Kilted Masonic Protocal

[ragged tiger]

I usually just move my sporran to the left side of my hip. I've seen several other Brothers at Robert Burns lodge do the same thing and one who prefers to leave his sporran outside the lodge room.

[Oldhiker]

My Lodge, Lodge Alba #315 WA is a kilted lodge. We meet on the Celtic Qtr holidays. The tradition is to shift sporran to a hip and not wear it under or over the apron. I dont know if it is a rule or just the way we do it.

[usonian]

From a sheer practicality standpoint I would lean towards leaving the sporran in the anteroom. I'd be surprised to find any written Masonic regulations that specific about kilts or highland dress outside of Scotland. The GL of Massachusetts has a protocol manual that delineates suggested dress (suit or coat & tie for business meetings, tuxedo for degree work or Official/Fraternal visits) but does not mention kilts or highland dress at all. It does state that aprons are to be worn over jackets, the only exception being if you're wearing tails... but given how short kilt jackets are compared to regular suitcoats and dinner jackets, you could probably wear the apron underneath without raising any eyebrows. It looks like that's how the Kilwinning Club of Boston does it - looks like they may leave the sporrans off altogether, too:



The thing I have observed about "The Rules" in Masonry (in my region, in my jurisdiction anyway) is that very few people are concerned/conscientious enough to go digging in bylaws, constitutions, and protocol guides to find out about what is allowed and/or proper, instead deferring to what they observe in their lodge or are told by other Brothers. If someone shows up in a kilt it's unusual, but I've never heard anyone tut-tut about whether it's "allowed" or not. In most cases, I think people don't even think about stuff like this. For example: a lot of the Past Masters' aprons I've seen in this state are not technically compliant with Massachusetts' Grand Constitutions but I've never seen anyone called on it, not even by the Grand Master.

I think a good rule of thumb is: See if the Grand Constitutions or some other Grand Lodge guidelines have anything to say... if that's inconclusive, ask your DDGM and then the Master of your lodge (and maybe some of the old sideliners for good measure) and then use your best judgement. YMMV from lodge to lodge and jurisdiction to jurisdiction, of course, but as long as you look sharp I think most Brothers will have nothing but compliments. Next time I'm at Grand Lodge I'll make a point to see what the Grand Piper does with his sporran!

[gordontaos]

I am merely an entered apprentice, but my WM has encouraged me to wear my kilt to meetings.
Tomorrow night is THE night.
I think that I will just move my sporran over to the side.

[shooter102]

I've been kilted at lodge both in Kansas where I began and now in Michigan. I've always just left my sporran in the anteroom and never had an issue.

[ScotFree]

Not being a Mason myself, I can't speak to rules or protocol, but from a practical standpoint, I would think that it would depend upon the particular sporran. In essence, if its going to create a noticeable bulge under the apron, I would think that shifting it or foregoing it would be best. If it lies flat against the kilt, and wouldn't interfere with the drape of the apron, then you can leave it be. After all, who's going to look under your apron??? Of course, if there are rules or customs about this thing in your lodge or district, etc., you would of course follow that. Just an outsiders viewpoint.