Tuesday AA literature post - Bill W.'s original 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 deserve, as a
  movement, a long life and a useful one. To this end, none
  could be more vital than our Tenth Tradition, for it deals
  with the subject of controversy -- serious controversy.

  On the other side of the world, millions have died even
  recently in religious dissension. Other millions have died in
  political controversy. The end is not yet. Nearly everybody in
  the world has turned reformer. Each group, society, and nation
  is saying to the other, "You must do as we say, or else."
  Political controversy and reform by compulsion have reached an
  all-time high. And eternal, seemingly, are the flames of
  religious dissension.

  Being like other men and women, how can we expect to remain
  forever immune from these perils? Probably we shall not. At
  length, we must meet them all. We cannot flee from them, nor
  ought we try. If these challenges do come, we shall, I am
  sure, go out to meet them gladly and unafraid. That will be
  the acid test of our worth.

  Our best defense? This surely lies in the formation of a
  Tradition respecting serious controversy so powerful that
  neither the weakness of persons nor the strain and strife of
  our troubled times can harm Alcoholics Anonymous. We know that
  AA must continue to live, or else many of us and many of our
  fellow alcoholics throughout the world will surely resume the
  hopeless journey to oblivion. That must never be.

  As though by some deep and compelling instinct, we have thus
  far avoided serious controversies. Save minor and healthy
  growing pains, we are at peace among ourselves. And because we
  have thus far adhered to this sole aim, the whole world
  regards us favorably.

  May God grant us the wisdom and fortitude ever to sustain an
  unbreakable unity.

               
                 

 Copyright © The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., September 1948