Central Bulletins on 3rd Legacy

Central Bulletin Vol. XIII No. 10 July 1955​ THE THIRD LEGACY We were unable to attend the twentieth anniversary convention in St. Louis on July l-2-3, to our great regret. We have talked to a number of people who attended this convention and found them all enthusiastic and with a better conception of our AA fellowship. One of the enthusiasts to whom we spoke had been a rather cynical member before the trip. His mind had been poisoned with suspicion and misinformation by some persons in the area who never have {been cooperative with the administration of the program as it began to grow beyond their limited horizons. The factual information he secured at this Conference, together with conversations with many old-timers and district representatives and the later revelation; of the three day meetings convinced him that he had been misled. Founders Bill and Bob and Bill’s staff accomplished wonders in the early and latter stages of AA’s growth, exhibiting an astonishing degree of patience, understanding and wisdom which confirmed the need of a man of Bill’s stature in the unenviable position he was drafted to hold. In ‘spite of much abuse, criticism and slander, Bill and his staff maintained their dignity and their steady reliable course in charting the way for the eventual adoption of Traditions after a careful evaluation of the tried and tested efforts of groups in every area. When Doctor Bob died, Bill was left as the final authority on proper interpretation of what was best for the ‘Fellowship. A selfish, ambitious and self-aggrandizing person would have reveled in this opportunity for personal glory and gain. In fact, Bill was often maliciously accused by character-villifiers of possessing these attributes. Many came to believe these would-be destroyers of this fine, sensitive, exponent and builder of our wonderful philosophy. But Bill never hit back . . . he pitied them. An ambitious, selfish man would never have dared to initiate the big plan of sharing responsibility by suggesting the adoption of the Traditions and the establishing of the General Service Conference back in 1951. Had Bill sought power and glory, would he have invited the scrutiny of the elect in every quarter of the land? How silly can some critics get? In St. Louis, this July, a tired Bill asked to be relieved of his great responsibilities and be permitted to retire to semi-activity. He insists we have grown up-that our course is set-that the Fellowship was ready and able to take the responsibilities . . . that the ever-present danger of being without a leader could be eliminated and that a group of trusted, capable trustees would carry on and AA would never falter. Bill, by his action in St. Louis, proved to be as big in stature as his numberless admirers from everywhere knew him to be. He proved to all that knew him that he was self-less, disdained glorification, seeking always to prove that AA would flourish only if the program was kept simple. We’ve always admired and intensely respected Bill. Only a man of his stature could have accomplished what he did in our and your interest. A lesser man than he would have succumbed to the temptation of power and glory which Bill consistently disdained. May God grant him many years of health and the serenity he richly deserves. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Central Bulletin Vol. XIII No. 11 August 1955 ​BILL’S ANSWER We have received quite a few letters commenting on our last month’s editorial “The Third Legacy.” One states that “it took some editorial courage and that he hopes We are glad that others recognize that this program is bigger than any one man. We have finally matured in our concepts and have grown into adults. We need no “head man.” We, by nature, have always rebelled against any regimentation. We have, however, learned that we cannot rebel against God as we understand Him and having been given an opportunity, through A.A. to live an intelligent way of life, if we follow it, and that our only “head man” need be our We received a fine letter from Bill. He has given permission to publish it. It follows: “I was more moved than I can say ‘by the receipt of your letter of August 2nd, together with the Central Bulletin for July. If your generous editorial is accepted in the spirit in which it was written, I think it can prove to be one of the finest forces for unity that has been set afloat in a long time. For this prospect, I am ever so grateful, Harry.” “I do feel, though, that the editorial was a little over-hard on my critics and that it did rather over-rate my New York friends and me.” “Misunderstanding in Cleveland was primarily due, I firmly believe, to simple lack of information about the New York Foundation and what it was trying to do. I am very sure that even our best friends often doubted the desirability of the Foundation and wondered

whether it might not lead us into over-organization, plus a ballooning and self-serving bureaucracy. In think these were legitimate fears, and they did, at certain times, have a degree of justification. I must confess that my friends and I down here sometimes fell under the temptation to do much worse than we actually did. Therefore, the criticism that came from out West, both reasonable and unreasonable, did actually do much to keep us in perspective and balance. So my genuine thanks are due my critics quite as much as they are to you people who are now trying to set the nerspective (sic) straight. Now surrounded by an elected Conference of mighty fine A.A.‘s, none of us at New York in future time could possibly succumb to any serious temptation of this sort. The movement at last is in good and permanent hands. It is safe now-even from me. I deeply believe this and my happiness knows no bounds that you good folks out there now realize that this is true.” “Nor shall we at New York, or any of us in A.A. elsewhere, ever forget that in Cleveland the demonstration was first made that we could grow to great size quickly and that the key to all this was adequate personal sponsorship. This demonstration in your good town properly set the stage for the prodigious growth of A.A. throughout the world. You folks made a needed and crucial demonstration in our pioneering time. So here let me record my gratitude, on behalf of A. A.‘s whole Fellowship, to each and every one of you at Cleveland.” “May God speed you all! Devotedly, “Bill.” ——————————————–