I spoke with a first degree Freemason who admitted that he knew very little about the degrees above him (especially the highest degrees) and he admitted that many 33rd degree masons were totally corrupt and evil but he "knew" that Freemasonry was a good society overall...

Simple question:

How is it possible that Freemasons KNOW that the secret degrees above them are GOOD and that Freemasonry is a good society overall? (According to my experience and research there are many Masons who would say exactly what that what the guy I spoke to said.)

My opinion is that you don't know what anything is above you in Freemasonry until you get there because it's a secret! That's simple logic that's irrefutable.