WHAT KIND OF MAN THE CELLARER OF THE MONASTERY OUGHT TO BE. LET there be chosen out of the Community as Cellarer of the Monastery, a man who is wise, ripe in manners, and sober; not a great eater, not haughty, nor hasty, nor insulting; not slow, nor wasteful, but fearing God, and acting as a father to the whole Brotherhood. Let him have care of all things, and without the command of the Abbot do nothing. Let him take heed of all that is ordered, and not sadden his Brethren. But if any Brother shall perchance ask anything of him that is not reasonable, let him not, by contemptuously spurning, grieve him, but reasonably and with all humility refuse what he asks for amiss. Let him have regard for his own soul, mind ministraverit, gradum bonum sibi acquirit."1 Infirmorum, infantium, hospitum, pauperumque cum omni sollicitudine curam gérat, sciens sine dubio, quia pro his omnibus in die judicii rationem redditurus est. Omnia vasa Monasterii cunctamque substantiam, ac si altaris vasa sacrata conspiciat. Nihil ducat negligendum: neque avaritiæ studeat, neque prodigus sit, aut extirpator substantiæ Monasterii; sed omnia mensurate faciat, et secundum jussionem Abbatis sui. 9 Mar. 9 Julii. Humilitatem ante omnia habeat, et cui 8 Nov. substantia non est quæ tribuatur, sermo responsionis porrigatur bonus, quia scriptum est: "Sermo bonus super datum optimum."2 Omnia quæ ei injunxerit Abbas, ipse habeat sub cura sua; a quibus eum prohibuerit, non præsumat. Fratribus constitutam annonam sine aliquo typo vel mora offerat, ut non scandalizentur, memor divini eloquii, quid mereatur "qui scandalizaverit unum de pusillis." Si Congregatio major fuerit, solatia ei dentur, a quibus adjutus, et ipse æquo animo impleat officium sibi commissum. Horis competen 11 Tim. iii. 13. 2 Eccli. xviii. 17. Matt. xviii. 6. ful of that rule of the Apostle: "They that have ministered well, shall purchase for themselves a good degree."1 Let him care diligently for the sick, the children, the guests, and the poor; knowing, without doubt, that for all these he shall give an account on the dreadful judgment day. Let him look upon all the vessels and goods of the Monastery as if they were the sacred vessels of the Altar. Let him neglect nothing; neither let him be covetous, nor prodigal, nor wasteful of the good of the Monastery, but do all things with moderation, and according to the command of his Abbot. Above all things, let him have humility, and give at least a gentle answer unto him, on whom he hath nothing else to bestow; for it is written: "A good word is above the best gift." Let him have under his care all that the Abbot shall appoint, and presume not to meddle with anything from which he shall forbid him. Let him give to the Brethren their appointed allowance of food, without arrogance or delay, that they be not scandalized; mindful of that divine word which tells what punishment he deserves "Who shall scandalize one of these little ones.' 23 If the |
