Throwback Thursday AA history post - Ruth Hock, AA's first secretary, on her experiences (via prestongroup.org): Ruth Hock's Recollections
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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 drinking men
Tuesday AA literature post - From our online study guide at AABookClub.org, two big book topics for meditation, study or use with a sponsee: How Long Does It Take To Be A Saint? Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can’t go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. (Page 60) Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. (Page 77) We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. W
AA history/literature post - A 1945 Grapevine article on Step Nine: A.A. Oldtimers…On the Ninth Step A.A. Grapevine, July 1945, Vol. 2 No. 2 Editorial: On the 9th Step… “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.” Like others of the Steps, Number Nine is closely related to Number Three –“to turn our will and our lives over to God as we understood Him.” If we have accomplished this step to any measurable degree, we have attained at least a small measure of humility and a realization of our dependence on Him. Having prepared a list of all people we have harmed and brought ourselves to the point where we are willing to make amends to them, our Ninth Step is one calling for positive action. There is a world of difference between being willing to do a thing and actually doing it. How many times in the pre-A.A. state have we said “I am sorry, I won’t do it again” and felt that that constituted complete amends. A sincere apology, wit
T hrowback Thursday AA history post: Timelines in AA History – 1940 Many heartfelt thanks go out to Archie M. of Tennessee, who did much research in order to compile this “Timelines in AA History” and to Arthur S., Northeast Texas Area Archives, who has built upon Archie M’s original Timeline file. 1940’s -Ebby familiar visitor 415 Lexington A.A. office; Bill wrote memos Code Tradition & Code Headquarters & Code Grapevine; Bill pushing hard A.A. self-government through general service conference, visited groups get support; St. Thomas & Knickerbocker Hospitals pioneered best techniques combined medicine & A.A. worked out ( G 9, 13) ( SM 16) • early 40′ -Wife’s A.A. prospects interviewed to this time; A.A. Canada started; Lillian R. popular singer went public ( D 109) ( G 9, 46) • mid 40′ -Number black alcoholics found sobriety; Aunt Jenny radio soap opera involving alcoholic family member; U.S. groups proliferating rapidly & starting abroad; radio
