It is a social club for the bourgeoisie. It is a way for reasonably connected people to meet, network and make friends. Since the people of that social strata are likely to be more liberal, the Freemasons have been associated with various liberal/globalist/communist political movements over the centuries. Add in the aura of fake social club and there will be a selection for more narcissistic and power hungry types. Like a lot of social clubs it is slowly dying and is more and more becoming a rec-center for boomers.