Brill's Swimming Baths, Star And Garter Hotel, Kew Bridge.

BRILL'S SWIMMING BATHS , STAR AND GARTER HOTEL , KEW BRIDGE .

THERE are few things so enjoyable , especially in the summer season of the year , as a good bath , and it is extraordinary the number of people who never indulge in this luxury . It is true that England , as a maritimo country , possesses but very few facilities for bathing . There is , of course , the sea which girds our shores , and there are the rivers whioh intersect the country , to say nothing of

the lakes , ponds , and canals , with which nature or art has enriched us . But it is not everybody that is within reach of sea or river , or can afford holiday in close proximity to either , and for a maritime people , there is probably no nation under the sun which is so inadequately provided in its cities and towns with bathing establishments . We regret to say we are sufficiently advanced in years to

remember the time when Peerless Pool , and the Lambeth and Holborn Baths were about the only places of thi 3 kind in the metropolis , the Hampstead and Highgate Ponds , the Serpentine , the several canals , and muddy Thames being , of course , accessible to all who chose to patronise them . We are much better off now . There is hardly a moderate sized district in

London which is without a bath , and in the great majority of cases the fittings , appointments , and accommodation leave nothing to be desired . Some day , doubtless , when School Boards and Boards of Works have awakened to a due sense of their responsibilities , every English man , woman and child will be an adept at the art of swimming . In the meantime , however , we must make the best of the

bathing facilities the gods have bestowed upon us , and bathe when , where and how we find it most convenient . The inha - bitants of Kew and its neighbourhood are greatly to be envied . Bro . Brill has constructed , at great expense , a most spacious swimming bath in the grounds attached to the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge . The dimensions of the said bath

are as follow : length 118 feet , breadth forty-eight feet , a depth ranging from 4 feet to 5 $ feet . At the lower part , where the depth is greatest , a series of dressing rooms , occupying a space of sixty feet by ten has been constructed . The floor of the bath is asphalted , and the walls are of concrete , overlaid by white enamelled tiles , while there is a constant flow of filtered water from

the West Middlesex Water Works . Here the amateur of bathing or swimming may indulge his predilection to his heart ' s content , from the early hours of the morning till late in tbe evening , and all the year round . Here too , he may acquire , by the aid of professional attendants , the art of swimming , the principal instructor being Professor W . E . Oakes , who is better known in the swimming world as

" Leander , " a most able teacher , who is equally at home in ornamental and plain swimming , and has ' given practical proof of bis profioiency by saving the lives of no less than thirty-two persons . Madame Oakes plays the part of instructress to the ladies , to whose sole use the bath is set apart every Tuesday and Friday , between the hours of 10 a . m . and 2 p . m . The charges are

extremely moderate , considering the character of the accommodation afforded , a single ticket being priced at one shilling , while a season bathing ticket is £ 1 10 s , or inclusive of skating in the winter , two guineas . The fee payable for instruction in swimming is at the rate of a gninea for every ten lessons , and there iB no doubt that , with

such experts as are employed at Brill's Baths , a single course of lessons will suffice to initiate the least confident bather into the mysteries of the natatory art . We strongly recommend our readers to patronise this admirable bath . We are confident they will meet with everything which the most exigent can desire in the way of comfort , convenience , and civility .

Friars Lodge Of Instruction. No. 1349

FRIARS LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . No . 1349

WE imagine the ruling spirits of any Lodge of Instruction where the meetings are continued throughout the year will agree with us that the work of securing a good muster of brethren during the past few weeks , or , indeed , at any time when the thermometer shows such aptness to rise as of late , is no light undertaking . Indeed the custom of adjourning over the summer months is becoming

universal . There are , of course , some exceptions to the rule , where large musters and interesting meetings take place as regularly as the week comes round ; and we think the Friars can lay claim to being among the foremost in this respect . With a view of acquiring knowledge and imparting light and instruction , some of the members thereof recently introduced a somewhat novel innovation in

London Freemasonry , which , although perhaps outside the usual conrse of education we look for in such quarters , is one we think might , under proper management , be advantageously alternated with the usual routine of Lodge work . There was a good muster of brethren at the hostelry of Bro . Pavitt—the Liverpool Arms , Canning Town—on Tuesday , and those who bad not travelled with the

majority from London were speedily made acquainted with the programme of the evening , which embraced a visit to a neighbouring village , and an inspection of some of its principal features of interest . We pause for a moment here to take some little credit to ourselves , as we believe it was in consequence of two distinguished Past Masters reading in our pages of the doings of the members of

the Falcon Lodge , of Thirsk , and others , that the little excursion we aTe now reporting was decided upon . As soon as was convenient the party , which now included the clerical member of the Lodge , but we regret to say lacked the genial presence of the respected Secretary , repaired to the Railway Station , and in dae conrse arrived at their

destination , where they were cordially welcomed by the officials of the district . The party was here augmented by several brethren who had been unable , " from pressure of business , to put in an appearance at the regular quarters of the Lodge . The next few hours were spent in a careful inspection of the various items for which the locality is . at this season of the year , so highly celebrated . The

Friars Lodge Of Instruction. No. 1349

domain of a distinguished brother was visited , and formed not the least of the many attractions which the company enjoyed—and it was not without feelings of regret that the announcement was re . ceived that the return train was the next item of inspection on the list . We cannot conclude without expressing the thanks of all

present to the worthy brother who acted as guide , counsellor , and friend on the present occasion , and we trust that future opportunities will offer themselves for that brother to discharge the duties of cicerone to the less enlightened and more inexperienced of the brethren .

Arch Masonry.

ARCH MASONRY .

Huyshe Chapter , No . 1099 . —The annual meeting of this Chapter was held on the 7 th inst ., at the Huyshe Masonio Hall , Home Park , Stoke . A brother was exalted to this supreme degree , the oeremony being undertaken by E . Companions J . Baxter P . Z . P . P . G . 2 ud Assist . Steward , W . T . Walter H ., John Allen P . Z . and J ., and W . H . Gillman P . Z . P . P . G . 1 st Assist . Soj . The accounts of the

Treasurer were audited and found in a satisfactory condition . Next followed the installation of tbe First Principal , Excellent Companion W . T . Walter . This was ably performed by Ex-Companion John Allen , assisted by Ex-Companions W . H . Gillman and J . Baxter . Amongst the Board of Installed Principals were Ex-Companions J , B

Gover , J . Gonld , J . H . Blackall , E . Aitken Davies , J . R . Lord , J . R » Dugdale . The other Principals Elect were Companions J . Allen H ., J . E . Nicholls J . The other Officers invested were Companions . J . Gould I . P . Z ., W . H . Gillman S . E ., H . Conquer S . N ., John Baxter Treasurer , W . J . Stanbury P . S ., T . S . May 1 st Assist . Soj ., T . May 2 nd Assist . Soj ., Henry Rogers D . C , J . Lashbrook Janitor .

We are informed that Bro . James Terry Prov . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts , and Past Provincial J . G . W . Herts , & c , has kindly consented to rehearse the ceremonies of Consecration and Installation , on Wednesday , the 27 th instant , at 7 o ' clock , in the Mount Lebanon Lodge of Instruction

No . 73 , -which is held at the Horse Shoe Inn , Newington Causeway . Brethren to attend in Masonic clothing . A cold collation will be provided by Bro . Gallant . Tickets for which ( 3 s each ) may be had of the Secretary , Brother H . C . Ball .

We notice with some little satisfaction that onr passing reference , a short time since , to the dinginess of the two lamps at the porchway entrance to Freemasons' Hall has not been without its effect . The said lamps have renewed

their acquaintance with soap and water , and we need hardly say are much improved in appearance and in usefulness Meanwhile the cowl on the top of the Hall still scoiols upon our ofBce windows in a manner which betokens a

continuance of the extreme agitation we have already referred to . If " whom it may concern" would but have the kindness to make this cowl as ornamental as it probably is useful , they would be conferring a boon on the people who enjoy the daily privilege of watching its irregular movements .

According to tbe Masonic Review , the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia was organised ten years ago , at which time it included only three Chapters , with one hundred and thirty-six members . There are now eleven Chapters in

the jurisdiction , the united membership of which is nearly five hundred . The interests of Capitular Masonry in Nova Scotia are in the hands of Companions whose'zeal and ability are alike conspicuous .

With the May number of the Canadian Craftsman we have received formal announcement of the publication of " A Digest of Masonic Jurisdiction , " especially applicable to Canadian Lodges , by Henry Robertson , LL . B . of Osgoode Hall , Barrister-at-Law , Past District Deputy

Grand Master . It is described as being an Alp habetical Digest of all Matters of Masonic Law , so arranged as to admit of easy reference . It will further contain a full " Code of Procedure" for the regulation of Masonic Trials , and a complete set of the Forms

necessary to be used in Lodges , together with , a Dissertation on the Powers and Duties of District Deputy Grand Masters . The work has been in preparation for some years , and the Decisions and Rulings of Grand Lodge and successive Grand Masters have been collated to date , ana

arranged in their proper headings . Bro . Robertson has had a long experience as Chairman of the Committee on Grievances and Appeals in the Grand Lodge , and likewise of the Committees on Foreign Correspondence , so that it \ J 1 liliO UUUIUJLUUUCO \ JL 1 . JL' UL ^ IKU VUL l \ jOUUUWVUwwj * - — in tne

is expected his work will be of very great assistance elucidation of the nicer points of Masonic Law . " shall read the work with great interest when the opportunity for so doing presents itself .