Allways thought that we were the real ones? Isn't Kukrikhan the Grandmaster

Jokes aside. As far as I know Freemasonary see their heritage in the builders of the big cathedrals - gothic, you know. They keep their secrects. Only very few inlightened leaders know the secret at all. This made some people think that it is the same secret that the Templers were supposed to have and they made this connections.

There were times when it was en vogue to be member and were the societies were not secret at all. There were also times were they were forbidden.
As far as I know there are quiet a lot different societies and they are not friends.