Having read through the thread and searching on the internet, I see that all of the articles referring to the legend of kirkin of the tartan in 18th century Scotland are written by Canadians Australians or Americans (including the 2 cited in a post.) Those that do eminate from Great Britain appear to be virtual reprints of aforementioned ones. I can find no reference cited and written by highlanders or a cited source with some historical factual reference. There is however ample evidence of it being an American invention in 1941. Please don't get me wrong, I think the idea of it is a good thing, but lets not confuse a good idea with a tradition that did not exist in the old country

As for proof one way or the other, in the criminal code, beyond reasonable doubt, it is possible there was a form of kirkin the tartan in Scotland, in the
civil code, on the balance of probabilities, it's probable that it was invented in 1941