Jacko
The 'secret society' line of argument is typical of those who do not know nor seek to understand. If you used the words 'private club' in a less pejorative fashion the whole thing would seem as innocuous as it really is. I note that you and others, who might hold your hands up in horror at a racist or sexist statement, find it acceptable to condemn men and women, throughout the world and of all creeds and colours, because of the club or society they choose to belong to.
You base your opinions not on research, not on genuine knowledge, but on half truths and rumour. Although there are many books that seek to expose Freemasonry (the first came out in the eighteenth century), most are based on allegations against individuals or small grouips of people who others perceive to be Freemasons. I say perceive because one such book that I read devoted a whole chapter to the ranting of a small businessman who blamed his business failure on all the other businessmen in town who he didn't like. He assumed, but never offered any proof, that they were all members of the 'local lodge'.
If masonry is secret, how come you and others who condemn it are such experts? 
Either Freemasonry is a secret society, in which case you don't know of it's existence, or it is a very well known body. There is a massive head office in central London (with a museum open to the general public), there are buildings in every major town in the British Isles, the names of committee members are quite often available in local libraries and the names of many well known members trip off the tongue (Duke of Kent, Prince Philip etc.).
If you are any good as a journalist you should be well able to find out details of local lodges and who runs them. Your gripe is that they won't let you in unless you are invited to join (by 2 sponsors, not one as suggested above)! This is just like any other private club. Unless you are saying I can wander into a meeting of any local Chapel of the NUJ, watch the proceedings and report them back to others if I so desire. Incidentally the NUJ, of which you may or may not be a member, was notorious in the 70s for depriving people of their livelihood if they wouldn't toe the party line - presumably that's all right. Indeed I remember, coming from an industrial city, people in other industries, sacked for not joining the closed shop, people beaten up for voting against union officials and people not being allowed to work for the local council if they didn't agree to support the Labour Party (and they called themselves Brethren).
You also say that there is no place for secret societies/private clubs in a democracy. I say that, so long as the purpose of the club is not to subvert or overthrow that democracy, then there is no problem. If you've done any research, you will know that a Freemason's promise/oath includes the commitment to uphold the laws of any land in which he/she, for the time being, resides.
Whilst I accept there are get out clauses to all of the following, I would refer you to the European Convention on Human Rights:
Article 8
Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.
(My private life includes club memberships.)
Article 9
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching practice and observance.
(I can observe my beliefs in private.)
Article 10
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.
(The right which allows you to publish your ideas is the same one that allows me to hold my opinions.)
Article 11
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
(I know that the Armed Forces can be excluded from this, but not every nation chooses to do so. I will associate, privately, with whomsoever I like.)
Article 14
The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or status.
(You will allow membership of the RAOB or Oddfellows, but not Masons.)
Article 17
Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the Convention.
There you are Jacko, I can be a Freemason if I want and you can't stop me.
The first country to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights was the UK. The Convention is now part of the Scottish Constitution, the Northern Irish Constitution and the law of England and Wales
Your suggestion of exposing Masons and sacking them was one that Hitler and Stalin agreed with. Freemasonry was banned in all Communist countries. Hitler went the whole hog and not only sacked all Masons from all jobs, but seized all of their property, confiscated or destroyed all of their meeting places and consigned virtually all of Germany's Masons to the concentration camps where the majority died.
Hitler's reasons were the same as yours - he didn't want any 'secret societies' operating in the Reich.
LOL
[This message has been edited by Paul Wesson (edited 04 April 2001).]