‘PASS IT ON’
The story of Bill Wilson
and how the A.A. message
reached the world.
‘PASS IT ON’
The story of
Bill Wilson and how
the A.A. message
reached the world
1984
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., New York, N.Y
Copyright © 1984 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
All rights reserved
Fifth Printing 1984
Thirtieth Printing 2015
Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint the following:
Material from the A.A. Grapevine
is copyrighted by the A.A. Grapevine, Inc.,
reprinted by permission of the publisher.
Material from “Lois Remembers,” copyrighted 1979 by Al-Anon
Family Group Headquarters, Inc., reprinted by permission of the publisher.
Letter from C.G. Jung to Bill Wilson, C.G. Jung,
“Letters,” eds. Gerhard Adler and Aniela Jaffe, trans. R.F.C. Hull,
Bollingen Series 95, Vol. II: 1951-1961. Copyright 1953, 1955, (c) 1961,
1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 by Princeton University Press.
Reprinted by permission of Princeton University Press.
This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 84-072766
A.A. and Alcoholics Anonymous are registered trademarks of A.A. World
Services, Inc.
ISBN 978-0-916856-12-0
eISBN 978-1-940889-85-6
Printed in the United States of America
“. . . I’ll never forget the first time I met Bill Wilson. I was a couple of months sober and so excited, so thrilled to actually meet the co-founder that I gushed all over him with what my sobriety meant to me and my undying gratitude for his starting A.A. When I ran down, he took my hand in his and said simply, ‘Pass it on.’ ”
—from a letter to the A.A. General Service Office
Foreword
Bill told his story countless times. He himself dubbed it “the bedtime story,” and this name quickly caught on in the groups, as the story acquired a comforting familiarity. As many times as he told it, A.A. never tired of listening to it.
This is a detailed retelling of the bedtime story. Bill’s life was so full of adventure, experiment, thought, and invention that to report it all would require much more space than a single volume affords. Bill showed us how to receive the gift of life. This is our gift to him — his life, as we see it. We like to think he would enjoy this telling of his tale.
Contents
1. The early years in Vermont — Bill’s personality develops in the family unit; emotional upheaval following parents’ divorce; steadying influence of Griffith grandparents; depression follows loss of first love. 2. The war years — the young soldier turns his life around with the love of his Lois and the excitement of a military career; the first drink. 3. Building a life — career uncertainties and disappointments; dashed hopes for a full family life; Bill’s drinking pattern emerges and the Wilsons take a motorcycle “geographic.” 4. On “the Street’’ — the successful broker tastes the highs of professional respectability and the lows of emotional devastation as his alcoholism progresses; Bill is hospitalized. 5. From hell to the mountaintop — Dr. Silkworth and Ebby each carry his own message to a broken, suicidal Bill; a spiritual experience releases Bill. 6. On the bridge back to life — a formula for sobriety emerges: spiritual principles and work with other alcoholics. Bill’s attempt to rebuild his career results in the “rumhound from New York’’ meeting Dr. Bob in Akron. 7. “Make it snappy. . .” — Dr. Bob’s 15-minute meeting with Bill becomes five hours of sharing; identification and shared experience of equals as recovery basics; Oxford Group meetings in Akron; Dr. Bob’s last drink. 8. Lost and found — Bill loses in his first sober attempt to find work but finds, with Dr. Bob, A.A.’s No. 3 and No. 4 — Bill D. and Ernie G. 9. Passing it on — small groups of alcoholics begin recovering; a “nameless bunch of drunks” separates from the Oxford Group and develops the custom of group conscience. 10. “Won’t money spoil this thing?” — John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s millions are not available to support the group’s big plans; a small loan provides some relief and Bill and Dr. Bob establish a legal structure. 11. “Alcoholics Anonymous” — the Big Book, written by Bill and edited by the group conscience; the organization’s first public information effort also gives the group a name and a concise recovery program in the Twelve Steps. 12. One door closes and another opens — book sales are nil; Bill and Lois homeless; Hank drinks again — yet some publicity spurs inquiries and a borrowed $1,000 keeps A.A. afloat. 13. Divine dissatisfaction — keeps Bill reaching out for seemingly unattainable goals: a job and home of his own; Big Book sales; restored personal relationships; Father Ed Dowling’s “spiritual sponsorship” gives Bill a new insight into divine “thirst.” 14. On the map — publication of the Saturday Evening Post article puts A.A. on the map; Bill’s correspondence shapes attitudes that become integral parts of the A.A. program, especially bitter experience as growth opportunity. 15. A home of their own — the Wilsons find Stepping Stones; Bill makes a final career decision and as A.A. grows, offers to assist the military during the W.W. II effort. 16. “Spiritual kindergarten” — Bill’s conviction that we are “all pupils” thirsting for more spiritual knowledge and development leads him to explore psychic phenomena as well as Catholic doctrine. 17. On the road — Bill and Lois travel across the country, visiting hundreds of A.A. groups and members, including inmates; a family reunion at Christmas. 18. Beating upwind emotionally — on the heels of incredible joy Bill suffers debilitating depression; colleagues offer their views of Bill’s condition. 19. Assuring the future — Bill develops A.A.’s Traditions and envisions an A.A. service structure. 20. Trusting trusted servants — Bill’s “sledgehammer” campaign for a general service conference meets with trustee resistance and an “Easy Does It” admonition from Dr. Bob; the Twelve Traditions are accepted at Cleveland and Dr. Bob agrees to the conference plan just before his death. 21.