If a tree is known by its fruit, freemasonry must be good? Churchill, Washington, Mozart, Beethoven, Gable, Kipling, Newton, and Bacon, to name a few. Also charitable contributions made over the years. However, a judge would not let a murder go free based on his good deeds.

I am petitioning for Entered Apprentice in the Blue Lodge soon. Not a decision I have taken lightly and did countless hours of research on the subject. There is a LOT of contradicting information to sift through and verify, especially on the net. So far I have not come across any factual, verifiable reasons not to join the fraternity. Con camps, such as the religious right, have flimsy, hear say, mostly opinionated reasons to be anti Masonic.

But, as my grand father used to say; if you see smoke, there is probably a fire somewhere. So without keeping you further in suspense, my question – Can you list verifiable, factual reasons why somebody should not join the craft, which I might have overlooked?