It's not everyday that you get an invitation into the inner sanctum of
a bona fide secret society that's been linked to countless
conspiracies, but then again, calling the Freemasons a "secret" society
is a little misleading.
As several of the Masons, who were happy to share their identities with
me as well as a baked lasagna (with vegetarian option) dinner, told me,
it's more of an organization with secrets than it is a "secret
society." Still, there's something intimidating about walking into a
largely windowless granite building with an upper-level sanctuary for
rites and rituals, wherein all of the members have titles like Master
Mason, Grand Tiler and Grand Sword Bearer, and all of the proceedings
are as regimented as an all-boys' reformatory school.
In other words, it's not for everyone - including women, who are barred
from the society but have their own auxiliary clubs, not unlike the
VFW. It's a place where men can be men, but not in the college
dormitory sort of way. Members take the rituals and the ceremony of the
"Lodge" as serious as a Gulf hurricane.
