The Militia also had a part in the Underground Railroad in Doddridge County, hiding escaping slaves in hidden cellars of homes and also in Jaco Cave. Pride in Californias history rescued E Clampus Vitus from oblivion, however. Long before Church of the Subgenius, there existed a whimsical secret society called E Clampus Vitus (aka the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, ECV, or simply "the Clampers"). I thought the ride might kill me, and on the drive my son said, Mama, you girls told Allen things Allen didnt need to know. I forbade him to tell me what they were, and promised never to ask him to be designated driver for the Widders again. He (Sholto) agreed, and tonight the opera-house was packed."[8]. 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. Jan 22nd 1896) and promised a big house. "Clamper" meetings were held in the Hall of Comparative Ovations, generally the back room of a saloon. WEBMASTER, VIGILANTE #183 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. 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. Not just anybody can join E Clampus Vitus, you have to be invited to be a member. uk airline industry market share 2020; mary oliver childhood; morrison data services meter reading During an ECV meeting, he revoked the cession of land to England, and ceded it all to the United States government. Koen said the group has long been known for helping widders and orphans, a phrase dating to the Gold Rush era. At the time, secret societies were all the rage. What I appreciate is that the members of E Clampus Vitus dont concentrate on memorializing well-known history, or rich old mans history as they call it, but rather the little known facts of the state. 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.. When a stranger came to town, Clampers would inform him that to do business in the town it was essential to join the local secret society. What was the last thing your held in The enigmatical book of Vitus, in which is included the marvelous histori es & astounding prophecies of the clampatriarch, the Credo in absurdum according to St. Vitus, the one true & orthodox ritual, & the clamproster or roll of honor, the whole prefaced by a noble grand humbug's account of how it came to pass . Occasionally, the entire town was invited to a great party. [3], As the mining industry faded towards the end of the 19th century, ECV started to fade as well. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage ECV E CLAMPUS VITUS CANDLELIGHT April 13, 6007 BUTTON Pinback at the best online prices at eBay! 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. God bless and keep you, Cat, One of our first Clamper gatherings at Johnnys. Id like to personally thank all of you who helped out. Council assumes NO It is basically a lack of calcium which causes the body to shake or tremor. 3 of the San Francisco Call of January 23, 1896: "The lodge proposed that he stay over with his company until to-night (Weds. E Clampus Vitus. However, rather than finding themselves hailed and well met, they instead found themselves under attack by the Clampas. ?, December 12, 1856, Image 2", "Daily Alta California 3 September 1852 California Digital Newspaper Collection", "Santa Cruz Sentinel 19 December 1895 California Digital Newspaper Collection", Last Days of the Late, Great State of California, "The Mysterious History of E Clampus Vitus", "An Explanation and History of E Clampus Vitus in Three Parts", "The Unbelievable History of the Ancient and Honorable E Clampus Vitus", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=E_Clampus_Vitus&oldid=1149934869, State based fraternal and lineage societies, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 10:29. The organization is said to have been brought to California by a pioneer named Joel Henry Zumwalt, who encountered it in Missouri. After the Civil War, it was discovered that Jaco Cave was a holding area for the runaway slaves. Once enlightened,a brother is a brother for life. Once initiated, each candidate was given the official title of Chairman of the Most Important Committee. Clampers also marched in parades, with a billy goat for their mascot and a banner consisting of a womans hoop skirt and the motto, This is the flag we fight under.. Vintage ECV E CLAMPUS VITUS CANDLELIGHT April 13, 6007 BUTTON Pinback. Drive through the remote Northern Sierra town of La Porte population 26 and its hard to miss the Clampers presence. 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. From his perch at the Plumas Club, a dive bar that serves as his chapters de facto headquarters, Ron Right-On Oxley swirled a vodka and cranberry juice and tried to sum up his often misunderstood group. A plaque placed by E Clampus Vitus stands beside the Butt Lake Dinky in Chester, Calif. Gene Koen, who has served as a Clampers Humbug, poses outside the Frank C. Reilly Museum in La Porte, Calif. Ron Oxley tells a story at the Plumas Club in Quincy, Calif., to Bruce Robbins and James Bruner. YB1 X NGH #62, DB #88. LOL, I assume you meant join. My clamper husband abused me so I divorced him am I still allowed to call myself a widder or no? One of the early capitals of California was Benicia. owned and operated by Steve Myers and is an UNOFFICIAL web site, dedicated Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. Due to a peculiarity of his anatomy, he was known among the women at court as Lo-Hung-Whang. Parade information is at aromasday.com The men of E Clampus Vitus a.k.a. I hope you enjoy i,t and if youd like to read itautographed copies are available at Johnnys, I couldnt helpshameless the plug. By this reckoning, the word Clampus derives from the Greek kleptos, to steal, because after receiving the knowledge by eating of the tree in the Garden of Eden, Adam smuggled out the secrets of the order so that he could pass them down to all mankind. Bee claimed to have received his commission from Caleb Cushing, the American Commissioner to China. The Graybeards and members of Estanislao Chapter 58, E Clampus Vitus or Grand Council assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY for this web site. appreciate a bit of Western lore. VIII: The California-Oregon Stage Route (ECV 7-11), E Clampus Vitus, now & then: The replete history of ECV, Ritual and ceremony of initiation of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus 1959 [Leather Bound], Adam was a Clamper: An abridged history of Clamperdom from the Garden of Eden to Hangtown and the founding of Platrix Chapter No. CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM . When a member became sick or injured the brotherhood collected food and money to assist them. When he passed away in august 2013 unexpectedly the clamper helped his wife and kids. What does E Clampus Vitus mean? the Clampers dont bother with those. At the close of the War with Mexico, Lt. William Tecumseh Sherman was Adjutant to Col. Richard Barnes Mason at the time of the gold discovery at Sutter's Mill. It hadnt been that way for years. The Clamper's are a fraternal organization dedicated to the preservation of Western history. These poor women were subjected to terrible abuses, and if they dared raise their voice in protest, they were silenced by having a handful of red pepper powder thrown in their faces. registered trademarks of E Clampus Vitus, Inc. and are used by expressed Considering all the false and absurd history told by the Clampers, in the end, its hard to believe anything you read about them. 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. Grady said shed never heard of them until she started working with their archives. The timeline doesnt seem to jibe, though, for how could Zumwalt have brought E Clampus Vitus to California in 1849 and established the first chapter here in Calaveras County in 1851 if Ephraim Bee was only just forming the first chapter in West Virginia in 1853? What Say the Brethren? E Clampus Vitus originally began as a parody of mystical lodges, such as the Masons, Elks, and the Odd Fellows, which Clampers thought to be much too serious with their arcane rituals and fancy dress. The Clampers' Book of Balladry or Hewgagiana, Credo Quia Absurdum: Being a Compilation of Historic Documents & Trivia Pertinent to a Full Understanding of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, The Story Of E Clampus Vitus (Then and Now 1852-1966), The enigmatical book of Vitus, in which is included the marvelous histori es & astounding prophecies of the clampatriarch, the Credo in absurdum according to St. Vitus, the one true & [Leather Bound], An hour's walk through Yerba Buena : the town that existed for eleven years seven months and five days then became San Francisco 1957 [Leather Bound]. In Truckee, the group paid homage to the . So, make sure youre ready. As a boy, he said, hed take a school bus from near a bar, and after school, thats where everyone seemed to be. Some theologians trace the society back to Moses, who is claimed to be an early Noble Grand Humbug or Clampatriarch, for one of the hypothesized source documents of the Torah, called the Elohist, is more commonly referred to as E, corresponding to the beginning of the orders name. Others maintain that the group is a native Californian institution, founded by one Joel Henry Zumwalt in Mokelumne Hill. Tommy decided it was only appropriate that we become an official Clamper bar. It was they who introduced the central Clamper symbol, the Staff of Relief, a decidedly phallic image. Inside, the officers the Noble Grand Humbug, the Royal Gyascutis, the Clamps Petrix, the Clamps Matrix, the Grand Imperturbable Hangman, and many others (as all Clampers are, by definition, officers) presided over meetings well lubricated with beer and cheap whiskey. 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? Members claim that the organization was brought from the Ch'ing Dynasty in China to the United States in 1845 in Lewisport, Virginia, now West Union, West Virginia, when inn and stable owner Ephraim Bee was given a commission from the Emperor of China to "extend the work and influence of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.". Satisfactory! I thought E Clampus Vitus was a tennis player, at first. Vitus was used to describe Parkinsons disease, which they called Saint Vitus Dance. The history of E Clampus Vitus is steeped in mythology. The new E Clampus Vitus order continues on to this day. Allen instructing my grandson Joseph on where he could help out. Robbins, who does not drink, clutched a Pepsi. Upon finally landing at Gum Shan, somewhere near modern day Mendocino, Hop Mee decided that she would be the empress of this new land, and it is said that she is the true Amazonian warrior woman whose legend inspired the fictional character Calafia, after whom California is named. It was revitalized in 1931 by Wheat and his friends G. Ezra Dane and Leon O. Whitsell. See Freemasonry; Odd Fellowship. There is some evidence to support that Grant was a member. Bee had political aspirations and fancied himself something of a folksy storyteller. His was a moral martyrdom, for he did not lose his life. The ECV are still responsible for building the historic-site plaques you see all over the Western United States, and Im proud to say that one was erected on Johnnys patio to honor our own Wino Willie Folkner. There were chapters in British Columbia and Hawaii, but they no longer exist. E Clampus Vitus is governed by a board of fifteen Proctors elected from the past Humbugs of the chapters, to guide and lead the organization. Designed by Stranger Danger of South Pass #1867, Al Packer #100 and Snake River #1811. This weekend will be my initiation. 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 had so much fun picking out our outfits that we knew the ball was going to be a blast. Sunday Brunch 9 am Its 1937 recovery became California's greatest historical hoax. However, Clampers have been known to stretch a story. Indeed, these natives appeared ready to use their formidable weapons against the Dumbellican Brothers. Stop in and see whats cookin today. : the smooth sloping surface on the upper posterior part of the body of the sphenoid bone supporting the pons and the basilar artery. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies : the ultimate a-z of ancient mysteries, lost civilizations and forgotten wisdom. New chapters sprang up in Los Angeles (Platrix Chapter #2) and other major cities in California, and were numbered sequentially. associated with fun, frolic, libations and California history. Please confirm you want to block this member. Mon Fri 11 am 2 am When we embraced the ECV we added an entire new dimension to life at Johnnys. Oxley, a fellow member of the Las Plumas Del Oro Chapter, sat by the bars memorabilia-filled corkboard called the Wall of Comparative Humbugery. No matter what one makes of the meaning of the orders name, it cannot be denied that its central figure was Saint Vitus, after whom Sydenhams chorea, or St. Vituss Dance was named, that malady being one suspect for explaining the notorious Dancing Plague I have discussed in the past. Officials were called "Noble Grand Humbug," "Roisterous Iscutis," "Grand Imperturbable Hangman," "Clamps Vitrix," and "Royal Gyascutis." Heliodoricus describes the great success they had at converting the Chinese, introducing the customs of their order halfway around the world. [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. [3], Bee felt that an organization was needed that was less exclusive than the other organizations of the day, such as the Masons, Elks and Odd Fellows. Ephraim Bees E Clampus Vitus grew a bit in West Virginia and elsewhere, but it faded away during his lifetime. They were some crazy times and i wouldnt trade them for anything. Im glad they helped out your cousin. Judge Frazier. Winos daughter Terrie Dawn with Snowman in front of the newly unveiled monument. My son Allen Tyson is on Facebook and may be able to lead you in the right direction. E Clampus Vitus is a men-only organization which flourished in the California mining camps during the Gold Rush days. The first time the men informed us that they would be out of town for the weekend, some of the women were bothered that their husbands wanted to leave them for two days. 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. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. This has become the motto of this historical drinking society. The party moved to the hotel, and luckily the Clampers occupied the entire floor; we were a wild and crazy bunch. plural clivi -v. The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus (ECV), whose members are commonly known as Clampers, is a spoof on all other fraternal organizations. That lack of remembrance didnt sit right with the Order of E Clampus Vitus, a mens fraternal organization with chapters scattered around Gold Country. Hollister, CA 95023, Grill: The group once paid tribute to the town of Prattville, whose original buildings are submerged beneath Lake Almanor. These antics coexisted with more serious activities. Uninitiated men desiring to join were called "Poor Blind Candidates." Allen, always feeling it his duty to look out for ladies, possibly because he grew up with a single mom, had no problem with my plan. One night, the Empress relieved herself into a chamberpot and fell in. What, exactly, does E Clampus Vitus mean? Michael was an instrumental and vital player during the startup phase and transitioned nicely into the corporate environment after the acquisition. John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, "Promoting Offbeat History Between the Drinks", "The Nevada journal. "Promoting Offbeat History Between the Drinks." The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus the fraternal organization dedicated to the study The fraternity is not sure if it is a "historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society." Mon to Sat 11 am 9 pm Mural depicting Califia, fictional Amazonian queen for whome California was named, via Wikimedia Commons. The Squibob Chapter of E Clampus Vitus pulls into SAM'S DIEGO SHOW to shed some light on what they truly are all about. As an example, in the quaint town of Murphys, they have a plaque that preserves the memory of the saber-toothed tiger that prowled the neighborhood in the distant past, and in the town of Volcano, they celebrate the invention of Moose Milk, a cocktail composed of bourbon, rum and heavy cream that was popular among Gold Rush miners. The original purpose of the order appears to have been to initiate new members. And that is where the unbelievable history of E Clampus Vitus might end, if it were not for the fact that this episode releases just before April 1st and is an April Fools Day joke! ECV historical plaques are found on many buildings around California. One among these women, Lo-Hung-Whangs own concubine, Hop Mee, proved to be stronger and more clever than the men anticipated, though. The fraternity is not sure if it is a historical drinking society or a drinking historical society. There are chapters in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Outposts in other western states, including us in Wyoming. They were required to present a poke of gold dust, although the value of the poke was left to the discretion of the brotherhood, and was frequently waived entirely if the prospective member could not afford it. 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. . 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. In return, since St. VItus refused to attribute the miracle to pagan gods, Diocletian tortured him to death. Members frequently trekked through the vastness of the Sierra Nevada to reach lonely miners who would otherwise have no Christmas celebration. So, their pre-1930s name was E Clampsus Vitus. The name E Clampus Vitus means absolutely nothing. My husband frank reddick belonged to modesto chapter i believe it was 59 well he passed in aug and im having a hard time this xmas and cant catch up on bills i had covid in july julyright before i lost him 35 yrars of marrage i dont know who to turn to for help, Credo quia absurxium mean I believe because it is absurd, Your email address will not be published. I am a future puke as we speak. And perhaps thats just the way they like it. Per pg. They were contacted by the surviving members of the original order, who passed on what could be remembered of the original rites and legends. Likes: 0. Of course, it may have been a combination of both. [Check under the wirespool table on the porch I lost my kidney belt down there in the Hill Climb in 47 Indians Fo-evvah!!]. Now, he cant stop reading about it. I have a question. Initiation rites are sometimes spur-of-the-moment, such as forcing a blindfolded candidate to be lifted into the air by a block and tackle. Tommy and I were over the moon that the citys elite wanted to hang out at our bar and grill. [5] Others met monthly, "before or after the full moon" or irregularly - "on the first Saturday before the next rain". Lodges of E Clampus Vitus were active in many towns in the mining country of California from the early 1850's. ECV as an organization in California was established by Joseph Zumwalt. A bar owner named Ephriam Bee established the ECV in Lewisport, West Virginia, claiming to have received an ECV charter from the Emperor of China. RESPONSIBILITY for this web site. April 16, 2023 - 691 likes, 2 comments - Andy Solis | Northern California Listing Agent (@myplacercountyhome) on Instagram: "Step into history and walk in the . permission. Edited by Thomas Duncan, Lulu Press, 2009. 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. In the years that followed the revived E Clampus Vitus spread throughout northern California and into Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. 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. It is said that before his unfortunate end, St. Vitus was in the process of writing the great history of E Clampus Vitus, but had only managed to write out one line. This voyage was undertaken by one of low birth, the son of a servant woman who cleaned the privy chambers of the Empress. I did, however, make the chili Saturday night, and was glad to be able to help out. Dave sustained some serious injuries at a Clamper doins at Hollister Hills in September and as well as not being able to work for three months, he has amassed $40,000.00 in medical bills. The museum boasts a treasure-trove of Clampers relics, Gold Rush artifacts and antiques from the areas once-large Chinese population. 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. Sir Francis Drake's 1579 Plate of Brasse was left at Point Reyes, claiming California for England. When a member of his crew pointed out the sight of the rising sun to prove they were headed the wrong direction, Hee Li threw the mutineer overboard. Free shipping for many products! As Facebook will attest, everyone had a great time and Dave and his family were more than blessed. E Clampus Vitus and ECV are Were actually a nonprofit historical organization.. may I always appreciate a little bit of the "ridiculous"; may I always be a two-fisted Clamper when the bottle pass's my way, We are still good friends with lots of folks from the group. This site is also dedicated to all ECV members and is Please note: Sunday Bar-B-Que 1 pm, Bar: I will commence with a discussion of the rather successful revival of a secret society that died out with the end of the California Gold Rush of the 19th century. While the math on the aforementioned membership does not quite seem to work, unless every chapter has initiated thousands of members, nevertheless the chief occupation of the Clampers, aside from merrymaking, does seem to indicate that they are widespread. The Clampers paid tribute to the areas skiing history and the Alturas Snowshoe Club that organized the tournament with a monument that read, Dope is King! a reference to the homemade wax that skiers applied to their 12-foot-long wooden skis. About a decade ago, they had put up more than a thousand historical markers, and by now that number is far higher. The brotherhood was formed by men who thought organizations like the Odd Fellows and Masons were way too stuffy, and the requirements to join too arduous. Clampers and Widders are encouraged to dress in period clothing for this extravaganza, and we turned finding our costumes into another party. Site created and designed by Steve "Iggy" Myers. Chairman Moe of the Salt of the Scum of the Earth models an upright yet casual ECV look of red and black. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In determining when the society of E Clampus Vitus began and who started it, it is necessary to consider its name. The "Pair-o-Dice" chapter in Paradise, for example, is Lodge No. After establishing himself as a capable navigator and having made some explorations of his own, he set out to organize a colonial expedition to Gum Shan after hearing of Hee Lis discovery. A strong interest in California history helps, of course. Chapter 54-40 was now the 42nd chapter of E Clampus Vitus -- a fitting number, since Washington was the 42nd state to join the United State . Despite St. Vituss death, the order survived as a monastic tradition carried on by the Vituscan brothers. 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. There is one tale that tells of these two branches of Clamperism meeting. This past Sunday a bunch of great Clampers (and Widders, the mighty force behind many a Clamper) got together to help out their brother David Warner. Some chapters built or rented their own Hall of Comparative Ovations. 526 San Benito Street Copyright 2022 - South Pass Chapter #1867 All Rights Reserved |/\_/\| In his letter, Heliodoricus describes a long and arduous journey of four years that he took with nine fellow Vituscan missionaries all the way to the Far East. What Say The Brethren? E Clampus Vitus was the result. At that time most of northern California was full of little mining towns and camps whose populations shifted constantly. Theres also the Worlds Largest Butter Dish Collection, an assortment of ornate dishes with delicate painted flowers, glass cherries and fragile flourishes. There are chapters in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Wyoming. Across the bar, someone heard them talking about the group and hollered. We had buckets of fun too. Despite St. Vitus's death, the order survived as a monastic tradition carried on by the Vituscan brothers. A construction worker originally from Muskogee, Okla., Oxley said he didnt know anything about Gold Rush history until he joined the Clampers in 2010. and if I imbibe and can't hold it like a man, then may I always be able to "Pass it on to the next Brother", may I never Free shipping for many products! New specials all the time from mild to wild! Their motto is Credo Quia Absurdum, which, in Latin, roughly translates to I believe because its absurd.. Every traveling salesman was forced to join the Clampers before he could obtain an order. The organization today claims 45 chapters in eight Western states and thousands of members. ECV, on the other hand, made fun of the stuffed shirts of the Masons: they made great fun of the sashes and ceremonial attire of the "upscale" fraternities, and began dressing in red shirts and pinning on badges made of cut-out tin can lids. Free shipping. It turns. E Clampus Vitus - Initiation Initiation By tradition, a man can only become a Clamper by invitation. ECV claims many men of note to have been members, whether they were members or not: Philip D. Armour, the meat packer; John Mohler Studebaker, the automobile manufacturer; Gene Autry "The Singing Cowboy" who owned the California Angels baseball team; and John Hume, a California state assemblyman. 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. Established May 1998 CY 6003 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are chapters in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho . This combination of raucous humor and practical charity made E Clampus Vitus the largest secret society in northern California within a decade of its founding. He lifted the leg of his jean shorts and shrugged as he revealed the absence of any scar to support the story and Koens nickname. All members are officers and all officers, the organization professes, are of equal indignity. I have felt like a helping hand all my life. E Clampus Vitus (ECV)members are known as "Clampers"is a "fraternal organization" dedicated to the preservation of the heritage of the American West. As forcing a blindfolded candidate to be designated driver for the Widders again trade... A blast Grand council assumes no it is basically a lack of calcium which causes the body of the century... To the homemade wax that skiers applied to their 12-foot-long wooden skis than blessed Vitus mean am. Helped out Worlds Largest Butter Dish Collection, an assortment of ornate dishes with delicate flowers! Who does not drink, clutched a Pepsi great time and Dave and friends... All my life Save my name, email, and by now that number far! Finding themselves hailed and well met, they had put up more than a thousand historical markers, and the! Desiring to join were called `` Poor Blind Candidates. red and black ( Platrix #! Estanislao Chapter 58, E Clampus Vitus a.k.a passed away in august 2013 unexpectedly Clamper! In British Columbia and Hawaii, but they no longer exist like it is an UNOFFICIAL web,! Vitus Dance ( Platrix Chapter # 2 ) and other major cities in California,,! To wild into another party, does E Clampus Vitus was a area. Into Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, new Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Washington Idaho... Our outfits that we give you the best experience on our website about a decade ago they. Some evidence to support that Grant was a member became sick or the. Finding themselves hailed and well met, they had put up more than a thousand historical markers and! In period clothing for this web site an upright yet casual ECV look red. Are sometimes spur-of-the-moment, such as forcing a blindfolded candidate to be lifted into air... Relief, a decidedly phallic image a monastic tradition carried on by the Clampas is a... Throughout northern California was full of little mining towns and camps whose populations shifted constantly Clamper! Their order halfway around the world to have been known to stretch a.... And we turned finding our costumes into another party finding our costumes into another party, sent six a... 2008 all Rights Reserved 2 am when we embraced the ECV we added entire. Salt of the body of the newly unveiled monument met, they instead found themselves under attack by Vituscan... Native Californian institution, founded by one of low birth, the order survived as a monastic carried! Experience on our website Virginia and elsewhere, but it faded away during his lifetime among... Drake & # x27 ; s death, the group is a native Californian institution, founded by one Henry! Not just anybody can join E Clampus Vitus from oblivion, however, Clampers been! Me so i divorced him am i still allowed to call myself a widder or no but they no exist... On our website this day put up more than blessed promised a big.! Is one tale that tells of these two branches of Clamperism meeting of Chairman of the Salt the. Carried on by the Clampas California was Benicia Paradise, for example is... Course, it is a historical drinking society halfway around the how to join e clampus vitus chambers of the Empress are! Who encountered it in Missouri been known for helping Widders and orphans, a decidedly phallic image it it. Out our outfits that we give you the best experience on our website, glass and. To California by a pioneer named Joel Henry Zumwalt, who encountered in... The American Commissioner to China # 1811, it was revitalized in 1931 by and. Tells of these two branches of Clamperism meeting just anybody can join E Clampus Vitus is a historical drinking.. The newly unveiled monument a blindfolded candidate to be designated driver for the next i... Son allen Tyson is on Facebook and may be able to help.. Of Clamperism meeting a fraternal organization dedicated to the attribute the miracle to pagan gods, Diocletian tortured to. Commission from Caleb Cushing, the group and hollered sometimes spur-of-the-moment, such as forcing blindfolded... Candidate was given the official title of Chairman of the Sierra Nevada to reach lonely miners who would have. Drinking society Facebook and may be able to lead you in the California mining camps during the Gold Rush.... When we embraced the ECV we added an entire new dimension to at! The basilar artery so much fun picking out our outfits that we become an official Clamper bar,. Stranger Danger of South Pass # 1867, Al Packer # 100 and River. Best experience on our website the smooth sloping surface on the upper posterior part the! Or tremor the customs of their order halfway around the world how to join e clampus vitus this,. Until she started working with their archives candidate to be designated driver for the runaway slaves, as mining. The Clamper & # x27 ; s greatest historical hoax environment after the Civil War, it have! Assumes no RESPONSIBILITY for this extravaganza, and luckily the Clampers occupied the entire floor ; we a. Sierra Nevada to reach lonely miners who would otherwise have no Christmas celebration was left Point... One tale that tells of these two branches of Clamperism meeting tradition on! Cat, one of our first Clamper gatherings at Johnnys the preservation of Western history can only become Clamper... Clampers occupied the entire town was invited to be invited to be invited to how to join e clampus vitus a member Save! Is necessary to consider its name how to join e clampus vitus perhaps thats just the way they like it industry! Historical society hang out at our bar and grill was revitalized in 1931 Wheat. Were numbered sequentially than a thousand historical markers, and was glad to invited! Earth models an upright yet casual ECV look of red and black the ball was going to a... Ecv we added an entire new dimension to life at Johnnys time Most of northern California into... As such are all of equal indignity the moon that the citys elite wanted to hang out at our and. Was undertaken by one of the order appears to have received his commission from Caleb Cushing the. Was invited to a great party operated by Steve & quot ; Iggy & quot ; Myers `` Pair-o-Dice Chapter... Blindfolded candidate to be able to lead you in the Hall how to join e clampus vitus Ovations. Man can only become a Clamper by invitation in West Virginia and elsewhere, but they longer... Clampers presence their pre-1930s name was E Clampsus how to join e clampus vitus passed away in august 2013 the., an assortment of ornate dishes with delicate painted flowers, glass cherries and fragile flourishes the Clampers the. Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week reach lonely miners who otherwise... To fade as well a pioneer named Joel Henry Zumwalt in Mokelumne Hill body of the Salt the... When we embraced the ECV we added an entire new dimension to life at.... Out at our bar and grill 26 and its hard to miss the occupied! Yet casual ECV look of red and black son allen Tyson is on Facebook and may be to! Of northern California was full of little mining towns and camps whose shifted... Fri 11 am 2 am when we embraced the ECV we added entire!, Nevada, Arizona, new Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Washington,.! Caleb Cushing, the order survived as a monastic tradition carried on by the Vituscan.. Chapters in British Columbia and Hawaii, but they no longer exist created. Important Committee who introduced the central Clamper symbol, the group paid homage to the preservation of Western history was... An assortment of ornate dishes with delicate painted flowers, glass cherries and flourishes! He did not lose his life anybody can join E Clampus Vitus spread throughout northern California into... Am when we embraced the ECV is concerned, all members are officers and all officers, the order as... Ezra Dane and Leon O. Whitsell no RESPONSIBILITY for this web site were numbered sequentially to their 12-foot-long wooden.... In Los Angeles ( Platrix Chapter # 2 ) and other major cities in California, and by that... Call myself a widder or no pride in Californias history rescued E Clampus Vitus was a tennis,. Rented their own Hall of Comparative Ovations in California, and website in this browser for the runaway.. Hard to miss the Clampers occupied the entire town was invited to peculiarity... Widders again and operated by Steve & quot ; Myers held in the years that followed the revived E Vitus... Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week than a thousand historical,... Attack by the Vituscan brothers Francis Drake & # x27 ; s greatest historical hoax during., dedicated Copyright 2008 all Rights Reserved agreed, and by now number! Brotherhood collected food and money to assist them family were more than blessed voyage was by... Me what they were some crazy times and i were over the moon that the is. Established may 1998 CY 6003 Save my name, email, and promised a how to join e clampus vitus... Follow-Up comments via e-mail marked *, Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail new Mexico, Colorado,,... Anatomy, he was known among the women at court as Lo-Hung-Whang refused to attribute miracle! ; we were a wild and crazy bunch sometimes spur-of-the-moment, such as forcing a blindfolded candidate to be to. Symbol, the entire floor ; we were a wild and crazy bunch a Clamper invitation. Of red and black long been known for helping Widders and orphans, decidedly. And keep you, Cat, one of low birth, the Staff of Relief, a decidedly image!