But One

The Long Form gives an A.A. group one purpose, and the little word but in it means one, not the first of several. The Big Book (p. 563): each group "ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose—that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers." The short form says it the same way (p. 562): "Each group has but one primary purpose." But means only here, as when we say but a few. The rumour reads the word primary as permission: first the drunk, then whatever else the group likes, a housing list, a social club, a place to talk through the week. The Tradition names no second purpose. A room still needs rent and coffee, but those serve the one purpose; they are not purposes of their own. Why so strict? The Big Book answers (p. 152): "Near you, alcoholics are dying helplessly like people in a sinking ship. If you live in a large place, there are hundreds." Every purpose a group adds takes its hours, its money and its volunteers away from that ship. Today the extras usually arrive as good causes, and each one sounds too kind to refuse. Test it tonight: list everything your group spends its time on, and cross off whatever never reaches a drinker.