By Charles SomersBy Charles Somers

John P .Squibob 1853John P .Squibob 1853

George h derbyGeorge h derby

In 1853, Derby arrived in the small In 1853, Derby arrived in the small outpost of outpost of San Diego, , California to begin to begin mapping the region and developing mapping the region and developing plans for redirecting the plans for redirecting the San Diego River from the marshy delta from the marshy delta of of San Diego Bay and directly into the and directly into the Pacific Ocean. This was to avoid floods . This was to avoid floods that periodically silted up the bay and that periodically silted up the bay and made use of the bay by ships difficult or made use of the bay by ships difficult or impossible. impossible.

The honorable and ancient The honorable and ancient order of E Clampus Vitusorder of E Clampus Vitus

a fraternal organization dedicated to a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the study and preservation of Western Heritage, especially the Western Heritage, especially the history of the history of the Mother Lode and and gold mining regions of the area regions of the area

The The motto of the Order, of the Order, Credo Quia Credo Quia AbsurdumAbsurdum, is generally understood , is generally understood as meaning "I believe it because it is as meaning "I believe it because it is absurd." absurd."

dressdress

Red shirtsRed shirts Levis pantsLevis pants Black hatsBlack hats Tin for you Tin for you

vestementsvestements

meetingsmeetings

Twice a year before and after the full Twice a year before and after the full moonmoon

Meeting were generally held before Meeting were generally held before the start of the mining season and the start of the mining season and after the end of the mining seasonafter the end of the mining season

When they were held during mining When they were held during mining so many miners were members that so many miners were members that the mining camps would shut down the mining camps would shut down for festivities for festivities

plaguesplagues

We don’t do windows but we We don’t do windows but we do do widdersdo do widders

We are here to preserve history as We are here to preserve history as well as a oath to protect widders and well as a oath to protect widders and orphansorphans

Widders ball= drunken funWidders ball= drunken fun

membersmembers Members of note included Members of note included Adam, the first , the first

"Clampatriarch"; "Clampatriarch"; Philip D. Armour, the meat packer; , the meat packer; John Mohler Studebaker, the automobile , the automobile manufacturer; manufacturer; Gene Autry "The Singing Cowboy" and "The Singing Cowboy" and owner of the California Angels baseball team; and owner of the California Angels baseball team; and John Hume, a California state assemblyman. ECV also John Hume, a California state assemblyman. ECV also claims claims Ulysses S. Grant, , J. Pierpont Morgan, , Horace Greeley, and , and Horatio Alger as members, but as members, but claims have also been made to claims have also been made to Solomon, , Julius Caesar and and Augustus Caesar, Henry VIII of , Henry VIII of England, Sir Francis Drake, England, Sir Francis Drake, George Washington, , Andrew Jackson, , Ronald Reagan, and of course, His , and of course, His Imperial Majesty Joshua A. Norton, "Emperor of these Imperial Majesty Joshua A. Norton, "Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico". These fanciful United States and Protector of Mexico". These fanciful claims show ECV's propensity for not taking much of claims show ECV's propensity for not taking much of anything particularly seriously, least of all itself. anything particularly seriously, least of all itself.

reestablishmentreestablishment

As the mining industry faded towards As the mining industry faded towards the end of the 19th century, ECV the end of the 19th century, ECV started to fade as well. It was started to fade as well. It was revitalized in 1931 by San Francisco revitalized in 1931 by San Francisco historian Carl Wheat historian Carl Wheat

Wheat described E Clampus Vitus as Wheat described E Clampus Vitus as "the comic strip on the page of "the comic strip on the page of California history." California history."

initiationinitiation By tradition, a man can only become a Clamper by By tradition, a man can only become a Clamper by

invitation. However, one can express his desire to join. invitation. However, one can express his desire to join. Initiation rites are sometimes spur-of-the-moment, Initiation rites are sometimes spur-of-the-moment, such as forcing a blindfolded candidate to be lifted such as forcing a blindfolded candidate to be lifted into the air by a block and tackle. Other times, the into the air by a block and tackle. Other times, the blindfolded initiate is seated upon a wet sponge in a blindfolded initiate is seated upon a wet sponge in a wheelbarrow, and taken upon the "Rocky Road to wheelbarrow, and taken upon the "Rocky Road to Dublin" (a ladder lying on the ground). The initiations Dublin" (a ladder lying on the ground). The initiations are secret and vary greatly in execution and severity. are secret and vary greatly in execution and severity. Once he has been asked to answer several questions, Once he has been asked to answer several questions, the Scales of Darkness (the blindfold) are removed, the Scales of Darkness (the blindfold) are removed, the new member "sees the light", is handed the Staff the new member "sees the light", is handed the Staff of Relief, is presented the Stone of Enigma, and of Relief, is presented the Stone of Enigma, and appointed Chairman of the Most Important appointed Chairman of the Most Important Committee. Afterward everyone toasts the new Committee. Afterward everyone toasts the new member with drink. Once enlightened,a brother is a member with drink. Once enlightened,a brother is a brother for life. brother for life.

endend The prime requisites to becoming a Clamper are a The prime requisites to becoming a Clamper are a

sense of humor, an interest in Western history, an sense of humor, an interest in Western history, an open mind, and a cast iron stomach. If a man has open mind, and a cast iron stomach. If a man has those qualities, and strikes up a friendship with a those qualities, and strikes up a friendship with a Clamper or two, he may find himself taken in to (and Clamper or two, he may find himself taken in to (and by) the Ancient and Honorable Order. But one can't by) the Ancient and Honorable Order. But one can't simply walk up and say, "Can I be a Clamper?" It is simply walk up and say, "Can I be a Clamper?" It is for the Brethren of ECV® to invite prospective for the Brethren of ECV® to invite prospective members to join. And if a man is asked, he should members to join. And if a man is asked, he should know that the invitation is only given once. If it is know that the invitation is only given once. If it is refused, it is never tendered again. But a man of any refused, it is never tendered again. But a man of any intelligence and character so invited would hardly be intelligence and character so invited would hardly be likely to turn down such a signal honor. And likely to turn down such a signal honor. And remember, as the Brethren of E Clampus Vitus® remember, as the Brethren of E Clampus Vitus® maintain, Clampers are not made, they're born. Like maintain, Clampers are not made, they're born. Like gold, they just have to be discovered.gold, they just have to be discovered.