Look, let me hope to shed some 'light' on this for you guys, no pun intended. The masons are not a secret society they are a society with secrets, they are the oldest fraternal organization on the planet and try to make good men better. They help their own as well as numerous charities, the Shriners for instance set up children's hospitals all over the USA, completely free of charge for all people who need their help. By the way, the 'shriners' are an appendant body of masonry, all shriners are masons but not all masons are shriners.
The fraternity uses symbols to teach men good morals, using the symbols of operative stonemasons of the middle ages. For example the square and compass seen in the masonic symbol, with the G in the middle, were tools used by stone masons to create the wonderful cathedrals and buildings that still exist today. The knowledge to build these things was lost after the fall of Rome and kept alive through stonemason guilds, eventually they allowed intellectuals to join and it became more symbolic. One appendant body, the 'York Rite' has Knights Templar as its highest order....it is said by the members that Knights Templar found safety within the masonic guilds in Europe during the time of their persecution, and brought many of their secrets into the society.
Any man is welcome to join so long as he is of good moral character...and believes in a supreme being of his choosing (Jew, Christian, Muslim, Deist THEY DO NOT CARE SO LONG AS YOU BELIEVE.) MASONS ARE NOT SECRET. There is a lodge in your city, it says what it is on the sign, they probably have a website and the sign says their meeting times right on it. You may show up and enjoy dinner, its completely free and you will meet many nice people. I know, because I've been going for 4 months and I am set to be initiated into the fraternity TONIGHT, as an Entered Apprentice.
Historically, masons are banned from recruiting, a MAN must come to the doors of masonry OF HIS OWN FREE WILL. THAT MEANS, the reason you have never been invited is because you did not approach them. I assure you, look up your local lodge, their meeting times, and just show up knocking on the doors at that time, you will be doing as millions of men have done for centuries as you knock on those doors. Masonry is not the evil horrible thing that people claim it to be, if you do not believe me yourself GO TO THE LODGE. They are some of the warmest and kindest people you will ever meet....oh and if you want to join you MUST ask THEM for a petition. Simply ask any member if you may have a petition, they will tell you the rest.
It is a journey, not an event.
I hope I cleared some things up gentlemen.
EDIT:
Oh, and PS, if you would like a somewhat better understanding of Masonry's history in the US, Dan Brown's book the Lost Symbol is a great read. Before you apes get on my case and LOL for me reading it, I was told to read it by one of the past masters of my lodge, you have to understand that a lot of themes are made up, but the information itself presented about Masonry is somewhat true. The House of the Temple is the head of the Scottish Rite in America and is modeled exactly after the Tomb of Mausolus, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. I was a history major and classics minor, the blend of American history and neoclassicism got me first interested in the Fraternity and I am still amazed as I do more research and see the tie between the two.
Some states are even changing their bylaws....the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is now doing OPEN RECRUITING. Masonry is changing,
http://www.pagrandlodge.org/gmaster/renaissance.html
