Nostep
The book the brotherhood was complete and utter s***e. It was written for the express purpose of selling books and it did. It is because of books like that , that Masons keep themselves to themselves because after reading such crap everone thinks that Masons are Baby Eating Bishops from Barton Wells.
As has been said it is not a secret society but a society with secrets some of which are of a historical nature. Some of it is fascinating stuff, as Southy said, go and join. You wont find a bad bone in the lodge.