[Kevin]

The masons are still pretty big in Oklahoma. There is an outstanding temple in Guthrie built about 10 years after statehood. That one aside, if you drive by their temples, most are in serious disrepair, so I'm sure it's shrinking overall. My grandfather was 32nd Degree Scottish Rite and was also a member of the Lion's Club with thirty-something years of perfect attendance. My father couldn't join on account of being Catholic, and I'm a cradle Catholic, so I had to turn it down.

Groups like the masons face a lot of the same external threats as Greek organizations do. Here in OKC, they to a degree, offer a fraternal experience to folks who never had that opportunity or never went to college. Like us, they used to be a dominate force in society, perhaps even more powerful than political parties. Now they raise money for the Shriners' Hospital, and that's about it.

At least in OKC, these groups tend to have extremely right wing membership to the extent that someone who is more of a centrist, like myself, would likely be uncomfortable, and probably not welcome.