Ya, it's kinda a mystery exactly what they are, but the 2 "rules" I know of is you do have to say you believe in a higher power (Although, you are allowed to believe yourself that realistically) and they don't allow woman. I know they basically started out as strictly a "union" based group, before there were unions... but other then that, I'm not sure. I do know the US founders were a big part of the Masons, and most were the 33rd degree (their highest membership title) but theres not a ton of history on what them being a part of it did for the creation of this country.
However, there are actually quite a few of these types of groups really. None that have the same history, but are secretive.... and well, we all know, if we don't know the secrets, it's easy to look at them as something more then they are.
I haven't watched your video yet, but I'm sure I'll have more to post after I do.