E Clampus Vitus Jim Savage Chapter #1852 . $19.99. E Clampus Vitus was the result. So, their pre-1930s name was E Clampsus Vitus. Calling itself a historical drinking society (or a drinking historical society), it maintains a lively presence in the old mining country of northern California as of this writing. Site created and designed by Steve "Iggy" Myers. To the Noble Grand Recorder, Officers and Greybeards of Jim Savage Chapter ECV 1852: I, _____, hereby petition humbly for membership into the most Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. Indeed, these natives appeared ready to use their formidable weapons against the Dumbellican Brothers. Both legend and scholars agree that the group was founded in West Union, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1845.[3]. Initiation rituals for PBCs (Poor Blind Candidates) consisted mostly of raucous pranks. Your email address will not be published. Johnnys Bar & Grill appreciate a bit of Western lore. The sergeant-at-arms is the Damfool Doorkeeper. Im looking forward to sharing and helping in anyway possible for my fellow brotherhood. While stationed at the Benicia Arsenal he spent 30 days in the Arsenal Guardhouse for being drunk on duty and firing cannons at the Martinez shoreline. Box 405, Nevada City, CA 95959 - The Website is. the Clampers don't bother with those. In the spring of 1930, lawyer and historian Carl Wheat made a visit to some old mining camps in California for the purposes of researching life during the Gold Rush. Despite St. Vituss death, the order survived as a monastic tradition carried on by the Vituscan brothers. The so-called Drake's Plate of Brass was accepted as authentic for forty years, yet was in actuality a hoax initiated by Dane that got out of control. the Clampers dont bother with those. It was they who introduced the central Clamper symbol, the Staff of Relief, a decidedly phallic image. [9] A 20th century chapter of the ECV was named for Lord Sholto Douglas in honor of this event. The Sons of Malta, a fraternal society given to pranks and parody initiation rites, has been cited as an influence, even though the Sons of Malta do not seem to have existed until 1854 (though ECV may have inspired the Sons of Malta, as there were many disappointed by the California gold rush who returned East). For two days we had more fun than the law should allow, and did everything from playing darts to holding a butt contest for the band members who played for us on Saturday night. It will be on Sunday, August 30th, at 2pm. The group is not well-known outside California. Stop in and see whats cookin today. Graybeards and members of Estanislao Chapter 58, E Clampus Vitus or Grand In La Porte, the Clampers often clean up, and put up a fence around, the pine cone-strewn cemetery, where wooden and marble headstones date to the 19th century and where Frank C. Reilly is buried. Bee opened membership in ECV to any "upstanding" man who had come of age. Tommy was initiated into the ECV in 1985, and had neglected his lifelong membership for quite some time. Read more about this topic: E Clampus Vitus, Until the end of the Middle Ages, and in many cases afterwards too, in order to obtain initiation in a trade of any sort whateverwhether that of courtier, soldier, administrator, merchant or workmana boy did not amass the knowledge necessary to ply that trade before entering it, but threw himself into it; he then acquired the necessary knowledge.Philippe Aris (20th century), The difficult and risky task of meeting and mastering the newwhether it be the settlement of new lands or the initiation of new ways of lifeis not undertaken by the vanguard of society but by its rear. . As the gold was mined out and the mining towns dwindled, however, E Clampus Vitus faded as well, and the Hewgag announced a meeting of the original order for the last time in Quincy, California in 1916. your hand? The society was also quick to help the widows and orphans of fallen members. The truth of this is attested in another historic discovery, made by one Rev. Many people believe that they are just a drinking club that requires members to take part in wild initiation ceremonies, which is entirely true; however they have played an important part in preserving our history. In addition, nativism was rising in the United States, as evidenced by such political organizations as the Know-Nothing Party. Its 1937 recovery became California's greatest historical hoax. The three founded a new chapter, Yerba Buena Number 1, or the "Capitulus Redivivus." The name E Clampus Vitus means absolutely nothing. Sponsored. Some chapters built or rented their own Hall of Comparative Ovations. The Freemasons and Odd Fellows, the largest American secret societies of the time, had established lodges in many of the larger mining towns, and this inspired a group of Mokelumne Hill miners to parody these relatively formal rites with an order better suited to the rough humor and lawlessness of the frontier. "Clamper" meetings were held in the Hall of Comparative Ovations, generally the back room of a saloon. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house, Have guests in town? E Clampus Vitus (ECV)members are known as "Clampers"is a "fraternal organization" dedicated to the preservation of the heritage of the American West. We ran out of tomato juice for Bloody Marys, so I blended up Italian-style stewed tomatoes and tomato soup to make them. Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts. Thank you all for your camaraderie. When its quiet at the museum, he spends the afternoons reading up on local history. Copyright 2022 - South Pass Chapter #1867 All Rights Reserved |/\_/\| A strong interest in California history helps, of course. ), The organization's leader was known as the Noble Grand Humbug, a title carried over into the later incarnation, and other "officials" included the Clampatriarch. People remember the Clampers Drill Team from years ago and wanted us to ask. Porter steam locomotive that had been submerged in a reservoir for eight decades. One still stands in Murphys. It is basically a lack of calcium which causes the body to shake or tremor. The organization's name is in Dog Latin, and has no known meaning; even the spelling is disputed, sometimes appearing as "Clampus," "Clampsus," or "Clampsis." Like many others I thought the name had to stand for something but in researching the organization I found that it's just a name its originator made up. As a boy, he said, hed take a school bus from near a bar, and after school, thats where everyone seemed to be. Ephraim Bee II played his greatest joke on his local West Virginian neighbors. Party girl that I was, I saw it as a great opportunity for us Widders, as we were referred to, to get together for a grand fiesta ourselves. Across the bar, someone heard them talking about the group and hollered. Edited by Thomas Duncan, Lulu Press, 2009. Grady said shed never heard of them until she started working with their archives. The question then becomes whether it was the particular Chinese brand of E Clampus Vitus passed down through the native progeny of Hop Mee, Empress of Gumshaniana, that was practiced by the miners of Gold Rush California, or whether it was the form spread by the Frollicking Friars during their rapacious journeys through the New World. Clampers have since marked the site of their massacre with a plaque that reads: Here fell the last of the Frollicking Friars. The man who was chief of the Miwoks in 1937, William Fuller, was a member of E Clampus Vitus. This voyage was undertaken by one of low birth, the son of a servant woman who cleaned the privy chambers of the Empress. The nickname "Clampers" is still used, as is the motto "Credo . This is suggested by the fact that the word Vitus is said by some to derive from the Greek phitos or begetter, referring to Adam as the father of humanity. Eventually, upon making landfall at what is modern day Monterey and finding the dead bug in his compass, Hee Li, himself a dedicated Clamper, declared the new land Gumshaniana, or Gum Shan, and set about instructing its native inhabitants in the traditions of E Clampus Vitus. Life was good as prominent business owners in a small town. In determining when the society of E Clampus Vitus began and who started it, it is necessary to consider its name. The Clamper's are a fraternal organization dedicated to the preservation of Western history. His first civics lesson? The motto of the Order, Credo quia absurdum, generally interpreted as meaning "I believe it because it is absurd;"[1] is a Latin phrase popularly misattributed to Tertullian. Ephraim Bee, an early leader of the group, was styled Grand Gyascutis and later the Grand Lama. The "Pair-o-Dice" chapter in Paradise, for example, is Lodge No. So, they both describe uncontrolled shaking, as in the DTs, as in the morning after tying one on with cheap booze. Free delivery for many products! This was the beginning and the foundation of the modern day Clampers, although today, as I understand it, it is more of a plain old drinking society that enjoys to play pranks. God bless, Cat. The Graybeards and members of Estanislao Chapter 58, E Clampus Vitus or Grand Council assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY for this web site. When a member became sick or injured the brotherhood collected food and money to assist them. E Clampus Vitus: Villa de Branciforte Founded 1797, The Third Pueblo in Alta California by anonymous Paperback Ages: 12 years and up Seeing The Elephant by Sidney Blumner 4.7 (24) Kindle $299$9.95 Available instantly Other format: Paperback Norton The Third (Emperor Norton Book 3) by Mark Bowles 4.1 (5) Kindle $299 Available instantly Very in depth look at the group, how it was formed, and some of its history. They commemorated the teeny train with a bronze plaque. We had so much fun picking out our outfits that we knew the ball was going to be a blast. He saw a society for the everyman, for the lover of history both obscure and preposterous, and he came to believe it was a tradition worth reviving. Winos daughter Terrie Dawn with Snowman in front of the newly unveiled monument. He and some fellows of equally high CQ--an attribute like unto IQ, but measuring instead their degree of Californiosity--got together not long after, in a Yerba Buena lunchroom, to form once again a lodge dedicated to the traditions of this bygone order, about which they actually knew very little. As far as the ECV is concerned, all members are officers and as such are all of equal indignity. New members, referred to as Poor Blind Candidates, could present a poke of dust, valued at the discretion of the brotherhood to join, and it wasnt uncommon for the fee to be waived if the man could not afford it. Supposed image of Ephraim Bee circulated on the Internet by Clampers who knows if its really him, Until next time, Ill leave you with a wonderful quotation shared by Thomas Duncan as an epigraph on his book E Clampus Vitus: Anthology of New Dispensation Lore, which ended up serving as my principal source on this episode mainly because all the other works on Clamper history seem to be held hostage in the Special Collections rooms of California libraries, and the few available at my local library, I discovered, have been stolen. What the heck is a Clamper? you may be asking, The E Clampus Vitus organization dates back to the early1800s and is rumored to have members of stature like Ulysses S. Grant, J. Pierpont Morgan, and even Ronald Reagan. Members commonly dress in a red shirt, black hat and Levi's jeans. Do You think the Clampers #1846 Montery Viejo would want a spot in the Aromas Day parade ? The fraternity is not sure if it is a "historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society." Here are 22 essential L.A. spots for every tourist, Column: We cant afford another writers strike. Others maintain that the group is a native Californian institution, founded by one Joel Henry Zumwalt in Mokelumne Hill. Most ECV chapters hold what they call a Widders Ball once a year. Hollister, CA 95023, Grill: Enter a bar in a small town in the Sierra Nevada, and youre likely to run into a Clamper. The other secret societies all seemed to take themselves and their rituals far too seriously, and they were full of stuffed shirts, so Ephraim Bee founded a kind of parody of them, with nonsensical rituals, and a name that sounded Latin but was not thats right, E Clampus Vitus means nothing. This historical drinking society--though some argue it is more a drinking historical society--proves its historical bonafides by placing historical plaques across the American West. Big Bruce Robbins, a county worker and three-time Humbug from Quincy, said most people around here feel comfortable hanging around bars. Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange, Five Things You May Not Know About Clampers. [2] When the cave was full, Bee gave a party to keep all busy while that group of people was moved further north to the next stop. If one finds it hard to credit such ancient origins of the order, alternative etymology suggests E Clampus Vitus to be a Latinate phrase, with E meaning out of, Clampus being a combination of clam, or ignorance or darkness, and pos, meaning after. Finally, Vitus would be vita, or life, making the entire translation out of darkness, after life, as in seeking after life. Members call themselves Clampers. The organizations name is inDog Latin, and has no known meaning; even the spelling is disputed, sometimes appearing as Clampus, Clampsus, or Clampsis. The motto of the Order,Credo Quia Absurdum, is generally interpreted as meaning I believe it because it is absurd; the proper Latin quotationCredo quia absurdum est, is from the Christian apologistTertullian(c.160 c.220 AD), who rejected rationalism and accepted a Gospel which addressed itself to the non-rational levels of perception.. Clampers and Widders are encouraged to dress in period clothing for this extravaganza, and we turned finding our costumes into another party. Chapters are permitted to modify their structure to meet the needs and desires of their membership. The men of E Clampus Vitus a.k.a. Site created and designed by Please confirm you want to block this member. Id like to share en except frommy book Miracles and Grace in an Unlikely Place Memoir of a Christian Biker Bar Owner with you that tells the story of Johnnys and our connection to the Clampers. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. See Freemasonry; Odd Fellowship. Considering Benicia's position as the major inland Army post and transport hub to the valley, both Grant's and the Brotherhood's affinity for strong drink and the early spread of the Brotherhood through Northern California, it is entirely possible that Grant was inducted into the Organization. Im glad they helped out your cousin. Asked how he got the name Chainsaw, he explained that a fellow Clamper years ago somehow got it in his head that Koen had cut off his own kneecap with a chainsaw. We believe in the absurd, said Gene Koen, a Clamper from Oroville. What Say the Brethren? Wheat was no stranger to fraternal societies himself, being a member of San Franciscos Bohemian Club, whose annual retreat for the rich and powerful at Bohemian Grove serves as popular fodder for many conspiracy theorists. Their motto is Credo Quia Absurdum, which, in Latin, roughly translates to I believe because its absurd.. It appears to have begun in West Virginia, dreamed up by a blacksmith and tavern keeper named Ephraim Bee sometime during the early 1850s. Their form of the phrase was the Latin Ecce Lampas Vitae, meaning "Behold, the Light of Life," and how this phrase became corrupted is truly a remarkable tale.A 20th century discovery in the Vatican Library tells the tale in the form of a letter by one Heliodoricus, himself a Vituscan. If a man has those qualities, and strikes up a friendship with a Clamper or two, he may find himself taken in to (and by) the Ancient and Honorable Order. This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. It is now thought that the Fuller ceremony was part of an effort for the perpetrators to tip off the plate's finders as to its true origins. I just want to speak out and let everyone out there know, I have long awaited to find my place in this world and to be considered as a possibility, is by far the best feeling Ive had in a really long time. C $26.72 + C $14.02 shipping. Tommy and I were over the moon that the citys elite wanted to hang out at our bar and grill. Drive through the remote Northern Sierra town of La Porte population 26 and its hard to miss the Clampers presence. Shaw came across a Chinese manuscript that, astoundingly, indicates a Chinese navigator by the name of Hee Li discovered America, and more specifically California, as early as 435 CE, making the Chinese claim of discovery even earlier than the claims of Pre-Columbian transoceanic contact by Vikings. Michael was an instrumental and vital player during the startup phase and transitioned nicely into the corporate environment after the acquisition. Happy I did. 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