Masonic Calendar

In keeping with our customs and traditions, Masonry uses a dating system that does not match current calendar era dating. Masonic dates are followed by “A.L.” Why? What does “A.L.” mean and in what operation of masonry is it most commonly used? What abbreviations are used in the different appendant bodies of Freemasonry to represent calendar eras?

Blue Lodge masonry and the appendant bodies use calendar era dating to correspond with certain historical and significant events, usually specific to that body.

“A.L.” (Anno Lucis= “in the Year of Light”) is a calendar era dating based on the creation of light. It should be noted that “A.L.” is not claimed to be synchronous with creation, but has symbolic reference to the Light of Masonry. It is equivalent to 4000 years of the Gregorian calendar. Thus, 2017 A.D. + 4000 = 6017. It is most commonly used in the ceremonial dedication and inscription of Masonic cornerstones and official certificates.

The Hebrew calendar is based on the first five books of Moses called the Torah. The Torah gives specific calendar related commandments, like God’s commandment to affix Aviv, the first month of the sacred year, to the Exodus from Egypt. Therefore, it is important to realize that our current Gregorian calendar is different from the Hebrew calendar. In more modern times, the Jewish faith has adopted the Gregorian calendar to denote days of work and other days of the week, but still abides by to the Hebrew calendar for sacred festivals and religious dates.

In 46 B.C. (Before Christ/Christian Era/Common Era) Roman Emperor Julius Caesar introduced a solar calendar which was later adapted by Augustus. It affixed a calendar based on 12 months and 365 days to a year, and dates for each calendar month. We currently use a structure of this calendar. The Gregorian calendar is the solar calendar currently used today, established in 1582 A.D. (Anno Domini= in the Year of our Lord). The need for the Gregorian calendar came about when a study revealed that a year actually consisted of 365 and a quarter days long. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct the error of Julius Caesar in omitting 10 days from the calendar year. The Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752 by Great Britain and the American colonies.

“A.M.” (Anno Mundi = “in the Year of the World”) is the calendar era associated with Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Add 3760 to Common Era. Thus, 2017 A.D. + 3760 = 5777.

“A.Inv.” (Anno Inventionis = “in the Year of Discovery”) is the calendar era associated with Royal Arch Masons from the date in which the second temple was commenced by Zerubbabel. Add 530 years to the Common Era. Thus, 2017 + 530 = 2547.

“A.Dep.” (Anno Depositionist = “in the Year of the Deposits”) is the calendar era associated with Royal and Select Masters from the year in which the Temple of Solomon was completed. Add 1000 years to the Common Era. Thus, 2017 + 1000 = 3017.

“A.O.” (Anno Ordonis = “in the Year of the Order") is the calendar era associated with organization of Knights Templar. Subtract 1118 years from the Christian Era. Thus, 2017 – 1118 = 899.

*Add another year after the month of September.