East London Archives of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Esme wrote about the traditions in the First London Pamphlet around 1952.

When, in 1948 I contacted A.A for the help and my sponsor, Bill H saw me in hospital, and outlined the programme (how wise he was not to give me too much at first)

I recall thinking to myself, these 12 steps make sense, but it was not until some long time afterwards that I saw the importance of our 12 traditions.  Since then, I have given a lot of thought to them.

In brief, what the 12 steps are to the individual alcoholic, the 12 traditions are to the group and A.A. as a whole, they keep the group sober.

By failing to observe traditions. I found myself in danger of becoming a personality in a group. Few things in A.A. can be more fatal than that. Often, I would rely on my own views and opinions about matters that I should have related to traditions and seen in their light.

I started looking at things through traditions and found that I was not so quick to jump to conclusions about anything. My A.A. life was now a partnership to me, for I had, after trying all material aids, come to believe that a power greater than myself could save me. So what’s more obvious than to listen to this new friend? Perhaps I can sum it up in a few words by saying, I wait for second thoughts to come.

Our first tradition is a plain statement that keeping together is essential to our individual recovery. It is only common sense, then to urge members to attend meetings regularly to impress on them to great importance of This.

It was through habitually going to the pubs, taking bottles home, hiding them, nipping sly, quick ones, etc, that we found A.A. necessary. In reverse, it is by continually attending meetings, (absorbing the ‘something’ we get there), and taking A.A. thinking home with us, that we shall remain sober, and sooner than we imagine possible, find serenity.

The end part of Tradition Two says that our leaders can be nothing but servants, and, of course, this is obvious, for there is no one to govern, anyone in our fellowship. But it is a vastly more difficult job to be a true servant in A.A. that first appears to be the case.

I find I have had to use great vigilance where my personal views are concerned, not only in matters of A.A. but in all things. I must be constantly alert to the real dangers of careless thinking and action, not done of course with the intention of being thoughtless or unkind, but because I don’t consult my partner, (the power greater than myself) in the matter.  All this can so easily allow something of the old alcoholic ego to creep back.

If we refer all matters to the one authority in A.A. That power greater than ourselves, then we shall find the sincere answer to all things untinged by personal doubts and prejudices.

Today I earnestly try to forget myself, my petty likes and dislikes and wait for those ‘second thoughts’ that always come by looking at everything in the light of our Twelves Traditions.

Esme, first London group (He was one of the first secretaries of A.A. in (Great Britain)