Throwback Thursday AA history post - "AA History Puzzle" (Video is silent):
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Tuesday AA literature post - From our online study guide at AABookClub.org, two Big Book topics for study, meditation or use with a sponsee: Pause,, mb Ta,ke it Easy, Pray for Help and Guidance Here are thousands of men and women, worldly indeed. They flatly declare that since they have come to believe in a Power greater than themselves, to take a certain attitude toward that Power, and to do certain simple things, there has been a revolutionary change in their way of living and thinking. In the face of collapse and despair, in the face of the total failure of their human resources, they found that a new power, peace, happiness, and sense of direction flowed into them. This happened soon after they wholeheartedly met a few simple requirements. (Page 50) Logic is great stuff. We liked it. We still like it. It is not by chance we were given the power to reason, to examine the evidence of our senses, and to draw conclusions. That is one of man’s magnificent attributes. (Page 53) On...
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. [6th of 6 articles] A NOTED DIVINE REVIEWS “ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS” by ELRICK B. DAVIS November 2, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer In a recent series, Mr. Davis told of Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization of former drinkers b...
Tuesday AA literature/history post - a 1945 Grapevine article on Step 10: A.A. Oldtimers…on the Tenth Step… A.A. Grapevine, August 1945 Vol. 2 No. 3 Editorial: On the 10th Step… “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.” THE admission of a wrong compares in its effects to a strong cauterizing agent. When applied promptly it burns away the infection, but the treatment may be painful. How much mental pain an individual incurs by admitting a wrong depends not so much on the degree of the wrong as on how seriously he is afflicted with vanity and false pride. The more vain the person, the more reluctant he is ever to admit a mistake. The more false pride he has, the more imperative it seems to him to perpetuate the illusion of his own perfection. Since we all know that vanity and false pride are distortions of the mind, perhaps the reason they are so common is the fact that, although we can spot them immediately in others, we have considerable diffic...
Tuesday AA literature post - Parallel Passages in the Big Book: The alcoholic is often normal in other ways- Then there are types [of alcoholics] entirely normal in every respect except in the effect alcohol has upon them. They are often able, intelligent, friendly people. xxx The Doctor's Opinion It relieved me somewhat to learn that in alcoholics the will is amazingly weakened when it comes to combating liquor, though it often remains strong in other respects. My incredible behavior in the face of a desperate desire to stop was explained. 7 Bill's Story He is often perfectly sensible and well balanced concerning every-thing except liquor, but in that respect he is incredibly dishonest and selfish. 21 There Is A Solution We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do for months or years, he reacts much like other men. 22 There Is a Solution He seemed quite rational and well-balanced with respect to other problems. Yet he had no control whatever...
Throwback Thursday AA history post: Timelines in AA History – 1941 To 1943 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. 1941 -Wilson’s buy & move home [Stepping Stones], rural area New York State; Ernie G. A.A. #4 marries Dr. Bob’s daughter Sue; Bill looking work, early gives up; fellowship likened noisy robust infant, midst terrible 2’s; Vi S. & husband Freddie S. Cleveland join A.A.; Serenity Prayer brought Ruth Hock’s attention; 1st professional intervention Charity Hospital, Dr. Harry Nash complied with junior assistant Dr. Victor D. Ippolito operating room not operate; Alcoholics Anonymous established American institution; started year 2,000 members end 8,000 due Saturday Evening Post Article Jack Alexander article; groups began send contributions Alcoholic Foundation...
