AMORC and Masons, Your opinions on these societies Options

Firstly - I think this is the right place for this not sure.

Now ive been thinking about to groups of people operating in my city for a while now. One is called AMORC and the other are the Masons.

Now what I can gather about AMORC is
a) they charge alot of money
b) they have some loose connection (possibly invented) to Rosicrucians
c) theyre very rich
d) Crowely hated them
e) I think theyre scammers... (not sure correct me if im wrong)

Now what I can gather about the Masons is
a) you dont pay much
b) they have degrees of initiation
c) they dress up and do almost role play rituals which are highly symbolic and interesting.
d) some people think there are 'secret' levels/degrees
e) theyre head temple is down the road from my house, but im to scared to talk to them.
f) You need to be nominated to gain entry.
e) + all the stuff in books

Is anyone here a Mason? Or a member of AMORC?
Could someone give me their views on these societies?

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

There is a lot of misinformation about the Masons. It is, to mosy members, more akin to a club that an occult order. From the little I know of them it seems that the repetition of ritual has carried on but the meaning has been lost. This is the problem with secrecy, you need to obscure things so much that over time the real meaning becomes lost.