(11) MdvSpa, a word which means a pen, or sheep/old, and refers to the residence of the anchorites in remote districts, or to their congregating together in flocks. Hence the president was sometimes called ai-cMmandrite.
(12) I/astly, the Sj'rians and Arabians, almost without exception, used the word daira, dairon (Arab, deir), to denote a monastery. The word is derived from another, which is especially applied to the tents and other habi- tations of the nomadic tribes (see Du Gauge, in the Glos- sarium medice et inJimcB Latinitatis, under the respective words).
The word monastery, in a most strict acceptation, is confined in its modern and Western application to the residences of monks, or of nuns of the cognate orders (as the Benedictine), and, as such, it comprises two great classes, the Abbey and the Priory. The former name was given only to establishments of the highest rank, governed by an abbot, who was commonly assisted by a prior, sub-prior, and other minor functionaries. An abbey always included a church, and the English word Minster, although it has now lost its specific applica- tion, has its origin in the Saxon and German Miinster (Lat. motuisterium). A Priory supposed a less extensive and less numerous community. It was governed by a prior, and was generally, although by no means uni- formly, at least in later times, subject to the jurisdic- tion of an abbey. Many priories possessed extensive territorial domains, and of these not a few became en- tirely independent. The distinction of abbey and pri- ory is found equally among the Benedictine nuns. In the military orders, the name of Gommandery and Pre- cpptory corresponded with those of abbey and priory in the monastic orders. The establishments of the Blen- dicaut, and, in general, of the modern orders, are some- times, though less properly, called monasteries. Their
more characteristic appellation is Friary or Convent, and they are commonly distinguished into Professed Houses (called also Residences), Novitiates, and Colleges, or Scholastic Houses. The names of the superiors of such houses differ in the different orders. The common name is Rector, but in some orders the superior is called Guardian (as in the Franciscan), or Master, Major, Father Supeiior, etc. The houses of females — except in the Benedictine or Cistercian orders — are called in- differently Convent and Nunnery, the head of which is styled Mother Superior or Reverend Mother, The name Cloister properly means the enclosure ; but it is popu- larly used to designate, sometimes the arcaded ambula- tory which runs around the inner court of the building, sometimes in the more general sense of the entire build- ing, when it may be considered as synonymous with Convent.
2. During the persecutions in the early ages of Chris- tianity many believers sought shelter in the mountains and deserts; where they gradually acquired a taste for solitude and devotion. In process of time disorders arose among the various monastic orders, and it was found expedient to collect the monks into large socie- ties, living under a common government, and within the walls of separate buildings, appropriated to the pur- pose. In the year 340 Pachomius built a large canobium, or monastery, on an island of the Nile, and the example was soon extensively followed. In these establishments, which in some places were very large, the members lived in strict subordination to their superiors.
The monastery was divided into several parts, and directors were appointed over each. Ten monks were subject to one who was called decanus, or dean, from his presiding over ten ; every hundred had another supe- rior, called centenarius, from his presiding over one hundred. Above these were pati-es, or fathers of the monasteries, called also abbates, abbot, from the Hebraeo- Greek word «/3/3a, a father; and hegumeni, presidents; and archiniamlrites, from mandra, a sheepfold, they be- ing, as it were, the keepers or rulers of these sacred folds in the Church. The business of the deans was to exact every man's daily task, and bring it to the ceconomus, or steward of the house, who himself gave a monthly account to the father of them all (Bingham, Origines Ecclesiastics, bk. vii, ch. iii, § 11).
The rules and regulations of these houses varied ac- cording to the difference of the founders, and other cir- cumstances. To give some impression of the routine of a conventual house, we recite the ride of St. Benedict as in operation : " The abbot represented Christ ; called all his monks to council in important affairs, and adopt- ed the advice he thought best : he required obedience without delay, silence, humility, patience, manifestation of secret faults, contentment with the meanest things and employments. Abbot selected by the whole society; his life and prudence to be the qualifications, and to be addressed dominns or pater. Prior appointed hy the ab- bot ; deposable for disobedience. A ikan set over every ten monks in larger houses. The monks to observe general silence ; no scurrility, idle words, or exciting to laughter; to keep head and eyes inclined downwards; to rise to church two hours after midnight; to leave the church together at a sign from the superior. No property ; distribution according to every one's necessi- ties. To serve weekly, and by turns, at the kitchen and table. On leaving their weeks, both he that left it and he that began it to wash the feet of the others; and on Saturday to clean all the plates and the linen which wiped the others' feet. To render the dishes clean and whole to the ceUarer, who was to give them to the new hebdomary. These officers to have drink and food above the common allowance, that they might serve cheerfully. Daily routine— Work from jirime till near ten o'clock, from Easter to October ; from ten till near twelve, reading. After refection at twelve, the merid- ian or sleep, unless any one preferred reading. After nones, labor again till the evening. From October to