We are exhorted in the very first degree of masonry "not to suffer our prejudice for the institution [of masonry] to come into conflict with those that hold an unfavorable opinion of the fraternity.

However, a distinction must be drawn between conflict and the healthy exchange of ideas that was a sacred value to the founding brothers of our American Republic, esteemed brethren such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

I have had several contacts with people, of late, who had uninformed opinions of Freemasonry, and even the most strict interpretation of 'conflict' should not prevent a brother from setting opinions straight in a polite manner.
I can say with entirely clear conscience that there is no such thing as a Masonic conspiracy, as well as that the 33rd degree of masonry is not of the Blue Lodge to which most masons belong, but of the Scottish Rite. I can likewise assure any man that masonry does not require anything which contradicts any man's duty to God, his Country or his fellow Man, but in fact encourages a Mason to be ever mindful of the duty each good and righteous person holds to His Family, to his Religion, whatever it may be, and to his Nation.
These are the promises that we give to each mason when he answers our constitutional questions at our Inner Door.

Our examination in all three degrees reminds us that each Freemason is not required to conceal any information except our passwords, our signs and passwords... the methods by which masons recognize each other in the dark and the light. We have no cause nor any justification to conceal our values; values that neither religion nor philosophy could in any way find objectionable: the duty of charity towards those in need, the duty to judge each man only by his character and not by what he manifests financially or physically in terms of finery and dress, and the duty to treat every human being as we ourselves would wish to be treated.

This last duty, especially, is encoded in virtually every religion, from the Abramanic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the writings of Cunfutsu (Confucius) and the tradition of Buddhism, and no just philosophy could possibly find a difference of opinion with the idea of treating each individual as you yourself wish to be treated.

The difference between argument and healthy discussion is a very wide gulf, and not even the most strict interpretation of the doctrine of secrecy prevents us from explaining the values masonry exhorts us to hold. There is a word in German 'erklaren', which suffices to summarize better than any word in English. It can be translated as 'to explain' but the literal meaning is to 'up-clear' that is to clear up any misunderstanding. It is hardly against the masonic tradition to clear up misunderstanding if done in a non-argumentative tone. In fact I would say it is the duty of every regular mason to correct casual misunderstandings about the order, without coming into true conflict with people against the Fraternity.