The Night the Steps Were Written: Democracy Saved AA from Its Own Believers – Homer D.

About This Speaker Tape

Homer D. from Houston, Texas presents his original twelve-step play at the 40th NCCAA Summer Conference in Santa Rosa, California in June 1987. The play dramatizes the night in 1938 when Bill W. read his draft of the Twelve Steps to the stockholders of Works Publishing at 182 Clinton Street in Brooklyn

. The conservatives wanted more Higher Power, the atheists wanted none, and secretary Ruth Hoffman quietly rewrote half the most famous lines in AA — including changing 'never' to 'rarely have we seen a person fail' and insisting the book say 'men and women.' The play captures how group conscience, compromise, and divine guidance produced the steps that have saved millions, with Jim the atheist fighting every mention of Higher Power while Paul and Fitz demanded more Jesus in every line.

Topics

Timestamps

• 00:00 Homer presents his twelve-step play set in 1938 Brooklyn
• 08:00 Bill W. reads his draft of the Twelve Steps to the stockholders
• 16:00 The conservatives want more Higher Power and the atheists want none
• 24:00 Jim the atheist fights every mention of Higher Power in the steps
• 32:00 Paul and Fitz demand more Jesus in every line
• 40:00 Secretary Ruth Hoffman quietly rewrites the most famous lines in AA
• 48:00 Rarely have we seen a person fail — changing never to rarely
• 56:00 Group conscience, compromise, and divine guidance produce the steps