History 
The Masonic Lodge traces its origin back to the Knights Templar, founded in 1118 The order of warrior Monks was dedicated to the Christian faith and obtaining all sorts of scientific and esoteric knowledge. However; in 1307 the French king, with the blessing of the Pope of Rome, charged the order with heresy and ordered the extermination of the order for being what we would call today "a little too Protestant." The order fled to Scotland where it remained underground for years until there could be established a way for Non-Catholics to live with out the fear of persecution. Soon other groups would join the fight for freedom. 
The Lollards, followers of Wycliffe, formed the famous "cells" (1382-1530) to protect those fleeing persecution. Luther, right before he was to be put to death, was kidnapped by the Teutonic knights (a sister order to the Templars) and taken to safety. (1523) By the time of Luther's reformation Scotland and Germany were safe but England was not. Every time there was a new king or queen, there would be a new persecution of the opposing faith (Catholic or Protestant). Once the English parliament passed laws in protecting religious freedom the very first public Masonic Lodge appeared about 1717.

Notable Points 
Each degree starts with a blood oath. This teaches us to remember what tortures we would go through at the hands of the medieval Roman Church if we openly spoke of "heresies" like the earth goes around the sun and not the other way around. We remember Galileo (1642) and Copernicus (1543) were burned at the stake for stating these kind of heresies. Keeping secrets was necessary for a scientists survival. Templar secrets, and therefore Masonic as well are often communicated by telling several Bible stories together each having one or more points incorrect. If caught one would simply state they were not sure which version they heard was correct, since most people of the time could not read, and the church would let them go. Any protestant who knew the bible well would connect the "errors" in the Templar version and reconstruct the secret teaching.

Requirements to become a Mason 

Belief in one God. Belief in the resurrection of the physical body.

Belief in the Immortality of the Soul A free man at least 18 years of age.

After becoming a 3° Mason one can go on to Higher Degrees by joining the Scottish Rite (Christian, Jew, or Muslim) or the York Rite (Christians only).  
According to the ancient Masonic landmarks. Only a Christian, Jew or a Muslim could be a Mason. Hindus, Buddhists, and pagans would be excluding based on their belief in reincarnation. Members of the KKK and the Mormon Cult are also excluded because history records that both groups have tried to infiltrate and take over the Lodge for there own purposes. Only Christians are allowed to join the York rite and the Knights Templar. 
Roman Catholics were forbidden to join the Masonic Lodge until 1965. Instead they were encouraged to join the Knights of Columbus. A catholic version of the Lodge. The Knights Templar swear allegiance "to no man, only Jesus Christ our God and savior" in contrast the knights of Columbus hold their allegiance to the Pope of Rome.

Today 
In America everyone has religious freedom, so these orders are mainly working to prevent Eye diseases, have burn units, and have other medical and philanthropic interests. People who are unaware of history think the secrecy, blood oaths, and odd stories prove the order Satanic. This myth was made very popular by Leo Taxil http://www.templarhistory.com/taxil.html Fist published in 1885, but in 1897 Taxil admitted in court the Luciferian papers were a hoax.
The Masonic lodge and knights Templar should not be confused with orders that have similar names or claim to be the real remnants of the Templars like: The OTO, (Order of Oriental Templars, a Gnostic group founded by the Satanist Aleister Crowley), the Solar Temple Cult, and others.

Modern changes in the Lodge today: 
Declining membership has led some to redefine the landmark clause requiring belief in "the resurrection of the physical body" to include reincarnation as the "resurrection of the spirit" thereby allowing Buddhists and Hindus to join. (this is not the practice of all lodges)