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Bro Sir Charles Lanyon - 1st Chairman 1873The Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund - (charity reg NIC102661)

The Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund was created by the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund in 1873 with both having remained inextricably linked throughout the duration of their established histories. The objectives, purposes and criteria of both Funds are similar with many Officers holding reciprocal positions in both Charities. 

The inaugural meeting of the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund was held on Thursday, 27th February 1873 with the following officers being appointed - Sir Charles Lanyon (Chairman), John Hanna (Vice-Chairman), James Girdwood (Treasurer) & Thomas Fisher (Secretary). 

Initially lodges and chapters were entitled to representation providing they subscribed a minimum of £2 2s (approximately £230 today) for one representative or £4 4s for two representatives. In its first year of operation the total sum of £254 13s 10d was raised - approximately £28,000 in today’s value allowing for inflation. Two-thirds of this amount was raised by just seven lodges, Acacia ML7, Ark ML10, St John's ML88, Lodge of Harmony 111, The Prince of Wales Lodge 154, True Blue ML 272, and Friendly Brothers ML 609.

In the early years, the Fund held an annual St. John's day church service which was often presided over by clerics who were members of the order (1873 Bro. Rev H.D. Sheppard, 1874 Bro. Rev R. Gibson).

In 1877, a joint venture of both Belfast Charity Funds, erected an Obelisk of ‘Goragh Wood Granite’ encompassing double burial plots in Belfast City Cemetery.  

In celebration of the first decade of the Fund a joint 5-day fundraising “Grand Charity Fancy Fair & Bazaar” held in 1883 filled the Ulster Hall and its annexe buildings with many Lodges having stalls and the event having raised £4,740, (£580,000 in today’s value) which was subsequently equally divided between both Belfast Charity Funds. 

Due to the continued generosity of lodges and individual brethren, by 1893 the Fund had accumulated investments amounting to £5,636 3s 2d, worth approximately £731,000 in today’s value. In the same year 71 widows were assisted with annuities to the value of     £601 12s 0d (currently £78,000 allowing for inflation) 

In 1917 during “The Great War” a proposal from the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund led to a joint venture with the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund in forming a new Committee with objectives to supporting and assisting orphans of Masonic families. This led to the formation of the Masonic Orphans' Welfare Committee” 

The 2021 Officers of the Belfast Masonic Widows Fund shall be as follows.

Trustees
Bro. R. M. Cleland
Bro. S. G. Nicholson
Bro. J. Morrow

Chairman
Bro. D. Walker         

Vice Chairman
Bro. S. Nicholson

Hon Treasurer
Bro. S. S. Macfarlane          

Hon Secretary
Bro. Wm A. Beattie

Assistant Secretary
Bro. G. Sleith