by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 10, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

Purity is simple to understand. Purity is flawless quality. Gerard Groot in his famous fourteenth century book of meditation, has an essay entitled, “Of Pure Mind and Simple Intention,” in which he says, “By two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly, namely by...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 10, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

We often learn more by questions, than answers. Did you ever hear a question that caused you to think for days or even weeks? The questions which have no easy answer are often the key to the truth. However, in this series on the four absolutes, we are concerned with...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 10, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

At first blush, unselfishness would seem to be the simplest of all to understand, define and accomplish. But we have a long road to travel because ours was a real mastery of the exact opposite during our drinking days. A little careful thought will show that...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 10, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

Over and over we must ask ourselves, “Is it true or is it false?” For honesty is the eternal search for truth. It is by far the most difficult of the four Absolutes, for anyone, but especially for us in this fellowship. The problem drinker develops genuine artistry in...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 10, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

FOREWARD Spelled out as such, the Four Absolutes are not a formal part of AA philosophy of life. Since this is true, some may claim the Absolutes should be ignored. This premise is approximately as sound as it would be to suggest that the Holy Bible should be...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 7, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

William D. Silkworth, MD (July 22, 1873-March 22, 1951) The Alcoholic Cycle of Insanity Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 3, 2019 | Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

God Is Everything Or Else He Is Nothing One of the most emphasized and reiterated principles in the Big Book is, to bring into our consciousness the presence of a God, a Higher Power, a Spirit of the Universe, that is within us, and to draw from that Power at all...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | September 3, 2019 | Blog, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

Emmet Fox (July 30,1886-August 13, 1951) Alcoholics Anonymous Pioneers had many influences during the 1930’s and 40’s. Bill Wilson along with many other struggling alcoholics in New York were introduced to several different spiritual leaders and movements, with most...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | August 31, 2019 | Alcoholics Anonymous, Best of Bill W, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

Bill discusses the origination of the use of the Lord's Prayer in AA meetings in a letter to an AA Friend"Now about the business of adding the Lord’s Prayer to each A.A. meeting.""This practice probably came from the Oxford Groups who were influential in the early...

by Tim Fitzpatrick | August 31, 2019 | Alcoholics Anonymous, Best of Bill W, Historical Letters and Docs | 0 Comments

Bill discusses his struggles with applying to his life some of the principles expressed in the St. Francis Prayer“There wasn’t a chance of making the outgoing love of St. Francis a workable and joyous way of life until these fatal and almost absolute dependencies were...