My spouse and I both did.
I was a pack per day smoker for 15-20 years. Switched to vaping as it was becoming so popular. Stepped down the nicotine over the course of a few years until I finally just got tired of going and buying 1mg juice and stopped. Haven’t had a vape in about 2 years and a cigarette in about about 5.
I still get a craving now and then but it passes. Cigarettes usually just smell like a disgusting ashtray and I’m glad I don’t smoke anymore.
edit: we both actively wanted to quit and I’m so happy it worked for us
I knew/know a Mason, afaik his involvement consisted of drinking beer and fund raising for charities a few hours per month. He’s not a Shriner specifically but a lot of lodges do stuff like that.
It’s definitely an old boys network though and a bunch of them are on various chambers of commerce and own local businesses and whatnot. I’m pretty sure he became a member strictly for the business connections. If you’re in a smaller area joining a lodge can be a very solid networking opportunity.