meanwhile in Akron Dick was doing the same
thing Due to his efforts it was there that the first
= A. A. group came into being.
From what Bill had learned he now went to
work to evolve workable program of recovery,
one that would be broad and elastic enough to
meet the needs Of the individual patient Open
TO revision and change, it is a synthesis Of many
principles which have been proven advantageous
by the different schools of thought and therapy,
plus the perception that only who has been
alcoholic can have. As it stands today it IS
what might be called a twelve-point plan.
The articles Of faith to which the members of
Alcoholics Anonymous subscribe are II substance
THE admission that alcohol has become an OBJ
session with them one that they unable to over
come 2-The faith that a Power greater than
themselves can restore them to sanity 3-The
REIMBURSEMENT of their own will and direction Of
their lives, and complete reliance for inspiration
and guidance the One Infinite and Supreme
Power A searching, candid and fearless in
ventory Of their lives and characters. 5-The ad-
mission to themselves and others of the exact
nature Of the wrong they have done. 6-The
desire to correct their defects. Praying that
they will be removed 8-Listing all those who
have been made TO suffer through them 9-Alak-
ing amends wherever possible. 10-Frequent
further personal inventories TO mark improve
ments and defaults. 11-Prayer and meditation
TO bring them into unity with God and TO beseech
Him for the knowledge and strength to do His will
12-Dcdication of themselves to carrying this
= message TO other alcoholics, and to praCtcing
these principles in their daily affairs.
This does not at all mean that unless an alco-
holic accepts this program off-hand from the be-
ginning that he will not have the help of A. A.
number of members who have recovered with its
help have not as yet, because of their former ag-
nostiC eanings, quite come to embrace all of the
principles. On the other hand thousands of them
have done SO and they attribute their release and
the peace and security they have attained TO the
assistance and guidance Of the Supreme Power