Saturday AA speaker/history post - Joe and Charlie - "AA History - The Big Book Comes Alive":
Posts
Tuesday AA literature post - Parallel Passages in the Big Book on the subject of drinking before an important appointment or event: I do not hold with those who believe that alcoholism is entirely a problem of mental control. I have had many men who had, for example, worked a period of months on some problem or business deal which was to be settled on a certain date, favorably to them. They took a drink a day or so prior to the date, and then the phenomenon of craving at once became paramount to all other interests so that the important appointment was not met. These men were not drinking to escape; they were drinking to overcome a craving beyond their mental control. Page xxix-xxx I studied economics and business as well as law. Potential alcoholic that I was, I nearly failed my law course. At one of the finals I was too drunk to think or write. Page 2 Then I got a promising business opportunity. Stocks were at the low point of 1932, and I had somehow formed a group to bu
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. [4th of 6 articles] Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here by ELRICK B. DAVIS October 25, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer In three previous articles, Mr. Davis has told of Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization of former d
Tuesday AA literature post - Big Book topics for discussion, meditation or use with a sponsee from our online literature study guide at AABookClub.org : Dubious Luxury If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison. We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future. We were prepared to look at it from an entirely different angle. We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. How could we escape? We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how? We could not wish them away any more than alcohol. This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us
Tuesday AA literature/history post - A 1945 Grapevine article on Step Eight: A.A. Oldtimers…On the Eighth Step A.A. Grapevine, June 1945, Vol. 2 No. 1 Editorial: On the 8th Step . . . “Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. It was characteristic of many of us as alcoholics to at least attempt to perform in the grandiose manner. And in harming others we usually succeeded magnificently. So, to say that the first phase of the Eighth Step is a large order is to indulge in understatement which matches our bombastic style. And yet, however extended be the list of those we have harmed, the fulfillment of this step’s admonition need not be a tedious nor a burdensome undertaking. In the first place, let’s examine the meaning of the verb: Amend. Webster’s New International Dictionary defines it thus -“To make better, especially in character; to repair, restore; to free from faults, put right, correct, rectify. . .” There is the credo to which we
Timelines in AA History – 1939 Arthur S., Northeast Texas Area Archives has built upon Archie M’s original Timeline file and is still growing. 1939 -Dr. Harry Tiebout chief psychiatrist Blythewood Sanitarium Connecticut began lifelong absorption thorough scientific investigation techniques and principles A.A.; Honor Dealers office 17 William Street Newark New Jersey Bill’s major headquarters evicted; Dr. Silkworth wrote article Medical Record about alcoholism; Gabriel Heatter popular radio program [We People]; Honor Dealers evicted offices 17 Williams Street Newark New Jersey; Hank P. started drinking; Dr. Bob going St. Thomas Hospital looking prospects; Akron A.A.’s split Oxford Group; Jud O., Alex M. joined A.A. Akron; Archie T., nonalcoholic friend Sarah Klein helped start A.A. group Detroit; Rollie H. famous baseball player, 1 1st go public 1939, sports writer really responsible; Fulton Oursler editor Liberty magazine; Akron alcoholics parted Oxford Group; pioneered