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There are basically two types of masons: 1) the "bubba" type as you defined, and 2) the others. Bubba will almost never get above the Blue Lodge (the first three degrees) - though some do. The more dangerous ones are the second type for they will espouse the "bubba" line, while really believing in something else much more sinister.
There are really layers upon layers in the Lodge. Bubba is not equal to David Rockefeller or john Kerry (though he may be led to believe that he is). There are various eschelons. There are degrees beyond the 33rd. A lot depends on the mindset of the person in question, and the depth of the person's belief in and worship of the Great Architect of the Universe - who is in reality Lucifer. Now they will deny this, but at the upper eschelons, there is a serious occult matter. It is hidden from the majority of the membership - and is the "secret" to be guarded. The average Bubba who joins is literally quite innocent of this, and will most probably never know or conceive that such a thing is reality. There have been enough exposes by former members, and Papal Encyclicals, and scholarly theological tomes written on the subject - so I am not going to waste time defending the obvious against the ignorant. But this is the truth.
The reality at the upper levels makes Rosemary's Baby seem like Bambi by comparison. And it is literally unknown to the vast majority of the membership - who will never get to enter the upper levels. The "struggle against tyranny and superstition" is merely a cover story. And yes, I would agree that masonry is not the worst thing among secret societies. But it is the normal entry level for rht average Joe who wishes to appear respectable into the world of hte weird, esoteric, and occult. Once a member, depending on their "appropriateness for membership:, they may receive invites to other groups.

thor76:basically two types

Yosemite Sam, the cantankerous and rambunctious WarnerBrothers cartoon character, is a fairly good working model of the hoodwinked stooge. More difficult to picture him in a black sorcerer's robe conjuring lesser sprites of Lucifer while impersonating a Catholic clergyman during daylight hours. Harder to imagine Sam weathering through 5 or 6 years of Latin and Greek studies.

One might suspect that Latin was suppressed, along with the Latin Mass, in order to make it easier for impostors and creepy KGB agent types to fake being priests.

Uh...ahem...yeah...