During a masonic initiation, the candidate is called a neophyte, can you elaborate on this?

Derived historically from the early Church's designation for a new convert, the term neophyte denotes a newly initiated candidate who remains as yet uninstructed 1. Broadly referring to a beginner or novice entering any art or discipline 1, the title in an initiatory setting marks the candidate's formal transition out of his profane state to enter upon a new life, an idea adapted into Masonic rituals from ancient mystery traditions, as a paper read before Quatuor Coronati Lodge observes.

In this context of reception, the designation underscores the neophyte's state of purification and silent learning as he receives instruction and seeks to gain Light, as the paper notes. The term thus encapsulates both the candidate's preliminary status as an untaught novice and his symbolic rebirth into the lodge 1.