I have been a Freemason all of my adult life. I am also a member of Scottish Rite (also a freemason fraternity). There is indeed a "Templar" branch of Freemasonry. Oh, and I'm also a Methodist.
Here is something I posted on another thread about the fraternity:
Most men become Masons (or women, Eastern Star) mostly because they have relatives or friends who are Masons and theyve heard something about it etc. The numbers that become Masons without that influence are, sadly, rare these days. Initially folks may not join for any loft reason, but it is important to know that it is not a club to join for a place to go have fun, etc. Sure, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had, but it is a service organization had you would join out of a sense of responsibility to the community, your family, etc. Most end up seeing the purpose in it only after they become Masons (another reason the membership is shrinking). You are never asked or invited to be a Mason, nor are you invited to a meeting to check it out. After you have found out something about it from your friends, etc. you would actually ask someone you know is a Mason to petition you into their lodge. There is a bit of a character background check done (informal really the point is to find out if you have some ulterior motive for wanting to be a Mason. For example, many believe that men join the Masons to get business and political connections and therefore want to join for that reason something very much frowned upon).
You then become a Mason by completing the basic three degrees. This is that part that is somewhat secret, but suffice it to say there is much memorization, philosophy, and acting out of the lessons you are being taught. A regular Mason becomes a Master Mason in the third degree (the question/answer/memorization stuff is where the phrase third degree comes from.
Freemasonry is not a religion but it is an organization that is religious. You must profess a belief in God to become a Mason. But, the Masons welcome and encourage men of all religions to become Masons. So if you are Jewish, you take your oath in the fraternity using the Torah, if you are Muslim, the Koran, etc.
The Masons are a truly classically liberal organization. Meaning they are very egalitarian in their outlook towards others but very conservative about personal behaviour.
After you are a Master Mason, if you are interested you may join one of the other Masonic groups like the Scottish Rite or the Shriners. I am in the Scottish Rite but not the Shriners. Scottish Rite has degrees from 4 to 32. I am a 32nd degree Mason. If you have been particularly active in service to the fraternity, you may become a 33rd degree Mason (my father is one of these).
Officially, the modern Masonic organization started in England in 1717, but traces its roots back to King Solomon, the knights of the middle ages, etc. It has always been a more or less anti-monarchy movement, believing in the equality of all (though of course many royalty have been Masons). Therefore it was quite popular among our own founders. Most of the prominent names (Washington, Franklin, etc) were Masons, were very serious about the fraternity and it is interesting to note that most of our founding documents and even modern day official ceremonies are full of Masonic phrasing etc.
The Masons is not a cult nor a religion nor anti-religion at all. It was and is not involved in nonsense conspiracies like those talked about in the DaVinci Code. But, because there are secrets (not really secrets but since people think there are then they are convinced there are conspiracies) people assume lots of crazy things about the fraternity.
In the modern world they are responsible for The Shriners hospitals. The Scottish Rite is the largest funding organization in the world for research and services for mental health, particularly schizophrenia.
The boy scouts was modeled on the Masons by its founder, who was a Mason.
Many (but less that half) Presidents of all parties have been Masons. Famous Masons:
Washington
Franklin
Thomas Pane
Paul Revere
Benedict Arnold
Jefferson (probably this is sometimes in dispute)
Hancock (along with most signers of the Declaration or Independence and Constitution)
Mozart
Beethoven (again probably there is some dispute)
Hayden
Mendelssohn (an many other famous composers)
Both Presidents Roosevelt
Truman
Thurgood Marshall
Andrew Young
Red Skelton
John Phillips Sousa
Roy and Walt Disney (though Roy left the fraternity and Walt was not active)
Many of the original astronauts
Actually the list is probably too long to continue without leaving out somebody really interesting.
I belong to the DIS. Is that a secret society?? 
