not much different than the Mason's or basically any group of people that associate and differentiate themselves.Mafia's, gangs, groups, clans, tribes...etc. Like all groups, they always benefit from having members be in power or having control and money.
My great uncle was said to be pretty high up in the Masons. he says there's nothing of their secrets that would really shock anyone. to them, secrets is a trust thing. they trust to share these secrets amongst themselves for themselves which supposedly bonds them like brothers. He keeps his secrets even from his wife but says there's nothing shocking, like they don't harbor alien bodies or nothing, so i guess its more symbolic than anything.