Why are some Masonic Lodge buildings called “Temples” and others called “Halls” or “Centers”?
In Pennsylvania, a Masonic building used exclusively to house a Masonic lodge or a number of lodges, and in some cases shared with authorized appendant Masonic bodies, can be designated as a “Masonic Temple.” Masonic buildings which include stores, offices, or other commercial space cannot be designated a “Masonic Temple”, but rather a “Masonic Hall.” The term “Masonic Center” is a modern term that has come into wider use in recent years to name buildings that house one or more Masonic lodges and one or more appendant Masonic bodies. (Source: Digest of Decisions, Art. 62, Grand Lodge of PA) What do A.D. and A.L. mean and why? A.D. is the abbreviation of “Anno Domini,” meaning “in the year of our Lord” and is the Christian method of designating the number of years following the birth of Jesus Christ. Freemasons’ nomenclature in this respect comes from the old belief (entirely erroneous) that the world was created 4,000 years before Christ and therefore indicates the date as 4,000 years
