A.A. Tradition - 1947 AA Pamphlet
A.A. Tradition "Our experience has taught us ..."
An A.A. Publication
Published by Works Publishing , Inc.
P.O. Box 459 (Grand Central Annex), New York 17, N.Y.,
(Permission A.A. Grapevine, Inc.),
Copyright 1947
This pamphlet is a collection of essays written by AA cofounder Bill Wilson on the 12 Traditions that totals 48 pages including the covers. This pamphlet was published by Works Publishing, Inc. in 1947.
During the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, members had many growing experiences, some smooth and some not so smooth. These learning experiences formed an understanding that would result in guidance designed to assure AA's survival for years to come. From these experiences was born AA's second legacy - Unity.
Through the correspondence with groups about their experiences, AA's co-founder Bill W. noted how successful groups functioned. His observations formed the foundation of "Twelve Points to Assure Our Future," the original name used to represent AA's Twelve Traditions. Bill W. had a tough time convincing other members of the need for "guidelines" and had to sell the idea to the Fellowship. He did this by writing about the need in AA's newsletter the AA Grapevine, beginning in August 1945 and running through November 1947. From December 1947 through November 1948, Bill presented the arguments as number Traditions.
The Grapevine articles are reproduced in this booklet: A.A. TRADITION as 11 chapters, including: FOREWORD - Alcoholics Anonymous Tradition: Twelve Points to Assure our Future - Who is a Member of Alcoholics Anonymous? - Anonymity PART ONE and PART TWO - Money PART ONE and PART TWO - Adequate Hospitalization - One Great Need - Clubs in AA - Are They Here to Stay? - Dangers in Linking A.A. to Other Projects - Will A.A. Ever Have a Personal Government? Incorporations: Their Use and Misuses - A.A. General Service Center. The Alcoholic Foundation. The A.A. General Service Office. The A.A. Grapevine - Why Can't We Join A.A. Too!
Here you can read a portion of the Foreword:
“How shall we AA's best preserve our unity? That is the subject of this booklet.
When an alcoholic applies the "Twelve Steps" of our Recovery Program to his personal life, his disintegration stops and his unification begins. The Power which now holds him together in one piece overcomes those forces which had rent him apart.
Exactly the same principle applies to each A.A. Group and to Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole. So long as the ties which bind us together prove far stronger than those forces which would divide us if they could, all will be well. We shall be secure as a movement; our essential unity will remain a certainty.
If, as A.A. members, we can each refuse public prestige and renounce any desire for personal power; if, as a movement, we insist on remaining poor, so avoiding disputes about extensive property and its management; if we steadfastly decline all political, sectarian, or other alliances, we shall avoid internal division and public notoriety; if, as a movement, we remain a spiritual entity concerned only with carrying our message to fellow sufferers without charge or obligation; then only can we most effectively complete our mission. It is becoming ever so clear that we ought never accept even the most alluring temporary benefits if these should consist of considerable sums of money, or could involve us in controversial alliances and endorsements, or might tempt some of us to accept, as A.A. members, personal publicity by press or radio. Unity is so vital to us AA's that we cannot risk those attitudes and practices which have sometimes demoralized other forms of human society. Thus far we have succeeded because we have been different. May we continue to be so!
But, A.A. unity cannot automatically preserve itself. Like personal recovery, we shall always have to work to maintain it. Here, too, we surely need honesty, humility, open-mindedness, unselfishness, and, above all-vigilance. So we who are older in A.A. beg you who are newer that you ponder carefully the experience we have already had of trying to work and live together.“
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This pamphlet is in very good condition with some stains on the cover.
Please view all of the photos for the conditions.