at the hospital i was separated from
alcohol for the last time
treatment seemed wise for i showed signs
of delirium tremens
there i humbly offered myself to god as
i then
understood him to do with me as he would
i placed myself unreservedly under his
care and direction
i admitted for the first time that of
myself i was nothing
that without him i was lost i ruthlessly
faced my sins
and became willing to have my new found
friend take them away
root and branch i have not had a drink
since schoolmate visited me
and i fully acquainted him with my
problems and deficiencies
we made a list of people i had hurt or
toward whom i felt resentment
i expressed my entire willingness to
approach these individuals
admitting my wrong never was i to be
critical of them
i was to write all such matters to the
utmost of my ability
i was to test my thinking by the new god
consciousness within
common sense with us become uncommon
sense
i was to sit quietly when in doubt
asking only for direction and strength
to meet my problems
as he would have me never was i to pray
for myself
except as my requests bore upon my
usefulness to others
then only might i expect to receive
but that would be in great measure
my friend promised when these things
were done i would enter upon a new
relationship with my creator
that i would have the elements of a way
of living which answered all my problems
belief in the power of god plus enough
willingness
honesty and humility to establish and
maintain the new order of things
where the essential requirements
simple but not easy a price had to be
paid
it meant destruction of
self-centeredness
i must turn in all things to the father
of light
who presides over us all
these were revolutionary and drastic
proposals
but the moment i fully accepted them the
effect was electric
there was a sense of victory followed by
such a peace and serenity
as i had never known
ebby thacker was a school friend of bill
wilson and battled his whole life with
alcoholism
frequently landing in mental hospitals
or jail
after one bender three members of the
oxford group roland hazard
f shepherd cornell and siegra graves
convinced the court to parole evie
thacker into their custody
roland hazard taught ebby thacker the
oxford group principles
the oxford group principles and tenets
are surrender
sharing restitution and guidance and the
four absolutes honesty
purity unselfish love
you