No those are different groups. Masons used to be a very secret society, but that hasn't been the case for at least a hundred years. Shriners have temples, Masons meet at the mason Lodge. From the Shriner site: Shriners of North America is an international fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. So I can see where people get confused.

I am glad to hear the "red necks" in your area behave in a more enlightend way. As far as being bothered by the Shriners... don't worry they are a dying breed .
I personally have nothing against any of these groups (Shriners, Masons, Elk Lodge, etc), but from what I've see all of these groups are suffering greatly due to mortality. These groups are finding it next to impossible to get young people to join a mens club. I just don't think that the average generation X and Y adults "get it." I have seen this attributed (in various articles) largely to the fact that today's families are doing more things together and the parents are busy taking their kids from activity to activity. I appreciate that these groups raise money for good causes, but so do some of the rides and runs that are put on by many orginizations throughout the country . One event I've participated in "The Ride for Roswell" collected 1.8 Million dollars for cancer research this year. That is pretty amazing for a one day event for a city/region the size of Buffalo NY.

Happy riding,
André