October 12, 1863
A Pleasant Party. - Mr. Bee, the well known member of the House of Delegates from Doddridge, gave an oyster supper at the Sprigg, Friday evening, to a large number of his friends in the two Houses of the Legislature. Our host of the Sprigg had a bountiful repast provided, and wine and conviviality flowed without stint. Speeches were made by Messrs. Stevenson, of the Senate, Mr. Bee and O. W. Langfelt, Esq., of Brooke county. Mr. Bee gave a very interesting, curious and amusing account of the celebrated Order of "E Clampus Vitus," of which he is "Grand Hotetote." He showed that it dated back to the days of Noah and had for two thousand years been the secret of the stability of the Chinese Empire. The secrets of the order had been entrusted by the Emperor of China to Caleb Cushing at the time he was United States Minister to that country; and he (Mr. Bee) had been commissioned by Caleb shortly after his return.
It is said that Mr. Bee is a candidate for Major General of Militia, when the re-organization of the militia takes place under the bill now pending in the Legislature, but this is supposed to be a joke which some of the members have perpetrated upon him.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: October 1863