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When, then, any one has been received and proved by that persistence of
which we have spoken, and, laying aside his own garments, has been clad in
those of the monastery, he is not allowed to mix at once with the
congregation of the brethren, but is given into the charge of an Elder, who
lodges apart not far from the entrance of the monastery, and is en-trusted
with the care of strangers and guests, and bestows all his diligence in
receiving them kindly. And when he has served there for a whole year
without any complaint, and has given evidence of service towards
strangers, being thus initiated in the first rudiments of humility and
patience, and by long practice in it acknowledged, when he is to be
admitted from this into the congregation of the brethren he is handed over
to another EIder, who is placed over ten of the juniors, who are entrusted
to him by the Abbot, and whom he both teaches and governs in accordance
with the arrangement which we read of in Exodus as made by Moses.
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