One of my colleagues is married to the leader of the Freemasons in my area; i admit that i was slightly worried when she started bitching about me at work...
Then i got annoyed because i read that Freemasons are meant to be Christians; or at least have a belief in a God of some kind... & if she's religious then she shouldn't be bitchy!
I've met a retired Policeman who recieved social care (eg. free meals) from the local Freemasons (he was a Freemason).
I think that anyone in a job such as national or local government; or in the MOD or Public Sector (inc. the Police) should declare membership of certain groups such as the Freemasons.
Freemasons should be more open about their aims & about what they do - if nothing else it would help prevent some of the paranoid conspiracy theories.