How did you meet Father Ed Dowling?
Answer
My first unforgettable contact with Father
Ed came about in this way. It was early
1940, though late in the winter. Save for
old Tom, the fireman we had lately rescued
from Rockland Asylum, the club was empty
(24th St. clubhouse in N.Y. City where Bill
and Lois were living, as they had been
evicted from their Clinton St. home.) My
wife Lois was out somewhere. It had been a
hectic day, full of disappointments. I lay
upstairs in our room, consumed with
self-pity. This had been brought on by one
of my characteristic imaginary ulcer
attacks. It was a bitter night, frightfully
windy. Hail and sleet beat on the tin roof
over my head.
Then the front doorbell rang and I heard old
Tom toddle off to answer it. A minute later
he looked into the doorway of my room,
obviously much annoyed. Then he said, "Bill,
there is some old damn bum down there from
St. Louis, and he wants to see you." Great
heavens, I thought, this can't be still
another one." Wearily and even resentfully,
I said to Tom, "Oh well, bring him up, bring
him up." Then a strange figure appeared in
my bedroom door. He wore a shapeless black
hat that somehow reminded me of a cabbage
leaf. His coat collar was drawn around his
neck, and he leaned heavily on a cane. He
was plastered with sleet. Thinking him to be
just another drunk, I didn't even get off
the bed. Then he unbuttoned his coat and I
saw that he was a clergyman.
A moment later I realized with great joy
that he was the clergyman who had put that
wonderful plug for A.A. into The Queen's
Work. My weariness and annoyance instantly
evaporated. We talked of many things, not
always about serious matters either. Then I
began to be aware of one of the most
remarkable pair of eyes I have ever seen.
And, as we talked on, the room increasingly
filled with what seemed to me to be the
presence of God which flowed through my new
friend. It was one of the most extraordinary
experiences that I have ever had. Such was
his rare ability to transmit grace. Nor was
my experience at all unique. Hundreds of
AA's have reported having exactly this
experience when in his presence. This was
the beginning of one of the deepest and most
inspiring friendships that I shall ever
know. This was the first meaningful contact
that I have ever had with the clergymen of
the Catholic faith. (The 'Blue Book', Vol.
12, 1960)
Answer
Father Edward Dowling, a great Jesuit friend
of ours, once said to me, "Bill, it isn't
what you people put into Alcoholics
Anonymous that makes it so good - it's what
you left out." (Transcribed from tape,
Manhattan Group, 1955)
