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)
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