I am a Mason and God is very much in the equation, you know nothing of Masonry as your post testifies to and spare me the “I know many masons” BS . Unfortunately any one can come on Free republic and claim anything they wish.
I highly recommend you read some of John Salza’s work, he used to be a high-ranking official in the Lodge, but left and became a KofC. He runs the website ScriptureCatholic.com, and has a special section for Freemasonry. Here’s one of them: http://scripturecatholic.com/freemasonfaq.html
Ditto.
I knew the Knights of Columbus was a mutual benefit society, which in the early days worked well for members.
A couple of weeks ago I was talking with a friend, who is a member of the K of C.
He has whole life insurance and annuities through the K of C.
Two of the biggest ripoffs in the USA, regardless of who sells them to you.
What the members of the society do for good deeds may be fine, but they should run in the other direction when the salesman shows up.
As far as being a Mason goes, if it was good enough for George Washington and many of the other founding fathers of the country, it's good enough for me.
One of the main reasons this country was founded with our religious freedoms was what various religions, such as the Catholics, Puritans, New Awakening, and other such religions had done in Europe and in the colonies.
There was plenty of shame to go around, both Catholic and Protestant.