Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
MARYLAND.

Guy M. Head e, spent part oil last
week in Rutland.
Verne Brannock is chauffeur for
Mrs. Asa Merritt tor the season.
Mrs. Grant Barrett has resigned
as teacher in Grout school and Mrs.
Charles II. Hoisington will finish
the term.
Mrs. c. E. Ward spent part of
last week with Burlington relatives.
Verna Merritt is assisting Mrs.
F. A Durphey with her household
duties. M
Mrs. Asa Merritt was weekend
guest of Der cousin, Mis-. Della
Kirsman, in Fitchburg, Mass.
; 1t is not generally known that
Vermont is officially in the Ameri-
can commission for study Of the
application of the Cooperative Pro-
,lnction, Distribution and Finances
in European countries, which sailed
for Europe On Saturday, April a6,
1913. The Rev. Charles Otis Gill
OF Hrtland represents Vermont on
this important commission. All the
states are represented on the coma
mission and Mr.. Giil's name was
proposed blythe department to Gov.
Fletcher, who thereupon appointed
him, but his expenses will be paid
by a committee and not by the state.
The report of this commission
should result ia opening II new era
in the progress of Rural Lite in
America. Ii has been recognized
Tor some time that the prosperity OF
nation depended upon the prosperity
Of the iarmei that conditions are
not OF the best in rural America and
that what is needed is not criticism
hut constructive suggestions. 1t is
this constructive work. that this com.
mission will attempt to do. The
itinerary includes Italy, Hungary,
Austria, Germany, Denmark,
Sweden, Holland, Belgium, France, !
England and Ireland. The party
will spend 70 day on land, dividing
the time among the above countries,
Rev. Charles Otis Gill is native of
Orange, N. j., and a graduate of
Yale University and Union rheo-
logical Seminary. When in Valerie
was both classmate and roommate
of Hon. Clifford Pinchot, and the
friendship there formed has contin7
ued ever since. He was noted
athlete, member Of several wipning
crews and of three football elevens,
being captain in his senior year and
still holding fhe football taken'that
year from Harvard. He. was. a.
member of the first all-America
team and was so famous player
that when recently introduced to ex-
President Roosevelt the latter
embarrassed him very much by
inquiring "not the Gill;" and when
assured by the introducer that he was
"the Gill" expressed great delight
in meeting him. Alter leaving
college MIR. Gill. who had decided
TO devote his life to serving men,
entered the ministry. HIS first pas
torate taken while still in the semi
nary was in Westmore. There was
no church here, but MIR. Gill organ
lied church, raised funds and
bought land, forests, etc, built
church and parsonage, and left
strong and enduring church as n
monument to his ability. 1t was in
this work that he met Miss Mary
Nelson OF Barnet, a missionary of
the Vermont Domestic Missionary
society, whom he married. Their
wedding trip was to China, where
they expected to remain as mission,
aries. The fsilIng health OF Mrs.
Gill brought them back to Vermont.
Pastorates followed in Jericho Gem
ter, West Lebanon and Hartland.
While in the latter church he
received request one day ftcm Mr..
Pinchot TO meet him and a party of
mutual friends. At this meeting Mr..
pinchot mentioned that the work of
the Country Life Commission had
developed the tact thar the condition
OF churches Of rural America seemed
to be ON the decline, but that no one
really knew their condition and that
he and these friends proposed to
employ someone for several years to
ascertain the facts. Their choice had
fallen upon Mr.. Gill, and since then
for three years MIR. Gill has been
doing this work. A thorough survey
has been made of Windsor county