June 3 in A.A. History

In 1950, Bill W. wrote to Charles W.:

    As to changing the Steps themselves, or even the text of the A.A. book, I am assured by many that I could certainly be excommunicated if a word were touched. It is a strange fact of human nature that when a spiritually centered movement starts and finally adopts certain principles, these finally freeze absolutely solid. But what can’t be done respecting the Steps themselves—or any part of the A.A. book—I can make a shift by writing these pieces [i.e., the essays on the Twelve Steps which would be published in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions in 1953] which I hope people will like.