I was wondering this recently, and I just saw the Masonic Bassists club thread in the bassists forum. So, there are at least a couple of Masons on the board. Anyone else? Shriners, Odd Fellows, Rotarians, etc?
I'm not sure you can ask this question in these "politically correct" times. You're basically asking, "any gay bass players out there"?
I dont think its quite the way you put it, but, even in these "politically correct" times, whats wrong with asking if there are any gay bass players about? And he's not asking if there are any gay bass players about, he's asking if there are any Freemasons, Shriners, or other members of fraternal organizations here on TB.
I'm a member of a rugby club which currently doesn't have a womens team, if that counts? We take showers together and all that too, so pretty similar . . .
I used to be a member of the VFW and the American Legion...if those count. Though I let my membership in both lapse because I never went to either or utilized any of thier facilities or services.
Maybe 20 years ago I had a friend who was an avowed Satanist, who also joined the Masons. I asked him why they let him in, and he said "they are desperate for membership, and their only requirement is that you believe in God." I said what about the whole Satan thing, and he said "worshiping Satan implies a belief in God." I asked him what he hoped to get out of membership in the Masons, and he said "mostly this cool ring!" and he showed it with pride.
There's nothing wrong with telling someone you're a mason. There is something wrong with a mason going around advertising his membership. You can have most of your questions answered by asking a fellow freemason in person. You will not get any answers via written correspondence of any sort. If you do, you should question it strongly.