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This was one of only five of the original 29 stories in the First Edition to make it into the Second Edition. Its author, Clarence S., got sober in early 1938. Along with a dozen other sober alcoholics from Cleveland, he would make the 40 mile drive to Akron each week to attend the Oxford Group with Dr. Bob and other original members of the Akron group. At the time, a majority of the Cleveland contingent were Catholic. According to Clarence S, when the Roman Catholic Church learned that these men were attending the Protestant-based Oxford Group, it threatened excommunication if they continued to attend.
Clarence informed Dr. Bob and the members of the yet-to-be-named Akron group that Catholics in the Cleveland group would have stop coming, which might result in their drinking. The initial reluctance of the Akron group to sever ties with the Oxford Group quickly created a rift between the Cleveland and Akron groups. As a result of that rift, Clarence and several others put together their own group in Cleveland in May 1939. They named the group “Alcoholics Anonymous” after the title of the newly published Big Book and modeled it upon the 12 Steps therein. Some AA historians consider this to be the very first AA group, not affiliated with the Oxford Group. Along with the Big Book, it soon became the model for groups everywhere. Eventually, the Akron group also split from the Oxford Group to focus solely on AA and become an organization that is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution.
Though it may not be referenced in his story, Clarence’s personal influence on AA’s pillars of inclusiveness and universality, have certainly earned him a place among the great early AA pioneers.
Howard L, sober since January 1, 1988, presents this inspired reading of the Big Book and encourages listeners to revisit earlier podcast episodes that feature the main chapters and stories in the First Edition of the Big Book. Enjoy listening on our website, BigBookPodcast.com, or download and subscribe to the podcast for free at Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you have a minute, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Also join our facebook group, Big Book Podcast Listeners, where you can share your thoughts and experiences with fellow listeners.