The objective of the fund is to afford assistance to deserving widows and families, including mothers and sisters of freemasons who have been a member of a lodge in the Province of Down outside a six mile radius of Belfast. The inclusion of mothers and sisters  is there to cover the case of a  bachelor Brother who lives with his widowed mother or unmarried sister.

The fund covers the District Charity Committees of Banbridge, Bangor, Downpatrick, Newry and Newtownards. Within these districts there are 80 lodges with a total membership of over 2500 brethren. We currently have 120 widows on the fund. Bereavement Grants are also available

Assistance is by means annual means tested grants as the Committee may find best suited to the necessities of the applicant.

Applications should be completed by the Lodge in the first instance and these will then be forwarded to the District Charity Committee where they will be ratified and then sent to the Fund secretary for consideration by the Trustees.

A leaflet with full details is available by clicking here

If you wish to support the work of our charity and make a personal donation please forward cheques, made payable to  “Down Masonic Widows’ Fund”  to the Secretary.  Thank you.

You can download a Gift Aid declaration by clicking here. This will allow us to claim Gift Aid.

Annual General Meeting

23rd February 2026

Millbrook Lodge Hotel

A marvellous turnout was witnessed at the AGM this year when upwards of 120 members attended with the guest speaker being the Assistant Grand Master Rt. Wor. Bro. John Montgomery. In attendance was also the Provincial Grand Master of Down (elect) Rt. Wor. Bro. David Selby and Most Ex. Comp. Roy J. F. Humphries the District Grand King, along with many other dignitaries.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to all the Brethren for making it such a successful evening. An excellent set of accounts was presented and additional widows were accepted on to the Fund.

Widows are supported by bereavement grants, annuity payments and a series of Ladies teas held throughout the Province of Down.

The Fund goes from strength to strength in its support of our widows in these times of financial difficulty.