Clampers were formed during or just before the California 1849 Gold Rush. Be aware that the Clampers are also a parody of the Odd Fellows and Masons of that time. Credo Quia Absurdum loosely follows The original phrase, before being transmuted through Enlightenment rhetoric to its modern form “I believe because it is absurd”, appeared in Tertullian’s work De Carne Christi (c. 203–206), read by scholars as “I believe because it is unfitting”. The goal is NOT to take ones self too seriously. The names I post are just reference to well known Clampers ... there are many many more ... Gary Condit is a Clamper ... as is/was both Pat and Jerry Brown .... not exactly my favorite people. Whether I am “proud” of them or not has no bearing on these peoples Clamper membership. In fact nearly every California governor up to but not including Arnold was a Clamper. Goodwin Knight was a Clamper as well as was Ronald Reagan and Tricky Dick Nixon. There is much history in the reasons that we do things ... along with being an historical organization we are also one of secrecy... and many of the things we do and the reasons we do them are not meant for public consumption. Many are just tradition.
Generally stick with historic secret traditions of Single Malt, personally. In company of fellow Scot skeptics of the ruling class of morons. Body of Christ, “sip of Islay” a blaspheming toast.