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Supreme Being
04-15-2008, 08:24 PM
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Universal Freemason Tartan


In 2004, The Grand Lodge of Utah sponsored the design and production of a Tartan fabric that would represent Freemasonry in Utah as well as elsewhere. Scottish Tartan plaids have been used for centuries by Scottish clans as a means of identifying and unifying families across the country. This tartan was designed with the family of Freemasonry in mind.

Anne Carroll Gilmour, an internationally known weaver specializing in traditional Scottish Tartan weaving, designed the pattern and submitted it to the Scottish Tartans Authority in Perthshire, Scotland for registration. The pattern was deemed unique and the Registration Certificate issued. A mill near Edinburgh was then commissioned to weave the cloth in bulk.

The colors in the cloth were carefully chosen to represent the various Masonic family organizations including but not limited to the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine of North America, Job's Daughters International, DeMolay International, Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile and et cetera.

The main field of blue in a prominent pivotal position represents the dome of the universe as in Blue Lodge Masonry. The dominance of royal purple in the opposite pivotal field represents Scottish Rite Masonry, York Rite Masonry, Jobe's Daughters International and many other Masonic organizations. The prominent red cross carries with it much symbolism used throughout Masonry. You will also see represented the colors of the five points of the Eastern Star; red, white, blue, green and gold/yellow as well as related colors connected with the Social Order of the Beauceants, the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the Daughter's of the Nile and many others.

As a Scottish family's unique tartan represents that family throughout the world, so too does the Freemason's Universal Tartan represent the family of Freemasonry and it's goals to make this world a better place to live in.

Supreme Being
04-15-2008, 08:26 PM
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Grand Lodge of Scotland Tartan


In conjunction with the Grand Lodge of Scotland in Edinburgh, Masonic Themes have designed and registered the worlds only official Masonic tartan - "The Grand Lodge of Scotland Tartan".

This splendid tartan is based on the colours as used by Grand Lodge since its' inception in 1736 as well as other colours of Masonic and/or Scottish significance. The main colours are Thistle Green and Gold. The minor colours are blue and black.

Green

Thistle Green was chosen by the Grand Lodge of Scotland because many member were also members of the Order of the Thistle (founded in 1687) - the highest Order of Chivalry in Scotland. Thistle Green also reminds us of our national flower (some would say weed!) - the Thistle, and the associated legend that an invading Viking army went barefoot to sneak up on sleeping Scots. When they stood on thistles the Scots were alerted and the Vikings defeated. Green is also the colour of good luck.

Gold

The Grand Lodge of Scotland's motto is - In the Lord is all our Trust and is reflected in the use of Gold in the tartan as this colour represents T.G.G..O.T.U. Gold also represents the masculine - entirely appropriate for an all male organisation.

Dark Blue

Dark blue is symbolic of wisdom and loyalty. The former reminds us of Solomon and the latter he who is the most prominent in our final ceremony. The colour also serves to remind us of the main colour of our national flag - the Saltire.

Black

Whilst recognising that black is not a colour, as such, it is used in the tartan because of its' paramount symbolic importance in the highest degree in Freemasonry - that of a Master Mason. When wearing this tartan every Freemason will be constantly reminded of the lessons of the Third Degree and to regulate his thoughts and actions accordingly. Although this is the significance of black in this tartan black also has for Freemasons, the symbolic attributes of mystery, which is entirely appropriate for those who have been Initiated into the Mysteries of Freemasonry.