I was told that freemasons are a brotherhood by the guy i work with. He is a master mason. The only reason i was considering it was because i wanted to know the truth behind their symbols and not the brotherhood. I guess thats dangerous to join an insitution just to find out how it works.
Most masons are pretty great people overall. Any many never go above the third degree and for most it never goes beyond the fraternal aspects. However like all secret societies there is a veneer of respectability outwardly (and they do some very good works) but the top of the hierarchy is very dark indeed. There are 32 degrees that can be earned but the 33rd degree is/can be awarded only by the leaders of masonry if they like what they see out of you. I did a lot of study on them in years past as I had done service work in a state lodge and I was curious about many of the things I saw....the pitchforks, spears and costumes for example that they use in exemplifying the degrees. One of the founding fathers of freemasonry was Albert Pike and he wrote quite a book called Morals and Dogma and this is pretty much the textbook for the Scottish Rite, and I have that book. (If you go on past the third degree one can go through either the Scottish Rite or the York Rite) I'll just leave you with the names of the various degrees that can be earned and see if there is anything further down the list that resonates in your spirit.
Chap I - Apprentice
Chap II - Fellow-craft
Chap III - Master
Chap IV - Secret Master
Chap V - Perfect Master
Chap VI - Intimate Secretary
Chap VII - Provost and Judge
Chap VIII - Intendant of the Building
Chap IX - Elu of the Nine
Chap X - Elu of the Fifteen
Chap XI - Elu of the Twelve
Chap XII - Master Architect
Chap XIII - Royal Arch of Solomon
Chap XIV - Perfect Elu
Chap XV - Knight of the East
Chap XVI - Prince of Jerusalem
Chap XVII - Knight of the East and West
Chap XVIII - Knight Rose Croix
Chap XIX - Pontiff
Chap XX - Master of the Symbolic Lodge
Chap XXI - Noachite or Prussian Knight
Chap XXII - Knight of the Royal Axe
Chap XXIII - Chief of the Tabernacle
Chap XXIV - Prince of the Tabernacle
Chap XXV - Knight of the Brazen Serpent
Chap XXVI - Prince of Mercy
Chap XXVII - Knight Commander of the Temple
Chap XXVIII - Knight of the Sun or Prince Adept
Chap XXIX - Scottish Knight of St. Andrew
Chap XXX - Knight Kadosh
Chap XXXI - Inspector Inquistor
Chap XXXII - Master of the Royal Secret
And let me reiterate that I'm aware of very good and well meaning people in Freemasonry who really don't get into the various ceremonies and what is behind them and neither do they go after the darker aspects of the craft. For most it's sort of a good ole' boys club where they do some good works and just have a good time. But there is more to it that meets the eye.
God bless!!