The comparison checks out.
Historical freemasons: political radicals
Fediverse: yep
Historical freemasons: discuss technical arcana as a social bonding activity
Fediverse: yep
Historical freemasons: proud of their famous authors (Rudyard Kipling)
Fediverse: proud of our famous authors (Charles Stross)
Historical freemasons: constantly bickering and schisming
Fediverse: hey that's a little unfair it's not constant okay
Historical freemasons: later became feared for their political power
Fediverse: we're working on that one
Historical freemasons: borderline cult
Fediverse: uh, we've got beige?