1 The freeemasons are generally one of the top charities in every country they opperate in

2 Shriners are precular to the US not other countries.

3 the first recorded proof of freemasons is not 1717 but inthe early 1500's ( arrouinf 1520 I think) whith a lot more inthe 1600's In 1717 it ws the split of the antiencts and the modderns

4 Fees are not that small in many countries and the background checks are more than cursory in most countires.

5 The Grand Lodge in Great Queen street is the Premier Grand Lodge because it was the first. It only has jusrisdiction over England, not the UK as there is a Scotish Grand Lodge.

However as it recognises other Regular (authentic) Grand lodges it does hold some authority.
http://www.ugle.org.uk

The "Secret Society" of the Freemasons probably has more websites than any other similer organisation that usually names all the lodge officers with photos! They prefer to be know a s a society with secrets (the handshakes and passwords etc)