"You still want to force innocent men to declare membership of a lawful society?"
In the Forces, Police and Judiciary, yes, I do. Just as I'd want them to declare their membership of the Socialist Workers Party, Combat 18, or even the Labour Party if they had any real involvement in it. There's enough justification for a sensible precaution, whether it's strictly necessary or not.
In this day and age, quite apart from the worries about corruption, the Masons' refusal to admit women is also sufficient for me to be very antipathetic towards them, and to favour sanctions against them - and I feel just the same about any form of stupid or unnecessary racial or sexual discrimination. (Don't want women Paras, do want them in the Groucho club).
PS: Kenneth Noye. Recent. Topical (ish) and very definitely a Mason who used his freemasonry to stay ahead of the law. He's my example.
But, if it helps at all, I know he's NOT TYPICAL.