This is history told by a man who was right in the middle of it while it happened.

Clarence Snyder tells how he got sober under Dr Bob’s care at City Hospital, Akron Ohio. He talks at length about his hospitalization and the 18 men who visited him. How they told him about their troubles with Alcoholism, but then would not explain the solution they had found (obvious from their sober healthy appearances).“All they would tell me was that they had a solution, but they would not tell me what the solution was.”

How he begged Dr Bob to tell him and then after a stern questioning by Dr Bob to determine that he was ready, Dr Bob 12th stepped him. He describes this process in detail.

Clarence Snyder’s sobriety date is, February 11, 1938.

Clarence described Dr Bob, professionally:

“he didn't have what you would call the bedside manner that a lot of people like to have. He wouldn't be a good man for hypochondriacs.”

“He was plain spoken and outspoken by nobody.”

“He was a man of few words and very definite words.”

“Any of you folks who've ever had the privilege of meeting him can attest to that.”

He talks about his first impressions of the Oxford Group meetings, including a vivid physical description of Anne Smith, Dr Bob’s wife. (He did not know when forming this impression that she was related to Dr Bob.)

He gives vivid descriptions of the Akron Oxford Group meetings that were held in home of T. Henry and Clarace Williams. He tells how speakers were chosen by guidance.

“They had no business meetings. The business meetings were done in quiet time. Everything they did, they did by prayer, by inspiration, by guidance.”

He outlines the format of an Oxford Group meeting and he describes the social period both before and after every meeting.

“You know, when we went to a meeting there, it wasn't like you go to a meeting today where you have a meeting that's due at eight o'clock."

And by God, we've got to get out of there at nine or the house is going to fall down.