The Caly Tartan

The origin of when and how Caledonian Lodge came to adopt the Royal Stewart tartan is difficult to determine. The records of history do elude to the fact that from the granting of our Charter in 1866, our original regalia colour was listed as "Tartan".

Somewhere along the line we adopted the Blue that many lodges commonly wear today but in March of 1888 it was decided to drop the Blue and adopt a Maroon coloured apron. A photograph of the Brethren in 1926 (our 60th anniversary) shows what looks to be light blue regalia. Admittedly, it is a black and white photograph, but the tartan pattern is definitely not present nor does it look dark enough to be Maroon.

During the post World War II years it became difficult to obtain new Master Masons aprons owing to the impossibility of procuring the required materials to make them and many weird and wonderful substitutes had been seen in the various Lodges. In February, 1947, orders were again being taken for M.M. aprons, but there was a considerable waiting list.

An order was placed for a complete set of aprons and collars for the Lodge Officers and Past Masters in November, 1952 due to the state of the ones in use at that time. Orders had also been placed for new covers for the Altar, the three principal pedestals and the Chaplain’s lectern. It would be assumed that these were tartan in colour as another photograph of the Brethren in 1966 (100th anniversary) shows them wearing the Royal Stewart regalia.

The tartan bow tie was being worn by 1991 if not sooner but seems to have been well before the formal request and approval was granted, for it wasn't until March, 1996 that correspondence from Grand Lodge affirmed for dispensation from the Grand Master to wear our “Tartan” Bow Tie.

The Royal Stewart Tartan itself is the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II and it is said to be appropriate for all subjects of English Monarchy to wear the tartan. Officially, the tartan is worn by numerous military groups, and a select few civilian groups.

Perhaps it was their loyalty to the Royal family or the fact the Lodge had a long history with the local military at RAAF Amberley that influenced their decision to select the Royal Stewart as theirs to prouldly wear or perhaps it was the more romantic notion that it represented Scotland like no other tartan can. Whatever it was, it means a great deal to the Caledonian Brethren and we wear it today with the honour and respect that it fully deserves.