I just received a flyer which claimed the story about Bill
Wilson and his desire to change the language from "rarely" to
"never" was a myth.
Here are my thoughts and the exchange of letters:
Thank you.
I have heard this story many times. I
believe I even heard it at a Joe and Charlie Seminar. And, if Bill said it,
that would at least have settled Bill’s view. But did he say it, or even tell
the truth when he did.
Added to the material you set forth are
these ideas:
1. We now have the Hazelden heavily
annotated and so-called printer’s manuscript. So one starting place today would
be to see if there are annotations there. I have not done so.
2. I have reviewed many of Bill’s
manuscripts, his autobiography, the Lois memoirs, and the biographies of the
many who have dug up snippets here and there
3. As to successes and failures about the
time the Big Book went to press, we have these additional items:
a. There is now a handwritten roster on
Dr. Bob’s own stationary. It was appended, I believe, to an Amos report. It is
on file at the Rockefeller Archives. I have a photo copy. This memo of 1939 (If
that is the date) certainly shows Dr. Bob’s view of who succeeded and who
failed. And there were failures.
b. Bill himself many times said there were
“failures galore.” So did Bob in less dramatic language.
c. Hence it gets down to whether there was
ever a claim that if someone “thoroughly followed our path,” he could not and
did not fail. In that respect, there are a lot of disputed thoughts about the
“first forty” and a few good researchers who have looked into their names and
records. One view is that in the “counting of noses” in November of 1937,
20
of the first forty had maintained continuous sobriety. For how long? What path
did they follow? Frank Amos summarized it, and we have published that summary
as well as the 16 practices of the early pioneers. Is one confining his
thinking to Akronites and how they followed their Christian program? Is one
accepting Bill’s contention that there were an alleged “six” “word-of-mouth”
ideas (some called them steps) prior to the Big Book. Which of the any of the
extant, examined rosters tells whether all the named folks were following the
Akron program or Bill’s supposed six word of mouth ideas? We have published the
varied versions in Bill’s own varied words re these ideas. And Bill himself
said there was no general agreement on what they were and also that they were
applied variously at the whim of the particular person’s approach.
d. All in all, there is little actual
evidence to indicate that any of the pioneers claimed 100% for their programs,
whatever they were. Myth and speculation don’t mean anything.
e. And there certainly are no later
credible surveys other than Dr. Bob’s memo and the survey taken by Clarence
Snyder in Cleveland showing a 90% success rate there.
4. As you no doubt know, our research,
publication and dissemination has been and is focused on the role that God, His
Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the early A.A. Akron Christian
Fellowship. And I have published several books exploring the roots from many
angles. www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml,
www.dickb.com/Oxford.sthml,
www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml.
And By the Power of God. And once a person moves into speculation, you have to
ask: Where is the evidence? Where is there more than one type of evidence? Is
the reporter an advocate or a student? Who did and didn’t believe in God,
accept Jesus Christ, and study the Bible? And whatever Hank Parkhurst was, we
certainly know he got drunk shortly after the Big Book was published. Ebby
perhaps before, and certainly for years after. So did others. And we know their
names.
5. Again, our focus is on the results which
an alcoholic with free will can, could, and did achieve. Also on the beliefs he
had. Also on the program he was following. Also on the validity of the records.
As a former attorney with many many years of research and search for evidence
under his belt, I also have to ask if the evidence proves beyond a reasonable
doubt or merely by a preponderance the point being made. The picture is best
viewed as one where focusing on helping the alcoholic who still suffers is
primary for A.A., for the reporters, and for the individual. And if the answers
were all that clear, we wouldn’t have thousands of treatment centers that have
failed by the score in recent years.
6. Aloha.
Dick B.
Author, 42 titles & over 650 articles on A.A.
History and the Christian Recovery Movement
(808) 874-4876
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Ps 118:17 (NJB):
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
Facebook:
DickBmauihistorian
From:
sponsorship@bigbooksponsorship.org [mailto:sponsorship@bigbooksponsorship.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 6:35 PM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: Big Book Sponsorship for permanent recovery from all addictions / AA Myth: Bill wished he could have changed "rarely" to "never."
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 6:35 PM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: Big Book Sponsorship for permanent recovery from all addictions / AA Myth: Bill wished he could have changed "rarely" to "never."
AA
Myth: Bill wished he could have changed "rarely" to
"never."
A rumor has persisted for years in the fellowship of AA that
Bill wished he could have changed "rarely" to "never." This
is a myth.
In a letter to Les V., dated May 25, 1961 Bill W. stated:
"Concerning your comment about the use of the word 'rarely' in Chapter
Five of the Big Book. My recollection is that we did give a considerable
thought at the time of writing. I think the main reason for the use of 'rarely'
was to avoid anything that would look like a claim for a 100% result. Assuming
of course that an alcoholic is willing enough and sane enough, there can be a perfect
score on such character. But since willingness and sanity are such illusive and
fluctuating values, we simply didn't like to be too positive. The medical
profession could jump right down our throats...I do remember thinking about it
a lot."
In addition, the following question and response were made
at the 1970 General Service Conference, as part of the "Ask-It"
Basket questions. Bill was, of course, still living at this time and was able
to respond:
Q. Has Bill ever said, "If there was any change he would
make in the Big Book, it would be to change the world 'rarely' to 'never' at
the start of Chapter Five"? A. "No, Bill said he had never considered
this" (1970 General Service Conference Report, p. 31).
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