I would argue that Freemasonry is
exclusionary in nature, as opposed to elitist. We exclude women, atheists, and in some instances, men of color. The list of what we don't accept is arguably longer than what we do accept. One of our most serious charges is that of guarding the West gate, which is essentially keeping undesirables
out of Freemasonry. Applicant screening, voting, and blackballing all coincide with being exclusive. Within the structure of Freemasonry, the only instance of elitism that I can think of is the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite. Even that is a stretch, since it's more of an honorary title that is earned through distinction and service, as opposed to being some kind of insider club or good ole boys network.
I belong to a "farmer's lodge", where the vast majority of us are simple working-class stiffs. I'm one of the few white collar guys. Our most recent PM shoes horses for a living. The current WM is a local cop. If memory serves, the most socially distinguished members that I can think of are:
- high school Superintendent
- a few small business owners
- the county Sheriff
That being said, I live in a rural area of Ohio. Men don't necessarily seek to distinguish themselves in the eyes of the community through Freemasonry. This isn't an elbow-rubber's or elite club. Around here, that distinction belongs to members of the county fair board, county trustees, and local township government positions. The amount of clout assigned to fair board members in particular, is staggering. I'm not a part of any of that stuff, so I really don't understand why these people are so special. Anyway...
Where I live, Freemasonry is more of a "family lineage thing". It's definitely not the "rich guy's club" or "who's who" of the community.