Armigerous Clans and use of Clansman's badge

[ThistleDown]

Clans themelves are not "armigerous". The chief of a clan is armigerous, a clan society may be armigerous, and, of course, individual members of the clan may be armigerous, but the clan itself, is not armigerous.

In the instance of MacRae, Buchanan, and other clans where the chiefship is in abeyance, the clanfolk wear the badge of the last known chief-- in the hopes that one day his lawful successor will come stumbling out of the Amazonian jungles to claim his rightful place as "Chief of the name and arms" of the clan.

In a very real sense the Clan Society acts as a sort of ad hoc trustee in protecting the heraldic rights of a person "unknown" and in regulating the use of that person's heraldic property. Practically speaking there is nothing that can be done to prevent someone usurping a non-existent right to wear any clan badge, and this happens all the time.

My personal view is that one should only wear a clan badge if they profess allegiance to the chief of that clan, even if the chief's exact location is, for the moment, unknown. For all we know the Chief of the Buchanans (or the MacRaes) could be hacking his way through the Amazonian jungles right now as he searches for the missing aircraft of the renown aviator, Peter Peel.

So, should you wear the badge of the missing MacRae chief? Sure, why not? If you feel strongly about the "rights and the wrongs" of wearing a clansman's badge, then join the Clan MacRae Society.

We share the same understanding that allegiance is a very big issue here, Rathdown. Wearing somebody else's signature on one's bonnet, lapel, little finger, belt buckle. sporran, sgian dubh or kilt apron is making a significant statement that must be clearly understood before the wearing takes place.

The system that makes the belted crest available for one to wear in the first place is not a democratic one. There can be no discussion about that here or anywhere else because that is simply the way it is.

Those who choose to wear a crest in this manner are acknowledging a certain obligation to the owner of the crest. Servitude, if you wish; superiority, as you will; seniority, if it pleases you; patriarchy, if you are inclined.

There are only two things to be considered: (a) I am willing, content and happy to accept the foregoing, or (b) I am not.

If you fall into the (a) category then you may request membership in the clan and, if accepted by the chief or head of the clan/family (you will be, beyond a doubt!), you need never pay dues and will be a clansperson until either you, or your chief, decides otherwise.

If you fall into category (b) you are not a member of the clan.

Of course in either case you may make application to join a clan association that uses the same name as the clan. There are lots of them around; not clans at all, but good, solid groups of people sharing sometimes the same surname and the same goal. An association of folks with like interest.

So join a Macrae society if you wish to work towards the re-establishment of a leading family for the Macraes, or because you like their company; or simply wear the belted crest of the last known Macrae as a public statement of your position, role or standing within the clan when it next has a head, the one to whom you are obligated because you wear his crest.