First, I don't agree with the recent generalized use of the terms '
antient' and 'modern' to define what most masons I know of refer to as 'mainstream' and 'splinter/clandestine' systems.
Next, frankly, yes. The opinions of the original poster very closely reflect my own, and his reported conversations echo similar conversations I've had with friends and brethren.
My lodge has members from varying backgrounds.
Religiously, we have members who are Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, non-denominational, and I think we even a closet pagan or two... plus the majority who haven't made theirs known. No known Islamic brethren in my lodge, but I know of several in other Atlanta lodges in our jurisdiction. We each understand that the lodge is non-denominational, and that each brother's understanding of God is his own business. We honor and respect God at our meetings; we worship at home, church, synagogue, etc.
Economically, we have members who are employed in building trades, information technology, trucking, law, law enforcement, etc., and retired members who were formerly employed in factory work, postal work, military service, education, medicine, etc. We each understand that it is, indeed, the inner qualities of a man that make him a good mason, and not his station in life.
Masonry has exposed me to a much wider cross section of society than I expect I would have come in contact with otherwise, and I believe that I am the better for it. And so it is my earnest desire to preserve the craft, so that the men coming after me can have at least as much opportunity to better themselves through masonry as I have had. Which is not to say that my personal improvement is done... far from it!
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EDIT: Let me add a thought, for the benefit of people who have met what they perceive as 'bad masons'...
We're not without flaws as human beings. Some men are rigid and unyeilding; some have prejudices that they are trying to overcome, or trying to recognize and deal with. Freemasonry isn't a club for perfect men; it's a place for good men to try and become better men, helped by the examples and support of the brethren.
Take any group of people, from your SWAT team to your tennis team. Are they all (within their teams) equal? No. Some are more skilled or more accomplished than others. So there is an average level of (whatever you are measuring). And so, naturally, some will be above that average, and some will be below. This is where those who are more adept can help those who are less adept. Freemasonry is like this. We each want to (or appear to want to) become better children of God and members of society, but we are each at a different point on our individual paths towards that goal.