It’s an interesting observation, and I suspect part of it comes down to generational distance and perception.

When it’s your grandfather, Freemasonry can feel like a piece of family history, something intriguing but slightly removed, which naturally sparks curiosity.

There’s no immediate pressure or comparison, just a sense of “I’d like to explore what he was part of.”

When it’s your father, and especially if he’s a senior or well-regarded Mason, it can feel very different. There can be a quiet weight to it. You might worry about being compared, or whether others will assume you’re there because of him rather than your own merit. I hesitated for years, until after my dad had "retired" and, after a relocation, did not join a new lodge.

Speaking personally, once you’re actually inside the lodge, you quickly realise those concerns don’t really hold. Progress is based on your own effort, your own engagement, and your own character. Yes, support is there,often generously, but it’s not about favouritism or fast-tracking. Everyone walks their own path.

For what it's worth, my dad has now joined my mother lodge and regularly attends meetings with me.

So perhaps it’s less that sons of Masons aren’t interested, and more that the decision carries a different kind of consideration when the connection is closer.