[dekeguy]

To join a lodge of Masons one needs to be 21 years old, of good character, and be proposed and seconded in open lodge and voted on in a process much like a 'ball session' complete with a voting box with white balls and black cubes or some similar process. College is not required to join the Masons. It was started centuries ago by stone masons who taught moral and philosophical beliefs by using the tools of a stone mason to illustrate these.
Actually, the candidate has to ASK to join the lodge, as Masons are not supposed to recruit but rather to respond to a request. All one needs to do is bring up the subject to a Mason and he is then free to explain the process. With minor variations, the interested party asks something like, "Hay, you are a Mason, what is that all about?" Then the Mason explains the history, aims and purposes, and general info. If the candidate is interested in going further he is given a 'petition' form which is filled in by the candidate and then signed by a sponsor and one or more seconders. Most lodges require that one has known the candidate for a period of time and can recommend him with confidence. So, those who actually sponsor the candidate are usually people who have known him for some time. Then the petition is read in lodge and a committee of three or more who are not his sponsors is appointed to do a bit of research on the candidate. This involves meeting the candidate at home or some convenient location like lunch, or dinner, or someplace where a quiet conversation can be held, and asking him certain questions regarding his understanding of what Masonry is all about, what his beliefs are (one has to believe in God in order to be a Mason), and whether the candidate will be able to dedicate enough time to participate in the lodge instructions and activities. Assuming the candidate gets a good report, his name is proposed for election in open lodge, the committee reports formally that he is in their judgment a good candidate, the sponsors can speak for him, and the lodge at large is invited to say anything pertinent. Then a vote is taken and if he receives all white balls he is elected. As a safeguard, if there is one black one the vote is retaken to make sure there was no error. It takes 100% to elect. At this point the candidate is asked to come to the lodge. He may be told that he is to meet a few more of the brothers or he may be told that he has been elected. Different lodges have minor variances in this. Anyway, when he arrives he is received warmly, prepared, and then goes through the ritual of the first degree. He is now a Mason but not fully fledged. He has to go through prep and verbal examination to go on the the second degree and then more prep and exam to go to the third degree. When he receives the third degree he is a full Master Mason. This is the heart and soul of masonry and all one needs to do. The other degrees are ways of getting more into the history and development of the Order and are very rewarding, but not required for one to be a full Mason.
The Shrine is a seperate yet related organization which requires one to be a Master Mason in order to join but is not required of all Masons. All Shriners are Masons, not all Masons are Shriners.
The Masons keep the ritual and recognition signs closely held secrets but are not really a secret society. One can tell anyone that one is a Mason just like a Beta or a Lambda Chi can say so. Masons can wear their badge (square and compasses) just like a greek badge or letters on clothing. Everything I have written here is 'open' info and there are lots of good masonic websites if you are interested. If you have any more questions I'll try to come up with good answers. By the way, Mason and Freemason are interchangable when refering to the Order.
I have received Masonic degrees both in the US and in England. Without going anywhere I should not, I can say that it is obvious that Masonry is the Father of Greek Letter Organizations.