Shaykh Al Albaani Rahimahullah excused a scholar for joining the Masons, since he did so out of mistaken Ijtihād

Shaykh Al Albaani Rahimahullah said

Let us picture that the issue is one of Ijtihad, I assume of Sayyid Rashid Ridaa — and he serviced Al-Islam a great service — we assume of him that his joining of the Masons was out of mistaken Ijtihad by him, and it was not out of self interest, as many of those who have no religious good in them do. So attributing misguidance to him because a mistake and misguidance came from him — I believe that this is an unpraiseworthy expansion [in the use of] labeling this man with misguidance; he who, in my belief, is to be owed gratitude over many of Ahl Al-Sunnah in this time . . . due to this, I see that this [issue of calling Sayyid Rashid Ridaa rahimahu Allah misguided] has in it extremism . . . [this speech] is not befitting of coming from our brother — i.e. the one who called Sayyid Rashid Ridaa rahimahu Allah misguided.

Ref: Silsilah Al-Huda Wal-Nur, no. 42