Since we have enunciated this doctrine as masonic law, the question next arises, in what manner shall the Grand Master be punished, should he abuse his great prerogative?  The answer to this question admits of no doubt.  It is to be found in a regulation, adopted in 1721, by the Grand Lodge of England, and is in these words:—­“If the Grand Master should abuse his great power, and render himself unworthy of the obedience and submission of the Lodges, he shall be treated in a way and manner to be agreed upon in a new regulation.”  But the same series of regulations very explicitly prescribe, how this new regulation is to be made; namely, it is to be “proposed and agreed to at the third quarterly communication preceding the annual Grand Feast, and offered to the perusal of all the Brethren before dinner, in writing, even of the youngest entered apprentice; the approbation and consent of the majority of all the Brethren present being absolutely necessary, to make the same binding and obligatory."[14] This mode of making a new regulation is explicitly and positively prescribed—­it can be done in no other way—­and those who accept the old regulations as the law of Masonry, must accept this provision with them.  This will, in the present organization of many Grand Lodges, render it almost impracticable to make such a new regulation, in which case the Grand Master must remain exempt from other punishment for his misdeeds, than that which arises from his own conscience, and the loss of his Brethren’s regard and esteem.

II.  The power of granting dispensations is one of the most important prerogatives of the Grand Master.  A dispensation may be defined to be an exemption from the observance of some law or the performance of some duty.  In Masonry, no one has the authority to grant this exemption, except the Grand Master; and, although the exercise of it is limited within the observance of the ancient landmarks, the operation of the prerogative is still very extensive.  The dispensing power may be exercised under the following circumstances: 

1.  The fourth old Regulation prescribes that “no lodge shall make more than five new Brothers at one and the same time without an urgent necessity."[15] But of this necessity the Grand Master may judge, and, on good and sufficient reason being shown, he may grant a dispensation enabling any lodge to suspend this regulation and make more than five new Brothers.

2.  The next regulation prescribes “that no one can be accepted a member of a particular lodge without previous notice, one month before given to the lodge, in order to make due inquiry into the reputation and capacity of the candidate.”  But here, also, it is held that, in a suitable case of emergency, the Grand Master may exercise his prerogative and dispense with this probation of one month, permitting the candidate to be made on the night of his application.