ABSTRACT This article is a reassessment of a topic neglected by academic historians- freemasonry as a social institution. It examines what attracted 364 men to freemasonry in north Worcestershire between 1760 and1824 and evaluates their contribution to the social and economic development of the area . The research is based on extensive use of both masonic and non-masonic primary sources. Data extracted from locally and centrally held masonic records have been incorporated within a database and integrated with non-masonic data to create a historic record of the activities of those freemasons. Based on the information gathered, it is argued that freemasonry, through its values and structure, enabled its members to contribute to the social and economic development of north Worcestershire. As an organisation it straddled the roles traditionally attributed to business networks and benevolent institutions so that, not only were freemasons actively involved in the industrial development of the area, they were also promotors of the well-being of local communities facing the social challenges of industrialisation.

中文翻译：

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共济会对北伍斯特郡社会和经济发展的贡献 c.1760-1824

摘要 本文重新评估了一个被学术历史学家忽视的话题——共济会作为一种社会机构。它考察了 1760 年至 1824 年间，是什么吸引了伍斯特郡北部的 364 名男子加入共济会，并评估了他们对该地区社会和经济发展的贡献。该研究基于对共济会和非共济会主要资源的广泛使用。从本地和中央保存的共济会记录中提取的数据已合并到数据库中，并与非共济会数据集成，以创建这些共济会活动的历史记录。根据收集到的信息，有人认为共济会通过其价值观和结构，使其成员能够为北伍斯特郡的社会和经济发展做出贡献。