We Began to Count Noses - Silkworth.net
We Began to Count Noses - Silkworth.net
We Began to Count Noses - Silkworth.net
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“After several failures <strong>to</strong> find others, a fourth turned up. He came through an<br />
acquaintance who had heard the good news. He proved <strong>to</strong> be a devil-may-care<br />
young fellow whose parents could not make out whether he wanted <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p<br />
drinking or not. They were deeply religious people, much shocked by their son's<br />
refusal <strong>to</strong> have anything <strong>to</strong> do with the church. He suffered horribly from his<br />
sprees, but it seemed as if nothing could be done for him. He consented,<br />
however, <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> the hospital, where he occupied the very room recently<br />
vacated by the lawyer. He had three visi<strong>to</strong>rs. After a bit, he said: "The way you<br />
fellows put this spiritual stuff makes sense. I'm ready <strong>to</strong> do business. I guess the<br />
old folks were right after all.<br />
So one more was added <strong>to</strong> the Fellowship.<br />
All this time our friend of the hotel lobby incident remained in that <strong>to</strong>wn. He was<br />
there, three months. He now returned home, leaving behind his first<br />
acquaintance, the lawyer, and the devil-may-care chap.” 15<br />
AA # NAME SOB FROM<br />
1 Bill Wilson Dec 34 NY<br />
2 Bob Smith May 35 Akron<br />
3 Bill Dotson June 35 Akron<br />
4 Ernie Galbraith July 35 Akron<br />
In late August, 1935, Bill Wilson followed The Golden Road of Devotion back<br />
<strong>to</strong> New York. One sure sign of a Spiritual Experience is the unyielding need <strong>to</strong><br />
carry the Good News. Bill could not rest on the Akron laurels. “God is real<br />
because He produces real effects” 16 and His effect on Bill was undeniable. Wilson<br />
instinctively knew, and would be continuously reminded by his new friends in<br />
the Oxford Group, that in order <strong>to</strong> keep his Experience he was required <strong>to</strong> Pass It<br />
On. 17<br />
Not long after his return from Akron, Bill returned <strong>to</strong> Town’s Hospital<br />
seeking <strong>to</strong> carry the Life Changing Message. His first success in New York was<br />
Henry G. Parkhurst. Henry’s (Hank) s<strong>to</strong>ry follows Dr. Bob’s in the Original<br />
Manuscript draft of the book Alcoholics Anonymous and is entitled “THE<br />
UNBELIEVER.” According <strong>to</strong> Hank’s recollection, this had been his 11 th trip <strong>to</strong><br />
Towns. It would appear that on this occasion, Dr. <strong>Silkworth</strong> explained <strong>to</strong> Hank,<br />
with all honesty and humility, the hopeless nature of his illness.<br />
“For Christ’s sake Doc! What do you mean-nothing! What! An incurable disease<br />
Doc, you’re kidding me! You're trying <strong>to</strong> scare me in<strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>pping! What's that you<br />
say You wish you were What are those tears in your eyes Doc What's that<br />
Forty years you've spent at this alcoholic business and you have yet <strong>to</strong> see a true<br />
alcoholic cured Your life defeated and wasted Oh, come, come Doc . . . what<br />
would some of us do without you If even <strong>to</strong> only sober up. But Doc . . . let's<br />
have it. What is going <strong>to</strong> be my his<strong>to</strong>ry from here on out Some vital organ will<br />
s<strong>to</strong>p or the mad house with a wet brain How soon Within two years” 18