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Tradition 3 - What was the addiction?

 

In the recent discussion topic on Tradition 3 - What was his addiction?

I have a copy of Arthur S.'s Traditions Study Guide. In it mentions the early experience that influenced the Third Tradition as followed:

"1937: The next early experience that influenced the Traditions is recorded in the 12&12 essay on Tradition 3.
lt also happens to be the source of one of the most enduring myths in AA. I don't know what else to call the
myth other than the Akron drug addict who didn't exist and NY drug addict who disappeared


In the "12&12" Tradition 3 essay (pgs 141-142) it states that on the
AA calendar it was "year two" of the Fellowship - that would be 1937. A prospective member asked to be admitted who frankly described himself to the "oldest" member as "the victim of another addiction even worse stigmatized than alcoholism." In an April 1968 open meeting at the General Service Conference, Bill W revealed
that the prospective member's so-called "addiction" was "sex deviate" and that guidance came from Dr Bob (the oldest member in Akron, OH) asking, "What would the Master do?" Many people think Bill W said that but he didn't.

The member with the so-called "addiction" was admitted and plunged into 12th Step work. This incident is also discussed in Dr Bob and the Good Old-timers (pgs 240-241) and the pamphlet The Co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (pg 30). Parts of the story (particularly the part about the "addiction" and plunging into "12th Step work") are often erroneously intermingled with another incident that occurred 8 years later in 1945 at the 41st St clubhouse in NYC.

The 1945 incident is described in the book "Pass It On" (pgs 317-318). Bill W was called from the clubhouse in NYC by Barry L (he was the member who later wrote the book "Living Sober"). Bill persuaded the group to take in a black man who was an ex-convict with bleach? blond hair, wearing women's clothing and makeup. The man also admitted to being a "dope fiend." ?When asked what to do about it, Bill posed the question, "did you say he was a drunk?" When answered "yes" Bill replied "well I think that's all we can ask."

Word of mouth accounts often erroneously, and sometimes very, very solemnly, say that this individual ?went on to "become one of the best 12?? Steppers in NY." The problem is that it's just not true. In actual fact, the book Pass It On (pg 318) states that "although he soon disappeared (repeat "soon disappeared") his presence created a precedent for the 3 rd Tradition."


Yours in History
and fellow History lover
?
Bruce Cleaver
?
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Tradition Study Guide.pdf
Tradition Study Guide.pdf

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