We have been asked time and again why we won't divulge the secret grips and passwords.
I have struggled trying to find a good reason that was both true and at the same time clearly explains this behavior to non-masons.
I finally found it. It is in an ancient copy of Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry (a MUST for all conspiracy theorists).
Duncan's has every secret ceremony, password and pictures of all the handshakes. You can order it on Amazon and it will be delivered the next day.
Any secret you want to know is in there.
Why am I not concerned about sharing this with you?
"The non-Masonic reader, as he peruses them, will perhaps be puzzled to imagine why matters of so little real importance to society at large should
have been so industriously concealed for centuries, and STILL MORE SURPRISED that society should have been so extremely inquisitive about them."
In other words, you too can order the book, read the secrets and then scratch your head and go, "What the...? This is stupid!"
The object of the Order in making a profound mystery of its proceedings is obvious enough. Sea-birds are not more invariably attracted toward a
lighted beacon on a dark night, than men to whatever savors of mystery. Curiousity has had a much greater influence in swelling the ranks of Masonry
than philantropy and brotherly love."
Here Duncan writes what we all have been thinking. Most of us joined out of a curiosity to find out what was hidden, not from some self-righteous
need to help others. We were like you. We craved to find out what the big secret was and when we learned that the secret was silly we found out that
we were having a great time learning about the real purpose of masonry, brotherly love and charity.
Further...
It will be observed by the initiated, that the following exposition gives no information through which any person not a Mason could obtain admission
to a Lodge. It is due to the Order that its meetings should not be disturbed by the intrusion of persons who do not contribute to its support,or to
the furtherance of its humane design, and whose motives in seeking admission to its halls would be impertinent and ungentlemanly.
Duncan then lists over 280 pages covering all the secret degrees, passwords and activities of masons.
So, to summarize -
Q - Why won't you give me the secrets?
A - You don't deserve them. You must receive them as we all received them if you want to know them.
Q - What if I discovered them on my own. How could you stop me from infiltrating the lodge?
A - The lodge is as my home, and my brothers are as my family. If some vagrant showed up at your door one day during a family celebration
claiming to be your long lost uncle frank with all the birth certificates and geneological family history, would you just invite him right into your
private family celebration? Of course not. We know who is in our family and we love our family to grow, but not even President Bush could sneak his
way into our lodge because he is not a member of our family. We know who we are.
Q - Based on what you are telling us your secrets are stupid and meaningless.
A - You are correct. The secret words and handshakes mean nothing and through them you gain nothing. There is only one way to receive the true
secret of masonry and it can't be done through written or spoken words. It cannot be given, it can only be received. It can only be received by a
true brother who has sworn to uphold and protect it.
The true secret of masonry is worth the work. It is a wonderful, amazing, transformative experience that gives you clear understanding of yourself,
your world and your God. When you search for and find the true light of masonry it will quite frankly blow your mind and make you realize, perhaps
for the first time in your life, that all you can see, hear and feel is only a tiny representation of all that exists.
Before I hop on the recruiting train, I just wanted to share this beautiful lesson.
Freemasonry has been very carefully designed over three centuries to protect itself from cowans and eavesdroppers who would seek the secrets for their
own perverse benefit.
If you want anymore info, u2u a brother and we will tell you anthing you want.
merely illustrating that a
systematic approach to the management of knowledge may not be totally out of order. 
