the ancient and honorable order of e clampus vitus (ecv) is a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the heritage of the american west, especially the history of the mother lode and gold mining regions of the area. the fraternity is not sure if it is a "historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society." there are chapters in california, nevada, and other western states. members call themselves "clampers." 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." the motto of the order, credo quia absurdum, is generally understood as meaning "i believe it because it is absurd;" the proper latin quotation credo quia absurdum est, is from the christian apologist tertullian (c.160 â c.220 ad), who rejected rationalism and accepted a gospel which addressed itself to the "non-rational levels of perception." frame|right ==history== === first incarnation === the early history of the organization is unclear. historian lois rather suggests that the order came originally from the southern states before the being carried over to california during the gold rush. the sons of malta, a fraternal society given to pranks and parody initiation rites, has been sometimes 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). others maintain that the group is a native californian institution, founded by one joseph h. zumwalt in mokelumne hill. both legend and scholars agree that the group was founded in 1849.alan axelrod international encyclopedia of secret societies and fraternal orders new york; facts on file, inc 1997 p.71 the original purpose of the order appears to have been to initiate new members. 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. the initiate rite was a parody of freemasonic, oddfellow and other orders, and took many forms, including rowing the initiate down a wheelbarrow, hoisting him into the air and leaving him there, or dropping him in a vat of water. afterwards the initiate had to buy the other members a round of drinks.axelrod p.71 the organizations leader was known as a supreme grand humbug, a title carried over into the later incarnation, and other "officials"
Fraternal_service_organizations History_of_California Organizations_established_in_1849 State_based_fraternal_and_lineage_societies