322 HISTORY OF 



called Brother and Sister Houses. It was thought, iii 

 these houses the men could follow their professions, and 

 the women sustain themselves with knitting, spinning, &c. 

 This was the beginning of these institutions, and to this 

 day, they are found in various parts of Germany, Holland, 

 France, England, Switzerland and Russia. The plan 

 meeting Avith so much success in Europe, they were also 

 introduced into this country, and accordingly, when Litiz 

 was laid out, the places for their location were laid down 

 in the original plan. 



In 1759, the brethren's house at Litiz was built — 

 which, however, is not used for iis original intent at 

 present — it is built of limestone, is three stories high, 60 

 feet in length and 37 feet in depth. The basement story 

 was occupied as a ki!chen and dining room ; the first 

 story was divided into four rooms, in each of which nine 

 or ten brethren resided ; part of the second story con- 

 sisted of a large hall or chapel, for spiritual purposes, 

 which was provided with a very excellent organ. The 

 remaining part was divided into dwelling rooms, in one 

 of which resided the elder and steward ; the duty of the 

 former was to care for the spiritual welfare of those in 

 the house, and those of the latter for the temporal con- 

 cerns thereof. One of the rooms in the second story was 

 set apart for the boys between the ages of twelve and 

 eighteen. The greater part of the third story was occu- 

 pied as a dormitory, where they all slept; aside of it, 

 Avas a room set apart for such as might get sick, and one 

 of the brethren, who had the office of waiting on them, 

 resided in this room. In each room, wliere the brethren 

 resided, there was one who was called tlie overseer, 

 whose duty it was to correct any disorders which might 

 arise, care for fuel, repairs and cleanliness in the room. — 

 In the room in which the boys resided, tlicre Avera 



