Another dress code post

[gazbot]

Hello the rabble,

I am hoping to attend a travelling Scottish Masonic Lodge here in the province of Cheshire (United Grand Lodge of England) I have visited this lodge before when they visited a lodge in Wales. They do an excellent demonstration of the Scottish Third Degree. Last time I when to wore my kilt with green flashes, dark hose, ghillies, dress sporran, black Barathea argyll jacket and waist lay with silver buttons. I chose this outfit as I saw it as the nearest equivalent to the morning dress or dark suit that would traditionally be worn at our lodges. However I was shocked and yet delighted to see everything from prince Charlie's with fly plaids down to daywear outfits (Harris tweed etcetera) and this was all on display by the brethren of the Scottish lodge. As the meeting started in the day (3 ish I think) I thought that tweed was just as appropriate as anything. The question I have is on my next visit should I wear my daywear outfit green hose red, flashes brown day leather sporran and Harris tweed jacket and waistcoat, or stick to my outfit mentioned originally above? I know the fact that our Scottish brethren a wide range of outfits suggests that it is ok to wear whatever outfit you like and I think that is fantastic but I would be interested as ever to get the opinion of all on here. Just interested that's all.

[Nathan]

It sounds like you answered your own question and that either choice would be acceptable given your past experience. I'd say wear whichever one you like more. If you are going for morning suit equivalent, the black Argyll is better, but if that's not a concern, the choice is yours.

I know that some Scottish events here have a "wear what you have" outlook regarding Highland attire, because the organizers assume that not everyone has invested the money for every level of dress in proper Highland attire. Perhaps it's the same with this group?

[Father Bill]

Whatever the Saxon dress code is for lodges in that jurisdiction, I'd look it up and try to do the Highland equivalent.

Take care, Bro!

[Peter Crowe]

I have worn both Tweed Argyle day-wear and evening wear (dark green PC with vest and black bow-tie, but no fly-plaid) to Lodge, and have received nothing but compliments in either case (and many questions about THCD) from interested brethren. My Lodge is under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and a I am a member of the Kilwinning Club of Boston (for Scots born and Scottish-American Master Masons).

Some brothers here wear their sporrans over their aprons, a practice that I believe is incorrect. I never do because it is not done that way in Scotland and I wear my late paternal grandfather's English Constitution MM apron (as it is GLMA Constitutions compliant, my maternal grandfather was a Scottish Constitution MM but their aprons don't comply with our Constitution's regulations on regalia) with my sporran on the hip to the side like a piper. I would advise following the Scottish practice to any Brother going kilted to Lodge. Generally in this Jurisdiction, aprons are worn over the jacket, this does not work with the cut of kilt jackets and it is quite correct to follow the Scottish and Irish Constitutions practice of wearing the apron under the open jacket, below vest, even if not normal practice in a suit or tuxedo.

Tomorrow night I am going to see the Kilwinning Club degree team confer the 3rd degree at a local Lodge and will wear my PC with apron etc.

I have done Tweed day-wear, especially when the officers are in tuxedos at both daytime and evening Installations and one doesn't want to upstage them on their big day which I think is only good manners. In my own Lodge, as an officer (Assistant Secretary) I wear my tuxedo for the same reason (not to upstage the Master and senior members of the line) and the apron of my station.

Father Bill is right, if you'd normally wear a Tux go with the black argyle, but if you'd wear a dark lounge suit, tweed day wear is equivalent.

[EagleJCS]

Actually, Peter, only the drummers wear their sporrans to the side. We pipers wear the sporran in front.

Apologies for the OT post...

[Peter Crowe]

Actually, Peter, only the drummers wear their sporrans to the side. We pipers wear the sporran in front.

Apologies for the OT post...

Of course you are right and what I meant is a drummer in a pipe band, but I was so caught up in the details I didn't carefully proof read my post

[creagdhubh]

Actually, Peter, only the drummers wear their sporrans to the side. We pipers wear the sporran in front.

Apologies for the OT post...

Sometimes during quite 'violent' reels, I'll push my sporran to the left-hand side whilst dancing, so it doesn't get in the way.