A.A.’s Third Legacy
Bill W.’s 1960 Closing Talk — A Loving Summation
I truly love this summation of Bill W.’s 1960 Closing Talk. It holds to the spiritual aspect of what service to A.A. is all about. I pray we don’t become such sticklers for the business characteristic of Alcoholics Anonymous that we forget what the “God factor”. We must always be seeking Gods loving guidance when doing any service to the program.
Anyway, here is the summation –
As the 1960 General Service Conference came to a close, Bill W. stood before the gathered delegates with humility, affection, and a deep sense of spiritual responsibility. He acknowledged that something profound had occurred — that the movement had reached a defining threshold. Looking out at the trusted servants of Alcoholics Anonymous, he expressed his overwhelming gratitude and reverence, speaking not from authority but from the heart of one alcoholic to another.
He reminded them all that God has wrought through us a great thing — not a thing of man’s design, but of divine grace made manifest through fellowship and service. He recognized that “the Conference is not only the guardian of A.A. services, it is the collective voice and conscience of our whole Fellowship,” affirming the sacred trust they carried forward.
With deep love, Bill shared that “our Twelfth Step—carrying the message—is the basic service that the A.A. Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence.” Every act of service, from a handshake at the door to the work done in New York, had its roots in this calling. The goal was not expansion for expansion’s sake but the steady, quiet continuation of reaching the still-suffering alcoholic.
He reflected on how the Conference had matured, saying with wonder that “we may be approaching the maturity of this society,” not in pride but in recognition that A.A. had come of age spiritually, ethically, and structurally. He noted how trust had replaced fear, how responsibility had replaced dependency, and how “we are beginning to learn that the spiritual inheritance we have can only be held by giving it away.”
Bill closed with what many consider his spiritual benediction. He asked the gathered members to return to their homes and groups and “carry the spirit of this Conference back to them… not just the decisions, but the love, the understanding, the unity, and the humility we have found here together.” It was an invitation to live the principles not just in meetings, but in the whole of life.
And as he stepped down, he left not only words but a lasting reminder of the heart of Alcoholics Anonymous: “Let us always love one another. And let us never be afraid.”
“Let us always love one another. And let us never be afraid.” Powerful words.
Don N.,
Area 72 Secretary
