October 13 in A.A. History

1937: At an “alcoholic squadron” meeting^* in T. Henry and Clarace Williams’ living room [right] in Akron, Ohio, Bill W. formally proposed expanding the movement with hospitals for alcoholics, paid missionaries, and a book.

Later, Bill said that after “counting noses” with Dr. Bob S. and realizing the success they were having, he made this proposal to Bob. While Bob was initially cool to the idea, he found the notion of a book somewhat appealing. Together, Bill and Bob decided to call a meeting of the Ohio members, along with the New York City members Bill had brought with him, to thoroughly discuss Bill’s ideas and take a vote.

Eighteen voting members attended the meeting. Bill presented his proposal, suggesting that the rich would be willing to fund these plans. But as he made his case, it became clear that the Ohio contingent was not impressed. They preferred to keep things simple, believing that money would create a professional class and ruin everything. Active alcoholics wouldn’t trust paid missionaries any more than early Christians would have trusted paid apostles. Jesus, they noted, did not rely on pamphlets or books; his program was word-of-mouth. Moreover, the publicity surrounding a book would overwhelm them as they tried to answer all the inquiries. According to Schaberg’s Writing the Big Book (pp. 25–6),

[T]he arguments put forward against Bill’s proposals… also contained a strong element of support for the Oxford Group that Bill did not mention. It was this tenacious loyalty to the Group that drove the Akron members’ resistance, raising the stakes of their arguments to a much higher level than Bill’s versions of the story allow. As far as the Ohio group could see, these men from New York were not just suggesting an organizational revolution—they were proposing heresy. [Note that the New York City Group had severed all ties to the Oxford Group in April or May of 1937.

After passionate arguments and counterarguments, the group seemed angrily deadlocked, but they reluctantly agreed to take a vote. Bill’s proposal narrowly passed, 10–8 (note that a two-thirds majority would have required 12 votes in favor). Bill certainly voted in favor; Dr. Bob likely gave his reluctant approval. No one knows for certain who was there, who voted, or how anyone voted. Bill was in Akron with three members from New York City: Bill R., Sterling P., and Fitz M. It would not be surprising if Dick S. of Akron was favorably inclined. If these men were present and voted for Bill’s proposal, that would account for four more votes in favor. If so, there had to have been four additional votes for the prevailing side.

Schaberg also notes (pp. 27–8) that

[I]t is clear that Bill’s bare majority was obtained only after he made some concessions. He agreed that he would not try to raise those lavish funds in Ohio nor would he be expecting any contributions to come from the Akron Fellowship.… Finally, perhaps at least a few of these harshly contested votes were won based on the belief that this was all just another one of Bill Wilson’s flamboyant pipe dreams. The likelihood of him being able to persuade the rich to contribute that much money to a bunch of drunks—even in New York City—seemed to be a remote possibility at best.

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^*Note the 13th is only the most likely date, as Schaberg deduces in a footnote in Writing the Big Book on page 27, partly because that was the regular night for the “alcoholic squadron” of the Oxford Group meeting at the Williams’ home; however, it could have been any day between the 11th and 15th.

1947: The first permanent A.A. group in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, held its initial meeting in the deacons’ room of the Independent Hall on Collins Street.

Attendees included Lillian R. [far left, 1947], a Hollywood movie star on tour in Australia; her husband, Burt McG. [near right, 1968]; Harold J., a local drunk; and Jack O’H. [far right, with his wife], a composer and playwright who chaired the meeting. Two non-alcoholics also attended: Rev. Dr. Gordon Powell [left, 1947], the Presbyterian minister of the Collins Street Independent Church [left] (now St. Michael’s Uniting Church), broadcaster, and author; and Norman Ley, secretary of the Independent Church. Harold was elected secretary. This group, known as the Melbourne Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, met at least once a week for the next two years in Powell’s room in the Independent Hall.

Three additional weekly meetings soon followed: one on High Street in St. Kilda [right, 1957]; another near Brighton railway station [near right]; and one at Talbot House [far right: interior, 1928], better known as “Toc H,” a soldiers’ rest and recreation centre located at 476 Collins Street in Melbourne.