2 ms·

Well, they're not that secret apparently

• bena 4y ago
  I get the joke, but I don't think the existence of the society itself is supposed to be a secret, but what happens within the confines is held to secrecy.
  • wl 4y ago
    The secret society vs. society with secrets distinction is what Anglo-American Freemasonry has historically highlighted to disclaim the label "secret society." Agree with it or not, that usage does have some currency.
• dan-robertson 4y ago
  I think it’s the existence / private activities that are secret rather than the mere existence. But perhaps it’s just another meaning of secret, eg the ‘secret archives’ at the Vatican would better be described as ‘private archives’ as laypeople may enter and be given access to (some) records.