[WWI] An ot Question

[Gabriel Limon]

Hi Mike,

I think the Latin might mean something like "I believe in the strange?????"  Probably not quite right, but I do see this group quite often in the town of Waterford which is not too far from where I live.  

Gabe





From: jmikl2957 at comcast.net
To: wwi at wwi-models.org
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:20:20 -0700
Subject: [WWI] An ot Question










A little help from our erudite members?  I saw 
a plaque in town today that had the motto of the fun-loving, not to say 
"silly", celebrators of Mother Lode and Gold Rush history in California, the 
group styled "E Clampus Vitus," or just The Clampers.
 
Their motto is Credo Quia Absurdum.  
Can anyone translate this for me?  Obviously it has something to do with 
their attitude about not taking themselves seriously when they have fun with 
local history.
 
Example: in the late 1960s their members in Jackson 
in Amador County decided that they would celebrate the history of the town by 
putting up a brass plaque in town--to announce that a particular spot was the 
former location of the town's whorehouse!  Well, they put on the plaque a 
red lantern and other symbols of the "art", as well as the title of their own 
self-styled group.  I don't remember the actual words, but the acronym for 
the group, placed prominently on the plaque, was 
E.R.E.C.T.I.O.N.S.!
 
Needless to say, the local churches were REALLY 
upset and demanded of the city council that the Clampers take the plaque 
down.  After many meetings, with outsiders, including California 
historians, coming in to testify before the council, the plaque 
finally was taken down.  Too bad!
 
I'd sure like to know how I could get to be a 
member of the group!
 
But, again, the motto that needs translation is 
Credo Quia Absurdum.
 
TIA.
 
        
                
                
Mike
 
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