I’ve been a Mason for 20 years, Past Master, 32°, Scottish Rite & York Rite. I don’t have any juicy secrets (like “33° Masons control the price of Ovaltine”), and I’m of the view that we’re / they’re mostly harmless. That said, I’m disillusioned. The Brotherhood is broken and not fulfilling what they promise to their craftsmen, which is to make good men better. It’s become one big LARP that sucks free time and money from its members and gives nothing back to the Brothers, their families, communities, or the world.
They broke their oath, I’ll break mine. Ask me anything. Or nothing.
I only know a few off the top of my head, but the ones I’ve known are kinda stand-off-ish and arrogant. More importantly, from day one were told “Every 3rd degree Master Mason is equal and on the level with every other 3rd degree.” Then you find out there’s a high level, invitation-only group.
And THAT is where the second rung of the pyramid actually begins. You pretty much won't get past that without a direct familial line, and then you might begin to learn about the connections to the other branches.
My preference is to be a member of the Church built by Jesus Christ. You don't get guaranteed catered meals or earthly power and money, but you do achieve a measure of peace and an eternal afterlife in the glory of God...and you don't have to go through any man-made initiation, or ask a priest for permission, or be a Rockefeller to get it.
Names?
Nobody I know that’s noteworthy. One CT state rep who died a few years back, Al Adinolfi. If you go here and look at page C 5 you can see mention of a few others I know personally:
https://ctfreemasons.net/wp-content/uploads/ctfm_arch/LatestIssue.pdf