A Mason???

[Rex_Tremende]

For the long drive from Cincinnati to Chicago this weekend (six hours, or thereabouts), I decided to wear my black UK mocker and a coordinating casual ensemble. (For the record, it looked as good - for a UK - at the end of the trip as it did when I started.) On Friday, I stopped in at a MacDonalds in the middle of Nowhere, Indiana. This particular McD's was staffed by pudgy, grandmotherly types, who flocked together like a bunch of hens to appraise my kilt, clucking to one another about it while I ordered a snack.

Hen #1: "Are you a Mason?"

Me: "I beg your pardon?"

Hen #1: "Never mind. I guess not."

Hen #2: "Do you play the bagpipes?"

Me: "I play the radio."

Hen #2: "You wha...? Oh! Well, I guess we all do that!"

Clerk: "Here are your three chicken strips. Have a nice day."

Me: "You too."

As I left to return to my car, I heard the hens behind me calling the others in the back to "come, look!" I swear, sometimes I feel like Miss Ohio in the swimsuit competition in an exhibition of poise while being gawked at.

Now, I know we have a couple of Masons among us - but is there ANY reason why someone would think that the kilt is at all indicative of a Mason?

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati and sometimes elsewhere

[beloitpiper]

Freemasonery is Scottish. Masons are associated with a lot of Scottish icons. Pipe bands, Tartan Balls, Burns Suppers, etc.

[Caradoc]

Now, I know we have a couple of Masons among us - but is there ANY reason why someone would think that the kilt is at all indicative of a Mason?

It's apparently common enough that one can buy Masonic-embroidered kilt hose off-the-peg instead of having to order them.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Freemasonery is Scottish. Masons are associated with a lot of Scottish icons. Pipe bands, Tartan Balls, Burns Suppers, etc.

I just wanted to clarify that Freemasonry is not particularly Scottish. It actually had its origin in England.

A lot of Scottish symbols have been adopted by Freemasonry, I assume because one of the higher degree systems is called the Scottish Rite. The other common one is the York Rite. But neither actually originated in the places they are named for. In fact, if I am not mistaken, they were developed in France, where I think most of the "higher degrees" of Masonry (most of which aren't around any longer) came from, once it was transplanted from England.

But I've encountered the same thing you have, Rex -- people thinking that just because I am Scottish (or in a kilt) that I am either a Mason or at least had an interest in Masonry. In fact, I had an older gentleman try and get me to come to his Lodge meetings and when I told him I wasn't interested, said something like, "Why not? Aren't you Scottish?"

I'm convinced that the reason he (and many others) intrinsicly link Freemasonry and Scotland together is just because of the name of the Scottish Rite.

[macwilkin]

Just as a "preemptive strike", let's keep this thread to kilts and freemasonry only, and not wander OT into the pros and cons of freemasonry, please.

There are least two tartans associated with the lodge; the "Freemason's Universal" tartan, which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Utah, and the tartan of the Grand Lodge of Scotland:

http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/publis...versal-tartan/

http://www.masonicthemes.com/?p=content&id=tartan

There is also an organization within the Scottish Rite known as the "Knights of St. Andrew", and many of its chapters wear kilts and Highland attire.

And another connection, of course, is the fact that Robert Burns was a very active freemason for most of his life -- whilst he never wore a kilt that we know of, many folks today wear them at Burns Suppers, so hence the association.

Regards,

Todd

[Matthew Siegmann]

Being a Freemason, I'll agree with both M. A. C. Newsome's explanation and cajonscot's explanation. I will say that most people are more apt to associate the kilt with Freemasonry because of the Scotish Rite.

As far as kilts and Mason's go, a good friend of mine who is a member of the Scotish Rite said no one at the local chapters in this area actually wear kilts to the meetings, though he said that one guy thought he was supposed to when he showed up kilted at his first meeting.

[Panache]

Rex,

I keep telling you to stop carrying that bucket of motar and to put down the trowel and bricks before going in to order fast food. You are going to keep confusing people!



Cheers

[McClef]

Maybe some people confuse the apron of the kilt with a masonic apron?

I see a lot of masonic regalia for sale that goes with a kilt but I can't see why that in itself would cause the confusion.

My late stepfather was a mason and a former lodge worshipful master but he hadn't been active for some time.

An interesting point - as the initiation rite involves the candidate having one trouser leg rolled up there is clearly no provision even in the Scottish Rite for a kilt to be worn.

So I conclude it's the apron, however tenuous the actual connection.

[Woodsheal]

While the first Grand Lodge was in England, some scholars contend that modern freemasonry actually DID emerge in Scotland in the 1600's, including famous Scottish historian David Stevenson. This is his book on the subject:
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Freema...e=UTF8&s=books

[Mike1]

This one has been hashed out before and as cajunscot has mentioned, we don't need it to tumble into the bin because of misinformation.

Matt, you are certainly an authority on kilts and tartan, but your comment

I just wanted to clarify that Freemasonry is not particularly Scottish. It actually had its origin in England.

is only part correct.

People associate the beginnings of Freemasonry with the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, 24 June 1717. A Mason can tell you that this merely marked the beginning of what is known as the Modern Era of Freemasonry, as we know Freemasonry is much older than that.

The Regius Poem, or Halliwell Manuscript as it has come to be known, is considered by many to be the oldest written record of the practice of Freemasonry and it is commonly agreed that this document was written around 1390. Line 143 of the Regius Poem suggests that there were even older documents, as it says, " By olde tyme wryten y fynde (By old time written I find)".

Further evidence to indicate that the Grand Lodge of England's formation in 1717 was a quite recent innovation is easy to see in Kilwinning Lodge No. 0, also known as the Mother Lodge of Scotland. This Lodge is known to exist from the 1140's and was chartering other Lodges in the late 12th century.

Rosslyn Chapel, founded in 1446 has many carvings of Masonic symbolism.

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about the Scottish and York Rites is that they provide 'higher degrees of Freemasonry'. Both of these organizations merely require that a man be a Mason in good standing, before he petitions for membership, and are no more than appendant bodies.

As far as kilts and Mason's go, a good friend of mine who is a member of the Scotish Rite said no one at the local chapters in this area actually wear kilts to the meetings, though he said that one guy thought he was supposed to when he showed up kilted at his first meeting.

If any member of the Scottish Rite felt he was supposed to wear a kilt to any Scottish Rite function, he must have slept through his degree work.

As a 32° member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, I am afforded no special treatment when I sit in my Masonic Lodge, as a Masonic Lodge does not recognize the appendant degrees. My Lodge allows me to wear symbols identifying myself as a Past Master, but Scottish Rite regalia is not allowed.

Non-Masons speculating about Freemasonry is as edifying as men speculating about birthing a child. There's little more than guess-work involved.