the funny thing about the Masons is that they are not very Freemasonic. they aren’t organised into lodges — the word I think is only mentioned in a historical passage where the origin of the Masons is described. the concept of having a Head of All True Masons is not *unknown* irl but it is not the organising principle of Freemasonry which is, of course, a deeply republican institution. nobody is described as doing any funny handshakes, or wearing aprons, or anything really that makes them look like anything but Conservative Future golfers.
You could say that the Masons still do the funny handshakes and so on but then why is it not mentioned? Taboo? But most of the sexual tension in the books comes about from people pointedly breaking these, with the chief Masonic form of it being the Imperial Oath (also not very Freemasonic), and *everyone knows* that Freemasons are the funny handshake and aprons people, like they go on marches dressed like that.
What happened to Freemasonry?