VIII. No set or number of brethren shall withdraw or

separate themselves from the Lodge in which they were made brethren, or were afterwards- admitted members, un- less the Lodge becomes too numerous ; nor even then, with- out a dispensation from the Grand Master or his Deputy ; and when they are thus separated, they must either imme- diately join themselves to such other Lodge as they shall like best, with the unanimous consent of that other Lodge to which they go (as above regulated,) or else they must obtain the Grand Master's warrant to join in forming a new Lodge. If any set or number of Masons shall take upon themselves to form a Lodge without the Grand Master's warrant, the regular Lodges are not to countenance them, nor own them as fair brethren an(l duly formed, nor approve of their acts and deeds ; but must treat them as rebels, until they humble themselves, as the Grand Master shall in his prudence direct, and until he approve of them by his warrant, which must be signified to the other Lodges, as the custom is when a new
68 THE WRITTEN LAW,