How It Works, 1940-ish

 I was at a meeting with an old friend who now lives in Texas today.  We were laughing about the fact that most California meetings close with The Serenity Prayer or the 3rd or 7th Step Prayer while in Texas it is the Lord's Prayer.  Period.  In Ohio it was the same thing.  Every now and then - just to be a pain in the ass - I'd propose at a business meeting that we end with a prayer other than the Lord's Prayer.  THAT was a giant stink bomb, I'll tell you what.  Because I knew that the proposal was Dead on Arrival I probably shouldn't have made the suggestion, but I couldn't help myself.  I even contacted our New York Central Office about the matter.  They pointed out, of course, that each group was free to do whatever they wanted as long as it doesn't injure A.A. as a whole.  They added, interestingly enough, that North America was virtually the only place in the world that used the Lord's Prayer to end a meeting.

The whole point here is that my old friend mentioned that one of his meetings reads the original text of How It Works to start the proceedings.  I didn't know that there was something that came before what we use now so I did some research.  Omigod that was worth the effort.  The text that follows in black is the original iteration with my comments highlighted in red.  I've underlined any words or phrases that diverge from the current text.  

One thing before we start - there is an interesting substitution in a number of places of "we" for "you."  

 Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our directions.  

Problems right out of the chute.  I really like that eventually the word "directions" was changed to "path."  Directions sounds too bossy.  Following a path makes me think of walking a well-trod route that has already been successfully navigated by lots of people.  A direction is a command given by someone who may or may not know what they're talking about.  Following a path is a stroll along a pleasant, tree-lined route, with maybe a burbling brook chortling nearby.

Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.  There are such unfortunates.  They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a way of life which demands rigorous honesty.  Their chances are less than average.  There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now.  If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it - then you are ready to follow directions.

Again with the fucking directions.  And assuming that alcoholics are going to follow any directions is a big mistake.

At some of these you may balk.  You may think you can find an easier, softer way. We doubt if you can.  

Now here the language gets harshened up a bit after a couple of instances of toning down the rhetoric.  From "We doubt if you can" to " But we could not."  You cannot find an easier, softer way.  Trust me - every half-assed half-measure has been given a good run for its money in our Fellowship.

With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start.  Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.  Remember that you are dealing with alcohol – cunning, baffling, powerful!  Without help it is too much for you.  But there is One who has all power – That One is God.  You must find Him now!

I'm amused at the "must" in this sentence.  Must - To do as a requirement.  I'm sure this was a big hit when it was first being read in meetings.  There's an old joke that telling an alcoholic what to do virtually guarantees non-compliance. 

Half measures will avail you nothing. You stand at the turning point. Throw yourself under His protection and care with complete abandon.

This was changed to "asking Him for his protection and care with complete abandon."  Throwing is too dramatic.  Throw mama from the train kinda dramatic.

Hilarious and informative stuff.  Tomorrow I'll get into the Step part of the text.