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AA history and literature together - read Bill's 1948 Grapevine article on Tradition Ten: Tradition Ten To most of us, Alcoholics Anonymous has become as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. We like to believer that it will soon be as well known and just as enduring as that historic landmark. We enjoy this pleasant conviction because nothing has yet occurred to disturb it; we reason that we must hang together or die. Hence we take for granted our continued unity as a movement. But should we? Though God has bestowed upon us great favors, and though we are bound by stronger ties of love and necessity than most societies, is it prudent to suppose that automatically these great gifts and attributes shall be ours forever? If we are worthy, we shall probably continue to enjoy them. So the real question is, how shall we always be worthy of our present blessings? Seen from this point of view, our AA Traditions are those attributes and practices by which we may deserv...
Throwback Thursday AA history post - The six articles published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in late 1939 led to tremendous growth in Cleveland's AA Group #3, but also got Clarence kicked out: That fall Clarence smuggled freelance reporter Elrick Davis into meetings of that first Greater Cleveland group and Mr. Davis wrote a series of articles on A.A. which were published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This resulted in over 500 calls for help to be tended by the only 13 active members... Many members were upset by this workload and by the surreptitious manner in which it was done. So they voted Clarence out of A.A. (which was something that could be done at the time). (aa.cle.org) Reprinted from the October 23, 1939, Cleveland Plain Dealer with permission. [5th of 6 articles] Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here by ELRICK B. DAVIS October 26, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer In previous installments, Mr. Davis has told of Alcoholics Anonymous, an informal society of ...
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The Twelve Concepts for Dummies is our original introduction to the Twelve Concepts for World Service, AA's third Legacy. Learn about the principles which guide our AA service structure, from the local district and area to the national level at the General Service Organization. Here is an excerpt: The proceedings at these annual General Service meetings, with their committees, motions, reports and the like, may seem abstract and far removed from the original fellowship which stated, in the Forward to the first edition of its primary text, that “We are not an organization in the conventional sense of the word.” Such an impression could reinforce the idea that the Twelve Concepts are irrelevant to sobriety in A.A., and discourage their study. But it is important to note that the Alcoholic Foundation (precursor to the General Service Board), with its board of trustees, and an office with a full time secretary devoted to A.A. affairs, both predate the Big Book. (Se...
Real People of the Big Book - looking at the individuals behind aa folklore Henry G. "Hank" Parkhurst (1895-1954) is the person in these anecdotes: About one year prior to this experience a man was brought in to be treated for chronic alcoholism. He had but partially recovered from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a case of pathological mental deterioration. He had lost everything worthwhile in life and was only living, one might say, to drink. He frankly admitted and believed that for him there was no hope. Following the elimination of alcohol, there was found to be no permanent brain injury. He accepted the plan outlined in this book. One year later he called to see me, and I experienced a very strange sensation. I knew the man by name, and partly recognized his features, but there all resemblance ended. From a trembling, despairing, nervous wreck, had emerged a man brimming over with self-reliance and contentment. I talked with him for some time, but was not able t...